What to do about the forums? What changes need to be made?

Spark

Spark

HPIC - Hatas gonna Hate
Staff member
Administrator
Super Mod
Moderator
Joined
Oct 2, 1998
Messages
15,225
It's been a while since we've had a head-to-head on where we are and where we are going; and I'd like to get your feedback on what's going on around here - what can changed, what should be changed, what should be left alone, how we can improve our services.

Please, before making any complaints, let's try for constructive criticism, not just a friggin bitch session. Bitching doesn't solve problems, it just feeds on itself, right? Also, let's not get carried away in what get's put out here - BladeForums.com is not an active money maker, so we aren't going to have $20,000 to implement all these whizbang ideas - I want to be able to make changes without whipping out the checkbook if you know what I mean.

Anyhow, let me know what we are doing right, what we are doing wrong, and how we can better serve you guys. I'll do my best to respond to your concerns.

Kevin

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
Owner, BladeForums.com
 
I believe in a fair exchange. What does bladeforums need? Can the membership do something to help? Someone mentioned that a yearly fee might improve viability. In return perhaps some changes could be made. I think someone mentioned that a yearly fee would do a lot to eliminate the riff-raft and trolls that frequent these forums. If this is the case, I'd gladly fork over a reasonable fee.

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"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child.", King Lear, Act I, Scene 4.
 
If ain't broke, don't fix it. All looks good to me Spark....just keep the good work my man
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Knives & Things
Mike Payne
 
Spark, I've only been around for a couple of months but I think everything is good. I don't post much but I read a ton. If a membership fee, say $10-20 yearly, is what is needed to keep this forum going you can count me in. I've learned enough on pricing of new & used knives to have saved that 5 times over on purchases.
 
Well, it might help if you were to take the archives offline. Not that I want you to, but the archives probably are getting rather large, and take up a lot of server space.

Maybe you could compress the archives, and sell them on CD. That way, we could look though the archives without using your bandwidth and server space.

Also, I'd like to see the for sale forums get split at least into custom/production forums. It might help also if someone were to maintain a "standard" price list - a blue book value of knives for each. I know that such thing exists for emerson's and microtech's - perhaps it could be expanded. This would be especially helpful if the lists were available as non-thread pages and not a random thread with 1000 replies saying "gee whiz, thanks for the great list."

The for sale ads from 6 months ago are hardly necessary to keep online, especially if people can still get a good idea of fair prices.

The for trade forums are redundant (most are posted in the for sale anyways). I'd like to see a standardize posting method in the for sale forums (E.g. here's what to put in your title, here's what to put in your description, here is a standard definition of New in Box). Bladeforums could do this, and have some form of disclaimer to prevent liability. Also, maybe some way of building a feedback system for different users would be helpful (maybe on a web site ran by someone else).

Other than that, I don't know. As long as you don't have to resort to pop-up ads or selling information to spammers, I'll be happy. With such a terrific site, and such a huge number of members, you have the potential to turn it into a venture that at least breaks even. Running a good web site is expensive - hopefully you'll find a way to eliminate the bladeforums fat, and make it into a lean, mean machine capable of growth and paying for itself.

-- Rob

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Me fail english? That's unpossible!
 
Spark,

Make me a moderator at the "Knives For Sale/Trade:Individual" Forums and I'll clean it up alittle by removing some of the OLD posts, where the items have been sold.
smile.gif
..

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
I'll second the comment on splitting up the For Sale forums. Maybe fixed/folder, or custom/production as has been suggested. That said, I think you're doing a great job with everything. I'd be willing to pay a small membership fee to help with the forums, but I am afraid that many wouldn't be and that this would reduce the overall quality of the forums.
 
Hi Spark,
First I would like to say I think the forums are great I lurked for about six months before my first post and transaction and this forum is just as responsible for rekindling my love for knives as the knives themselves.If it would take a modest yearly fee to keep things viable or institute constructive change I would be all for it.Also I think that at times I, speaking for myself, loose sight of the effort and time it must take to keep this machine running and would like to say thank you.

 
Kevin,

What I'd like to see is the forum name included with the moderators name.

For example:

Vampire Gerbil
BFC moderator:
W&C, Community.

Something similar to that would be helpful in knowing who was responsible for what. Might eliminate some confusion in a few forums.

Other than maybe the option of changing our names, all is well IMHO.

I also have stated in the past I'd be receptive to a yearly membership fee, as long as it is reasonable. I know this place costs money to run. Let us help out so wecan keep this great place in the black.

Good luck.

