Lads / Girls, my PM messages have gone crazy with people asking to get access to trade section since i posted this thread. Makes no sense to me . Obviously there was something i was doing wrong for yopu all not to want access when it was FREE (or still is free at moment) Little help please ! I must ask, how come you have never asked before? My point of view is i dont automatically unlock as i need people to prove there trade to me, which i can do by looking at registered email address, posts etc. I simply don't have time to monitor every new member and decide after a few months that i would unlock for you, so i rely on you prompting me for access with a simple pm message. How come so many of you have never asked me before to get in trade area? Did you know it was there? Did you think i would say no maybe. I will if i think your not trade, i have many none trade trying to get a look and if i suspect your not trade i will simply not allow access. However the people pm me since yesterday are blatant trade so why have you not asked before? Im confused, i have many none trade people using the forum trying to get in, but the actual real trade members dont ask? Feedback please. Im obviously doing something wrong here.
I just assumed I would be allowed in after a certain time on the forum to stop anyone coming on and going straight into it. Thanks for unlocking.
i didn't really notice it, and wasn't sure of any benefit if i did or didn't join it, most of the things i talked about are ok in the normal forum, maybe in hindsight some of them could or should have been trade only. something like a joining email would be good saying you need to apply in the future after you have proven that you are trade. Trade only section, i thought it was something you northern people do!! like a secret society,had to be whipped with branches to get in! i don't know anything about whippets and pigeon fancying so i thought i couldn't contribute.
Matt, just one quick question, Is it still going to be a bonafide 'trade ' section, or is anybody with the right amount of sheckles be allowed to join? Phil
Any way the subscription could be paid other than pay-pal? if possible I might as well get the business to pay for it and save £6!!
Matt i was not trying to not pay i did have a paypal account but i bugged it up and cannot use it, tel me how to pay and i will as its a good idea. Steve.
Hi Phil, I have been given this one some thought. As it stands anyone will be able to join if they pay as it will be automated. However, as you have pointed out "anyone can join if they have some sheckles" However the general public using a forum are using it normally because they are trying to find out how to do themselves for the cheapest possible (hence i always try and hide tips /tricks etc in trade section) I can guarantee you they will NOT spend 10p let alone a few quid to get into a trade area. The other public we get on the forum are normally people who have already had teh job done. They are on here as they are not happy with workmanship and are trying to find out how the floor should of been fitted for when they complain. Again these users i dought will try and get in to trade area as everyone seems fast to try and help them in the none paid area. So what i can do is this (i think) - I write new rules, the new rules say that the paid area is for trade only. Anyone using the section that cant prove there trade will be removed with no refunds allowed. OR The web designer sets it up ( i think he will be able to) so that you cant pay for trade area unless you have 10 posts. Hardley any public have 10 posts + but we will also monitor. If people are posting daft crap to get post count up the moderators will be asked to remove crap posts so there post count will never get up to 10. OR We set a time limit on it combined, you have to have say 10 posts and been a member for 2 months maybe? The DIY users are not going to wait 2 months to get a look. Some stats for you- The forum gets on average over 1000 unique people per day on here (when i say Unique i mean the public who visit once but dont return). We know its unique as we log IP address's so we know if someone is a member or the public even if that member does not login we know if they are looking . We have a average of around 200 members each day logging in and out. Out of the 1000 public users its very rare they return. They simply get the info they was looking for and off they go. We can even see what type of internet explorer they are using along with what they typed into google etc to find us. So using the above stats i dont think we need to worry about the public paying to get into trade area. but as a above i will defo monitor it and defo remove none trade.
I wasn't trying to be critical, it was only an observation that crossed my mind and after reading your reply, it seems you are as much of a conspiracy theorist as I !! Keep up the good work and I will be paying the amount needed . Phil
I dont think for one minute you was being critical mate. You was raising a point that could be a issue. You have raised a point that i would guess a few people was also thinking so i have answered with my plan. if you or anyone has any other ideas on how to improve my plan there more than welcome and received with thanks.
Might be a option. Problem is i will be limited on what options the software will give me. Untill the software is installed i wont know what it will do. I can always get it custom coded but its not cheap, will probably cost me more than i will get back from a few years subscriptions. Obviously that is teh opposite to what i want as im trying to help cover my costs of running the place. I dont want to make money out of the forum, i simply want to cover what it costs me personally to run the place.
Thankyou very much to yourself and the few others that have donated in the past. Greatly appreciated.
