The hard part- what would you pay for?

[Derek]

One of the reasons I’m seeking feedback on how we run the forum is a simple matter of finance: the site costs me about $850 per year in hosting, plus another $200 or so to licence vBulletin. Boards+ subscribers help to finance some of this cost, but the site generally runs at a loss, one I incur personally.

At the moment, we have Boards+, which for a measly $10 a year gives you
- avatar and custom title privileges
- access to additional member-only forums hidden from public view

When the Boards+ program first launched I was offering a higher tier of service, one which included ESPN Insider-style additional content. I very rapidly burned out trying to keep up with that schedule, and readily admit I bit off more than I could chew; my real-job work commitments would make that even more difficult now, even if I miss writing and want to get back to it.

That said, the new vBulletin has a content-management bolt-on that would mean instead of hosting Ozhoops’ news site and The Boards separately, I can bring everything in under one system- one logon gives you access to comment on articles, participate in the forums, and (if you’re staff) upload stories or other media. Having only one server to maintain also saves a few hundred bucks.

So I guess the question is- what can I offer that you would pay for? What is it that I can provide that you would consider worthwhile? And what price are you willing to pay? I’m not going to get rich off the site- and I do have a day job- but I don’t want to litter the forum with Flash and banner ads just to try and break even.

Any reasonable suggestion considered!

Derek

[Clips]

As has pointed out a few times recently for different reasons, $10 has been a bargain. If the cost went up a little I wouldn't have a problem with that at all. $20 isn't a problem as far as I'm concerned.

Oh, and I'd still take up the Naughty Corner access for an extra $10 :p

[mattic]

I haven't visited OzHoops for years and only did so about quarterly before then. I forgot it even existed before you just mentioned it.

All I want is The Boards, not really interested in anything else. Would doubling the price help? $20 is still measly enough for most people to keep subscribing.

[Cussy]

More full frontal nudity. You can even have naked women too.

I think that the Boards plus section needs to be somehow opened up to show some of the non-Plus members what they are missing out on. Not full access but perhaps a "week in review" section at the bottom of the main page where you show some of the best discussions and comments from the previous week.

[Clips]

I think that the Boards plus section needs to be somehow opened up to show some of the non-Plus members what they are missing out on. Not full access but perhaps a "week in review" section at the bottom of the main page where you show some of the best discussions and comments from the previous week.

We can do this right here:

On Board+, there is currently a topic started called "If it isn't positive, it's negative" and we rag on people who aren't in boards+. It has been a hot topic in the past few days, but are we talking about you?

Give Derek $10 and find out!

[Clips]

More full frontal nudity. You can even have naked women too.
Where has Hound been?

[Prodigal]

I was a + dweller in a previous life. I'm not sure if I want to dip my toes in there again but I'm willing to pony up 20 bucks to lurk for a while

[Cussy]

I was a + dweller in a previous life. I'm not sure if I want to dip my toes in there again

Why is that?

[Clips]

Make a rule D-rex, + members must make one post in off topic per week or they lose access to OT for a week.

[Prodigal]

Why is that?

Because you're all c&^*s :D

[metalslugsman]

Because you're all c&^*s :D

insightful and to the point (and honest too)

[Silencer83]

Although I am happy with current package that is offered here some items that might appeal to people.

- Access to the game chat like what you did for the GF series. You could pick out a game of the week and do that or have 2 or 3 staff members take different games.

- Access to read and comment on a weekly wrap-up column (like Boti's in the Adelaide Advertiser) written by a staff member

Really I think plus is it's own reward and a weekly highlights thread along the lines of Clips teaser trailer would pull some people in.

Also a price increase to $15-$20 would not be out of the realms of reasonableness. I know that I tend to drop in a bit extra when I subscribe anyway and I am sure others do the same.

[Cussy]

Because you're all c&^*s :D

Stop being such a fag. I am not a c***. I have never liked you anyway, or your family.

