Just Curious
#11
#15
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Posts: 1,570
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I participate in a number of forums. Most are free, some have an upgraded pay option. There really isn't anything on here that I can't get somewhere else for free. For me, there really isn't much incentive to pay a premium for a membership, just to argue about politics. I can do that on another forum with people that are more educated on the subject.
Re: posting pics - I just use a photobucket account. Works fine for what I do. Sure, I'd like to have a picture of my boat next to my screen name, and be able to upload pics, it's just not worth $25 a year to do it for me.
Also, I can't stand things that need maintenance and "run out." My boat is bad enough with dockage, winterization, maintenance, this little thing, that little thing, etc. I don't need one more thing adding to the tab and adding to the frustration of boating. I come on here to relax, and I don't want this thing "coming due"... It just feels like another bill at that point, and I get sick of messing with things like that, even if they are cheap.
Re: posting pics - I just use a photobucket account. Works fine for what I do. Sure, I'd like to have a picture of my boat next to my screen name, and be able to upload pics, it's just not worth $25 a year to do it for me.
Also, I can't stand things that need maintenance and "run out." My boat is bad enough with dockage, winterization, maintenance, this little thing, that little thing, etc. I don't need one more thing adding to the tab and adding to the frustration of boating. I come on here to relax, and I don't want this thing "coming due"... It just feels like another bill at that point, and I get sick of messing with things like that, even if they are cheap.
#16
Easily Distracted
Platinum Member
That's probably my fault more so than IBs. IB/Heather have always been gracious and sent me t-shirts/coozies, any time that I have asked for them (such as for the Baja/Checkmate party last year) and they tried to sponsor one of the local poker runs as well. They are happy to get involved when asked .... I just didn't ask since I didn't travel as much this year. Coulda woulda shoulda .....
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Bad Girls Make Good Company
Bad Girls Make Good Company
#17
Registered
I come here to read and talk about boats and look at boat pics. I can do all that with a free membership. Why would I care about putting money into IBs pocket? Yeah its fairly cheap but there is plenty of other stuff I can buy with the $40.
#18
I was comp'd one year as VIP by Steve (after putting a deal together for him) and I paid for one year (VIP/Plat. can't remember). I am truly a cheapskate that hates paying for anything that my parents never paid for! Think about it, satellite radio, cell phones, cable, internet, alarms etc....all the stuff that your parents never had to pay for. It adds up! I have two kids and they have the fantasy of each getting Ipads for Christmas. The purchase price doens't irk me as much as the monthly fee! Lucky for them my wife has a sizable income and I don't usually see 1/2 of what she buys.
I enjoy the site as well as others and don't miss the "uncensored" section and don't really post pics anyway so for $40 what am I missing? Interesting enough, Steve made it impossible to view any pictures without a membership just before he sold it (so I joined). I wouldn't miss the $40 if it was going to someone I know, but IB.....nope.
The $40 doesn't equate to increased value for the user yet the traffic/thread contribution adds value to IB.
#20
Registered
I agree with Ray (emilsr). If I paid a membership to every message board that I'm a member of, it'd be probably be several hundred bucks a year (at least). I have a seperate folder in my bookmarks just for message boards (cars, bikes, boats, trucks, drag racing, etc.).
I was a member of a message board/car club for f-bodies that was free and that started out with 13 of us guys. I had for years paid for the club's picnics, car cruises, meetings, etc to help support the club. When membership hit 4,000+ members in ten years, they decided to start charging $25/yr dues to read the message board and told me I had to pay too. I said I'd still pay for the activites instead of paying "dues". They said no and I haven't been back since. Their loss since they have to pay hundreds a year for the activities out their "dues" now
I was a member of a message board/car club for f-bodies that was free and that started out with 13 of us guys. I had for years paid for the club's picnics, car cruises, meetings, etc to help support the club. When membership hit 4,000+ members in ten years, they decided to start charging $25/yr dues to read the message board and told me I had to pay too. I said I'd still pay for the activites instead of paying "dues". They said no and I haven't been back since. Their loss since they have to pay hundreds a year for the activities out their "dues" now