Would you pay ??

[howie]

Out of curiousity, would you be prepared to pay a one off membership fee to improve this site??
I would like everyone who reads this thread to answer Yes or No and why!!
I am happy to throw a lobster ($20) once a year for improved service and considering what work has gone into setting up this site, I believe it is a small price to pay. I hope others feel the same way. Howie

[bowhunting4eva]

yes, cause i would be stuffed without this site. if the $20 kept it running and improved it i would pay it for sure

[forrie]

of course i believe that we need to support all Australian forums

that AKC charges us about that and does **** all for the community as a hole

20 bucks is just lunch for 2 days at work :)

[will]

yeah i would!! the information contained here is awesome, and for a beginner it is essential. Good site, good information, good advice!!

[Poppy]

Yeah I would pay the $20.00.
But I think a lot of the younger folks (Jnr) may find it difficult (school, apprentice's, etc)
Also in my opinion it would slow down the new members, they would stay as a guest and not join.
Paul

[Rob H]

Yes i would pay $20, like B4E i would be stuffed without this site as it sooths my urge to go bowhunting whilst being here at uni, 500km away from home. This site is also a great way to make new mates & meet like minded people.

Nice thread howie.

Cheers,

Rob

[bobzila]

$20 is only 2 hours work at most for most people on this site so yes i would pay it

[stink989]

Yea i would pay for sure the knowlage and tips are priceless it would be better to be a donation than a membership cost as it would keep the new members away

[howie]

STINK, good point about the donation. Howie

[troy]

Yeh, but I don't really see what needs improving? This is one of the best forum sites on the net that I use. In saying that is the guys that run the site need funds to keep it up and running, I am sure most people would not begrudge at least $20 for the work they put in.

[stevenn]

Sure would hand over $20,think its a top idea to help supprt and up date the forum.cheers.stevenn

[cougerking]

i would pay 20 bucks..thats nothin really when ya think about it...just sometimes it can be hard to come up with money if your at skool still and what not...i think a donation is a good idea...i think its a small price for the commitment that these guys put in!

this site is my fav one to visit n e day!...the advice the people and the info is just priceless...

[Paul R]

I would now, but I wouldn't have when I first joined up. As has already been mentioned I would have just visited as a guest and not become a member.

I believe very strongly in promoting bowhunting in Australia, which is why I am involved in TBGA.
I believe that charging fees to be a member of this website would not help promote bowhunting but instead help perpetuate the Australian publics ignorance in regards to bowhunting and bowhunters in general. I believe that it would also stifle the sharing of information and experiences for the modern internet savey Australian bowhunter.

I wonder how many members we would now have if there was a membership fee instigated at the very begining? I would guess not very many.

[Jacob Goodwin]

I agree with Paul. Although I would happily contribute a donation ($20-$100) to help with the site, I don't really see a need...as the services of the site are more than sufficient.

Jake

[Rock Steady]

If I had to pay to join originally I would probably have looked for another sight, but now that I know the sight and the good it can do I would gladly give a donation once in a while to help with the running or upgrade costs.

[GREG D]

I'll be honest and say no. Its a great site but one of many where you can gain information or advice. Fees just keep people away.

[Antarcher]

All I have to say is just keep your money in your pocket as there are things in motion that will inject money into the site through other avenues. Watch this space in the near future to hear about some of the initiatives we are taking. It is going to be exciting times boys and we will be sharing the love. Those in the know please don't let the cat out of the bag as yet.

[Hefty]

Sounds exciting Ant!
For interest's sake though, I would say "yes" to the $20 to show support for the site but I can see Rock Steady's point that when people start out new on here, they might not be as willing.

Jono.

[Arra Slinger]

I agree with Paul as well

Ben

[JMARCHER]

$20 is not much to most of us, but i do think it would discourage new membership when other sites are free.
No easy answer . Maybe we should all mention to the advertisers that we buy from them after seeing their ads, so they know its good value to advertise here and continue to do so.
Cheers
Jason

[hunt or be hunted]

how about if joining up was free but after being a member for 12 months then you pay the $20 once a year. i'll be honest and say i would have trouble getting $20 although its only once a year there is always something that i need, i.e. arrows, broadhead's etc... but if i could afford it i would pay it.

dan.

[Antarcher]

I don't know where all this is coming from. This is a free website where people are most certainly free to come and go as they please. Where a fee came into it is beyond me. Unless I am mistaken the fee is not required as we are here to pass opinions on here and the right to have an opinion and state it in this country are free too.

This site is like minded people sharing like minded ideas. We, the members, are the make up of this site. No members no site and no bowhunting talk. Who is to put a fee on that as we all varying degrees of input and experience. If I offer advice then it is because I choose to do so, not because I am obligated to help someone who paid for that right. Like I said earlier, we will be doing some great things soon that will put this debate to bed.