Mike

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DISCLAIMER:

The opinions expressed here are my own, and in no way reflect the opinion of any other person, living or dead. Of course, your opinion may vary, in which case the prevailing laws of your jurisdiction shall apply.

firedept_md_wht.gif
 
Just want to start by saying thanks! This is an awesome place to learn and I would have to say that my Knife Knut Knowledge has increased dramatically from what I have learned/bought/sold here!
That said, I too would like to see the FS forum split into at least custom and production. Also, I would echo that it is unreasonable for us to expect the archives to remain online. Lastly, I would echo a willingness for this to be a paid site as most of us know that popup ads aren't all that profitable.
Thanks for the great site guys!
 
I'll add another vote for breaking up the exchange forum. There is too much activity on the main page to give the items sufficient air time. Perhaps we could separate the area into:
1. Custom Fixed blade
2. Production Fixed blade
3. Custom Folders
4. Production folders

I would also like to disable the ability to post a reply on the exchange forum. The originator of the thread would still be able to edit the original post, to provide updates, But, BTTT and superfluous comments would be eliminated.

N2S

BTW, This is a great place and I'll be happy to help out through a membership fee, or as a moderator. Just let me know.
 
I am just a newbie, but wanted to thank all involved with this forum, and the ancillaries like the group dealing with tactical matters.

I don't see much that could be improved. Agree that archives could be sold in CD form.

Maybe another way to trim the data warehouse would be to only save the "best of" type articles. May be a tough call on which would qualify though.

Thanks again.
 
I like it the way it is too, though I have no objections to tweaks like splitting up the FS forum, etc. I tried the paid magazine you offered, but never got much out of that I'm afraid.

I'm not a big participant here but can be counted on for a half dozen or more posts a week in a handfull of forums. From my POV, at least with respect to the handfull of forums I hang out on, its going really well as it is.

And of course thanks... I've been a conferencing op on and off here and there since the early 80's (yes this stuff went back that far in another form). I know it takes a lot of work.
 
Kevin, I really like the way things work right now. I would like to see a knife maintenance forum and like VG's recommendation about being able to change names.

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Keith

AKTI Member #A001338
 
Great suggestions all around! I think things are overall really good but the suggestions above could certainly streamline things and make some stuff easier.

I also think the issue of membership needs to be addressed... Seems like it comes up frequently and I think we need to address it head on. I think a gradual period of 'X' months or weeks would be appropriate as we do have some pretty young members or perhaps people who find it tough to scrape up enough dough. But, by and large, I think people will gladly pitch in. I just started with PhotoPoint and think their prices are most reasonable at $30 a year! And that gives you 5% off prints as well as advertisement free page usage. I don't know really how else to best implement it but perhaps giving new people 'X' amount of days as a 'Trial' membership would be good and at that time they would be expected to pay. For the rest of everyone who's been here for quite some time I think it is simply a matter of putting off that next knife purchase and paying for a years membership instead. Or, another angle may be to buy 'X' amount of merchandise from 1sks and that would include your membership fees. If paying membership dues will help I think we should just do it and get it over with... I personally am not going to pitch a fit over anything up to $50/year as I'd drop that on a knife without giving it a second thought and belonging to BFC has saved me 3 times or more in blade purchases from contacts made here.

I think Dann should be given a chance as he's volunteered umpteen times and it's not so often you have people jumping at the chance to volunteer their work/time... He may be able to do Moderator stuff first and within a certain amount of time decide how to best change the Exchange forums and could kind of be in charge of getting it all set up.

I think all is going well and many thanks again for everything Spark!

Shawn
 
Spark,

I second the cleaning up of the sold items on the Exchange forum. The archives could be trimmed down some also. If we need a fee for membership, (I think that would help) myself and many other members are standing behind you. You know what it takes to make this thing go, and we will support your decisions. Also, if there is anything I can do to help, let me know. Since I own my own business, I am on here several times a day, and I am willing to help.

Thanks,

RattlerXX
 
Personally, I like BFC in it's current format. Changes I think would be most beneficial would not be to the forums, but rather to the membership.

I'd like to see an annual fee, not only to support the forums, but to turn membership into something of a commitment and a privilege.

I strongly oppose any name changing function, and believe that valid e-mail addresses should be required in all profiles.

For the "For Sale" forums, I would very much like to see a buyer-seller rating system.

Before we go changing the actual structure of BFC, I'd be interested to see how things would function if EVERY member were to start treating it like a fraternal club where they are held accountable for their words and actions, rather than like a blindly anonymous bulletin board.
 
Hey Spark,

I can't really think of anything to change. It would be nice to be able to change the title of your thread, but that is being too pickey. Abou the member fee thing. I don't know if everyone would bite, but I would. With 10,000 plus members, it wouldn't need to be very high.
 
I think it is just great the way it is. I really like the fact that I can reply without having to "log in", set cookies on (which I won't do), enable java, etc.

This is definitely one of the better ones out there, keep up the good work!
 
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