Should Physics Forums Offer Premium Memberships?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Greg Bernhardt
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the proposal for Physics Forums to introduce premium memberships to generate revenue and enhance user experience with new features. Two membership tiers are suggested: Silver at $25/year, offering limited messaging and ad-free browsing, and Gold at $75/year, which includes additional features like reputation points and personal blogs. Participants express mixed feelings, with some questioning the value of proposed features and others suggesting alternatives like a trial period for new members or donation-based support. Concerns are raised about maintaining accessibility for all users, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds. Overall, the community seeks a balance between financial sustainability and keeping the forum inclusive.
  • #51
beer money

May we buy and sell our member names? I really don't want to part with my 'Janitor' handle, but sufficient filthy luchre could convince me to do so. Bid floor is $20 U.S.

:wink:
 
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  • #52
Reminds me of people selling various Online thinggies at Ebay: Everquest super powers, usernames,etc..
Now that made me think, my kickass username, "customized" rank and my lovely Wolverine avatar

HhmmMm...
 
  • #53
I offer five bucks for the wolverine avatar.

:biggrin:
 
  • #54
Selling the use of avatars is a good idea (no donation, no avatar). There's a lot of interest in having an avatar and it would be a high profile/easily identifiable recognition of members who support PF.
 
  • #55
someone is now wishing they never brought up the subject :rolleyes:
but I think it is a good idea!
 
  • #56
If PF charges to use a copyrighted avatar online, is there a conflict?
 
  • #57
all avatars would be treated equally, and it is a service not a sell so it should be fine right? not that I know anything about laws..
 
  • #58
Greg Bernhardt said:
Jack thank you for your comments ...

np. You might want to put together a list of ideas you've collected so far & post them on a heuristic poll & let people vote and/or add new ideas. After a couple of months you take a closer look at the top three ideas & choose.
 
  • #59
Monique said:
someone is now wishing they never brought up the subject :rolleyes:
but I think it is a good idea!

Ugh True. What I meant jokingly of course, was I will sell my account on Ebay with the avatar, "customized" rank..etc

Personally, the avatar usually comes with the account that a subscriber paid for.
 
  • #60
Every idea sounds like a good one to me except the user ratings. I'm a moderator at another forum and it's hard to see something like that working. Then again, that forum gets pretty nasty on a very consistent basis. Maybe it isn't as bad here.

One thing I'd like to add is that you should increase the max avatar size to at least 100 x 100 pixels. That's the least you could do for a paying member. When will this option become available?
 

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