Increasing the price of premium

[Anxiety]

Well this has been a topic I've been thinking about recently, and I'll explain the reason. Firstly, the amount I'm thinking of increasing it to is $10 or $7. Why? Well, simple. We're a Market Forum, the more signups we get here the more daily posts we're getting in our Market Section (Selling/Buying/Trading). The more posts, the more likely scammers are going to start coming here.

Now, it's a known fact if you're upgraded to VIP on a forum you're 99% of the time instantly trusted. With our current price of $5 it's easy for a scammer to come here, upgrade, scam 3 people and earn themselves a nice $40+ profit. This generally is the sole reason I think an increased price (a lot of people have recommended it to me, it's not just me) is needed, and not because I'm a "money whore". If I was a money whore I wouldn't of barely kept MF online over these weeks and months with not having enough money, and only once I had to resort to asking users to donate up to $7 to keep us going (never asked for more).

This isn't because we're short of money either, we have enough now to pay our hosting with ease.

I'm not in this for the money, I love our community. Now this isn't definite, I know $5 is a great price for new members to upgrade, but it's up for discussion. What do you guys think?

 

[The Ðuck]

I completely agree with you. 5$ is a little easy to get online. This will bring us more scammers, like you said and we need to keep the Premium group CLEAN and TRUSTED.
Tell me, who wants to buy/sell items to a Premium, if there is a bounch of Premium members that scams regular members/upgraded ones?

 

[Phreak]

I think that Premium should be increased to $10, because like you said, it would be so easy for a scammer to come here, pay $5 dollars and make themselves a hefty profit. It also takes away from the "cool" aspect of being VIP if everyone on the forum has it. Another suggestion, is to increase the amount for the Investor group as well, as it will allow the forums to have a higher, more trusted group of traders, sellers and members. An increase to $30 might be a good idea.

 

[Guest]

I think its a good idea! Just dont make us already premium upgraded members pay more to continue. Other than that I know exactly what you mean. And later on in the future with more members I think the price should be raised more. I think its a AMAZING idea.

 

[Anxiety]

No one would need to pay again, it's lifetime. And Phreak and Bell nailed it on the head there, we're getting a lot of premium members (and I thank you all so much) and none of them are scammers, but it might take away the effect of a special member in the Market, which is one of the advantages of being a Premium member. Investor might get changed to $30 aswell Phreak, MIGHT .

 

[Flow'n]

Like the idea Crayo go for it.

 

[Sexy ♥]

Shit.

I wanted to comment, but Bell and Phreak explained everything.

 

[Roobik]

Make VIP cost $10, it's a good price.

 

[Anxiety]

Everyone seems fine with $10 at the moment.

 

[Spaz]

Valid points raised, i still think something like this would work:

VIP:
$5/mo recurring
Lifetime $30

Investor:
$75+

Reasons for the $5/mo recurring, right now we are doing well for money true, but look long term. Recurring payments make it a lot easier to stay in the black when it comes to funds. We are not going to have a constant stream of new VIP's or Investors. Why? well we don't want to as they are special anymore. If everyone is in those groups, what's the point?
So eventually they will die down to about 1-2 new VIP's every 2 weeks if that. Later on we will need a bigger VPS, meaning more money.
So recurring payment options for people who can only afford this every month or so, or can't afford lifetime will help MF bring in a "constant" flow of money.

Now I understand about the Scammer situation. But, with a dedicated team of MarketPolice and with smart members (we now have the Trader plugin for a reason) Putting the VIP price to "Lifetime - $10" will not solve this problem. People are never in a risk free zone, but the risks can be managed with active mods and smart members. A simple $10 Lifetime VIP will not solve this.

Thoughts?

 

[Anxiety]

A very HQ post. There's upsides and downsides with recurring payments. Many of the users here are 15-18, and commiting yourself to a recurring payment can actually be quite a daunting thing, though you're right, it will be a better stimulant of income and it will definitely keep the group prestige. Though I don't think many of our current members in that group will like that, and it's much easier maintaining a lifetime system.

It's difficult really, hence why I want you members to pitch in with this idea.

 

[Sexy ♥]

Spaz, fuck you bro. You think people would actually pay 30$ for basic Prem features? No one will pay, therefore, no money for MF.

It's better that 50 users pay 10$ then 5 users 30$..

