I've got to admit that I'm mainly a lurker. I have started a couple threads & hope that as time goes by I'll be able to contribute more. Some of the features that I really like about this place are the Ebay C3 auctions. Just surfing Ebay & thinking that you are finding everything that you are looking for can take forever, but with this handy tool you are able to see everything available all at once. I used it to buy a split repro fiberglass bumper for my 74, I'll probably use it to buy a set of smoke tops too. The VIN decoder is a really cool tool too. I really enjoy reading the threads in all the forums. Anything that I can learn that can help me to enjoy my vette & take better care of her is alright by me. I hope that over time I'll be able to get to know the folks on here too. After all its you guys & gals that make this place special.

Come on everyone. Stop being so bitter. $10 is nothing when owning a vette.

I'm kinda in the middle on this topic. I'm a paying Gold member and have contemplated upgrading to Lifetime. I know there are costs to host this, run this, etc. and without money, there'd be no site at all. It's kinda like Public Television. You love to watch the great shows, performances, etc. without commercials. But you hate to have to sit through those long drawn out fund raising drives. Unfortunately, you can't have both "no commercials" and "no fund raising". The money to run the show (no pun intended) has to come from somewhere.

As for C3VR, what makes this site work, is the number of people on it and the contributions from them. In that respect, I'm very sorry to see so many people leave.

My suggestion is that there needs to be some sort of "try and buy" option. I thought of two. One would be a "guest" level users. This would be someone who can "lurk" but they are limited to what they can access and it's "read-only". They wouldn't be able to post questions or responses. Perhaps they will see the great value the site has and then want to drop the $10 and participate.

The second suggestion is a 30 day (or longer) full access free "trial". Let someone use the site with full access for a designated period of time. They may see that there's really a value and then join.

Without either of these options, as a new person just finding the site and no ability to "test drive" it, I'd be turned off and away.

Last idea is an annual "fund raising" event. I've seen a lot of sites that run into these financial issues and they run a fund raiser to "Keep The Site Free". This gives users the ability to make whatever donation they can. All the time understanding that if enough money isn't raised, then the site will have to implement fees.

So - there's my 2 cents...

All I have to say is...WOW!
I can't believe all the negative responces. It's kind of dishearting to see. I myself am not rich, but when I see something I like, I usually find a way to support it. That is why I became a Lifetime member. I've been to some of the "free" forums and been disrespected and listen to some foul mouth garbage. "not that i'm a saint or anything like that." But my belief is to try to keep it clean for our younger veiwers. Like I always say...you get what you pay for. And I'll get off my soapbox and shutup for now.
BTW- Who where some of these people? I've never seen there names or posts. It's like a bunch of mice coming out after shaking the wood pile a little.
Sarge

You can count me in Adam. I've never belonged to any club where there weren't some form of dues. I've saved considerable money and time from the information on this site and will do my part to keep it going. Keep up the good work!

I've been a member for a few years now and enjoyed meeting Adam and a few other people, but I am unsure about whether I will continue my Membership. I have volunteered tiem at corvettes at arlisle 2 years in a row, which I think is worth waiving the $9.95 fee.

I must say that I am enjoying reading most of the comments that have been posted over the last day. It certainly seems that the mood here is a lot more positive and people are seeing the benefits of sticking around for the long haul. What the heck is 10 bucks anyway? You will go through that much in fuel in just an hour or 2's ride (well okay, blast) in the country. I'm here for the duration, this is a really friendly group and I hope most of you stick around.

The C3 Regs. site is a great site, better than most from what I've seen. It seems C3R. wants to become more of a club than a web site. I'am a lone wolf, but thats me, I went to the C6R. and you can join for free for now, will they soon have dues to be a member,would C3R. members have to pay dues if there wasn't a C6R.? Why join a "world wide club"thats centered in the mid west of the U.S. C3R doesn't put anything on on the west coast.Like I said C3R. is a great web site, I have until June to decide. If you grow to fast and get spread out, its easy to go broke.

Adam - thanks for taking the time to respond to me on a personal basis. You are certainly a responsible guy and a class act in my book.

I'll probably hang in there, I'm more of a user than contributor, but either way your price is not ridiculous by any means.

I'm just dreaming to have a site where all the information resides. But in reality that's no more possible on the internet than it is through print media or the airwaves.

It's a great site and you will get the support you need.

If you own a C3 and you work on it yourself this site is as important as any tool in your box. It is my home page and I am here to stay. I met Adam and some of the other C3ers in Hershey last summer and feel honored to be a part of such a great group of Corvette lovers.