Forum Funding

JimmyB

JimmyB

Now retired - trains and fishing
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I am sure this has come up a few times, I appreciate that currently the forum is funded via advertisements, or for a fee you can have the "ad free" version. However, curiosity has got the best of me over the cost effectiveness of the adverts; e.g. if 75% of the regular users were to pay an annual "donation" of 50% of the advert free fee, would this be cost effective.

It would be interesting to hear from the site owner/administrator on the running costs, and the effectiveness of the current method of payment, and also from the regular contributors on their willingness to pay to use the site.

Why the sudden curiosity, well I don't mind the odd advert here and there, but sometimes I do seem to get bombarded, occasionally with effect you cannot see where an advert stops and a post starts. I could of course use an adblocker, and when I view the site on my "secure" works computor all adverts from every source are blocked at the server, but the purposeful use of an adblocker on this site is [IMHO] a moral issue.

Enough of the rant, your view would be appreciated :)
 
Yes, I have noticed this "blurring" of the division between adverts and posts and it seems of recent origin, maybe the most recent update.

As for a fee, a one-tine registration fee or an annual membership fee would be acceptable to me in principle.
 
Think I know why I no longer see adds, my machine runs a full time add blocker etc, so I don't see any Knicker adverts anymore :) but now I feel guilty running a blocker..
 
Its very strange, but for some reason if I use my phone, I don't get as many as as I do with my wife's tablet
 
I realize some may be suffering financial hardship in the current CV-19 circumstances. That said, I think £17.45/year to get GSC ad free is hardly an exorbitant cost if you value what you get from this forum and can afford large scale trains in the first place. And, as a bonus, you can have your ad blocker on too and not feel guilty.
 
I hope you're not suggesting you've fully grown up Greg, that would never do! :rofl:
The picture actually reminds me of a circular race we do round Hampstead Heath, it goes up,and it goes up, and it goes up, but I'll be b*gg*red if it ever goes down!
 
JimmyB said:
I am sure this has come up a few times, I appreciate that currently the forum is funded via advertisements, or for a fee you can have the "ad free" version. However, curiosity has got the best of me over the cost effectiveness of the adverts; e.g. if 75% of the regular users were to pay an annual "donation" of 50% of the advert free fee, would this be cost effective.

It would be interesting to hear from the site owner/administrator on the running costs, and the effectiveness of the current method of payment, and also from the regular contributors on their willingness to pay to use the site.

Why the sudden curiosity, well I don't mind the odd advert here and there, but sometimes I do seem to get bombarded, occasionally with effect you cannot see where an advert stops and a post starts. I could of course use an adblocker, and when I view the site on my "secure" works computor all adverts from every source are blocked at the server, but the purposeful use of an adblocker on this site is [IMHO] a moral issue.

Enough of the rant, your view would be appreciated :)
Click to expand...
Thank you! Your article on the Traing Power Wagon has got me started. It was very helpful and the list of suppliers helped even more.
 
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