 

[Spaz]

Actually I think monthly payments of a small $5 for VIP is much less daunting than a lifetime payment of $30 or whatever.
And Sorry I didn't reiterate but the current VIP have VIP for Lifetime so these payments only effect any potential new comers.

When your 15-18. Getting $30 without a CC for normal "run-of-the-mill" users is a very hard thing to do. Unless you want to sell things on eBay or whatever. Where as small 1 month payments of $5 are easy. Sign up to any old PTC site and cashout $2 every week and voila. Easily affordable.

EDIT: No need to swear, plus who said anything about basic features? I have big plans for the VIP. Not giving a timescale just yet but you wait. Not only that but you really want 50 new VIP's every month? What's the point in VIP if everyone has that. 50 is a stupid number to pull out of the sky.

 

[Anxiety]

Let's keep this thread HQ without flaming please. All posts are suggestions, and require HQ feedback.

 

[Sexy ♥]

Don't mind my swearing, it's my normal language. I say "fuck" in almost every sentence.

30 bucks is too much. Dot. Fuck. See?

Maybe, maybe when we become bigger community, like HF, but until then I think that 10$ is a good price.

Edit.

More Premium = more money.
That's the whole point of Premium. Admins usually don't give a shit about how many Prems there are, they only want money. I'm glad if you aren't like that.

Maybe I'm too cheap, but I would never give a 30$ to become Premium on any forums. I saw what UB3R section on HF contains, it's not worth it.
For 30$ people expect lot of content, not just some stupid section with a lot of free shit and HQ...not sure about the word I'm looking for here. Content, I guess.

 

[Anxiety]

I see both of your points, and I agree that when we're bigger recurring payments is something we could THINK about. This thread is just for discussion as for all, I'm currently speaking with Spaz about it on MSN and he's cool, it's just a suggestion .

$10 is a realistic probability of what's going to happen. I'd like some regular members to reply to this though.

 

[Phreak]

Valid points raised, i still think something like this would work:

VIP:
$5/mo recurring
Lifetime $30

Investor:
$75+

Reasons for the $5/mo recurring, right now we are doing well for money true, but look long term. Recurring payments make it a lot easier to stay in the black when it comes to funds. We are not going to have a constant stream of new VIP's or Investors. Why? well we don't want to as they are special anymore. If everyone is in those groups, what's the point?
So eventually they will die down to about 1-2 new VIP's every 2 weeks if that. Later on we will need a bigger VPS, meaning more money.
So recurring payment options for people who can only afford this every month or so, or can't afford lifetime will help MF bring in a "constant" flow of money.

Now I understand about the Scammer situation. But, with a dedicated team of MarketPolice and with smart members (we now have the Trader plugin for a reason) Putting the VIP price to "Lifetime - $10" will not solve this problem. People are never in a risk free zone, but the risks can be managed with active mods and smart members. A simple $10 Lifetime VIP will not solve this.

Thoughts?

I actually kind of like this idea, however, it basically takes away from the donation achievements, such as "The Money". I think that the Premium $5 a month is a decent idea. The part I like the most is the Investor group being raised. I think that we should have a group on the forums that is extremely difficult to get into, therefore, those members would be extremely trusted and can help monitor things around the marketplace. This, per say, doesn't have to be the Investor group, however, it would be nice to see a "higher, trusted" group like this. (Sort of like how ub3rs used to be.) <- from what i've heard.

 

[Spaz]

What makes $10 so special? Why not just keep it at $5 for the time being?
Plus it might be everyday language to say "fuck" as a habit, but this is a forum. There's no real need.

EDIT: I get what your saying about the VIP content. But ask Crayo, it will be worth much more than $30 when I'm done with it I can assure you. Also, no your wrong Sexy. We are not like every other forum. VIP means what it stands for here "Very Important Person". I would much rather have less donations, less VIPs and less money, but with VIP being desirable rather than everyone being VIP and it being a standard thing for everyone.

 

[Sexy ♥]

And don't look at me as a hater or flamer, I'm only suggesting and discussing, but in my own way.

 

[Anxiety]

$10 is double $5. As we don't have a big market atm, it's unlikely a scammer would commit $10 with intentions of scamming, but it's significantly more likely at $5. It's like that advert, hit me at 30 and there's an 80% chance I'll die, but hit me at 20 and there's an 80% chance I'll live.