66 replies to this topic

[Inkedupfatboy]

Ok fair enough. But that really does not answer my question. All I can infer from that statement is that if you can't sell it, you will shut it down.
It might help if that figure was disclosed so someone might know whether it was feasible to do. Obviously it will be out of my price range, but someone else, maybe not.

[flash]

understood. it's hard to set the figure though. it really depends on the buyer. for example, if it's internet brands, they may shut it down just to cut down on competition. that would then demand a higher price tag than an enthusiast.

similarly, somebody who has been a pain in the ass would have to spend more money than a friend.

we do have a bottom line in mind, but do not want to disclose that just yet.

what we hope for the most is a group of enthusiasts banding together, buying it, and maintaining it and its goals indefinitely.

[Inkedupfatboy]

Got it,

Well I would be interested in assisting, but I don't have a lot to be able to spend. I have some time and some serious interest. If someone wanted to float the cost, I could float the time.

I wonder if I qualify for the PITA Pricing though.

[Kim]

So, I guess a fair business question might be "does it make any money?" Or does one buy this simply for altruistic reasons? Essentially, what's in it for a buyer other than control of a web site dealing with a car made 22-17 years ago, especially if the buyer doesn't have any means to make and sell much-needed items for the car?

[Inkedupfatboy]

My guess and it is only that, is that the donations and the sponsorships don't even come close to paying for the site.

[flash]

just as a note: off topic posts (discussions of D1R) were removed. there is a thread for that.

[ds968]

So, I guess a fair business question might be "does it make any money?" Or does one buy this simply for altruistic reasons? Essentially, what's in it for a buyer other than control of a web site dealing with a car made 22-17 years ago, especially if the buyer doesn't have any means to make and sell much-needed items for the car?

The buyer need not be the one making and selling the products, just keeping the forum on track and relevant is a continuing opportunity for not only the current sponsors, but for potential new ones capable of making or distributing those "much needed items" to be added to the mix. And as these cars age even more, the list of needed items will continue to grow, so the demand will be there for a long time to come, and where there is demand, supply somehow always manages to rise to the occasion. That's just in addition to members donations and/or silent partnerships funding which could come into play supporting the new owner(s) in their endeavor to keep this forum alive and well for the foreseeable future. ( hint, hint.. yes one of those silent few or silent many might be me, myself and I depending on who the buyer will be.. ) The value this forum provides to the 968 community vs anything else out there is so significant, if
any of us do not step up in one way or another, it'll be our loss and we'd be fools to allow that.

[Inkedupfatboy]

I would step up in some way, but I don't have lots of loose cash. I am willing to assist.

[flash]

i'm sure there are quite a few people who can "help", though assistance comes with a price to the one running the site, depending on how it is being run. sometimes it's just easier to do things yourself.

i feel pretty confident that if somebody was to step up and take on the lion's share of the purchase, he could probably garner the financial support of a number of the members. it would then become a coop of sorts. there would be paperwork of course, as nobody would want it to get messy if somebody wanted to sell their share. i have the ability to help set that up though.

i envision sticking around through some reasonable transition period, so as to assist the new owner(s). however, as i am almost certainly selling the car (to be discussed in a separate thread later) my motivations are to make as clean a break as possible. i know myself, and i tend to get sucked into discussions and such far too easily, and then it starts taking over my life. that's exactly how all of this started, and i have turned down over 2 million dollars of work as a result. i just can't keep doing that. even i need money.

also, the atmosphere has changed, and it's just time for me to move on. the things that drew me into the 968 just don't exist anymore, at least not where i currently live. sad but true reality.

[flash]

back on topic.

we will update everyone as things develop. in the meantime, if somebody has a thought regarding purchase, email 968forums@gmail.com. i will then send a phone number, and we can then discuss offers, terms, and such over the phone.

[williamoss]

On the TV show Shark Taank there is Mr Wonderfull who says all the time. "How do I get my money out of it if i make the investment?"

How many members are there?

How many active members are there?

How many would pay $10, $20 per year to be a member of the site.

How much revenue does the site make now thru advertisment? if any?

How much do you Flash want to sell the site for?

Is there anybody willing to join forces and be in the inner circle or sit on the board? and put up some or all the money?

William Moss

[flash]

i'm putting together all of the details and records, which i can then disclose to potential buyers.

one of the things though that we always said, was that this site is and always will be free to members. we want to maintain that as a part of the agreement with the new owner.

[Inkedupfatboy]

That limits things. I could never afford it that way, but would be willing to spend $20 bucks a year for a subscription. I would love to keep it running myself, but I couldn't ever come up with a second mortgage type money.

[flash]

it does complicate things, but it is one of the things that makes this site so much better than the others. no fees, limited ads, better organization, yada yada

there is plenty of room though for more sponsors. that's one of the reasons we added the LIFESTYLE area.

[Inkedupfatboy]

Well, I have said I would help several times, so I am going to shut up about it now. I hope it pans out.
Later.

[flash]

we appreciate that, but there is no point in discussing anything but a purchase at this time. it's not like getting help would change the reasons for sale. nothing will do that.

[Cloud9...68]

While the monetary investment is a huge obstacle to keeping this forum running in a manner resembling its current format, it's not the only one. How many times have we seen Flash "interrupt" a thread saying words to the effect of, "off-topic posts have been moved to their appropriate thread [or deleted, as the case may be]"? This must take a huge amount of time, and it's very thankless work, as the benefits are only visible down the road to aid in future searches. I've never seen another site with such specific sub-categories designed to make the site work like an encyclopedia, which forces the moderators to go to a huge amount of effort to help keep the content as "pure" and true-to-mission as possible. How many people would be willing to do this? Not many, I reckon. Of course, this approach could be abandoned altogether, but then we'd just have another R.L..

Edited by Cloud9...68, 02 December 2013 - 02:01 PM.

[flash]

exactly - thank you very much for understanding the idea, and what is involved. it will not be easy to find somebody willing to do what is necessary. dotnet is a perfect example of what happens when a site is abandoned. it crashed permanently, then was started up again, only to again be essentially abandoned. now, it's just the first site you go to after a google search, and then you find out there isn't anything there, and really never will be, and you end up here.

there are a couple of plans in the works. we'll let everybody know how things turn out as soon as we have something to talk about.

[apex]

Flash - just jumping in here - I haven't been perusing the forum much recently - but I feel compelled to say THANK YOU (and thanks also to the rest of the team) for holding this place together over the years. You'll be missed. I hope 968forums.net rolls on for a long time.

[flash]

lol - .com not .net