[Prodigal]

Stop being such a fag. I am not a c***. I have never liked you anyway, or your family.


Ipso facto

[Silencer83]

stop being such a fag. I am not a c***. I have never liked you anyway, or your family.


Join off topic and find out the story behind these comments!

[Prodigal]

Join off topic and find out the story behind these comments!


:D
(Unnecessary extra words so as not to infract)

[Cussy]

But seriously, why doesn't it appeal to you any more?

[CGG]

I'm dirt poor at the moment and even I think that we're well overdue with a catch up with inflation Derek. Plus is fun and full of useful stuff to boot. I LOVED that live chat during the game that you did, that would be a great drawcard - not sure how you would go about making it + exclusive though. Do others even know what's included in the + section? Discussion of other sports and gaming etc?

[Julian]

Bring back the Almanac.

[Cussy]

not sure how you would go about making it + exclusive though.

Don't tell anyone about it unless they are in the Plus. Have an NBL Plus section for that sort of stuff. Maybe we can also leave our unsubstantiated "R*ssell H*nder is a cock" comments in that section too.

[Prodigal]

But seriously, why doesn't it appeal to you any more?

it just wasn't making me happy any more. Bit like my ex wife. I divorced that b&^ch too

[KEVY47]

Before reading this i'd honestly forgotten there was on Off-Topic section - probably since my name/login change.

I don't post much anymore but still pop into the NBL forum occasionally for a quick read, laugh and head shake.

Might have to put up the $10 again... even if it's just to create a "KEVY47 - Hawks Club Person on the Year" appreciation thread. ;)

[Julian]

Modesty is a virtue.

[Catsfan]

To be honest I had forgotten there was a plus section.
Think $20 would be more than fair. Would like to see a Boti-style wrap up, everything else is great

[Young Gun]

This is really snobby, but I'd pay for a section for 'true basketball fans'... admitted into the group by Derek. Prerequisite is duration of membership in Ozhoops, posts inciteful points of view in the past and doesn't just post one-eyed crap or how cute a particular player is

[CGG]

Seriously, when was the last time a player's appearance was the point of a post? Have I missed something?

[Clips]

Seriously, when was the last time a player's appearance was the point of a post? Have I missed something?
It's only a matter of time before that family comes back to support Sydney. If BJ Carter makes it onto the team, all hell will break lose.

[CGG]

It's only a matter of time before that family comes back to support Sydney. If BJ Carter makes it onto the team, all hell will break lose.

Oh no, that was Kendoll. BJ Carter was just the heart and soul of the team.

[angel]

Oh no, that was Kendoll. BJ Carter was just the heart and soul of the team.

Gotta love Kendall. lol

Seriously though how does one become a + member? I can't see anything on here to say it exists or how to join. And no, I didn't look too hard.

I don't often go beyond the NBL forum, but what else is there, not counting the hidden + boards, previously discussed.

Maybe the headings of the hidden section should be visible but not the content. At least people would know it exists.

[Cussy]

but what else is there, not counting the hidden + boards, previously discussed.

Five extra forums. One for computer games, one for other sport, one for feedback type stuff. Another is the old Battlegrounds but not much happens there, and the big one is the general section, where anything is discussed, from who has got big boobs, to pictures of those boobs, followed by comments on the aforementioned boobs.

[Nerf Herder]

Five extra forums. One for computer games, one for other sport, one for feedback type stuff. Another is the old Battlegrounds but not much happens there, and the big one is the general section, where anything is discussed, from who has got big boobs, to pictures of those boobs, followed by comments on the aforementioned boobs.

You said the magic word... where do I sign up? (and unlike angel I HAVE looked hard, so either it's hidden, or I'm more of an idiot than previously proven :) )

I also wouldn't mind chipping in more either, as I get a lot of use out of the forums and teh Derek shouldn't be out of pocket for providing such a good service...

edit: thanks to those being helpful, User CP, right down the bottom left to click on Paid Subscriptions... YAY!

