"elite" membership

**racer0023** · 01-21-2009, 07:38 AM

We currently have "members" and "vip members." However, what about a membership above VIP for those of us that would like to help more with the financial upkeep of the site?

There is another forum I am a member of that has a higher level of membership that only costs the member $1 per month! This is not much for the member but with a large enough "elite" membership group, this is a nice amount of extra funds for RG's upkeep.

I haven't come up with incentives yet other than possibly a bigger GB payout, maybe cigars for those that were already vip's before the current cigar offer, encourage dealers here to have elite members' only specials, etc...

I would surely be in for a monthly $1 contribution. Or maybe consider a lump-sum one time payment good for a certain time frame?

What do you all think?

**limp** · 01-21-2009, 07:45 AM

If you would like to help out more, you can always donate. You dont need a status to dot it.

Thoughtful suggestion though. But that would meab everyone cc would be kept on file to charge a dollar a month? Many people would not like that.

**racer0023** · 01-21-2009, 07:50 AM

Unfortunately many people need "motivation" to do more than the minimum and the status thing is just to serve this purpose. No, the CC info does not need to be kept online/in a file. There could be an email reminder sent out and u handle it ureself to get the $ in...or pay a lump sum for a few months so u don't have to worry about it until "x" months from now when u get ure email reminder

**loopzilla** · 01-21-2009, 09:14 AM

Good idea racer0023 - anything for more Geekbux

- even though they are "worthless" it is the right kind of "motivation" and represents a quid pro quo to keep the site financially safe.

**louisruby** · 01-21-2009, 09:16 AM

want mega GeekBux - enter my comp - it closes soon!

**racer0023** · 01-21-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by meinessex

Do you have an inferiority complex ?

lol no, not at all. I am just trying to think of ways to encourage others to contribute to a wonderful site. Obviously there will be some people that couldn't care less to go into their pockets to even upgrade to vip, much less help beyond that....why not look to help our rg admins in funding OUR site?

**Guest1** · 01-21-2009, 02:34 PM

Thank you for the thoughts racer and for everyone else that wants to help keep the upkeep of the site going. Donating is voluntary just like me and JC devote countless hours on the forum in the foreground and background. We dont look upon anyone less or more whether they give or not. Being a member and reading testimonials is reward enough for us.

Thank you for those that have donated and for those that will donate in the future. Everyone makes Repgeek a better place.

**TXTurbo930** · 01-21-2009, 03:59 PM

Thanks for reminding me to donate.... For Sparta!

Thanks Mods keep up the good work!

**frankt** · 01-22-2009, 11:20 PM

And the cahones to NOT become a VIP member, and still participate in a thread about site support !! Once again...WOW!!!

**Dave123** · 01-22-2009, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by frankt

And the cahones to NOT become a VIP member, and still participate in a thread about site support !! Once again...WOW!!!

Really not required imo.

They will all upgrade in the pace they are comfortable with,if they stick around,with all the insults towards non VIP's lately,i would be surprised if they stuck around and this attitude is not what RG is all about.

There is another forum for poor attitudes,the owner of it is a watch dealer,insults are the theme. Not here.

**norcalwatches** · 01-22-2009, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by frankt

And the cahones to NOT become a VIP member, and still participate in a thread about site support !! Once again...WOW!!!

It's not about Cahones, its about choice...if the owner of this site required you to pay a fee to join and post your threads, then you do just that if you want to contribute, but because this is a public forum and open to anyone, calling someone out for not choosing to pay but posts alot is showing less than the smallest cahones in question.

WOW!!!

**Dave123** · 01-22-2009, 11:33 PM

No worries norcal,admin. and most of the forum do not share those kind of thoughts,as Sylar said above,its a choice not a requirement.

Sylar as owner,has more class than has been shown by a few of late.

**norcalwatches** · 01-22-2009, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by Dave123

Really not required imo.

They will all upgrade in the pace they are comfortable with,if they stick around,with all the insults towards non VIP's lately,i would be surprised if they stuck around and this attitude is not what RG is all about.

There is another forum for poor attitudes,the owner of it is a watch dealer,insults are the theme. Not here.

Ooh, which forum is that..sounds fun...I could use a good tongue lashing...

**Dave123** · 01-22-2009, 11:49 PM

Only a few of them man,easy to figure out....

**boffman** · 01-23-2009, 12:01 AM

How much for a "Founder" designation?

