I am unwilling to keep this site running in the current form.
It is costing me too much in terms of money, aggravation and time.
I need to find a way to generate some income here.
If the classifieds were used more it would help, but it is the only source of income here.
Then I get a message from a nameless person saying "where the fuck are the results for the Billinghurst shoot?" I can't post results I don't have! These are usually posted within an hour of me getting them.
Makes me wonder why I even bother. To my knowledge this is the only country with a resource like this.
Anyway, no income = no site.
I was thinking of making a membership fee of $20, which would allow members to use the online entry form.
What do you think of this idea?
Rob.
Do what ever you need to do. I look at this site almost every day but it definitely isn’t a hive of activity. As you said, the best site in the world and it needs to be utilised.
I'm a Newbie on here. But it has already helped me. $20 is a small amount to pay for a good resource.
With the strength of social media these days, would it be worth converting to a Facebook page that is private where admin must approve members and all posts I’m sure there would be a couple of people willing to help with admin by myself would put my hand up to help you out
While this would work for the Forum, it wouldn't allow the automation for entry forms and results.
BB Administrator
I always said a $10 or $20 annual fee should be imposed and more than fair. Many still use the site but it is up to you buddy, my only advice is do not let the loud minority aholes make the decision, u do what is best for you. In any case we all owe you a lot mate.
Bill Collaros Australia
"Shoot to Thrill"
My phone has been ringing off the hook today, including a sizeable donation from Neville Madden from Maddco Barrels.
All supported my idea of a yearly subscription.
So, what I am proposing to do is to have a $20 annual subscription. This would allow access to:
Forum
Classifieds
Trading Post
Equipment
Shooter of the Year results
Everything else, such as results will continue to be free.
There is a lot of work in doing the programming for this, so there goes my Christmas break!
Any other ideas are welcome.
Rob.
BB Administrator
Rob I believe you are selling the privilege to place adds posts on your web site to cheap at .38 cents per week. Just look at our range fees, membership and our ammunition without all of our gear we use. I would like to see the user log in and receive a activation number that expires in 12 months and the fee should be $50 per year if you can not afford .96 cents a week well too bad. Also no nick names if you want to hide behind them what are you afraid of stand up for what you believe in, And yes any posts that become personal or aggressive membership should be terminated
Blainey (Steve),
Hi Rob the price of membership is very reasonable, as you know i built the 500mfly website from scratch i went to TAFE to learn how to build websites. Paid for the training hosted the website invigorated conversations on the forums, addition to this i built from scratch a loan rifle at my own cost for new shooters to use ( the only cost was to pay for the ammo which i did the load development and only used the best components) You would think that this was well received it wasn't. The amount of shooters who said the load rifle wasn't competitive enougth (i fixed that the next day i won a 1000 Australian small group record with the very rifle and ammunition.
There is no justice in convincing the minority that someone has to pay for the privilege we have of having your site to enter shoots and have conversations with shooters on forums. There has been so many good ideas shot down by people who's only intent is either hiding behind pretend names and ragging out any good ideas or intentions.
The fly has moved on to a very highly looked at site with not much forum movement because this takes time and effort. Most shooters fear positing on websites for backlash or smart comments that are not positive.
Having shot nearly every discipline available I see the efforts shooters (like yourself) that go to in supporting a discipline you are passionate about. Time has come to make decisions that will shape the sport moving forward short range benchrest and Benchrest bulletin survive with each other if your site goes the sport will suffer and no serious shooter wants this to happen.
Please charge a fee if $20 keeps this site a float and functional it is a very small price to pay.
The time of good will is over the very high price of components and rifles is limiting the sports growth, I have said it on this forum, the fly forum, large bore, F class, small bore, shotguns, pistol clubs, shooting disciplines get shooters from other disciplines its that simple. Sure we get family that come along but brand new never owned a rifle are very few and far between.
Every benchrest shooter at the high to intermeidate level has 10 -15K worth of gear so $20 is nothing put the membership in, additionally to assist with keeping forums in check I would suggest getting some assistance with this from shooters. When I owned and ran the fly website, no nicknames, no swearing, no adds, and if some one was out of line they we kicked off the site. Websites like this need to a source of positive information and assist shooters where ever possible. I have seen some comments on this site that are far from reasonable and you have had to moderate the conversation which is taxing on you personally. Set some strict ground rules if people don't like it then perhaps they need to either adjust their attitude or limit their access to this site to registering for a matches only.
Rob set up the membership you don't need feedback you need support.
Regards Les Fraser
Thanks Rob my $20 has been paid and the simple tab at the top of the page made it easy as usual.
Merry Christmas Mate.
Bill Collaros Australia
"Shoot to Thrill"
Hi Rob, I don’t disagree with your need to charge a membership fee. Do whatever you need to do that will keep this site going and also keep you happy.
Maybe you should charge $20 to $40 membership and include one free advertisement per year. This will encourage more users to utilise this facility. I normally use used guns and your site to sell a rifle etc. However, I have greater success using Benchrest bulletin.
Thanks for providing such a great service.
Stuart Neale.
I’m happy to join any version that you put together
Mitchell Calcutt