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Post by GUEST on May 5, 2011 7:13:42 GMT
Thanks guys, I've often had people mention this but until now always managed to find a way to fund the site via the SBG Stores Sales. However, since sales have dried up and are not profitable now (2nd month running at a loss in a row) and we just had another 2 advertisers pull out, this may be the only way to move forward.
Still trying to sort out the paypal issue with them now, there does seem to be some progress but they are still counting down to locking down the account in less than 48 hours - however once I can get it sorted we can see if we can come up with something.
Thanks all.
- Paul
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Post by Nathan Robinson on May 5, 2011 7:28:25 GMT
I tried to, but it didn't work out. People got upset. In an effort to put forth another attempt at being helpful to the community:
I've been doing this stuff on myArmoury.com since 2003 and elsewhere since 1994. The specifics are simple and do not need to be over-complicated.
Raffles are not legal for institutions that are not non-profit. Raffles are considered gambling because there's a direct correlation between putting up some money for the explicit chance to win an item in return.
Donations are perfectly fine. There's no secret sauce. Paul can accept donations in any way he wants. He can also sell items (digital or tangible goods) in any way he wants. He can also have contests with prizes. If he wants, he can have the contestants only eligible if they are site donors/ upgraded members/ etc. While this might have the same end game as having a raffle (tickets sold for chances to win), the financial transaction is for the purchase of a donor status/ membership status/ etc. and not associated directly to the contest.
If this sounds familiar to anyone, it's because myArmoury.com has been doing it for 8 years. It's a pain in the ass on the admin side because tracking, accounting, tax reporting, etc., but for the members, it's easy-breezy.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on May 5, 2011 13:38:00 GMT
Thanks, Nathan.
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Post by chrisperoni on May 5, 2011 16:15:11 GMT
eehhhh, I don't know... a whole 2-3 dollars? The thing is I usually like to take a couple of dollars every month and throw them down a drain or out a window... lotsa fun watching them go to waste for nothing in return. Plus I like buying useless crap at the dollar store every month; stuff that just gets tossed in the garbage after a while or gets broken.
How would I be able to continue to waste a couple of dollars every month if I have to contribute to a site I use every day?
:twisted:
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Talon
Member
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,554
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Post by Talon on May 5, 2011 17:42:54 GMT
:lol:
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Sébastien
Senior Forumite
Retired Moderator
Posts: 2,967
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Post by Sébastien on May 5, 2011 17:48:35 GMT
Hey, you can buy one or two water bottles with that money ..... Just saying  Personnaly, I like the ideas beeing thrown around here. |
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Post by Adrian Jordan on May 5, 2011 18:07:20 GMT
Dang, you guys are right. I totally forgot about the $3 I burn at the stake every full moon to make up for the sins of money.
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Post by 14thforsaken on May 5, 2011 20:46:55 GMT
I guess I'm in the minority that doesn't think this is the best idea. I've been on several forums that did this and it always created dissension between those with the special titles, membership etc and those that didn't. At worst, it would get to the point that if you weren't one of the special titles, you were ignored or told to be quiet since you weren't a contributing member. I am not saying it would happen here but I've seen it happen on too many other forums. I like the friendly nature of our forum and would hate to see it jeopardized.
the other thing is that some people prefer not to make their donations known. I generally donate to sites I'm on but I prefer to keep my donation anonymous.
I'd like to think we could come up with another way to help Paul raise money without running the risk of segregating the community.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on May 5, 2011 23:14:38 GMT
I see where you are coming from 14thforsaken. The reason I only come to this site is that elitism displayed on some other forums. However, the straight donation route has somewhat failed, partially if not completely. I think that a small membership fee option is maybe the best route. I'm so poor that I look at the people who make the accepted poverty level of income with envy, but I'd still lay down a few bucks a month if it meant keeping this site running and healthy.
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Post by 14thforsaken on May 5, 2011 23:34:16 GMT
Oone thing to consider is making up some SBG t-shirts , mouse-pads, mugs etc through cafe press or some such and having all the proceeds got to Paul. That way, its not a donation per se, people get something tangible for their donation and its harder for any form of elitism. I imagine we could have some $10-15 t-shirts made up, charge $20-25 for them and Paul gets the difference.
Just another possible way to help and people get get some neat loot from it and also promote the site.
Another suggestion is to give people the option to pay a small fee to be able to see the site add free.
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Post by House of Hador on May 5, 2011 23:50:14 GMT
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SanMarc
Senior Forumite
Posts: 3,193
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Post by SanMarc on May 6, 2011 5:08:47 GMT
Well I'll let ya know what I donated... $100. Why, because I value this site and Paul's efforts to educate the masses as to what makes a grate under $300 sword and what makes a crappy SLO!!!! I have made some moola from the classifieds here and some times had to sell stuff to make rent ( thanks William) It hurt me to send that much...but not as much as it would to see this site gone, for those that are able, donate, to Paul directly via his paypal, those that can not. Enjoy the site!!  It is here for us poor slobs, got to have some sharp shiny fun for cheep!!! |
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Post by masahiro560 on May 6, 2011 5:17:22 GMT
Did I hear SBG t-shirts?!  |
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SanMarc
Senior Forumite
Posts: 3,193
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Post by SanMarc on May 6, 2011 6:32:41 GMT
^^^^^^^^^^^^ :shock:  Karma just for that!!! |
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Post by Neil G. on May 6, 2011 14:26:40 GMT
I don't know about all that segregating thing Forsaken, I was a non-donating member at MyArmoury for quite some time and I was never told to shut up or was disrespected or anything like that. I donated something like $10 last year and got the nifty "donating member" usergroup thing in my profile, but it hasn't changed the way I've felt about other or others have felt about me.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
VIP Reviewer
Retired Moderator
No matter where you go, there you are.
Posts: 8,828
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on May 6, 2011 18:31:21 GMT
Agreed.
I'm a non-donating member at MyArmory and have never been given the cold shoulder by anyone... however, I don't post
there very often.
The atmosphere there is more scholarly... members tend to be more informed, so I don't find I have much of value to add too often.
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Post by 14thforsaken on May 6, 2011 18:59:04 GMT
I'm not saying it would happen here. I've just been on too many boards where it has.
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Post by steffen on May 7, 2011 18:44:32 GMT
a t-shirt that says: i'm a sword waving lunatic, would be nice.
and i second the idea of a sbg mousepad, since it can be used for convex sharpening.
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Post by chrisperoni on May 7, 2011 19:38:27 GMT
If we have to buy something to get the donation to Paul I think it should be some 1cent nothing doodad so as much of the money spent on it can get to Paul. Kep in mind that he'll have to pay fees to sell this to us as well. Instead of a $20 shirt that gets him $10 in donations I'd rather a 1cent piece of string that gets him $19.99 in donations. -for example
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SeanF
Member
Posts: 1,293
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Post by SeanF on May 7, 2011 21:59:37 GMT
That may be true, but from what I have seen of Paul I think he would far prefer to be giving people something back of value.
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Herron's Flight by Brendan of Fable Blades
It is here for us poor slobs, got to have some sharp shiny fun for cheep!!!
