posted 07-05-2002 11:51 AM                  

Without loosing the flavor of ProwlerOnline... We could grant different levels of access based on access that has been purchased, and retain the flavor for the general public. On the surface, you would have difficulty telling that anything has changed.

For example, we could have certain type of plans...

plan 1: not signed up (general public). cost = $0. User can read posts up to two months old, but cannot submit posts and does not have access to any material that is more than 2 months old. User can view scrapbooks, but cannot submit scrapbooks.

plan 2: signed up member. cost = $0. Same as plan 1, except user can read posts and submit posts.

plan 3: paying member. cost = perhaps $5 per month. Same as plan 2, except user can submit scrapbooks (up to a specified storage amount) and user can search entire discussion board archives. User gets an official POA email POP account. User has the right to participate in POA-sponsored contests (like a photo contest for example).

posted 07-05-2002 07:47 PM                  

Let the new people read, post, and reply to all the threads, but only allow those that have contributed (whatever method is decided upon) to search through past posts.

I think the scrapbooks (personal and events) should be sold on CDs. They are painfully slow to load with a 56k modem and viewing them offline will be quicker and easier. If they were being offered tomorrow I'd be the first to purchase one, anything so that I would never have to load those pages again.

Although this next idea might hurt Dan's side income, I think the banners may be a bit much. Other forums simply ban them because they are resource consuming. Your personality comes out with what you say not what you upload in your signature. We should all look toward Scott Stern as an example of this. I can't believe I just said that!!
Either way isn't your avatar enough to personalize?

As I've freeloaded enough (just about a year) I'd like to see a donation system implemented first with the little thermometer that Wayne mentioned at least till the end of the year. Then with the start of the new year dues if the donations didn't cover it.

Just my opinion...
Thanks for everything POA, Mike, and all its members.

posted 07-05-2002 09:12 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by ART:
"In my opinion" IF POA WERE A MAGAZINE FULL OF ARTICLES SIMILAR TO THE WEBSITES HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY YEARLY TO GET IT??? BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF ADVERTISERS ON THIS WEBSITE AND (LETS FACE IT) THEY HAVE MADE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS WHILE MIKE HAS FLIPPED THE BILL....I HAVE NO PROBLEM CHIPPING IN ANY AMOUNT YOU WANT, I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS CAR THAN I COULD HAVE EVERY THOUGHT OF WITHOUT THIS WEBSITE..BUT "In my opinion" ADVERTISERS ARE MAKING MONEY OFF THE WEBSITE AND IT IS TIME TO RE-INVEST SOME OF IT....WHAT DOES EVERYONE ELSE THINK??

---

Personally Art, I think that is a good approach. We (the end-users) would end up paying the fees indirectly (by buying sponsor products). But it would still "feel" free. We might scare away a few advertizers if we charge them, but you can't make everyone happy.

posted 07-06-2002 01:50 AM                  

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PROWLER-KEITH:

Thks Mike K and everyone for putting this site together if you hadn't I would have never got to meet these people and all the others I have and experience these special times.

Indeed!

posted 07-06-2002 07:40 AM                  

1) definitely voluntarily contributions, it is worth the money, whether it be whatever you can afford! or a yearly fee!
2) I think that there should be a 33/33/33 raffle at whatever events you have, which is 10-12 thruout the year, and give 1/3 to the winner and a 1/3 to the site and last and I think a good cause 1/3 to a very worthwhile charity in the poa's name!
3) like growl said taking and limiting some of the older news on a cd would free up the bandwidth! and eliminated the banner's and such, except for posts within would help, i know some people disagree because it adds character and pizzazz to the site (this should be last resort to help out and let's say tighten the belt a little more!)
so that's my peas and q's

or very last everyone pay an admission to see mikes house!
for a little tour of his beautiful home.

posted 07-06-2002 10:02 AM                  

Have the advertisers been approached to pay with product rather than advertising dollars? A dollar of product costs them less than a dollar of advertising; auctioning it off creates excitement; the advertiser gets more value (reduced cost/higher excitement); and the hardcore supporters are free to donate more than the item is worth just for the fun of it (and to support POA).

