LaverdaForum funding options

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Many will know that I arrange the webhosting facility for LaverdaForum, and have done so for the last 10 years. Until recently, costs have been minimal due to the free open source software used and absorbing the hosting costs as a business expense. That's no longer possible now that I am retired.

The new forum software is a commercial licenced product which I paid for. In total I estimate that this year's total operating cost is around £500. This will reduce next year to around £325 based on current prices and assuming attachments remain under control! In addition to webhosting costs, I also use backup and security software that carry annual fees.

I have been approached by some users offering to make/organise a financial contribution. Given the non-trivial costs this year, and the option to provide a document library and gallery as part of the new software I'm asking for your thoughts on the best way forward. I believe there are two options - either voluntary donations or an annual subscription.

My guess is that with around 250 active users (i.e. visited in the last month) and assuming half opted in to a paid service I'd need to charge £5 p.a. (PayPal fees make up the difference!) Essentially, this would mean that content would only be visible to paid up members. Arguably this may deter those with a peripheral or latent interest in Laverda and we'd be doing nothing to encourage them. The alternative of asking for donations would mean that some users would get for free what others have contributed towards.

I'd appreciate your thoughts / comments / voting!
Paul LeClair is aware of this proposal.

Rob Bradbury
 
Another forum I belong to charges for access to manuals and parts lists. They seem to cover most of their costs this way.
The balance is voluntary donations.
 
I am happy to pay an annual subscription, or to make a donation; whatever the majority chooses. Perhaps non "subscribers" could be given X number of free visits but after that they must subscribe to access the best site on the net. That way they could see what is on offer in the world of Laverda, and if they get the bug, pay for the ongoing privilege like the rest of us.

Cheers

Bottler
 
Admin said:
The alternative of asking for donations would mean that some users would get for free what others have contributed towards.
Click to expand...

I don't see that as being a massively important issue. It wouldn't bother me if I was paying something while others weren't. Asking for donations and leaving it up to individuals how much they want to contribute is possibly the fairest system. People can pay whatever their forum membership is worth to them, and how much they can afford.

Call me Marxist if you like (no, not you Paul, the other bloke :) ) but I think the ability of individuals to pay is an important consideration. £50 is a more significant outlay to a pensioner than it is to a millionaire. There's no way to apply a means test, so leaving the amount up to the individual members is the only way to cover that consideration.

If you want a more structured system, then another thing to look at is frequency of use. I suppose that line of thinking leads to a fee system based on the number of posts made. Perhaps just ask those who have reached a certain level of membership (say Hero members) to contribute. I don't know how many members there are of each category, but let's assume there are 50 hero members, then a £10 donation from each would cover your costs. If you want to take it further, ask Senior members for a £5 donation. I don't know whether the above numbers are in the ballpark, but I presume you (Rob) have access to the information to do the sums and come up with a payment scale that'll work.

I'm not keen on the idea of a flat rate joining fee for everyone. That would mean that the more frequent users would be getting way better value out of their membership than others. And newcomers who are thinking of getting into Laverda ownership might be put off by a joining fee.

Cheers,
Cam
 
KISS.................Flat rate for One n All.
Keep up the great wrk Lads ;)

If you cant stump up a Tenna ? then can you really afford to be muckin about with Classic Bikes?
 
I don't think a flat rate is a simple thing to apply.

I think there were about 1000 registered members before we changed to the new forum (can't see how many now). The majority of those would have been lurkers, but if they all paid a tenner for membership it would raise £10,000. I guess at £10 the vast majority would opt out, but you dunno how many would choose to stay. You could end up with just 10 people left or 500. Who knows? So how do you work out what to charge them. You may not raise enough or you could wildly overshoot your target amount. It's a complete stab in the dark. That's why I don't think a flat rate is a practical answer.

I don't have a problem with Rob raising more than his direct costs. I think some compensation for the time he puts in is reasonable. But £10,000 might be a bit more than he's expecting. :)
 
For me personally, the forum is primarily a good opportunity to keep in touch with Laverdisti and see how the scene is developing.
For someone who is just starting out with Laverdas or those who are technically not so fit, the forum is an additional source/help that saves time, money and trouble.

my proposition:
- only reading without pictures is free (receives trafic = free marketing for us)
- show text and pictures = 5 EUR p.a.
- writing and show text and images + uploads / downloads = 10 EUR p.a.

In addition, we could charge a symbolic annual fee of EUR 20-50 EUR p.a. for links to dealers/professionals.
That's not much, but it would do justice to the usefulness of the links given the number of visitors to our forum.

If too much money is raised in the medium term, the contributions can still be adjusted after 2-3 years.

Thomas aus LAU
 
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Thomas aus LAU said:
For me personally, the forum is primarily a good opportunity to keep in touch with Laverdisti and see how the scene is developing.
For someone who is just starting out with Laverdas or those who are technically not so fit, the forum is an additional source/help that saves time, money and trouble.

my proposition:
- only reading without pictures is free (receives trafic = free marketing for us)
- show text and pictures = 5 EUR p.a.
- writing and show text and images + uploads / downloads = 10 EUR p.a.

In addition, we could charge a symbolic annual fee of EUR 20-50 EUR p.a. for links to dealers/professionals.
That's not much, but it would do justice to the usefulness of the links given the number of visitors to our forum.

If too much money is raised in the medium term, the contributions can still be adjusted after 2-3 years.

Thomas aus LAU
Click to expand...
That sounds pretty good Thomas, I like it.
Not sure about the 20-50 euro for links but the first few points seem fair.
Tom in Aus
 
Am I right in recalling that the previous iteration of Laverdaforum required you to log in (i.e. register as a member) in order to view photos/video posted by others? If that is still the case then I think a small annual fee ought not deter new members from registering. Maybe offer 1 month free access to all content to lurkers, that's enough time to convince them ten bucks is a bargain. Those who don't, weren't serious anyway.
Cheers, Pat

pf1, you posted while I was composing my reply (y)
 
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I'd go for a voluntary contribution and if that doesn't cover the costs, envisage one of the other options.

As a local idiot once said when we were starting up a club " when one loves Laverda, money isn't a concern".

Paul
 
Hi Rob,

it dont kill me to pay 10 Euro/Pound!
One Proseccho les in Italy!
If you have to spend youre own money we have to change this quickly!!!

Cheers Volki
 
Annual fee must be the way to go with maybe limiting guest membership to free for say 2-3 months As rowdy pat said, obviously if that's technically possible.
 
This has been a free source forum since day dot, I think it should stay that way for the masses, if you opened up the PayPal account now for people to donate to it the costs would be covered In a few days, and if it’s not I’m sure that those of us that do care will cover any shortfall, it’s has been asked many times over the years whether we could contribute to the running costs and to date we have always been denied,but now the time has come so ill sling ya 25 quid governor, I just won’t be able to buy me a new pair of pantyhose this month, I’m sure I have 19 more supporters and there were done... easy init, or donate whatever you can afford, want to, feel is fair and just....
 
Patrick said:
....maybe limiting guest membership to free for say 2-3 months ....
Click to expand...
Full guest membership with all rights and free?
I've had negative experiences there.

People sign up for free and download the stuff they need for free. That was it.
If necessary, you then just log in again as a new guest.

I could live with READ and SEE text and images (not download) .

Thomas aus LAU
 
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