Who's making money on this forum? No longer seems to be controlled by the users. Recent changes have favored advertising and slowed access (load) times severely. Complaints or suggestions for improvements go unanswered.
Don't get me wrong, I'd be sorry to upset things, as the FJ Forum is an invaluable source of info to me.
The paid portion of this offers nothing for me. That is why I have not paid my $25.00. Sticker, who cares, 500 PMs, I'm lucky if I get one a month. No adds, now that is a plus. Other stuff, I don't care about. I believe, and this is just me, that to have the little member avatar below your own avatar is just something to have for the bragging rites. It is just not for me. I would rather spend my $25 on something that is usefull to me. That is all.
__________________ PERFORMANCE: Airaid intake, Gibson Exhaust, Royal Purple Oils LIFT KIT: Toytec/Donahoe Racing 3", Spidertrax wheel spacers EXTERIOR: Rear Tail light Guards, Chrome 17" wheels, GoodYear MT tires, AP Sliders, lots O' stickers, PIAA Headlights/dome lites, Fourtrex, Hi-lift COLOR: Voodoo Blue 4x2 fully loaded with all options but nav. AUDIO: Dice iPod interface INTERIOR: ScanGuage II, Ellis Design Black Grab Handles & Battery Clamp. Littlelite 12" goose neck map light W/ Dimmer.
When a forum starts up, it has a small readership and makes very little money off of advertising, but also pays very little (comparatively) in bandwidth and space charges to the hosting company. As the forum grows, eventually (if it gets big enough) the hosting charges start to really sky rocket, but advertising revenue really picks up as well, it can be a real balancing act between these two forces.
The fact of the matter is - the users never have been and never will be "in charge" of a forum like this. The corporate parent - AutoForums - and their hired administrators are in charge and they are trying to maximize profit while maintaining the growing user base - again the balancing act. Just like any business, they have every right to try and generate as much revenue as possible, after all it is how they make their "beer money"!
The administrators here do seem (IMO) to respond to some of the readership input, although they are not required to actually follow any suggestions. The leverage we - as readers - have is to quit reading their posts, thus reducing their traffic and reducing their advertising revenue. That is why they try to keep us happy enough to keep coming back, but still squeeze out as much profit as possible, and I can't honestly blame them for doing so. After all, it's a business, not a charity.
The difference between paid and standard accounts is like the difference between cable TV and broadcast. Broadcast is free, but lots of ads, cable costs more but has a lot fewer ads, although few cable channels have zero ads anymore.
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'07 Sun Fusion Yellow FJC, 17" Alloy wheels and stock Dunlops, Predator style step/rock rails, roof rack, leather seats and rubber floor mats.
Additions: USMC tire cover, Red "bling" skid plate and FJ Cruiser decals, Scuba Driver mod, Manik black tail-light guards, Galaxy DX959 CB, Acquired some 16" Taco rims - trying to get some "mudder shoes"
Central Florida area - FLCA #207 http://www.flca.org "Here comes the Coyote!"
My point exactly. So who makes the money? And why is there zero ADMINISTRATOR responses to questions?
Gee... This thread was posted ten minutes ago and there's no response from admin yet... ??? C'mon. This forum is a privately owned enterprise and has never been portayed as anything else as long as I've been a member. There is nothing wrong with making money and this forum is one of the best that I've ever seen. So, those of you who don't want to pay to support, don't. Continue on using this forum for free. No arms are being twisted.
__________________ Crotalus
6 spd MT Voodoo Blue
A-Trac switch installed!
Custom tube bumper in the works...
To really stick it to the morons who run this place I've launched a radical, almost anarchist campaign... It began as the depraved dillusions of a madman, but has sparked into a real movement. I call it "going outside."
Join me! JOIN ME!!!!! Together we will overthrow this place! BYAH!!
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-Mike
Check out my blog thing!
Something there is that doesn't love a wall, that wants it down...
This admin is not an autoforums.com employee so I am not in the loop as to where the $$ goes, but as stated: it is a privately owned forum so it can be done with as the owners see fit. As also stated: there is no mandate to pay, and all of the same subject matter is free for the taking as it was before.
To really stick it to the morons who run this place I've launched a radical, almost anarchist campaign... It began as the depraved dillusions of a madman, but has sparked into a real movement. I call it "going outside."
Join me! JOIN ME!!!!! Together we will overthrow this place! BYAH!!
LMAO!!! What a radical solution, and very timely since I have spent all my $$$ on mods for the ride that can take me wherever I wanna go outside!
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'07 Sun Fusion Yellow FJC, 17" Alloy wheels and stock Dunlops, Predator style step/rock rails, roof rack, leather seats and rubber floor mats.
Additions: USMC tire cover, Red "bling" skid plate and FJ Cruiser decals, Scuba Driver mod, Manik black tail-light guards, Galaxy DX959 CB, Acquired some 16" Taco rims - trying to get some "mudder shoes"
Central Florida area - FLCA #207 http://www.flca.org "Here comes the Coyote!"
Gee... This thread was posted ten minutes ago and there's no response from admin yet... ??? C'mon. This forum is a privately owned enterprise and has never been portayed as anything else as long as I've been a member. There is nothing wrong with making money and this forum is one of the best that I've ever seen. So, those of you who don't want to pay to support, don't. Continue on using this forum for free. No arms are being twisted.
I didn't suggest or request a response from the administrators within the next ten minutes, just any response within the past year I've visited this posr.
PERFORMANCE: Airaid intake, Gibson Exhaust, Royal Purple Oils
C'mon. This forum is a privately owned enterprise and has never been portayed as anything else as long as I've been a member. There is nothing wrong with making money and this forum is one of the best that I've ever seen. So, those of you who don't want to pay to support, don't. Continue on using this forum for free. No arms are being twisted.
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