chris

Recently I received an email concerning why I charge for access. The emailer wrote:
I'm confused by the requirement to have to pay to see the whole forum. I am on other forums for things like trucks and boats and I've never paid. I'm not sure why you have to charge and they don't, maybe they have ads? Couldn't you get GD to sponsor the site? GD seems to use the site to reach customers and get feedback. I just think you are going to lose many possible contributors that make this forum interesting and useful.

My reply was the following:
1. Why do I charge when others don’t? The primary reason I do owner supported forums over ad supported is simple – it’s cleaner. Other forums have rotating advertisements from Google ads. They make a good living with that. They also have forum sponsors that pay for the right to be sponsors. When there are group buys, or you’re advertising a product on a site, then you have to link to one of their sponsors – otherwise your post gets deleted. I don’t do that. I figure that $12 a year is pretty cheap. A buck a month helps keep the riff raff out as well. People who are just looking to troll – especially those who own other brands – take advantage of free sites to go in and stir up trouble. I don’t allow that.
2. Why not have GD sponsor the site – I could have them do that. I don’t remember if they offered that up front or not, but I’m against it. By having GD sponsor the forum, I have the issue about “Free Speech”. If someone posts a negative review or a problem with how things have been dealt with, then GD can simply remove that – if they are in control. I have told them that I will not remove a legitimate post concerning issues with a trailer, or with the factory, but I won’t allow someone to trash them unforgivingly either. People want a forum where they can hear the good and the bad, not just what the factory wants them to hear.
3. I may indeed lose a few contributors, but forum operators know that you’re going to lose them due to trolls and other issues with people who are just stirring up trouble. Boards have a much harder time surviving that and end up being dominated by a few strong personalities instead of having a great amount of participation.

Thanks
Ct..