[GordonG]

posts inciteful points of view

Already happening :)

[angel]

Five extra forums. One for computer games, one for other sport, one for feedback type stuff. Another is the old Battlegrounds but not much happens there, and the big one is the general section, where anything is discussed, from who has got big boobs, to pictures of those boobs, followed by comments on the aforementioned boobs.

Thanks.

I gather there might be a mention of boobs?

Nerf Herder can have those. :-)

[Mr bEn]

I haven't visited OzHoops for years and only did so about quarterly before then. I forgot it even existed before you just mentioned it.

All I want is The Boards, not really interested in anything else. Would doubling the price help? $20 is still measly enough for most people to keep subscribing.

x 2.

[CoT]

first log in here since 2006 apparently, beat that mattic haha!

look, $20 is bugger all to pay, just set up a Paypal and away you go.

[Stumps]

Who's this random? :p

[Daevo]

x 2.


So you think $40? :p

[Southern Joe]

first log in here since 2006 apparently, beat that mattic haha!

look, $20 is bugger all to pay, just set up a Paypal and away you go.


Whooaa !!

Look what the cat dragged in ..... :p

[CGG]

I'd love a crap filter so that all those threads that go mega in a matter of hours with he said, he said arguments automatically got shuffled to another area. For goodness' sake - I'm paying for this rubbish!

Still loving the rest of Ozhoops though ;)

[RedbackVenom]

Never knew there was a + section.
What does it contain?

[Cussy]

Five sub-forums.

Computer Games
An “anything goes” section, where you can talk about whatever you want, with very relaxed rules, and regular boob pics.
Battlegrounds – quiet at the moment, but a place to play games and quizzes
Other Sports
Some help section.

[Homer]

Geez, I'm dropping in after 12 months in a new job and there are people from the little yellow world, CoT and Mattic. Next we'll see Wedgie and Wino.

[Leftfield]

Bring back the Canberra Cannons.

At the moment I only post on the WNBL page and once in a blue moon (or two) on the "Kobe Is A Koala" page, I'm not convinced $10 is worth it if I'm only posting once or twice a week, and thats only during the WNBL season.

Also, every here seems to hate the Lakers. That's not natural.

[Clips]

Bring back the Canberra Cannons.

At the moment I only post on the WNBL page and once in a blue moon (or two) on the "Kobe Is A Koala" page, I'm not convinced $10 is worth it if I'm only posting once or twice a week, and thats only during the WNBL season.

Also, every here seems to hate the Lakers. That's not natural.

The 10 bucks gets you access to off topic which covers pretty much every facet of nonbasketball.

[Leftfield]

The 10 bucks gets you access to off topic which covers pretty much every facet of nonbasketball.

The nonbasketball stuff has been operating (in secret) for a number of years but I've never really been interested in signing up just have access to a few extra pages. I can't see them so I don't feel I'm missing anything.

[Cussy]

The nonbasketball stuff has been operating (in secret) for a number of years but I've never really been interested in signing up just have access to a few extra pages. I can't see them so I don't feel I'm missing anything.

That's been an issue raised a few times. How do you entice new people to join when they just can't see what sections and threads there are? I think it should be opened for a while, let people read and join in, and they can see if they want to pay and stick around. We'd obviously have to delete the "Leftfield rides a girls bike" thread first...

It certainly provides me with $10 worth of fun and I'm happy for as many people to join as possible.

It's not like a super secret mens club either - there are women members too and some of them have boobs.

[Clips]

Far from a boys club in OT, we have book clubs, recipe threads and threads where we just complain a lot....

But seriously, you've only got to check post counts of some of the off topic users to see it is a decent place to post. There's a few users who post only in the OT section, and you've got a male and female age range of 20 through to Mattic. Heck, OT has even lead to an engagement.

