Tiered subscriptions?

[gopunk]

i've seen numerous people (or maybe it's just one guy posting a lot ) say that they would subscribe if it were 20 bucks. so i was thinking maybe you guys could do tiered subscriptions... so like the 30 buck people could have the fastest servers, and the most pm's, and then 20 bucks would get you a slower (but still faster than normal) server with something like 500 pm's (instead of 1000)?

just a thought.

 

[minendo]

You know what would happen if $20 subscriptions were offered? Members would start the "Oh I would subscribe if it was only $10" crap. Lowering the price will only make them whine more (in theory) until subscribing would be free.

 

[yiwonder]

I think it's a fairly good idea. I wouldn't need the PMs considering I barely fill my 100 PMs over a 6 month period. I also wouldn't need the buddy lists or some of the other subscription "perks." I would only want the speed and full-text searching.

It may be a little hard to implement, though, and more complicated than Anand and Zuni want to make this.

 

[minendo]

<< I think it's a fairly good idea. I wouldn't need the PMs considering I barely fill my 100 PMs over a 6 month period. I also wouldn't need the buddy lists or some of the other subscription "perks." I would only want the speed and full-text searching.

It may be a little hard to implement, though, and more complicated than Anand and Zuni want to make this. >>


So what you are really looking for would be similar to one of those "bare minimum coverage" car insurance agencies?

 

[richleader]

I'd chip in a few bucks to help cover operating expenses, but I don't mind the ads and could care less about PMs (I've never sent or received one, people just email me) so there's no reason to subscribe.

 

[AmigaMan]

I'd be more in favor of a two tiered system for subscribers.
Tier 1 would be $10-$15 a year and get you the faster servers & bandwidth, but you would still see ads and PM limit would be capped.
Tier 2 would be $30 for the year and basically be like it is now.
Now how feasible this is, I don't know. But it would help out tremendously as more people would pay for the bandwidth they use and not have to pay for features they don't want (like PMs and such).

 

[Rainguy]

richleader, turn on your PM's.

YHPM!!


Actually, I am not sure how many servers they have but, I don't see why one couldn't be a $20 subscription server with just better bandwidth at least. $10-15 would not be worthwhile even bothering with IMO. They may get a whole bunch of new $20 subscribers that they would not have had before. It all adds up.

All in all though, $30 seems like peanuts to me for a year. I guess you just have to budget in what is important to you.

 

[Viper GTS]

Or the whiners could quit being cheap bastards & cough up the additional 2.74¢ a day to have the service as it stands now.

Viper GTS

 

[TomBilliodeaux]

I just put up $30, and now am back to the old times when we had fast access with only a few thous members (not very long ago).
We all know that we get what we pay for, and time is money, and every cliche' is being evidenced here. Welcome to reality.


Glad to help. Love the forum.

 

[AmigaMan]

<< Or the whiners could quit being cheap bastards & cough up the additional 2.74¢ a day to have the service as it stands now. >>



Would just like to point out that I am a subscriber and did pony up the $30 when it first was rolled out. This does not mean I am not a cheap bastard. I am and I'm quite proud of the fact.

 

[yiwonder]

I'm not whining or complaining about the current costs. I think $30 is pretty cheap for a year. All I'm saying is that more people would probably subscribe if you offer a cheaper, "striped-down" version.

It's not worth it for me to subscribe because I don't read through these forums very frequently anymore, but I do think that some people would jump at the chance to subscribe to a lesser version for cheaper just because it is cheaper.

 

[gopunk]

<< I'd be more in favor of a two tiered system for subscribers.
Tier 1 would be $10-$15 a year and get you the faster servers & bandwidth, but you would still see ads and PM limit would be capped.
Tier 2 would be $30 for the year and basically be like it is now.
Now how feasible this is, I don't know. But it would help out tremendously as more people would pay for the bandwidth they use and not have to pay for features they don't want (like PMs and such). >>



i don't think anybody would pay 15 bucks more just to get rid of ads and have more pm's though... i still say you have to have a medium fast server. otherwise there's little incentive for the top tier.