Catastrophe

Oh Yeah....that too. Didnt think of that , thank you.


But , mostly it was because you didnt agree with IB

db71

I paid for a few years. It just seemed like it was worth it to see an oso boat etc. Then I went to SOS and paid there. Enuff said. I just don't see the value.

Paying for memberships is like buying bottle service at the club its not worth it but people still do it.


I will say this could be taken as market research

Plowtownmissile

Thank you guys. If your ever in the St. Louis area during boating season, get ahold of me if you wanna hit up some local lakes

I'm not saying that anyone thinks like that but it kinda seems like it sometimes on here. Its the one thing that irks me about OSO every once in awhile.

Another thing:
People on some of the boards think that because of what boat you run, it shows what your "status" is in life. I had a guy on one board that felt like he was more of a boat guy than me cause he had a 38' offshore V-bottom. I told him there's a reason I specifically looked for a perfect 20 Outlaw for 6 months and invited him to come out to my closest local lake ( Lake Lou Yaeger ) with his boat cause everyone would laugh at him. Edit: 8 mile long lake but the north 3 miles are silted in and less than 4ft deep

Young Performance

First of all, I fail to see why you are so upset. Why are you surprised at my comments. I fail to see what is so surprising about them. It's my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. Being an advertiser has absolutely NOTHING to do with my opinion.
I NEVER said that paying makes a member an expert. What I said is that there are many experts here. Isn't their knowledge worth something? I seriouisly doubt you will find this level of boating expertise anywhere else. Is that not worth something? If bad advice happened to be posted, it would be corrected in very short order. Would that be the case elsewhere? Maybe, maybe not. It has nothing to do with paying. This site simply has a wealth of knowledge. This isn't the only one, but I would bet it has the highest concentration of knowlegable people in this field. It has nothing to do with paying. It is what it is. Is that worth anything to you? Maybe, maybe not. If you don't think it is, then don't become a member. Boatfreaks is an awesome site that I also advertise on. It is completely free.
You're right.....my ROI does not concern you. I'm sure no one really cares what my ROI is.The point I was trying to make was that just advertising and having a little add on the side of the page does not just bring people beating the door down. The return comes from spending hours online helping guys, whether they have an 80' Nortech or a rowboat. They appreciate the help and some show their appreciation by becoming a customer. Again, that is not why I do it. I do it because I want to and enjoy doing it. I had a bunch of help growing up when I couldn't afford to pay someone. I know what it's like. Which brings us to the last point you attempted to make. AT NO POINT IN TIME IN MY POST DID I COMPLAIN. You pulled my comment completely out of context and changed it's meaning. You also mysteriously neglected to include the sentence following that one. You know, the one where I said that I do it all for my love and passion of the sport. I don't do this for the money. I could probably make more money doing something else, but I don't want to. I happen to love what I do and am able to make a living at it and could not be happier. I also happen to think I'm pretty good at it. There may even be a few people that would agree with me.
This is the reason that I never get involved in opinionated threads. There are always people that will disagree and twist another's words to suit their needs.
If my advertising $ helps keep this place here, then I will continue to do it. I have no problem with IB making $. That's why they bought the site. I also happen to be in business to make money. I would also bet that every business owner here is in business to make money.
Bottom line. If you don't think this place has any value, then don't become a member. If you want to become a member, then great. It doesn't effect me either way. I don't mind paying to get something in return, whether it is as an advertiser or just a member. I have been both.
We obviously have a difference of opinion and that's fine. I never asked for anyone to agree with me. Some may, some may not. It's great that we have the ability to form our own opinions.
Sorry for the rant. I'm done.
Eddie

Interceptor

That's what I figured but wanted to ask since that would have been something to consider.
ed

RaggedEdge

So then assuming you are willing to pay for the benefits that the vast internet offers, where does the few dollars that some pay for the few extra benefits here become such a thorn in your butt? You're here for free, that's fine, it's their rules. But I just don't understand why myself, or any others here are azholes because we chose to pay for a different level of access.

1MOSES1

I asked members to fill me in...Not OSO or IB

OldSchool

Interesting thread..... and winter is here for sure. I can't believe that I just wasted my time reading all of this chit. It's real easy the way that I see it. Pay for a membership and enjoy paid parts of the website....or don't. That's it!

In the grand scheme of things, why would anyone give a rats azz if they don't pay and someone else does or vice versa. Good grief

For the record, I just upgraded to a higher level....it cost me about 20 minutes of fuel costs.....or an hour or two of bar tab. No one forced me to do it.....but I just didn't want to be perceived as a cheap azz Martha Fokker.

Cheers everyone and Merry Christmas. Craig

Rookie17

I paid as soon as I found this place. Out of respect to the other paid members, many of which have obviously been around the block a few times when it comes to performance boating.

As soon as I got here and started asking stupid rookie questions, in my experience I saw it was the established and paying members who were answering my questions, respectfully, honestly, and sincerely.

Not saying non paying members wouldn't or dont do that. But the response ratio was obvious to me - especially in PM's and not in public threads.

So I felt it would be disrespectful for me to not be a paying member, and help support the forum these dedicated individuals obviously spend a lot of time at and enjoy. In my opinion, those paying members deserved that from me.

I was coming into their world, knowing pretty much nothing about what I was getting into. The help and advice I've recieved has been invaluable.

In business, you get what you pay for. Apparently, in life thats not always what people think.
I refuse to believe I should be entitled to the expert opinions I recieve from these members without supporting their 'place'.

So to all the long time paying members, I thank you. Whether this place would be here or not without your membership dues, who knows. But adding revenue to a place we enjoy visiting, and in my case recieving knowledge from, is how free enterprise works.

Who really knows what the GP or NET profit of this forum really is with or without membership dues? I bet not many of us.
If they're making money, thats the American dream and the country we live in. Good for them.
If they're barely making it, maybe my 40 bucks helps keep this place going.

And really... $40 to $70 per year? If I even notice that money gone, I'm in the wrong hobby.

You get what you pay for. Or at least what somebody pays for.