Why should I pay to be a Knifemaker (or other premium member)?

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Trick,
You didn't really have to bring this old thread of 5 pages back up to ask your question. A new topic would have been fine. Feel free to start it up in a new thread.

With that said, the new subforum is the only change that I see. It's your call about spending the money. The paying customers wanted a place to do OT stuff and just shoot the breeze. They got it.
 
It's a valid question. Why should you pay? If you are happy not paying for anything, don't. If you don't want to use the services that paying members get for as little as $10 a year here, don't pay for the services.

If you think the knowledge stored, companionship gained, or services rendered aren't worth the meager price, don't pay it.

That said, it's not exactly a lot of money, and if you don't feel like paying it, who should? This site isn't free to run, and the money you spend on belts and the like probably would be spent many times over if you (or anyone) couldn't use this site to glean valuable knowledge to prevent mistakes, or learn time saving tips, or gain research on new materials.

Make no mistake, this site does not turn a profit, the only reason I even keep it open is because it provides a service and helps make the knife community better as a whole. It a mitzvah, for a lack of a better term... I am in the position to keep it open and it helps, so I do so. If I had a similar attitude to yours, where would the community be?
 
I am not a full-time knifemaker.....Having "knifemaker" under my name in no way puts me in the same playground as Kit & others...

However, I AM a contributing member and rather than be simply a Gold or Platinum member, I went with Knifemaker.


I give to Bladeforums, because Bladeforums has given to me.



Why pay for cable TV?
Why pay for magazine subscriptions?
Why pay for internet service?

To have fun and learn a thing or two, IMHO.



Nuff said.
 
Spark said:
If you think the knowledge stored, companionship gained, or services rendered aren't worth the meager price, don't pay it.
I think spark has hit it right. With everything Bladeforums is, it's ours. If you surf here and use the knowledge gained, why not give back some? Do you need the knifemakers status? That's a question only you can answer. I decided that I could help by buying a gold member ship. Has it changed my experiaces here? Not really. I havn't sold many knives (but lots of trades), Pirates cove is a blast, and I've posted alot more and tried to share some of the things I've learned. Theres alot of give and take of information here and I'm happy to be a part.

Later
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Good topic.....good questions.....good points to ponder.

...think I'll join up.

Russ
 
I pay a premium to support the costs of the site that gives me much enjoyment. :)
There's no free lunch.....ever!

on other sites I donate or use whatever avenue they have to support of keeping the site up to date, functional and reliable.

Tom
 
Yes, the off topic forum is open to all levels of paying members. So, a $10 basic membership will get you in there. If you don't need more services than that, don't get them.
 
I pay to be a member here not to use it as a venue to sell knives, but as an opportunity for the community. No more, no less.

I pay for a membership because without sufficient membership income to at least cover some of the expense, Spark may consider it not worth it and shut the place down.

Sad as it may sound, this place is one of the major joys in my life. Well worth the price of admission.
 
Trick,

A month from now you will suddenly find room for all your equipment and start producing great knives and need the knifemaker or gold membership to sell them. Why waste time.

I dont mind paying to help support the forum. It's no very often that you find so many knowledgeable and friendly souls in one spot.

Besides . Their are members with knifemaker under their name that have probably made two knives in their life. Are they not still a knifemaker ?
 
I too am like Dan a part time maker but I am a business.I have a business license and tax ID. I sell my knives, have a website, take custom orders at shows and over the phone. I someday want to go fulltime with it being a fulltime business. Right now it best suits me part time. I like the knifemaker membership for the options available and to let the public know that I am in business. I still have alot to learn and being here is the best place so far to pick up knowledge quick.
Scott
 
Trick.....you have raised a good point and being cheap, I'll give you my take on it. First, I only pay for one site now and the reason is the same as here.

I have made knives for years and not sold them. It's a hobby. I have not paid for this site yet but am going to because I am now selling a few to support hobbies. As Sparks pointed out (or Kit), it's hard to make money from a web site. It's also an expensive venture.

This site is unique. The people here are friends, co workers and tradesmen. IMHO, some of the members here are the very best in the field even if they haven't been recognized as such yet.

All give advice freely. Many have tutorials on their sites. This is not the way it always was. A generation ago, the better craftsmen guarded their procedures and wouldn't talk about how they did anything.

We live in a plastic coated, mass produced, imported from China world. If the Art, industry and trade is to continue, we need to share thee knowledge. There is no better way than this board.
In addition, you get perks like the sellers forum and getting to look at the hotties.

Just my opinion on it.
Checks in the mail (Figuratively) Sparks
 
Trick I pay because I feel like this place has been instrumental in helping me begin to learn how to make knives. Without it I'd be working in a vacuum and probably not growing too much. With it, I have the world by the tail!

Now the fact is I'd have all that help regardless whether I paid. I do it because it makes me feel more a part of what's going on here. This isn't the only forum I support but it's about the only one I really participate in. It's my extended family.

About KnifeMaker. You probably make more knives than I do, but when I introduce myself to someone, I'm a Knifemaker. When I talk about the things that I'm most enthusiastic about, it's knives - and knifemaking. Yeah, I'm boring, and these guys are the only ones who'll put up with that. Cheap at the price! I don't think being a knifemaker has as much to do with production as it does with one's head. I'm a knifemaker and always will be. Any other level of support here would be incorrect for me.

You're worth having around and I don't really care one way or another whether you or anyone else pays for a membership. That's not how I determine who's valuable to me here, it's by what they say and do. I don't even care if anyone agrees with me so long as their opinions are honestly thought out.

I'll tell you what, not being able to post pics or sell stuff may not seem like much - until your membership expires. That's a very unsettling feeling! It always amuses me when that happens and I realize how much that "KnifeMaker" under my name really does mean to me. And I hurriedly type in my credit card info for another year. :D
 
I pay gladly because this site is my community, and these fine knifemakers in this particular forum are my friends. Many I have met in real life, and many I want to meet someday. The times when there ever is a sour note in this forum is when someone from the "outside," Meaning a non-regular to Shop Talk, comes in and trolls us or says somethign derogatory about a fellow maker. That's when it hits the fan. Otherwise, we are all gentlemen here, and colleagues, and treat each other - as well as newbies - with a great amount of respect and grace.

To sum it up. I'm a knifemaker, and I am interested in the thoughts and ideas of my fellow knifemakers. The O/T forum is for those of us who want to consort with the rest of our fellowship.
 
You don't have to edit, I read the original and I get the point. Just as I expected. I don't pay I am not welcome to play or considered a friend after being on this forum for 4 years or more. I have maybe made a total of 5 replies on all the other forums here besides this one. I will come back when I finish some of the knives and maybe then will be excepted into the "group".
 
I agree with all the comments about this being a great forum and I really enjoy it. There has been a lot of information I have gained by reading questions and answers here. I am a part time maker who does it as a hobby. I don't consider myself as being good at it yet, but I have fun trying. This is also the best place to ask if you are trying to find something that is related to knives or knifemaking. I paid for the Knifemakers membership to help support the site more than anything else.
 
Trick said:
I still have my brand new 700# mill sitting on my front porch covered with a tarp for over a year now. :( I am a loser, I know, but I am happy. :)
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:D I'll bet that was over $40 Bucks :D


I support the forum plain and simple .
I disagree on getting the same info any where else
at lease the info I have to give :rolleyes: well ok it may not be worth 40Bucks ( for My info) :D

did I say I support the forum :)
 
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