Mind you I am not admin and am only talking from my own point of view and also through knowledge of what we are doing.

[wazza_X force]

i would if i had to but i dont really see where the improvements are to be made...

wazza

[Sorehand]

yep
the wealth of imformation i have gotton of this site cant really be bought

[Paul R]

I totally agree Antonio as I'm sure the other Administrators do to.
This website was originally started so that all bowhunters had a place to visit for the free exchange of information, ideas and experiences and in so doing help promote bowhunting in this country.

That's what has made it great and I don't see it changing.:D

[adam]

This website was originally started so that all bowhunters had a place to visit for the free exchange of information, ideas and experiences and in so doing help promote bowhunting in this country.

Thats right Paul and thats the way it will stay.

But thanks for the suggestion all the same Howie.

Cheers mates

Adam

[Miga]

It's a great website, but I wouldn't pay. Isn't that what sponsors are for???

[Puk]

That's right Miga.
whenever you need any gear boys and girls, look to our sponsors first. The more business you give them, (and keep mentioning that you are shopping there because they sponsor us:D), the keener they will be to keep sponsoring us. we have some great sponsors that enable us to keep building this site up.
A Big thanks to all of them.
Puk

[Luke]

I have been reading along with this thread with much interest.

I thought we would have some good discussion when I read Howie's original post (which we definitely have).

It is most humbling to read of the number of people who have said they'd be willing to donate small amounts to assist with the running of the site. Very humbling and deserved of much thanks. Most sincerely.

At no point in time will members of this site ever be made to pay money for their membership. It is a free service offered to the bowhunting community. Our mission statement outlines the reasons for the existence of TBGA.

To foster participation in Bowhunting.
To promote humane and ethical hunting.
To protect the right to hunt.
To assist and educate fellow hunters.


cheers,

Luke

[Barry]

I think this post went off track somewhere along the way.

The question was about making voluntary donations but that got turned into a discussion of 'paying fees'.

Those two things are FUNDAMENTALLY different.

Let me just say this site will NEVER charge a fee for the information and services here. The idea is to promote bowhunting to everyone, irrespective of their financial situation or ideals.

It is FREE and will remain so.

However it also costs money and significant time to run. The financial burden has rested primarily on Luke and for some years myself. We have never asked for donations, and the ones that have been given have been greatly received and used to further enhance this website.

Sponsorhsip here has never intended to be lucrative, we tend to select sponsors based on their input in the forum and their contributions to bowhuntng first and foremost.

So in summary NO FEES ever, any dontations are voluntary and completely discretionary and will be used to further enhance this forum.

[Paul R]

Actually Barry this was the original question mate:

Out of curiousity, would you be prepared to pay a one off membership fee to improve this site??

:D

[howie]

We pay for hunting magazines, DVD's and membership clubs, I just thought a few bucks joining fee/donated may improve the site. Just think of the time and effort and expensive that went into setting this site up, the man hours alone would be HUGE. Yes, this site is a freebie and for all those who would get behind the site and donate something, if ever required, a very well done, you are champion guys and gals and the type of people who get behind their chosen passion. You have shown your support and I applaud you. Just think for a moment if this site was not available to us, we would be much poorer for it. Howie

[Barry]

Paul point taken.

Most of the comments that followed were no to fees but yes to donations.

I think we can clearly say that; membership fees are a NO GO and have never been on admins agenda.

[mayall]

i would be prepared to Pay a yearly fee . as there is a lot of work that goes on behind the seens

[ado250]

Easy to reply to a thread, but let's all put our money where our mouths are :P

Great thread by Howie, how about admin set's up an "initiative" list. Maybe they could throw up a list (in order of priority) of things the site/member community could benefit from, and we could all then action our generous pledges by transfer into an account. I know that a picture gallery has been discussed previously and it has been an 'expensive venture'. If I saw a proposal to put together a server to host members hunting pics, I would throw some money at it for sure. If the funds weren't raised, then the money could go towards some less expensive initiatives.

Rather than paying a membership fee, we could contribute directly to things we would like to see happen, say members get together at a suburban 3d range complete with BBQ and beverages? ;)

Just a thought.

Ado

[spiderbait24]

sure but i dont know if i could pay much sorry as i have no job.

[mayall]

Hi ado250
well that would be up to the adm team to decied i think . As i no from exprience web sites are not cheap and take a lot of hours to do ,i agree with the posting of things we wont and the the adm can tell us how much this will cost . so some people mit not want to pay . that is just the way i see it . some poeple have other veiws and this is mine .

[ado250]

Sure, definitely is an admin decision and of course some people won't want to pay. However some people don't mind contributing to things especially when they are contributor exclusive (if this is at all possible).

Ado

[XTfreak]

I would not pay. Just the way Iam...
Bill