Carpe Economics

[iand1947]

A couple of questions for Guinness on the "economics" of Carpe, on which I was going to start a separate thread, but might as well post here as you've touched on one of them.

1) You and the others in Admin put in a lot of your own time. not least on exercises like the upgrade, and do a hell of a job. Is there any way the burden can be alleviated?
2) You've mentioned finances. Is there really enough money to cover outgoings, or is more needed and when/how often? Hopefully Admin. members are not having to shell out extra on this.
3) Much of the fun of Carpe (aside from the techy stuff) is in the mickey-taking and other exchanges - often just the odd emoticon. But does each posting have a significant "baseline cost" and should we (not least, me) be a bit more careful about using up server space?

Not trying to spoil the fun, but I've been bit mindful of what happens behind the scenes.

[Guinness]

ill answer this from home. then i can be more exact.

[dapleb]

<!--quoteo(post=29687:date=Thu 8th Feb 2007, 06:03 PM:name=Pict)-->QUOTE(Pict @ Thu 8th Feb 2007, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->2) You've mentioned finances. Is there really enough money to cover outgoings, or is more needed and when/how often? Hopefully Admin. members are not having to shell out extra on this.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

There is enough to cover outgoings. The "Supporting Member" subscriptions run for a year. So they will start to come up for renewal in March.

This post was last modified: 09-02-2007, 09:26 AM by dapleb.

[King OFF the Road]

I don't know about the rest of you but I thought that £5 was so cheap it was a no brainer to subscribe, I get much more back. How was the rate decided? I for one would be more than happy to pay more, £12 so a quid a month would be fine, I mean that's not even a full tank of fuel!

[dapleb]

<!--quoteo(post=29751:date=Fri 9th Feb 2007, 09:20 AM:name=Landy)-->QUOTE(Landy @ Fri 9th Feb 2007, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->...£5 was so cheap it was a no brainer to subscribe...<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That was kinda what I was aiming for and it gives us enough to keep things going.

[avonne]

There is a bit of history to it.

When the old forum was running, we were all there free gratis, then came the big crash. As a temp measure, we all moved to Gary's site on CMC. G was not contactable for a long while and we were beginning to question if carpe would raise its head and if so, in what form.

Anyhow, G came back on CMC with different suggestions, one of those was a super dooper site, but at a cost to him. We got that figure out of G and by general concensus decided that if we all chipped in we could 'buy' the software. No figure was reached but again, by general concensus and the ammount of willing bodies, we all just donated a figure via electronic means to a running fund.

Thats about how it started. Of course, with more 'newcomers' the cost was outsripped by donations and a figure could be settled on, with surplus monies in a 'slush fund'.

(at least, thats how I remember it.) Dapleb, G ?

[dapleb]

Yeah EXACTLY that.

[TonyDevil]

i too am prepared to pay more, but experience says the majority arent.
if its too expensive then fewer people take it up.
making it £5 does make it so low that in theory you get more people donating (and becoming a <!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro-->supporting member<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->) so you have more cash than if it was more expensive.

you can always donate more if you really feel the need

[iand1947]

You're right. Here's hoping that enough people have a conscience about things.

[Quartermaster]

<!--quoteo(post=29770:date=Fri 9th Feb 2007, 02:01 PM:name=Pict)-->QUOTE(Pict @ Fri 9th Feb 2007, 02:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You're right. Here's hoping that enough people have a conscience about things.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'd be more than happy to pay to support the site and I'm sure many other "newbies" would as well, it's part of my daily entertainment. A big thank you to those of us that actively make this thing happen.

[King OFF the Road]

Perhaps we need a pinned thread that prompts folks to consider becoming a supporting member if they find they like us!

[dapleb]

New members get the option when they join and there is also a pinned topic here: http://www.carpe-tdm.net/ipb/index.php?showtopic=93

[King OFF the Road]

Fairy Snuff. I do not remember the option on joining and had not seen the pinned topic but was just nosing around "My Controls" when I wondered what the 'purchase paid subscriptions' was all about. This made me think that other members may not find out how to support the group.

[Mandi]

<!--quoteo(post=29786:date=Fri 9th Feb 2007, 03:21 PM:name=Quartermaster)-->QUOTE(Quartermaster @ Fri 9th Feb 2007, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'd be more than happy to pay to support the site and I'm sure many other "newbies" would as well, it's part of my daily entertainment. A big thank you to those of us that actively make this thing happen. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Me too

[Guest]

hey, Id be more than happy to pay more for the subscription and if we have the means to spread the webs existence, ie, forum cards to leave other TDM riders,I would be more than happy to par-take.
Didnt know how this all started off by the way but well done to it's founders and long may it live on.