Ad free subscriber group to be implemented

By Steven P.
in Site Announcements

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Grand Master

Steven P. Administrators

Posted
  • Author
  • Administrators
Posted
That all eh? Always looks like I'm surrounded in gold badges. I guess those with them are also going to be the more prolific users generally.

There are currently about 240 active subscribers, that number of course changes throughout the year.

Experienced

pixated

Posted
Posted
I don't know, essentially a subscriber who pays for the second tier is only paying us ?10 compensation [for the ads] because we value the enhancements of the current subscriber package at ?10 already! Blog, no flood control etc come at a cost too.

In fact I don't think we'd ever recoup the money we paid for the design work on Swift/Shift/Finity forums and blogs purely through subscriptions, as that cost us more than the annual amount of subscribers that we have (around 240 per year).

I'm aware the subscribers don't nearly cover the costs you have with the site but I still don't see the point in separating them. You could have made 5 packages ranging from $5 to $50 for example and made different badges for each but left the features the same. That way, those who wanted to pay more could do that and have something to show for it. On the other hand those who wanted to pay as little as possible while still contributing also had the option.

Is it not better to get $5 from someone who would gladly pay it who already blocks the ads anyway? You don't get any revenue from such a person, so the average amount of income per person from the ads is pretty irrelevant in this case.

20 euros per year is not much. On the other hand 20 euros can get you a game or a small app or a million other things on the internet.

I guess what I find disappointing is that you did not update the current subscribers to the new group until the end of their subscription cycle as an appreciation of their support shown so far. Personally, I don't mind the ads... but it would have been a nice gesture.

Grand Master

+LogicalApex MVC

Posted
  • MVC
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I'm aware the subscribers don't nearly cover the costs you have with the site but I still don't see the point in separating them. You could have made 5 packages ranging from $5 to $50 for example and made different badges for each but left the features the same. That way, those who wanted to pay more could do that and have something to show for it. On the other hand those who wanted to pay as little as possible while still contributing also had the option.

Is it not better to get $5 from someone who would gladly pay it who already blocks the ads anyway? You don't get any revenue from such a person, so the average amount of income per person from the ads is pretty irrelevant in this case.

20 euros per year is not much. On the other hand 20 euros can get you a game or a small app or a million other things on the internet.

I guess what I find disappointing is that you did not update the current subscribers to the new group until the end of their subscription cycle as an appreciation of their support shown so far. Personally, I don't mind the ads... but it would have been a nice gesture.

I'm not sure I understand your criticism of the new tier. It seems to me more than anything you're asking for something for nothing when nothing comes at a cost of free.

The current subscriber tier is not being phased out, from what I understand. So you're not being forced to pay more than you see is fair and has the features you care about. If you want to pay as much as possible to help NeoWin then you can always subscribe to the highest tier even if you don't are to use its features.

Your biggest criticism is the new tier will have a new badge and new "status" in the community. You're against that because you're a subscriber and believe they should see us all the same... If that is such a big issue then why do we have subscriber badges at all, in your view? We should all look the same no?

The new subscriber tier isn't any better or worse than the current offerings. The new tier is just different.

Grand Master

+Frank B. Subscriber²

Posted
  • Subscriber²
Posted (edited)
[snipped]

May I refer you to this thread?

What you think is irrelevant - the administration of the site has made it clear that mentioning ad blockers is not wanted.

Edited by John S.
Mentor

Phixion

Posted
Posted
May I refer you to this thread?

What you think is irrelevant - the administration of the site has made it clear that mentioning ad blockers is not wanted.

I've been searching through the rules and it isn't in there, maybe it should be to avoid any future confusion?

I'll edit my posts to abide by the rules.

Mentor

Phixion

Posted
Posted

I just find it amusing that people jump down my throat about the mere mention of it, when the site itself is now offering ad free membership for $$$. The majority of the surfing population probably already know of it, those that don't should be allowed to make an informed decision, not kept in the dark in hope that they will continue surfing with ads or give money to stop them thinking it's the only way.

I've edited my posts, those that have quoted me I suggest you do the same.

