Membership

[like.2.fly]

I'm going to join to help the site. But, it would be nice if you had to be a member to SELL on the classifieds but anyone could buy. It kind of limits the benefits to the seller if only members can see their stuff. Not sure if there is a way to do this...but I think it would help.

I agree with this, and am glad to pay for a membership. Totally worth it to me. But only allowing paid members to see the classifieds will greatly reduce the number of potential buyers, and thus the overall effectiveness of the classifieds. It makes good sense to charge sellers without restricting the number of buyers, if possible. I can see the value of it in helping to legitimize classified users and reducing scammers. But keep in mind that most scammers are probably sellers, not buyers. Therefore, maybe consider charging to POST to the classified forum, but not to view it.

 

[Nutterbuster]

I'll throw this in here too.

@redsquirrel is a dictator. A benevolent dictator, but an absolute one. A democracy this ain't, folks. He be the boss.

If he decides to charge extra to red-headed, left-handed Matthews shooters, that's just how the cookie crumbles. Either get yo monies together, or don't.

 

[blatallic]

I'll gladly pay although I haven't used the classifieds in a while. The information is priceless here. Other sites have ads all over the place and it's annoying. Glad that's not the case here.

 

[bj139]

I agree with this, and am glad to pay for a membership. Totally worth it to me. But only allowing paid members to see the classifieds will greatly reduce the number of potential buyers, and thus the overall effectiveness of the classifieds. It makes good sense to charge sellers without restricting the number of buyers, if possible.

That's what I was thinking. It will reduce the selling considerably.
I spend more than $15 a year on DIY projects that don't work out so $15 is OK to support this site.

 

[EricS]

For me, it's the principle of the matter. I refuse to pay for the type of content that is free on every other online forum and don't want to be part of a community that gets nickle and dimed. The model for profitable forums has been laid out and copied hundreds of times over. Why you choose to reinvent the wheel and piss people off is beyond me. Later boys, I'm out.

Edit: Charging for premium memberships wouldn't be as big of a deal if you were providing some additional value to make it worth while. When you tell people to pay for what they have been getting for free, you're going to get push back.

1. Red and others here have taken measures to ensure this place isn’t like the forums that have been payed out and copied hundreds of times.
2. No nickel and dime stuff here. No one has asked you for your money. You can still use everything but the classifieds.
3. We absolutely expect people to push back.Like you say when you ask people to pay for something that someone has been paying for them you are gonna get pushback. Nothing is free. Someone has always paid for it.

The absolutely hilarious part to me is it’s like @redsquirrel has given away cable for five years. Now he wants to charge for HSN and people want to fuss. You’re still getting HBO and the playboy (blinginpse) channel for free.

 

[ImThere]

That's the thing tho. He doesnt have to. He can still get all the information here. So you may think whatever of him and his opinions but you may still see him on the forum a year from now freeloading all the good info that's on this site. By limiting access to only the classified people like that will still be here. In the end I would say limit all of it or none of it. If people get ripped off then so be it.

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My point was there isn't another website giving what we do here. PERIOD!
there is 5 years of exclusive knowledge here. all in one place, from all saddles, climbing methods, platforms, steps, ropes its all here

 

[Vtbow]

Red can chime in, but this site was created for a much greater purpose then to resale gear. ...

I agree wtih Dave 100% here. yes, the classifieds here are awesome. IT lets me try new stuff and trade on the cheap, but its not anywhere near the reason I got on this site, or stay active. The information itself is not going anywhwere, or being charged for. Essentially NOTHING will changed, unless your trying to make money or buy something. I"ve had a lot of interactions with a lot of people here through the forum--some may call some of them heated or intense even. BUT, I find that the majorrity of the people I interact with keep things civil and on point and are good at "agreeing to disagree" on one thing, and then totally agree and give some great help on something else I reach out to them about. That's what makes this place what it is- A solid, respectful community of hunters willing to share info and help each other out--sometimes have a little campfire scuffle, but then think nothing of it. IF you want to help keep this kind of community around, great, stay involved, however you can and feel you are adding value to the content. If you're not a talker, and hang in the shadows, use the classifieds, etc, pay the $15 and add value to the site bye keeping it up and running, fast, and with new features and upgrades. If you dont use the classifieds and just want to help, just pay the $15, or but something from the store. ITs all their to help keep the site running, not make red rich.

