16 replies to this topic

[968forums]

You may have noticed the "Donate to 968 Forums" ad at the right side of the screen.

Since the beginning of the site, membership has always been free. It will always be free. While there are a few sponsors that help offset things, it has always relied heavily on the donations of members to support it.

Most of you have taken advantage of the site, gained helpful knowledge, found parts or cars through here, and made friends. A number of you have recognized this, and donated to the site. We thank you all very much. We could not have kept running without you.

It takes money just to to keep it running. It also takes money to keep the software current. We also help support local events for 968 owners. All of these add up over the course of the year.

Currently we are bumping into limitations of the software, and will need to do a major upgrade soon. This will not be a simple or inexpensive process.

We put up the Donation page and link a long time ago. Many of you utilized it. Many of you may not realize how easy it is, or that it is even there. There are multiple levels set up on the Donation page, and you get cool stuff as a "thank you" for your donation.

So, we are asking for your help. Especially if you haven't already, please help us keep this site going, and the membership free.

Thank you in advance.

http://www.968forums.com/donate.htm

[Cloud9...68]

A very worthy cause for all of us who have greatly benefited from the collective knowledge of this site. One question - if we're already a donor on a given level, and we want to donate at a higher level, I assume we click on the higher donation level's button, and we'll get charged the difference between the charge for our current level, and that for the desired higher level, right? Thanks.

[flash]

hmmm - never thought about doing that. not even sure i can. about the best i can do is refund the difference.

[DaveN]

I'll pop you some more moolah at Paso. The more I drink the bigger it gets, the donation that is! Otherwise my wife would have me drunk all the time

[Cloud9...68]

hmmm - never thought about doing that. not even sure i can. about the best i can do is refund the difference.

Interesting - am I the first one who ever asked about upgrading their status? Are you sure there isn't an easy way to do this? I'm sure others would be interested in doing this to support the sight, and it would be a major pain in the tuchus for you to refund everybody the difference between their current and desired level's cost.

[flash]

lol - dave - i know exactly what you mean

cloud - you're the first that ever asked about partial payment for the upgrade. in fact, many have been repeat donors, and many have asked me not to send swag. in the years since we started, this is the first time this has come up. not that it isn't valid, but it just hasn't come up. refunding is not that big of a pain for me. i don't imagine too many will be going that route.

the other issue i have to figure out is the swag. i can't send the swag with an "upgrade" like you're talking about. the swag cost and associated shipping is calculated based on the entire donation. i'm not sure what i would do in a situation like that.

[Rap]

At the risk of being insensitive to the potential generosity of the membership, perhaps a way to look at it is if you have donated at a certain level for a given year instead of worrying about adding the difference to get to a higher level for that year, just make a donation and not worry about your level for that year. Then next year donate at the higher level if that is what you choose to do.
Or you can donate at a level and make a semi-annual donation part of your routine. Everyone of course likes to be acknowledged for their donation with a designation and or swag. The point here is to donate to help keep what most of us might agree is a great site and even perhaps part of our daily routine. My suggestion would be to not make extra tracking work for our poor overworked staff for the sake of a designation or swag.
Now of course if the swag could be something aligned by the level of gift giving, oh say, Design 1 products, well of course that might even incentivize the largess of the donations!

[flash]

don't think i didn't think about that. too much of a conflict though. my accountant would have my head.

[Rap]

I'm certainly not a green shade but selling from one corp to another as long as it is an arms length transaction at a fairly if even discounted cost should meet criteria.

[flash]

lol - there are some other complications that just make it too messy.

besides, i don't want to have to stock stuff. i just got out of that.

[Rap]

Might get rid of the balance!!! Sorry just busting your chops

[Lear35A]

Works for me. Color me the newest Advocate. Send swag.

[flash]

Lear35A, craigawoodman, and gbarrier have become Advocates, 986boxster1998 has become a Booster, and bombfactory has renewed Supporter level.

Thanks to all of you. It makes a huge difference to everyone.

housekeeping note: I need to add a spot on the donation tools that allow people to make their choices on the swag, and to include their screen name.

[94SilverCab]

THANK YOU!!!

[Lear35A]

I know some boards give contributing members more storage for messages and stuff. Don't know what's involved with that or if it would help the drive. Wouldn't make a difference to me, but for others on the fence it might help.

[flash]

it's like that here too

[Lear35A]

Oops. Really? Guess I didn't pay attention.