Grand Master

whitebread

Posted
Posted
I just find it amusing that people jump down my throat about the mere mention of it, when the site itself is now offering ad free membership for $$$. The majority of the surfing population probably already know of it, those that don't should be allowed to make an informed decision, not kept in the dark in hope that they will continue surfing with ads or give money to stop them thinking it's the only way.
Uh huh. Neowin's TOS prohibits ad blockers, so if you don't like the ads, don't use the site. Period. If Neowin wants to offer an ad-free version for $, that is their choice/right.
Mentor

pHaez

Posted
Posted
I just find it amusing that people jump down my throat about the mere mention of it, when the site itself is now offering ad free membership for $$$. The majority of the surfing population probably already know of it, those that don't should be allowed to make an informed decision, not kept in the dark in hope that they will continue surfing with ads or give money to stop them thinking it's the only way.

It is your right to use said software, and it is our right to restrict discussion of it on our site.

If we don't want people discussing how to block our ads, would it not be hypocritical of us to allow you to discuss blocking ads on other sites? Because of such, we simply don't allow the discussion at all. There are plenty of places on the internet that you can do that, we are simply asking that it not be here.

Surely you wouldn't want people coming to your place of employment telling people where they can get a product your workplace offers, free of charge. If they did, I am sure they would be escorted off the premises. Why is it any different here?

In the end, you are going to do what you do, and this subscription tier probably isn't for you. As you stated, people know their options when it comes to ads, and those that subscribe to this tier will do so primarily to offer financial support for what we do here. The ads being removed will just be an added benefit.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted
I just find it amusing that people jump down my throat about the mere mention of it, when the site itself is now offering ad free membership for $$$. The majority of the surfing population probably already know of it, those that don't should be allowed to make an informed decision, not kept in the dark in hope that they will continue surfing with ads or give money to stop them thinking it's the only way.

I've edited my posts, those that have quoted me I suggest you do the same.

They key word is "for $$$". The ads on this site is what brings in the money. Without money neowin would not be able to operate. It pays the bills. Neowin is paying (bandwidth and such) to give you something for free. When you disable the ads on your browser they are unable to make any of that money back. By people paying them not to see ads, they are now making money regardless if you see the ads or not. That's the difference

Grand Master

dead.cell

Posted
Posted

Badass. Now I can get my even more elite status to help support my superiority complex!

Seriously though, I'll probably jump to it when it becomes available. Still no Tier 2 showing up so...

@Eric, wanna know what I find hypocritical? :shifty:

Hah, kidding. I swear, I won't bring that up again. ;)

Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
It is your right to use said software, and it is our right to restrict discussion of it on our site.

If we don't want people discussing how to block our ads, would it not be hypocritical of us to allow you to discuss blocking ads on other sites? Because of such, we simply don't allow the discussion at all. There are plenty of places on the internet that you can do that, we are simply asking that it not be here.

Surely you wouldn't want people coming to your place of employment telling people where they can get a product your workplace offers, free of charge. If they did, I am sure they would be escorted off the premises. Why is it any different here?

In the end, you are going to do what you do, and this subscription tier probably isn't for you. As you stated, people know their options when it comes to ads, and those that subscribe to this tier will do so primarily to offer financial support for what we do here. The ads being removed will just be an added benefit.

ETA on Tier 2? :p

Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
Finity is confirmed as working with the ad free modification, I hope tomorrow the rest of the themes are done too and then we can enable it :)

Awesome stuff Neobond! :)

@bangbang :laugh:

Experienced

pixated

Posted
Posted
I'm not sure I understand your criticism of the new tier. It seems to me more than anything you're asking for something for nothing when nothing comes at a cost of free.

The current subscriber tier is not being phased out, from what I understand. So you're not being forced to pay more than you see is fair and has the features you care about. If you want to pay as much as possible to help NeoWin then you can always subscribe to the highest tier even if you don't are to use its features.

Your biggest criticism is the new tier will have a new badge and new "status" in the community. You're against that because you're a subscriber and believe they should see us all the same... If that is such a big issue then why do we have subscriber badges at all, in your view? We should all look the same no?

The new subscriber tier isn't any better or worse than the current offerings. The new tier is just different.

I don't care about the badges and how we look. It is my opinion that they should have done the same features (adfree, no post timer, blog etc) for all subscriber tiers rather than just the most expensive one. That way you'd give an incentive to those who block the ads anyway to pay at least the smallest amount to contribute something.

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