I'm certain Red runs this site because he's passionate about saddlehunting and the community he has built- not to make money. I"m sure it has caused him more headaches than humor in the last year or so, and he has to do what is needed to keep his heart in it and continue to nurture the community he has built and we have all come to enjoy.

 

[Tr33_n1nj@]

I see 8 pages, can get 10 pages, got 10 over here, how about 12 anybody, 12 pages by Wednesday, 12 pages going once, twice, SOLD! 12 pages by Wednesday to the man complaining about $15.

 

[Jtaylor]

C'mon it's $15! How much have we learned from this site? I don't think I own a piece of hunting gear less than $15! (Well except my fleece saddle) turns out I learned how to make that here

 

[Bigterp]

Here is something for most of these PO'd folks should look into - MOLLE tissue holder for their saddle
View attachment 18964

Actually that looks like wipes, @Blinginpse where ya at? Don’t think we forgot about the skydump.....

 

[ImThere]

I agree wtih Dave 100% here. yes, the classifieds here are awesome. IT lets me try new stuff and trade on the cheap, but its not anywhere near the reason I got on this site, or stay active. The information itself is not going anywhwere, or being charged for. Essentially NOTHING will changed, unless your trying to make money or buy something. I"ve had a lot of interactions with a lot of people here through the forum--some may call some of them heated or intense even. BUT, I find that the majorrity of the people I interact with keep things civil and on point and are good at "agreeing to disagree" on one thing, and then totally agree and give some great help on something else I reach out to them about. That's what makes this place what it is- A solid, respectful community of hunters willing to share info and help each other out--sometimes have a little campfire scuffle, but then think nothing of it. IF you want to help keep this kind of community around, great, stay involved, however you can and feel you are adding value to the content. If you're not a talker, and hang in the shadows, use the classifieds, etc, pay the $15 and add value to the site bye keeping it up and running, fast, and with new features and upgrades. If you dont use the classifieds and just want to help, just pay the $15, or but something from the store. ITs all their to help keep the site running, not make red rich.

I'm certain Red runs this site because he's passionate about saddlehunting and the community he has built- not to make money. I"m sure it has caused him more headaches than humor in the last year or so, and he has to do what is needed to keep his heart in it and continue to nurture the community he has built and we have all come to enjoy.

I agree with this for sure we can totally disagree and come together on the next "build", I have had heated discussions publicly and on Pm with guys only to hang out with them at saddlepalooza.

 

[Yooper14]

My point was there isn't another website giving what we do here. PERIOD!
there is 5 years of exclusive knowledge here. all in one place, from all saddles, climbing methods, platforms, steps, ropes its all here

The same guys from this forum put most of that info on YouTube, and slowly it trickles to Facebook. It has spread already, and will only spread more. As time progresses all the new ideas of late will be the old ideas and so on and so forth. All the same stuff on this forum is out there already. I go on Facebook and see it, admittedly there's way more idiots on Facebook, but if you know what to look for and know a thing or two you find the good info, and yes all that good info has been generated from here or one of the saddle companies.

Anyways, my point was simply that he doesn't have to go anywhere else, and therefore he wont. No one is being restricted from the good information they are just being restricted from the classified unless they pay. Beyond that I think there's a ceiling on saddle gear technology. Not that that's some sort of profound thought, but there's a limiting principle in place. All the new saddles are remakes on previous models with some tweaks. Rope doesnt change a whole lot. People are actually moving back to rope instead of mechanical ascender's. All this info is out there on youtube and facebook and of course SH. And will remain free to all with the exception of the classified section.

 

[Vtbow]

I've contributed way more to this site than I have taken from it. I don't consider that freeloading.

I"m honestly sorry you feel that way. I continue to contribute when I can, and get great ideas and new info/or new takes on info from other members regularly. Sounds like it it is a waste of your time to be here anyway if you're not getting anything out of it.

