Chuck,

There are so many things I would find of great value in an industry, educational, and resource member-based website. The forum would be part of that, but having other resources and educational opportunities at my finger tips would be of even greater benefit.

A few examples have been provided, but here are a few I think are within reach.

Provide digital video field trips through factories and member businesses. David is in the process of investing in this video equipment as I write.

Audio and video tutorials. Nothing further needs to be said about the value of this feature.

In-depth articles on a broad variety of topics, not subject to any particular scheduling restrictions.

A database, searchable by vendor, substrate, product, state, etc.

A database, searchable by forum member, service offered and state. What a great feature when an equipment failure puts you in a pinch.

A database or listing of special wording for awards and gifts, indexed by categories such as retirement, wedding, promotion, sponsorship, leadership, etc.

A comprensive collection of artwork layouts for plaques, acrylics, gifts, etc. that are downloadable.

A formal grading system produced annually which lists the top 5 or 10 vendors or service providers in their particular specialty.

The formation of a buying group that would negotiate on behalf of the members. When EE members purchase equipment, products or services from an Engraving Etc. Super Supplier, they would receive benefits such as improved terms, lower minimums, additional discounts, rebates and other special incentives.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. This can become as big as one wants to make it, but it takes the resources of time, money and support staff to do it.

I hope this gives you some more food for thought.

Could the forum remain free, reading and posting for everyone, but these extra services be pay? Or maybe a hugely reduced fee for a forum only membership?

It could be part of the thing you agree to when you sign up to not freely discuss or reproduce what is on that extended data, articles etc...

I see the other forum sites getting busier if this forum goes pay, why pay for what you can get for free. Right now, it's the users that make this site good, not the mod's, but they often add to the discussions as users, i'm not saying anything negative about the mods, i'm just saying what's positive is the vast amount of knowlege frand experience from the users. So if this forum went pay, I'd just see if I could live for a while just using the others. As new users joined those would flourish, this one would stagnate.

BUT, all those extra features that you just named would be worth something. I don't know if I'd pay a yearly fee unless there was stuff constantly being added. Articles, hints, reviews. People will always be offering their own on those other forums, so the content offered should be a step above, not just a place to get all at once.

I reserve the right to change any and all opinions written in this email ;-) 

Shaddy

Harvey,

You said vaporware is to be avoided at all costs. I'm not sure if that's the best approach here.

You even gave an example of something that became 'vaporware' because it was discussed and openly rejected. Wasn't that a better use of resources then fully developing it, then forcing it on the members?

Big corporations are learning that product development works best when customer feedback is included from the start.

A supplier database would be great, but I feel there is still much that needs to be worked out. What type of searches would members actually like to do? I'd love to search for the laserable items made out of recycled materials. Where will the data come from and who will maintain it? How much detail will it contain? Will it have the information from past "where do I find" threads? It would be great to supply the structure and have suppliers maintain their own data, but will they have the motivation/resources to maintain another 'online catalog'? With so many vendors how do you standardize? Different names for the same thing can cause problems. I suspect it will need to be a large relational database.

The test program has been up for months. Guess you missed the thread. A lot of feedback was gathered and most was able to be accommodated within the program.

At the moment only the beginning of the alphabet is inputted, I need more time to complete the entries.

To see it, just click on this link. http://accentonengraving.com/suppliersearch.php

We will need to also add a definition of the search method.

Any search criteria entered is taken as a phrase. 'laser plaque' will search for only that phrase, not for 'laser' and 'plaque'. When you use more search criterion's, they are an AND search. Products. 'laser plaque', products 'wood', location 'MD' will give you results only if all are in the result.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Harvey's Tips Page When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

David,
Thank you for laying out some of the potential features of the pay to play EE.

I think NOW folks that might have been not willing to pay, might since they have a tangible idea of what they could possibly be getting for their money.

Shaddy,

The photographers forum I mentioned earlier has two forums. One is free. One is for "exclusive"(paying) members. Their term, not mine.

The free forum is dead. Questions go unanswered for days at a time - if answered at all.

People will go where they feel most welcome. They'll go where they get prompt responses to their questions.

Like any business or service, people will vote with their wallets. If they can have their needs met for free, wonderful! More power to them.

We make no guarantee that a person's bottom line will increase, as the result of being a forum member.

We can put money-making, time-saving advice in front of people, from now, to the end of time. If that advice is implemented, or not, is incumbent on the individual member and their level of ambition.

OK, but my suggestion was to keep one forum, and keep it free. At least that's what I meant. Then charge to access the other stuff and features. I love the idea of accessing tutorials and videos. And monetary (or maybe free membership) compensation for writing/making those might spur more people to make some. Which would grow your "library" and keep people coming around.

Anyway, just a concern/suggestion

I am sorry that you mis-read my quote of YOUR message... The 5% was NOT of the $75 but rather the % of messages that YOU said were beneficial to you.

"Reverend Jim, May I have more of the Kool Aid?"

Each person will have their own spreadsheet. THEY are the only ones that can determine what they have learned and of what value in time and/or $$ it has been to them.

I only showed what it would take for someone to "afford" a $75 annual membership... since that was one of the numbers being kicked around. If it was $50 or $60 or even $35.60 (that is ten cents per day for those of you in Rio Linda) the idea behind finding the funds to do something still follows form.

The exchange rate varies from state to state and person to person. Some find them worth their weight in signs and others try to microwave them and they become rubber offsets to raise materials closer to the laser....

Now, if you were to use a laser to "engrave" a persons name into it and then serve it up for breakfast with fresh cream cheese and smoked salmon (lox to the initiated), the value really rises. Add a slice of tomato and Vadalia onion and the sky is the limit! ;-) 

So, if I am understanding correctly, when/if the site goes pay, we could pay with food? Or foodstamps?

Lemme go toast some bagels

Chuck,

Yes, but in either case, they will need to be laserable.

Chuck,
Off topic but do they have good bagel stores in your neck of the woods and I don't mean Lenders.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Pete,
Things are different in Chuckland. No, they do not tax 100% even though purportedly we are one of the highest taxed states in the nation ( depends on how you look at it. I think Wa. is MUCH worse).
However, in Chuckland it is easier on my mind to think of a tax deductible expense as free.