Rob- a quick idea on Subscriptions...

This lowly F-Chat member (wax) also has the best interests of this accidental community's near and distant future at it's core and it's orbit. So bear with this monologue about Artherd's considerate idea.

NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) has a multi-search daily limit of info on cars which is more than enough for Joe SmartCheapskates, but too many for NADA. (Crappy example, I know - as NADA makes plenty from Dealers - but still...)

For what it's worth - IF it came down to post limits - I'd make it a 7 posts a week limit. Not 1 a day. 7 a week.
A non-payer might have a real need - then and there - and need to get busy.

Once the benefit is seen of having an unlimited participation - this will encourage some, though certainly not all - to commit themselves to this accidental community. Return the favor.

Until that easy decision is made, no pic posting by non-payers who aren't Grandfathered in, though. If you're late to the party, you've going to miss out on some of the fun.

Rob - You have plenty of time to mull over the various possibilities of continuing to make F-Chat the best, but you have ample time to cross the toll bridge when you get to it. So please, don't let this "trouble" - trouble you.

 

I disagree with this suggestion.

As long as its free to post 5 times, then its free to post 500 times... just add another account.

As long as its free to post, then you want it free to view and to search. Because otherwise you'll just get the same question asked over and over... even more so than now.

What you CAN do is allow stuff and make it more annoying.

For example, when they click "submit new thread", have it collect words out of the posting and do a search, and then pop up a window with the search results and instructions stating "These threads seem to already answer your post. You must check out at least one of these before your post will be accepted. To skip this check, you must register as a full member (only $7.50 for 6 mos)."

If you do that, you need to also make posting replies a little more annoying (so they don't use that instead of a new thread, when a new thread is appropriate)... perhaps just have "Submit reply" go to a window that says, "Thanks for posting. Please support our sponsors (with all their logos). To skip this message, you must register as a full member (only $7.50 for 6 mos)."


With that said, I think Rob's standing suggestion is reasonable... and if it doesn't get enough paying, then he can easily start adding "annoyances" later to encourage more payers... until he finds the right balance.