I need your feedback on new price changes (AK370Z)

[AK370Z]

Hello everyone,

As you know we moved to a new server yesterday. This is a powerful server and costs way more money than the previous ones. As much as I hate to increase any prices, I'm forced to do this in order to keep this site online. As I have said before, I WILL NOT implement any price changes if you guys are not comfortable with it. So, please vote on the top. It'll be open for about a week.

I am planning on increasing

Premium Membership (NO DECAL) from $10 to $15

Premium Membership (WITH Decal) from $15 to $20.

Even with the price increase ($15) , you're only paying about $1.25/month. That's really really low in my opinion. What can you get for $1.25 these days!

As for Membership with Decals, by the time I subtract the decal production cost, shipping fee to me for original shipment, shipping fee to you, envelope, printing instructions etc, it's costs at least $5. So the extra $5 goes almost 100% in making/sending the decal to you.

I have decided NOT TO increase the pricing of the vendorship at this point. I understand that we are living in a pretty bad economy. The whole auto industry is a bit sore in this down economy. I have decided to keep the price same as it lists on the top right hand corner. Instead of increasing the price and losing vendors, I rather keep the same price and keep them here. My only request to our forum members would be PLEASE SUPPORT our vendors. Try to do ALL your shopping from them. This way you will help keep this site online and keep the vendors here.



You'll also see this TIRERACK banner logo displayed under the Tire/Wheels section. I know many members has already bought Winter rim/tires from TireRack (incl. me). Those of you plan on buying the winter setup from Tirerack please visit the site by clicking on the banner and then place the order. TireRack will recognize that the sale was originated from The370Z and will give the forum a small amount.

Also, a few suggested that taking away some of the things (i.e less lines/words in sig, sig pic upload only for premium, very small avatar etc) MAY encourage regular members to sign up for the Premium Membership. What's your thought on this?

So, vote on the top. It'll be open for about a week. Support our paying vendors. If you see someone trying to conduct business or sales on public forum or via pm, please report them to me.

thanks

[BLUESLATE]

Your membership fee is already low enough. $5 to support the site? Why not?

I'm also sure you'll be expanding more member only sections as well... wink wink

[BLUESLATE]

I'll join once you up the membership fee.

[AK370Z]

Originally Posted by BLUESLATE

I'll join once you up the membership fee.

GREAT attitude! I have to wait 1 week until voting is done.

Originally Posted by BLUESLATE

I'm also sure you'll be expanding more member only sections as well... wink wink

Oh trust me, there's a whole another world out there for Premium members . You'll see once you sign up.

[CBRich]

I'm in for the hike. I've been here a while and should have already signed up. I will once it goes into effect.

[sig11]

I'm way too cheap to pay $10/yr for a forum so it won't affect me. It took me years to break down and pay for SA and that is $10 until you get banned. I'm not quite used to car forums and their strange rules yet either.

Honestly I don't see any incentive for buying premium aside from the sticker. I DO like that the forum is relatively add-free and I suppose that is one potential bonus for me.

[vipor]

the extra 5$ is worth it and "nerfing" the non-prem account capabilities should help push the undecideds over the edge.

[Division]

I'm sure you have a pretty stable ratio of premium to standard users. Assuming your goal is to increase the number of premium members, I would probably shift more of the benefits from a standard user to premium user. Instead of raising the barrier (price) - how about raising the benefits of becoming one?

[Liquid_G]

Originally Posted by sig11

I'm way too cheap to pay $10/yr for a forum so it won't affect me. It took me years to break down and pay for SA and that is $10 until you get banned. I'm not quite used to car forums and their strange rules yet either.

Honestly I don't see any incentive for buying premium aside from the sticker. I DO like that the forum is relatively add-free and I suppose that is one potential bonus for me.

Seriously? You bought a 30k+ car and 10 bux is going to kill you? Websites like this cost money to run.. I'm sure AK is not sitting back in his penthouse lighting cigars with 10 dollar bills..

I'd gladly pay twice that for the amount of info this site has..

[ChrisSlicks]

It's still pretty cheap IMO. I also agree with your decision not to increase the cost for forum sponsors. Aside from the big guys like Stillen I think they are all hurting.

[HKYStormFront]

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

Seriously? You bought a 30k+ car and 10 bux is going to kill you? Websites like this cost money to run.. I'm sure AK is not sitting back in his penthouse lighting cigars with 10 dollar bills..

I'd gladly pay twice that for the amount of info this site has..

this is exactly why i am a supporting member as well. AK seems pretty cool, the site is nice to lurk on, and i know it can be expensive to run one of these sites. more power to you AK, i don't think $15 is unreasonable at all.

[sig11]

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

Seriously? You bought a 30k+ car and 10 bux is going to kill you? Websites like this cost money to run.. I'm sure AK is not sitting back in his penthouse lighting cigars with 10 dollar bills..

I'd gladly pay twice that for the amount of info this site has..

That is a silly argument. No, $15 won't kill me, but I don't get anything that I want but a sticker for that $15. I don't believe AK is sitting back burning money. I know what these things cost. I've been a member of that 350Z forum for years and haven't ever felt compelled to pay for it either.

I'm not sure what would get me to pay for a forum. In all likelihood I wouldn't look back at either car forum I read now if they required me to pay.

I'm not trying to troll or start an argument, I just wanted to respond to AK's question with my honest opinion (even though I figured it would be unpopular).

[Division]

Originally Posted by sig11

That is a silly argument. No, $15 won't kill me, but I don't get anything that I want but a sticker for that $15.

This is exactly why I think increasing the 'desire' to become a premium member would potentially yield a better response than simply raising the price. Raising the price just gives people on the edge a better justification for remaining a standard user, where as if you increase the benefits, people will see the value in being a premium member, and not hesitate due to the cheap price.

Its about balancing the ratio of

• Potential users (those who have never signed up on the site)
• Standard users (singed up - non paying)
• Premium Users (signed up - paid users)

Since you have a pretty small list of potential users, and gathering them may be difficult - it would make sense to me to try to turn as many standard users into premium users as possible. Keep the price down, and value high and you'll cover the difference in no time.

[Trips]

I don't have a Problem Ak,
Will there be limits on what Non Prems can do? Like no Avatars and other restrictions? I have seen this in other forums. No Pay No Play....

[frost]

I already mentioned that I thought prem membership are the only ones that should come with avatars. I think that would encourage many people to become premium.
If you didn't feel comfortable going that far, you could give the nonprem members access to only a dozen or so canned avatars, and let prem members only make custom ones.

I don't think signature lines are enough to encourage people to join, but if it's one of several things benefits then it couldn't hurt.