Greg
Senior Forumite
Posts: 1,800
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Post by Greg on May 4, 2011 1:23:58 GMT
Ok, so most of you might have read the "SBG needs your help" thread that Paul started. He has once again started up the 50/50 raffle and he'd also started a straight up "Donate" link.
The problem seems to be that paypal thinks that Paul is running a charity of sort. I suspect that this might be because he's receiving sums of money in different quantities. 20 here, 10 there, then some cat just empties the 5.38 they had sitting in their account.
My solution to this problem is that Paul could sell "Contributor" status here on the forum. It would be viewed as an e-commodity, so no physical goods have to exchange hands and the only thing we'd be getting is a title, or maybe even the option of a title (I know some people wouldn't want to show off.)
This way, Paul could set up something like "Buy Contributor status for $5.00 USD. So if times are tight but you still want to help out, 5 bucks wouldn't break the bank. But if you just worked a fair bit of overtime and you really want to contribute, you could buy 10 "Contributor Stocks" ... or something.
Basically, I think the work around is to make a specified increment of donations and then set that up as selling an e-commodity.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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No matter where you go, there you are.
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on May 4, 2011 1:34:08 GMT
Sounds like a decent idea to me... similar to what MyArmory does perhaps?
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SeanF
Member
Posts: 1,293
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Post by SeanF on May 4, 2011 3:14:42 GMT
Or we can start selling karma  That seems like a good solution to this problem. You think PayPal would have a ready made solution, we probably aren't the first 'non profit' running a business that has run into this issue. |
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Post by MEversbergII on May 4, 2011 5:07:44 GMT
I didn't want to bring this up since I figured it would lead to some kind of eliteism. HOWEVER, this is the only forum on the 'net where I have actually felt very welcome (and I've been through a lot of them) and I do not want it to die. It is 100% that if I had the cash to pay for the site in whole I would, but my measly pay doesn't even let me move out of my parents house.
Thusly, title or not I'd like to donate as soon as I can (payday is coming up soon, gotta save for a trip this August, gotta buy food and I gotta pay a few people back). What's wrong with PayPal seeing this as a charity? I know not how those things work.
If I could get something, I'd like blue lettering or something.
After this is settled, we should send monies to Paul so he can not die while he seeks to break that vicious cycle over in Japan. I know how vicious cycles of unemployment due to having or not having X goes, all too personally.
M.
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Talon
Member
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Posts: 2,554
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Post by Talon on May 4, 2011 5:19:35 GMT
i think a donations link permanantely left up is a great idea,i echo MEversberg's thoughts,id hate to see the site go down,as sean said,my armoury does it,we should do it too
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George
Member
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Post by George on May 4, 2011 9:38:02 GMT
I agree, ive been in may forums but this is the first happy-most-welcome-familyish one ive been involved in  |
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Post by Lobster Hunter on May 4, 2011 9:41:55 GMT
What if we just send SBG $ for "services" instead of "gift". Paypal will take a small cut but that's better than not being able to donate at all.
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Post by Wes on May 4, 2011 10:10:43 GMT
I, um... (1, 2, 3, 4...) 7th this idea!
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Post by whitefeathers on May 4, 2011 12:57:43 GMT
8th? haha. I too love this site. I spend a good deal of time here. signing in at least 3 times a day. I would hate to see this site go.
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Sébastien
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Retired Moderator
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Post by Sébastien on May 4, 2011 14:40:27 GMT
I like that idea too !
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2011 16:44:52 GMT
I belong to a forum for people into pyrotechnics, there if you donate they call you a "Contributing Member" and you get a special little flame icon beside your name. I could see SBG doing something similar. I like this plan.
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Post by whitefeathers on May 4, 2011 17:43:29 GMT
Yea only we get a little sword icon next to our name |
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Post by Hiroshi on May 4, 2011 19:42:56 GMT
What are we at like 11 now?
I'll 12th that idea!!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2011 19:47:49 GMT
I'll be the 13th Warrior. It's got my vote.
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TomK
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Post by TomK on May 5, 2011 4:23:00 GMT
I was jut thinking this too and posted it on the SBG need help thread. I was thinking like calling it a membership, heck I'd even pay a small monthly amount of dues. I've gotten so much out of here I'd feel terrible not doing something and now I'm in a business and a great number of my customers come from, you guessed it: SBG. oh yeah I'm in for sure.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on May 5, 2011 4:32:17 GMT
I think that it's a great idea, count me in. Even if your only charging 2 or 3 dollars a month for a membership, it's still something. I spend a great deal of time here and I want it to stay. I'd, and it seems that most others would as well, gladly pay a sum for a membership.
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Post by MEversbergII on May 5, 2011 5:32:23 GMT
I am interested in knowing how much per month this site costs.
M.
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Greg
Senior Forumite
Posts: 1,800
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Post by Greg on May 5, 2011 5:43:12 GMT
Heck, I'm sure there are enough of us that would be willing to fork over a few bucks a month.
I'm in the same boat as Tom. If SBG didn't exist, then I'd probably have a one of the old CAS/Iberia euros and totally miss the magic that comes with a well made sword.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on May 5, 2011 6:45:06 GMT
Are there any areas where Paul could be attacked for opening a "paid membership" option? I would've thought that the raffle would be just fine, but I was wrong on that. If any of you who own or participate in an arena like Paul's or have experience with what is being discussed here, please feel free to school us.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on May 5, 2011 6:49:33 GMT
And as Greg said. I'd likely have a half-dozen of those ambiguous "Handmade Razor Sharp High Carbon Steel Battle Katanas!" they sell off of Amazon or Ebay for $20-$50 if I hadn't come by this site and met all you cool dudes and dudettes.
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