**Flashman** · 01-23-2009, 11:03 PM

To be honest I think that the success of this site is all based on the fact that it does not force anyone to pay. Once that happens the whole feeling of the place changes. I upgraded because I found this forum to be the friendliest and most helpful.

I used to browse RWG2 a lot, but when they made fees almost compulsary for posting and selling I decided to log in here instead.

We are a community here to help and advise each other on the rep watch market. This forum is only as good as its members and when you welcome all, you end up with the best potential ingredients possible.

Credit to Sylar and the gang for keeping this place clean and fun!

**louisruby** · 01-23-2009, 11:26 PM

there are elite members on this forum - the admins / staff. they work very hard at ensuring that we have a fun, friendly and safe forum.

VIP membership makes a few dollars for the forum and keeps things going. donations are always greatfully accepted.

I think the best way to make yourself recognisable (if you want that) is to be a contributor to the forum in the quailty of your posts, ideas and help to others. i see the sentimet of the OPs idea, and it's nice, but freedom to chose is a big consideration here.

perhaps we could have a donations board - a bit like life membership boards in community clubs etc. to acknowledge the financial contributions members have made. But with the knowledge financial contribution is not a requirement to be a valuable member of the forum

**norcalwatches** · 01-24-2009, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by louisruby

there are elite members on this forum - the admins / staff. they work very hard at ensuring that we have a fun, friendly and safe forum.

VIP membership makes a few dollars for the forum and keeps things going. donations are always greatfully accepted.

I think the best way to make yourself recognisable (if you want that) is to be a contributor to the forum in the quailty of your posts, ideas and help to others. i see the sentimet of the OPs idea, and it's nice, but freedom to chose is a big consideration here.

perhaps we could have a donations board - a bit like life membership boards in community clubs etc. to acknowledge the financial contributions members have made. But with the knowledge financial contribution is not a requirement to be a valuable member of the forum

Like adopt a highway?

**rush1169** · 01-25-2009, 10:02 AM

I'd just like a place where I could buy some GBs

**rush1169** · 01-25-2009, 08:54 PM

My successful mooch attempt parlayed $2K GB into $12KGB - thank you to the anonomous enabler

-- But I'm probably going to go give it back. . .

**Fairtime** · 01-28-2009, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by TommyB

To be honest I think that the success of this site is all based on the fact that it does not force anyone to pay. Once that happens the whole feeling of the place changes. I upgraded because I found this forum to be the friendliest and most helpful.

I used to browse RWG2 a lot, but when they made fees almost compulsary for posting and selling I decided to log in here instead.

We are a community here to help and advise each other on the rep watch market. This forum is only as good as its members and when you welcome all, you end up with the best potential ingredients possible.

Credit to Sylar and the gang for keeping this place clean and fun!

Same here. I used to belong to another forum that had one or two mods who seemed to exist to flame others. Repgeek is quite different - pleasantly and refreshingly so. (I was recommended Repgeek as a "more fun and less politically isnpired" place by one of our trusted dealers.)

I am glad that the call to donate has been brought up because even though incomes may be falling off a cliff, costs are sliding (if!) at a far slower pace. No one should be forced to donate but those who can afford to should be reminded every now and then, because for folks who have a sieve-memory like mine, we will forget.

Last thought: $25 as a one-off payment for VIP membership is an incredible steal. If the owners find that costs necessitate a rise in VIP admission costs, I am sure that even in this recession a $5 increase will still represent excellent value for money.

**kookaburra** · 01-31-2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by racer0023

We currently have "members" and "vip members." However, what about a membership above VIP for those of us that would like to help more with the financial upkeep of the site?

There is another forum I am a member of that has a higher level of membership that only costs the member $1 per month! This is not much for the member but with a large enough "elite" membership group, this is a nice amount of extra funds for RG's upkeep.

I haven't come up with incentives yet other than possibly a bigger GB payout, maybe cigars for those that were already vip's before the current cigar offer, encourage dealers here to have elite members' only specials, etc...

I would surely be in for a monthly $1 contribution. Or maybe consider a lump-sum one time payment good for a certain time frame?

What do you all think?

1. Because we are not all of a similar financial status, and as much as we would like to give more, we simply cannot.

2. As mentioned before, if you want to donate more, feel free. However if you feel that you should get increased status in return, you're donating for the wrong reasons.