Yet, Another Poll Thread!

Would you pay a monthly fee to participate on AzBilliards Discussion Forum

  • Yes, I would gladly pay a small monthly fee.

    Votes: 26 19.4%

  • No. I will never pay a monthly fee.

    Votes: 89 66.4%

  • I am not sure and would have to think about it.

    Votes: 19 14.2%
  • Total voters
    134
  • Poll closed .
Even though this site is a lot of fun and is very helpful, I would not pay for a discussion forum. I frequent other discussion forums often and they are also free.

However, I would be willing to pay a percentage if I were to sell something or advertise on the for sale forum. I also order shirts and books from AZ billiards, so I feel the forum use should remain free. Yes, something is free in this life!!
Thanks AZBilliards.com!:)
 
I would pay a small monthly fee for AZ. That said...I can see why most would not. I'm stuck here at home almost 24/7. If I still were going out and playing pool I probably would not pay. Johnnyt
 
jgpool said:
...JAM, your right it is like going to your neighborhood bar. The money I save from not going to a bar would more than offset a small monthly fee. Having said all that, just reading Smogasbored is worth 5 bucks a month!!:eek: :eek: :D :D
Click to expand...

Smorgie is the life of the party! :D

And coming here does remind me of a neighborhood tavern or a clubhouse where we like to hang out. We all know each other from our writings.

There's the "regulars," the "old-timers," the strangers in town (first-time posters), the funny guys, and, of course, the inevitable infamous bullies. Every bar has 'em, and so does this forum from time to time.

When a poster gets out of line, the bullies are barred, or banned in this case. Sometimes, after a spell, the moderator, much like the bartender, will allow the banned one back in and allow them to post if they display good behavior.

When someone gets sick or suffers a loss, we all feel for them and try to give them some comfort posts.

I have abstained from posting on occasion, just like I may have not gone to my neighborhood bar, but each time I come back, it always reminds me of the slogan at my hangout when I was younger. So I will apply it here. "AzBilliards is just like walking into the home of an old friend. Surliness and flies, no charge!" :D

JAM
 
With the number of current members being so strong, and all of the different aspects of billiards discussed here, charging a small fee would probably limit the membership to mainly collectors, and cue builders. At this point, a paid membership, or a "choice" to pay, would have to include some additional benefits such as additional discounts from the sponsers, access to more data, newsletters, special collector only sections, something to justify paying a fee.
 
cuesblues said:
At this point, a paid membership, or a "choice" to pay, would have to include some additional benefits such as additional discounts from the sponsers, access to more data, newsletters, special collector only sections, something to justify paying a fee.
Click to expand...
I would gladly pay for that!!!
 
Yes, I would pay for it.
How much? 10$ Anually for full access to the forum would be ok with me.
If you don't pay, you only get access to the main forum, except for the first three months (just long enough to get 'em hooked).

gr. Dave
 
I'd miss it, but I think I'd drop it for a monthly fee.

It's not that I think it's not worth it... just that every forum I've ever been on has been free and I know that a decent board can be run at no cost, if you can find people willing to volunteer time to mod it. Proboards for example has a pretty nice-looking forum that's easy to run and free with very small ads (example - http://skysportsforum.proboards47.com/ )

If people have to choose between paid AZB and a free alternative like billiards digest, they'd prolly migrate to BD.

I'm not even sure if AZB takes a loss on this forum, or if it's just folded up into the cost of running the main site, or what - it does have ads and they may cover the costs. Hope the admin notices this thread and can chime in.
 
I would just make another board ran by 2 big men my new internet hangout. (Wouldn't pay).
 
I think that we have to pay for enough things in this world for fun. It would be a total let down if we had to pay for making new friends you may have never had a chance to make.....=(
If this does happen then i hope every and anyone involved have children with webbed feet....lol! kidn';)
 
txspaderz said:
As a forum owner myself I would never force my members to pay for posting. I don't allow advertising in signatures, however I do allow one free advertisement a week along with a the paying advertisers in a rotating banner on my forum.

I for one would be happy to be a "Subscriber" for AZ, if Mike turned on that option.

Only one forum I have successfully which shall remain nameless. They have a "No av no Care" rule in affect, to where if you are not a subscribing member you get less attention, and possibly ridiculed. It has honestly worked, because the Admistrator I know personally and he makes over $80,000 per month in revenue from this one forum, even though he does spend over $30,000 per month hosting this forum.
Click to expand...

i know what forum you are referring to and the upkeep for that forum must be insane with so many users on all the time
 
But the question is...since we all like to hear from the pros and gets tips, etc. would any of the pros pay? If not, then would it be as beneficial to come to this site. I like the fact that so many pros frequent this forum and we can talk to them. What other sport can you do that in? JMO.

Southpaw
 
webbed feet

poolchic said:
I think that we have to pay for enough things in this world for fun. It would be a total let down if we had to pay for making new friends you may have never had a chance to make.....=(
If this does happen then i hope every and anyone involved have children with webbed feet....lol! kidn';)
Click to expand...

mine already do, I think my ex-wife is 25% platypus
 
Varney Cues said:
Or....you could do as Glocktalk.com has done. They are free like AZ but they now also offer "paid tier memberships". You have the option of being a free member or buying a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level membership. They show a moneybag symbol with I, II, or III under your avatar so everyone can clearly see which option you've chosen. Yes, most choose the free option but there are many that have no problem purchasing a tier level to help Glocktalk ownership. Kind of the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
There is another forum like that called customtacos.com. Anything you ever needed to know about Toyota Tacomas. The site is free but you have the option to pay and you get certain perks with a paid membership.

BVal
 
cuesblues said:
mine already do, I think my ex-wife is 25% platypus
Click to expand...

I've got a black lab with webbed feet, and he can't swim. He just wades in the water, walks back and forth, and thinks he's swimming! :o

JAM
 

Attachments

  • sammy2.JPG
    sammy2.JPG
    33.5 KB · Views: 151
Opinion

bomber said:
I think charging a nominal fee would be wrong. If it wasnt for the massive amount of posters on this board, the website would not have the amount of advertising revenue that it currently has. The forum users are a major part of why this website is a success. If you start charging people to use a public forum, then the number of users will go down. Therefore, the money acquired from the advertising will go down and I would venture to say that this amount would not be made up through the nominal fees from the posters.

I see this website the same way that I see talk radio on AM. We listen for free...advertisers advertise to us and pay the station...everyone wins.

I think that charging a nominal fee would be the demise of AZbilliards...it might be a slow demise...but I assume that:

1.number of posters would decrease
2.the number of website hits would decrease
3.advertisers would start to leave
4.the site would begin to take a heavier loss
5.no more azbilliards
6.people start using the CCB or another forum
7.it becomes a hit
8.they start to charge
9.the cycle continues

Just an opinion...i could be totally wrong on it.
Click to expand...
You've made some great points and I agree with you. Charging for a forum is a bad idea in my opinion.
 
Say WHAT

jgpool said:
I would pay a small fee if it was mandatory. This site offers so much inside info that it would be well worth it. I get so much entertainment out of it. JAM, your right it is like going to your neighborhood bar.
The money I save from not going to a bar would more than offset a small monthly fee. Having said all that, just reading Smogasbored is worth 5 bucks a month!!:eek: :eek: :D :D
Click to expand...


He's funny sometime, but he posts TOO much. His wife wishes he'd go get a REAL job and stop living off her. He voted NO in JAM's Poll.

Doug
( I rated him an 82, he has a good beat and he's easy to dance to, but I wouldn't buy him ) :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top