 

[DanO]

Here is something for most of these PO'd folks should look into - MOLLE tissue holder for their saddle
View attachment 18964

Just think, if @redsquirrel accepted sponsors I would plaster that ad all over and you'd see it in every post.
"New, improved, molle tissue/wipe holder now available in Mossy Oak Bottomlands!"

I will gladly pay the $15 and would pay that to access the entire site. This is a unique site with a bunch of like-minded guys. This will end up being a nice "purge" to get rid of a few that can't handle the concept of paying for a tiny portion of the site.

 

[Jase244]

For me, it's the principle of the matter. I refuse to pay for the type of content that is free on every other online forum and don't want to be part of a community that gets nickle and dimed. The model for profitable forums has been laid out and copied hundreds of times over. Why you choose to reinvent the wheel and piss people off is beyond me. Later boys, I'm out.

Edit: Charging for premium memberships wouldn't be as big of a deal if you were providing some additional value to make it worth while. When you tell people to pay for what they have been getting for free, you're going to get push back.

My point exactly. You dont take away what once was free to all users. It's just bad business practice. If money is tight then you ask for donations. If that doesnt work then you take money from vendors in exchange for ad space. I'd recommend both. From what some of you are saying, sounds like you guys are throwing money down the drain on a regular basis. To each their own I guess but I dont need another subscription service that I wont use but 2 months out of the year when I'm trying to unload excessive gear. You can be certain that the amount of classified ads will diminish. That being said, I still enjoy the site. It has tons of good info and maybe at some point I'll sign up for a year when it's time to unload more gear. For now, there's a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[powhound84]

I"m honestly sorry you feel that way. I continue to contribute when I can, and get great ideas and new info/or new takes on info from other members regularly. Sounds like it it is a waste of your time to be here anyway if you're not getting anything out of it.

You're quick on the draw haha. I deleted my comment almost immediately, realizing I'm the minority in that regard and my opinion really doesn't matter.

As others have pointed out, Red owns the site and can do whatever he wants with it. If he chooses to make decisions that push valuable contributors away from the site, so be it. Not my monkeys, not my circus.

Honestly though, no, I don't get much out of the site that isn't available elsewhere. I only really got involved to try to help educate people that are constantly misusing rock climbing gear and recommending dangerous practices. The hope was that maybe I could help prevent misinformed saddle hunters from hurting or killing themselves. Props to @mattsteg in that regard, he's a knowledgeable and consistent advocate of best practices and proper safety. If he's sticking around, you guys should take what he says seriously. I know there are others as well, but he's the one that really stood out in my short time here.

Take care and happy hunting!

 

[Gator]

My point exactly. You dont take away what once was free to all users.

Happens all the time. My local newspaper used to be free to read online and guess what? Now they charge for it....

 

[ImThere]

your quite full of yourself aren’t you?
I can’t find this to quote it but that’s awesome you have 68 posts and you think there was $15 worth of information? I think my content is worthless and then someone says thank you for posting that I never would have considered it.


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[Jase244]

Happens all the time. My local newspaper used to be free to read online and guess what? Now they charge for it....

Right. And now nobody uses it cause the info can be gained for free elsewhere.

 

[Labonte.r]

My point exactly. You dont take away what once was free to all users. It's just bad business practice. If money is tight then you ask for donations. If that doesnt work then you take money from vendors in exchange for ad space. I'd recommend both. From what some of you are saying, sounds like you guys are throwing money down the drain on a regular basis. To each their own I guess but I dont need another subscription service that I wont use but 2 months out of the year when I'm trying to unload excessive gear. You can be certain that the amount of classified ads will diminish. That being said, I still enjoy the site. It has tons of good info and maybe at some point I'll sign up for a year when it's time to unload more gear. For now, there's a bad taste in my mouth.

I’d rather pitch in a little money to keep the site the way it is and not be another Forum and I’m sure alot of others would as well. If you think paying 15 to help support this site and everything your EVEN HERE FOR is “ throwing money away” than it’s probably better to just go back to other forums.