View Full Version : Open Letter regarding subscriptions
k_jupiter
11-07-2005, 12:28 AM
Sean should give Donald a year subscription.
Donald doesn't need to worry about renewal. He is a valuable resource to APUG (and any other forum he visits) and he will be taken care of. I do worry about others who might find the increase onerous but lets deal with that on a one by one situation.
tim in san jose
Members are always more than welcome to open a dialogue with me off-line regarding financial issues, and it would be confidential as well..
gainer
11-30-2005, 02:39 PM
I just want to say that when I have taken care of my current credit card debacle I will be able to become a member. It will probably be accompanied by a Christmas gift. This is the first photographic group I go to, and if all the others vanish, I won't cry a lot.
Loose Gravel
11-30-2005, 04:13 PM
$24 is not much, but I am alarmed when costs double. It bothers me, too, that this supports so many others that don't subscribe. Finally, in the couple years that I've been here, the content has been diluted. I used to find a large percentage of the topics interesting. Recently when I returned from vacation there were over 4000 new posts and it took but a few minutes to sort through them all. I only felt the need to open half a dozen.
Shadowtracker
12-26-2010, 07:18 PM
Sean, Thanks for providing this site for us. I just now am getting around to getting a subscription, but I intend to support this site consistently from here on. You have made it easy for me to subscribe (and I really don't like using paypay anymore). I look forward to being able to use parts of the site I haven't had access to before as well, but even without that, it's worth the price.
frdrx
12-26-2010, 07:58 PM
Though $24 is not a large sum to pay for a subscription to APUG, which is a terrifically valuable website, I really don't think that a minimum subscription fee is the best way to go, especially if it is this "high". I fear that the higher fee will not result in an increase in income for APUG. Instead, I think APUG might benefit from a pay-what-you-want (http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/07/pay-what-you-want-benefits-companies-consumers-charities.ars) pricing scheme. APUG is the first and so far the only site I've ever sent money to, but, in my opinion, fixed subscription fees (especially if they aren't small) are not compatible with the "Internet way" of doing things.
5stringdeath
12-26-2010, 08:56 PM
There is another site I frequent regarding bass guitars and its yearly sub is $20, so this seems on par with community supported forums that have relevant content and an active userbase.
eddym
12-27-2010, 05:53 AM
I have paid far more than $20 a year to view sites that are not nearly as well-done nor informative as APUG. I can't imagine a better way to spend two bucks a month. And I'm sure Sean would graciously accept more if you offered it to him.
benjiboy
12-27-2010, 06:55 AM
What surprises me is the very low percentage of members who are subscribers, if I remember correctly according to a post I once saw from Sean it's less than 3% !, and although I do appreciate that in a recession it's tough for many people I can't believe that more than 95% of the membership can't pay.
wager123
12-27-2010, 07:07 AM
wow i haven't looked untill now and just realised i havent paid for my sub this year. i get so much enjoyment and help from this site. so i am renewing my sub right now.
mitch
perkeleellinen
12-27-2010, 07:12 AM
I think it works out as about 35p per week for me. I can't actually think of much else I can buy for that price, but of course paying the full yearly fee upfront is a different matter. To that end, I did notice it's possible to subscribe for 3 months at a cost of $6 which helps to spread things out over the year.
M.A.Longmore
12-27-2010, 07:32 AM
wow i haven't looked untill now and just realised i havent paid for my sub this year. i get so much enjoyment and help from this site. so i am renewing my sub right now.
mitch
.
Thanks Mitch !
Enjoy The Year End Festivities !
Ron
.
Christopher Walrath
12-27-2010, 03:43 PM
It's a catch 22. You start cramming 'Subscribe! Subscribe!' down people's necks and the light goes out. You don't push it at all and you don't get any income other than those re-upping.
It is a personal choice as to value as mentioned a long time ago on this thread. I always thank people for subscribing but I never make someone feel uncomfortable because they didn't. There is an option to use portions of the site without paying after all. And many take advantage of that offering. I wish more subscribed. But I am thankful for those that do. And glad that everyone is here, regardless of membership status.
I really appreciate it guys. APUG is far from the cash cow some might think it is, so most of the struggle is finding that balance of subscriptions and advertising to keep things ticking along. After operating costs, NZ's not so forgiving tax rate, etc there is just enough for 1 person to make it. I would gladly hire a part timer or full timer if it were possible. I would say I made 30-35% more in my IT career vs. moving to APUG, but I am VERY happy to be out of a cubicle and able to spend more time at home with the family. APUG has never been about making money, it is about a personal desire to help keep traditional photography alive and well. I am very protective of the community and have worked hard not to exploit it -by keeping subs low and advertising rates low + targeted advertising to help our traditional industry. I have several side projects on the go and I hope for that to become my income instead of APUG. For example I have teamed with a high end NZ developer and we have co-founded a very interesting facebook app that is close to launch (unrelated to photography). There is also DPUG which may help finances. My ultimate goal is to slide into other areas of the internet for my revenue and make APUG a free site. Until then I can't thank you enough for the ongoing support.
Sean
Christopher Walrath
12-27-2010, 04:59 PM
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You say that now. ;p
Jeff L
12-27-2010, 05:00 PM
I have learned alot from this site and the generous people that participate on it. It is the ONLY site that I pay for. Too bad Fuji and Kodak won't participate as well. Maybe it'd be preaching to the converted. I am glad that other film manufacturers support the site. I have a decent amount of Ilford in the fridge.
Thanks to all.
lxdude
12-27-2010, 05:51 PM
^Ditto for me.^ Well, not the part about the Ilford in the fridge, but the rest of it.:)
Dinesh
12-27-2010, 06:53 PM
While no one truly knows another's financial situation, it truly pisses me off to see people write about their multiple large and/or medium format cameras, 2 Leica M6's and other variations of G.A.S. without the courtesy to support the one guy who busts his ass and sacrifices so much in order to keep this site going. Hell, there are those who consistently use APUG as their personal ebay and never contribute anything back to Sean. Check the classifieds and you will see what I mean.
I guess in life there will always be those who are content to let others do all the heavy lifting.
benjiboy
12-28-2010, 06:10 AM
While no one truly knows another's financial situation, it truly pisses me off to see people write about their multiple large and/or medium format cameras, 2 Leica M6's and other variations of G.A.S. without the courtesy to support the one guy who busts his ass and sacrifices so much in order to keep this site going. Hell, there are those who consistently use APUG as their personal ebay and never contribute anything back to Sean. Check the classifieds and you will see what I mean.
I guess in life there will always be those who are content to let others do all the heavy lifting.
I agree with Dinesh entirely, and it's also unfair to the members who do subscribe, many of whom are not as well off as the members who don't.