I think everyone is having a problem understanding the idea. The forum is and will always be free. The idea is there would be a premium option. Where if you wish to "donate" a set amount you would get a few extra "features" as mentioned earlier in this topic. I don't know how it keeps coming down to "to pay or not to pay" Don't pay, and everything stays the same. Pay and get a few extra features. that's it.
Jeztor- There is no way that 14 members (at current count) paying $20 a year would even come CLOSE to paying for the costs of just the server here. It is true that if I went out and picked the cheapest hosting service this would not be necessary. But I'm not with the cheapest. I'm with a high end package. It keeps your information secure, and keeps the forums running fast! (AND reliable!) Which compared so some other forums I visit.. that are on "cheaper" hosting services are defiantly slower. And are down a lot more. Also keep in mind I provide a photo hosting site for CPers here to host their CP pictures and show them off here. That site pulls quite a bit of bandwidth. So again, I need a "better" package to provide that service to you guys. And yes, I was thinking about Tshirts, I used to work for a guy that does screen printing... As far as news letter etc, no. I don't have time for that kind of thing.
Another part of the "fee" to be "premium" would be to allow you guys to have a buy / sell forum. So part of those "fees" would be to help me recover some of the sales I would lose through you all selling each other plants. Sort of an "advertising" fee I guess.
It does seem although some people would be interested in the features... And some people would not... Some still don't understand the whole concept of it and feel the forums will no longer be free... THEY WILL. But for the sake of keeping it simple and not rocking the boat... And not scaring anyone into leaving for the fear of fees popping up. I think this offer is closed. Maybe we'll revisit some other time.
Thanks to those of you that expressed willingness to help, and expand the forums further than what they currently offer. For those of you that showed interest around the $20/year mark will get the following extra features FREE (effective soon... Will last for, I dunno how long yet a month, 2... some thing like that... More if I forget haha) Just for showing your support
Name in gold, 150 MB to upload pictures directly to the forum (scroll down below where you type your post and you should see the upload options), Can store 125 PMs instead of 75, Ability to CLOSE your own topics (a mod will still need to open them for you PLEASE make sure you post why you’re closing it IE “offer ended”)
Thanks again for your willingness to support, the people I pulled from the previous pages of this topic that will get these features for a little while are:
nepenthes_ak
JustLikeAPill
herenorthere
Jayson16
glider14
nepenthes gracilis
PlantAKiss
xvart
rubrarubra
jiana54
rattler_mt
Dave S.
Presto
Finch
(again, please give me a day or so to get this set up if it isn't working when you read this...)
Andrew
Notice: to manage your attachments go to your user CP and go down to the far left, you'll see the option there (for seeing all you have, how much more room you have available ETC.)