You're probably at the same point that ChevyTalk.com was at a few years ago; too big to use a small, cheap server host and too large to fund it out of your pocket. They went through several different suggestions before settling on a voluntary membership plan, much like the one you already have. They do not accept sponsor ads nor can you advertise anywhere in the tech forums, but their paid membership has grown quite well. It's sort of like a "pride of ownership" kind of thing. Today, CT is not only financially sound, but it is one of the premiere Chevy sites on the web. But, that takes membership - lots of membership...

If you have just 1,000 active members and expect to lose half of them, you're going to have a tough road ahead of you. Especially if you want to depend on click-throughs to help support the site. (No visitors, no click-throughs...) Frankly, I'd be rather surprised if you were able to convert half those users to a paid membership, although I do wish you the best of luck. I saw your note about the ratio between the "Yes" and "No" replies to this thread. Those "Yes" replies need to grow by 10 times in order to realize your prediction...

I'm wondering if you should have waited until after the NCM event to do this as that should drum up some new members for you.

No doubt that this is a nice site, but there is a lot of quality competition out there. I wish you luck.

I have taken the time today to read all of the input of this very import issue...I just don't get it I'm trying to figure out why anybody would have a problem paying $10.00 a year for this club. It's $10.00 a YEAR!!! Not a month..or an hour...I mean c'mon! I guess that I feel that this site is well worth the money...and Adam, you probably should have done this a long time ago to avoid the situation your currently in. In fact what I'm gonna do is get the gold membership because that pays for me and 1 and a half of you other cheapskates that want it for free! I say good riddens because most of you just looked at the postings and didn't contribute anyway. I'm not saying that I have had a lot of posts or did much in the way of contribution...I've chimmed in when I thought I could help...but the one time I really needed help BIGVETTE hooked me up with advice and data for my crappy q-jet. Besides I've always felt a little guitly about getting all this good info for free, when a membership has always been available. Seems to me that if most of those "lookers" (including myself) had stepped up, this probably would not have been an issue anyways.
I was going to send my $14.95 to "Corvette Magazine" for 6 issues a year...but screw it... C3VR gets my vote and my money. I hope that you nay sayers reconsider, believe there is no better C3 site on the web...and no magazine even comes close. Step up people, and show those C4 & C5 guys that we are not just the older car but are the true appreciation of the american dream...to own a classic beauty...a C3 Corvette...and a not a belly button.

Tell you what, I will give you $10 a year just to look at the pictures. I will think of the site as free!

I just paid for my GOLD MEMBERSHIP!!!!!
C'mon folks let's all pull that credit card out and show our support
I'm inviting all you standard members that are on the fence to join me on the other side....it's up to us to keep this great site alive and to show our support and thanks to Adam for carrying us for so long.
Let's go...we can do it

Adam , I misunderstood your e-mail . YES want to continue
my membership , thinking about up grading it .

You are doing a great job .

Lorin

I've been busy and haven't been here in awhile. All I can say is this is an awesome site and Adam your the man for keeping it together. I enjoy reading as much as posting. I love looking at the pictures of everyones vettes. I've gained alot of knowledge from this site and try to give back whenever I can. You can count me in!

WOW!! Folks, it $10.00!! You guys are just kidding right? I'm upgrading to a gold membership just to show my support.

I here for the long haul!

Sorry to see so many people leave for the price of 5 gallons of gas!

Ben

I went through and read a lot of the posts. There is a ton of Corvette sites and a ton of information for free and you can get a lot of it right from GM. All or most all your shows are in Pa. and I'm not fron Pa. So I guess you can cancel me out of here.

Thank you

I would just like to throw my 2 cents in the mix if I may. I've been reading this thread since it started, and I can't believe how hostil some people get because some members choose not to hang around, whatever the reason. I see the flying all over the place, but I guess some forget that America is the land of the free...freedom of speech, freedom of choice. If someone makes the choice to leave, so be it. They're not right, or wrong for doing so. There is no right or wrong in this matter. It's just they're personal choice. Just as if you choose to stay. Good for you! No one has the right to ream you out for your decision. Or question it's validity. That's what makes this country great is the great diversity of it's people, and what they all contribute, in their unique ways. If you don't like the fact that someone has a different opinion than yours...get over it!

76Baby said: I would just like to throw my 2 cents in the mix if I may. I've been reading this thread since it started, and I can't believe how hostil some people get because some members choose not to hang around, whatever the reason. I see the flying all over the place, but I guess some forget that America is the land of the free...freedom of speech, freedom of choice. If someone makes the choice to leave, so be it. They're not right, or wrong for doing so. There is no right or wrong in this matter. It's just they're personal choice. Just as if you choose to stay. Good for you! No one has the right to ream you out for your decision. Or question it's validity. That's what makes this country great is the great diversity of it's people, and what they all contribute, in their unique ways. If you don't like the fact that someone has a different opinion than yours...get over it!

You're right. People should not be "yelling" at others if they chose not to pay. One of the things C3VR has always prided itself on is the fact that this is a friendly community!

From now on, any replies to this thread that are, in a moderator's opinion, inappropriately worded will be deleted and a warning will be sent to it's author.

Thank you.