PRO MEMBERSHIP UPDATE - PLEASE READ

[Rat Rod]

I wanted to let everyone know that I'm going to eliminate the Pro Membership option once all of the existing Pro Member's upgrade periods have expired which would be in September 2016. Currently there are 47 active Pro Members on the forum.

I'm doing this because I want to allow everyone to be able to upload photos directly to their posts without having to use a 3rd party photo hosting service. Although it will result in an extra cost to me, it will be better for the forum in the long run because it will help eliminate the issue of broken images in posts due to changes in 3rd party photo hosting accounts. It will also eliminate the question of how to post photos that comes up on a regular basis.

I would love to open up the photo uploading option to everyone today, but I don't those who have paid the $20 for an annual membership upgrade to feel as though they have been taken advantage of.

Would love to hear your feedback on this proposal.

 

[KJV]

Sure would help me out,
I would like to be able to finally share
My bicycle activity,through pics. .

 

[Kruez]

Perhaps open up photo posting for everyone and give pro members additional benefits. Maintaining the pro level experience.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Tapatalk

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Perhaps open up photo posting for everyone and give pro members additional benefits. Maintaining the pro level experience.

Sounds good. Maybe just a secret hand shake for the Pro members.

 

[deorman]

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Sounds good. Maybe just a secret hand shake for the Pro members.

I'm cool with this!

Only 45 more pro members to check with, and you can get this done straight away!

Luke.

 

[horsefarmer]

Steve,
That is a great Idea to host pics. It's sad to look at some early threads and have many missing pics. Is there going to be a max file size? I assume .jpg files?
Video would still be hosted on external site such as youtube?

 

[jlr551CFD]

Sounds good. Maybe just a secret hand shake for the Pro members.

I'd pay for the special handshake


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rat Rod]

The file size would be limited...I think I have it set to 1.6mb per photo for Pro Members at the moment.

Video would definitely have to be hosted on third party sites like Youtube, Vimeo, Photobucket, etc.

Pro Members currently get the ability to have a photo gallery of their own and they also browse the site ad free.

 

[pick]

I'm a pro member in for $20. I've already got my moneys worth. Wouldn't hurt my feelings at all to let everyone enjoy the service. I'll take a secret handshake as well!

 

[ozzmonaut]

I know this would be wildly unpopular, but I'd be cool with a small annual fee for every member to join the site. Like $1. That helps pay for the photos, and keeps out spam and robots. But then I guess it would get difficult for those without paypal, and then you'd have fees. But it might also help eliminate all of the jackwagons that join up, then never post or return, giving you a huge membership that is only 10% active.

 

[ChimeraCycle]

Pro membership could be offered in steps, kinda like kickstarter. Pay so much, get a gallery, pro member icon. Pay more, get all that + a calendar. Possibly Steve could figure out price points where rrb could make a profit, sell more schwag & offer pro memberships to those who want them. If pro membership came with schwag, people may buy in.

I can't be the only one on here who impulse buys the occasional $30 or $40 item. Nor the only one who freakin loves to bundle. A calendar/& membership bundle, or a calendar/wearable/pro membership bundle may do well.

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

 

[horsefarmer]

Pro membership could be offered in steps, kinda like kickstarter. Pay so much, get a gallery, pro member icon. Pay more, get all that + a calendar. Possibly Steve could figure out price points where rrb could make a profit, sell more schwag & offer pro memberships to those who want them. If pro membership came with schwag, people may buy in.

I can't be the only one on here who impulse buys the occasional $30 or $40 item. Nor the only one who freakin loves to bundle. A calendar/& membership bundle, or a calendar/wearable/pro membership bundle may do well.

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

I was kinda thinking the same thing Re: Calendar.
Also thinking a RRB bike licence plate may be cool.

Free membership including photo hosting would really increase the value of the site. Many times when I google for bike information, RRB is often found among top results. Then when you have many missing picture links it really ruins the whole thread.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I was just getting ready to jump in as a pro... I'd still do it to gain the options now.

Carl.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Sure beats the Hassle of using a photo uploading site .
I'd much rather see pic,s in post than to see full pages
of Disriptions , I think it would defenetly benifit everbody.


~Rafael~

 

[Rat Rod]

The question is whether the existing Pro Members would be okay having their only extra benefits being the ability to create their own gallery and the ad free browsing experience.

I'm assuming most of them chose to become Pro Members because they wanted to be able to upload photos directly to their posts.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Just being able too go throught the site without
ads is worth it too me...I'm allways on board with watever
you do Steve...
p.s. Thank you for giving us the option to give our input.

~Rafael~

 

[LukeTheJoker]

The question is whether the existing Pro Members would be okay having their only extra benefits being the ability to create their own gallery and the ad free browsing experience.

I'm assuming most of them chose to become Pro Members because they wanted to be able to upload photos directly to their posts.

I'm happy with that!

Does anyone remember the old "Donate to support the site" option that we used to have, there was no benefit from donating aside from knowing you supported the site that brings you so much cool information and fun. I'm not sure how many used it, but I am sure that at least a few of us did!

I mainly paid the "Pro Member" fee just to support the site, I actually still use Flickr to upload my photos as I can direct upload from my phone without worrying about loading up my computer with thousands of pics...
The other reason is that I get that cool "PRO MEMBER" banner that makes me feel good every time I see it!
No ads is cool too...

I always love stickers, maybe in the future there could be a once a year fee that gives you a couple of "RRB Member 20__" stickers for your car or bike and the "Pro Member" banner tag under your avatar for the year? I would happily pay for that!

Luke.

 

[Fv2]

As a newer member of the site (less than a year) I'm ok with doing away with pro membership. I paid the $20 to be able to post directly to the site because I couldn't figure out Flickr (not very tech savy), and I have definitely gotten more than my 20 bucks worth.

Now that I know how to use Flickr, I can post either way.

I'm cool with the secret handshake idea @The Renaissance Man had, and small fees for those who want a gallery. I like the idea @LukeTheJoker had about a sticker or something. The $1 a year deal was a good idea, I guess either way I'll still be a member of this group.

It's cool for me, a guy who knew nothing about old bikes to come here and learn what I've learned and keep learning. I've gone from being a guy that spends all his extra money on beer, to a guy that spends most of his extra money on bike parts. One addiction for another I guess, but bikes are way more healthy.

Anyway I say do away with pro membership, maybe come up with something else for us to use to support the site financially and see how it all works out. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only pro member who's ok with not getting a full year in.

 

[blwnmny]

The question is whether the existing Pro Members would be okay having their only extra benefits being the ability to create their own gallery and the ad free browsing experience.

I'm assuming most of them chose to become Pro Members because they wanted to be able to upload photos directly to their posts.

That is exactly why I purchased pro membership, it doesn't bother me to open it up for everybody else,more pictures is always a good thing. I've gotten more than my moneys worth! It's good by me!