Also, I see I have been rather long winded in the past. Let me (re)summarize my concern:

The current POA site is phenomenal, glitzy, and more than anyone could ever ask for (and it's always been free to users, no less). There will be ABSOLUTELY no problem in getting the current users to support it for the next year or two. THEN WHAT HAPPENS? The interest will have to be LOWER at that time (I'm not going to repeat the reasons here) and then, far fewer hardcore members will have to support what has become an overblown infrastructure that was created based on the current, short-term, artificial peak in the current lifecycle of the Prowler. To put it another way, is this the peak in the stock market before the crash? How many of you were burned by that? I still believe that the longterm survivability of this wonderful community will be compromised if it is not optimized/economized (bandwidth, processing power and storage) for the longterm, not for the artificial peak that has already passed.

I think I should shut up now before everyone stops talking to me.

posted 07-06-2002 10:33 AM                  

I just looked on EBAY and there's an INCREDIBLE 28 (count 'em, TWENTY-EIGHT!!!) PROWLERS FOR SALE. Last time I looked, there were only thirteen. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE INCREASE IN INTEREST IN THE PROWLER!!! Activity on POA has to continue skyrocketing INDEFINITELY!!!

Let's take a poll - who thinks there will be at least TWENTY EIGHT PROWLERS ON EBAY a year from now?

I'm sorry, I said I'd shut up now.

posted 07-06-2002 10:51 AM                  

Mike..you need to keep track (and comunicate) how well "voluntary" is really working..

A voluntary $25.00 check is in the mail.

Mike and Judy..THANKS for all you do!

XOXO JWD and Chromer

posted 07-06-2002 10:43 PM                  

I’ve got a computer background myself and wanted to try and clear up a point from the previous post. My understanding is that when you use your banners, you only take up the space for the address of the banner each time you post, not the picture space as it’s displayed on your screen. If I’m wrong here, someone please correct me, but I’d hate to see people stop using banners because they think they are helping while it made little difference. I realize that some space is added with each, but it’s only like 10% to 20% of an average post not double or tripling it’s size. The pictures (as opposed to banners) do take up space and my understanding is that’s why they are only held onto for a limited time.

Why don’t we have a tiered membership? Those that want to just read the site, pay nothing or nothing for 3 months or next to nothing. This fee (or not) would go to the bandwidth issue. Then, there’s the next level that is allowed to post and have enough space for a few banners. This would go to the bandwidth as well as space concerns. The top level would have a large amount of space set aside for posting pictures that would go mostly for the space concerns. Sort of like a Silver, Gold, Platinum level. Of course this would depend on what the site software allows from a management perspective as we probably don’t want to add custom programming onto the bill. I just think membership’s fees that could be directed to uses as described here would be the most agreeable to the widest audience.

But in any case, I’m in for the long haul. Just let us know (aside from the donation) how to proceed.

posted 07-07-2002 02:16 PM                  

Even IF interest wanes after that - the $450 per month could be easily covered by donations.

I like the idea of a goal graphic - gauge (like a Prowler tach or speedometer) , pie chart, thermometer, graph, etc. - being displayed on the home page so everyone will know where POA stands on funding.

Bottom line is: Put a check in the mail today!

------------------
2000 Black with hand painted blue faded to purple flames

Driving my Dream

posted 07-07-2002 07:26 PM                  

1. Tier membership, I am willing to pay, but keep the doors open to any body interested as to not make this organization "exclusive". The tenor needs to be "inviting" and "openness"
2. Sale of POA merchandise. We even might get a vendor, like Brian, to be our "official" POA clothing distributor so we would not have to play with the cash, he would just pay a royalty on his POA sales. The multi-state sales tax issues can get real ugly, but I assume he would be set up for it.
3. Sale of the history's (message chains, etc on CD) Excellent reference material. (once again a third party to help)
4. Sale of other merchandise. (could be outsourced too)
The outsourcing and partnering, keeps the administrative burden down and generates cash flow.

posted 07-08-2002 04:48 PM                  

Personally I like Marty Usher's idea, but will go along with whatever Mike K. decides is best.

Even though I have been on it for a relatively short time, this is a great site and I would hate to see it go.