GU Classifieds - New Rules Starting Jan 1st

[Marty]

Starting January 1st, 2008, Only Forum Supporters will be able to post classified ads.

Wanted Ads will be free to all.

I really need to get GU to pull it's weight when it comes to paying for hosting. Dedicated server is costing me an arm and a leg (literally!). Google Ads and my other site help out, but I'm still not even close to being in the black. I am not saying here that I want to get paid, the countless hrs spent on-line aren't even an issue for me. I'm a forum junky and I do enjoy that. I just want to cover the out of pocket REAL costs of hosting and software. Wife was less then impressed when the Master Card bill came in :yikes:

There's a bunch of forum supporter options, 1 month, 3, 6 and 12 months.

For everyone that will upgrade the account to Forum Supporter before Jan 1st, I am putting up an option to join for one year for $80. Jan 1st, that will be back to the normal $100 for a year.

Anyhow, I hope more of you guys join and take advantage of the many perks and help out a bit with the costs associated with running GU.

Click here to become a supporting member

All of the members that already took the plunge and decided to support GU, many thanks !!!

 

[mat.si]

Hey people!
Marty is right. We need more forum supporters, if we want this thing to run smoothly in the future.
If you make money selling your geckos through this page, I think it's only right that you also support the well being of these fine forums. It should be in your interest as well that they continue to exist and grow.
Unfortunately nothing is free.
I'm actually quite admiring Marty that he's willing to work on this for free.

Matjaz

 

[spidergecko]

Paying for ads, eh? :-| Interesting. Not unexpected but interesting nonetheless.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Paying for ads, eh? :-| Interesting. Not unexpected but interesting nonetheless.

It's not just paying for using the classifieds...it's paying to help keep this whole thing running. It's giving back to the community. Marty can't/shouldn't be expected to foot the whole bill without help. And by being a supporter, you're getting more than just the right to post classifieds, you're getting a bunch of other features, as well as helping the forums sustain themselves too.

 

[mat.si]

I guess, if more supporters would come forward before that, making the adds available for supporters only would probably not even be necessary.
As people could probably guess, this is not a commercial page so it can't pay for itself.
And it sure has grown recently. Keeping it small would probably be lot cheaper, but it wouldn't be able to survive like that forever.

Matjaz

 

[aquapimp]

I'm signing up to support this great site ASAP.

 

[aquapimp]

Marty,

I just tried to take advantage of the $80 deal, but the default is still set at $100. How do I do it?


Thanks in advance,
Tom

 

[mat.si]

Hi Tom!
I can see the $80.00 per year choice right down at the end of the column.

Matjaz

 

[aquapimp]

mission accomplished!:yahoo:

 

[Marty]

Paying for ads, eh? :-| Interesting. Not unexpected but interesting nonetheless.

I decided to delete my impulsive reply.... statements like this really piss me off to be honest. You're not obligated or required to support the forum Mike.

BIG THANKS TO ALL NEW SUPPORTERS!!!!!

 

[cliff_f]

We are just so use to getting every thing free, it makes every one mad when we have to pay for something. Alot of people dont realize what all goes into keeping this running. But like Riverside Reptiles said, we are not only having to pay to sell our reptiles we help keep this whole thing running. I am going to be a supporter but I will have to wait till after the Holidays.

 

[aquapimp]

It's truly a small price to pay. I'm sure most of us will rally behind the forum. We NEED this site!

 

[Geitje]

I also understand about convincing the wife to believe in my expensive life addiction to geckos, but along with it comes the chore of making some effort to help it pay for itself.

This site has helped everyone that has posted on it. If you're profitting from this site, why not support it? Don't go forward knowing you're a free-loader:roll:

Support it dammit.

Jon

 

[David Jewell]

Yeah!signed...

The Porcelain Professor!

 

[Bowfinger]

I will support the site as soon as geckos or more likely my other business ventures get me out of a hole geckos created for me. I like the work and effort placed into this site and it deserves the funds to keep the labor happy.

As for the wife thing, why do we ALL have someone nagging us about our expensive geckos:fight: we could be hitting the bars and clubs, I say put the smizack dizown fo shizzle..

 

[Marty]

As for the wife thing, why do we ALL have someone nagging us about our expensive geckos:fight: we could be hitting the bars and clubs, I say put the smizack dizown fo shizzle..

Couldn't agree more... I've used the cigarette, bars and clubs booze and drugs already myself...heheh...too funny ... now if you are bar hopping and doing geckos - you're in trouble :coverlaugh:

 

[Rbeitle]

Marty,

Maybe you could allow one or two free classified adds per year per person. Many smaller scale hobbiests that only sell a few geckos a year find it not worth the 100 dollar fee to post one or two adds. I realize that this endevour must cost you a fortune. People that sell multiple geckos through this site should contibute because if it weren't for the site they may be a little less successful. Most of the animals I breed in a year I don't want to sell but in a year or two when that changes then I will definatly support the site with a donation. One hundred dollars a year is really cheap advertiseing and well worth it for me or anyone else who sells a large amount of geckos. For the majority of people on this site that post classified adds they wouldn't make 100 dollars a year selling geckos and would be in the hole after paying the fee for advertising. I'm not knocking your idea at all, I just don't want to miss out on some really rare species I could have obtained through the advertisements on this site but the seller only advertises once or twice a year and decided that the fee wasn't worth it. I'ts not that I think you should have to pay for our enjoyment, it's just that the people that profit most from this site should have to help with the costs. Or maybe you could charge a reduced fee to post a few adds. What do you think?

 

[Geitje]

Perhaps a function to the classified section could be made available to non-supporters, whereby they could post "one-time" classifieds at a flat rate fee. Example - $5/classified listing, good for 3 days.

That way you'll be hitting both markets fairly and effectively.

Jon

 

[Rbeitle]

Thats a good idea. That way everyone gets to use the classified applications and it will hopefully offset, or even better equal costs to expences.

 

[cliff_f]

Perhaps a function to the classified section could be made available to non-supporters, whereby they could post "one-time" classifieds at a flat rate fee. Example - $5/classified listing, good for 3 days.

That way you'll be hitting both markets fairly and effectively.

Jon

That would actually be a really good idea for the "small time" breeders and I bet that would bring in more money than you would think. As soon as these holidays are over I plan on putting in my $100 bucks for the year.