Ask any OT members and the $10 is easily worth the value. If Derek doubled it to $20 per year, I doubt any one of us would bat an eyelid.

[Stumps]

If Julia Gillard was running the boards, she would impose a posts levy:

Cussy $1000
Stumps $900
meg $500
mattic $200
curious, Dunkin' Dan, Southern Joe, Daevo $0.20 each
Everyone else $0

and make out that everybody was sharing the load equally.

[Cussy]

Heck, OT has even lead to an engagement.



Um, I didn't pop the question yet, and it was Mama B down on her knees.

[mattic]

and you've got a male and female age range of 20 through to Mattic.
Eh? How bloody old do you think I am?! :shock:

[Clips]

Eh? How bloody old do you think I am?! :shock:

Haha I was wondering when you'd find that. :p

In all honesty, I have no idea, I just based it on DDFan calling you a pensioner or whatever he said.

[Keyser Söze]

Eh? How bloody old do you think I am?! :shock:

Based on your sig and the use of the word 'bloody', I would say you are either Sam Harris or Christopher Hitchens.

[Leftfield]

That's been an issue raised a few times. How do you entice new people to join when they just can't see what sections and threads there are? I think it should be opened for a while, let people read and join in, and they can see if they want to pay and stick around. We'd obviously have to delete the "Leftfield rides a girls bike" thread first...

It certainly provides me with $10 worth of fun and I'm happy for as many people to join as possible.

It's not like a super secret mens club either - there are women members too and some of them have boobs.


Far from a boys club in OT, we have book clubs, recipe threads and threads where we just complain a lot....

But seriously, you've only got to check post counts of some of the off topic users to see it is a decent place to post. There's a few users who post only in the OT section, and you've got a male and female age range of 20 through to Mattic. Heck, OT has even lead to an engagement.

Ask any OT members and the $10 is easily worth the value. If Derek doubled it to $20 per year, I doubt any one of us would bat an eyelid.


Until I can see for myself that it is worth the value, I'm happy to be an irregular poster. You are asking way too much of someone of Scottish heritage to throw money away without seeing the goods. :)

[Cussy]

Derek, can we grant Leftfield a weekend pass or something?

[CGG]

Until I can see for myself that it is worth the value, I'm happy to be an irregular poster. You are asking way too much of someone of Scottish heritage to throw money away without seeing the goods. :)

Hey, my blood flows checkered but you have to support yon wee little man who pays for our entertainment us ye ken?

haha

[mattic]

Haha I was wondering when you'd find that. :p

In all honesty, I have no idea, I just based it on DDFan calling you a pensioner or whatever he said.
Hehe! I didn't see that; and he probably meant "prisoner".

[mattic]

Based on your sig and the use of the word 'bloody', I would say you are either Sam Harris or Christopher Hitchens.
Not exactly. Though the comparison is flattering in some respects.

Anyway, I'm 42. I know when I was 20-odd that seemed ancient, but it really isn't! No, it isn't!

[mattic]

Until I can see for myself that it is worth the value, I'm happy to be an irregular poster. You are asking way too much of someone of Scottish heritage to throw money away without seeing the goods. :)
Ah, but you do see the goods. You get a taste of the posters in the basketball sections, Plus allows you to see and engage their thoughts on other topics.

[Leftfield]

Ah, but you do see the goods. You get a taste of the posters in the basketball sections, Plus allows you to see and engage their thoughts on other topics.

What your asking is akin to buying a car based on a photo in a brochure, without the chance of taking it for a spin. And while it may only be $10 and not $50,000, it's the principle of the thing.

[Stumps]

The very reason you get to take a car for a spin is the fact that it costs $50k. They don't let you sample a Big Mac before committing to buying a McValue Meal.

[Leftfield]

The very reason you get to take a car for a spin is the fact that it costs $50k. They don't let you sample a Big Mac before committing to buying a McValue Meal.

But there are photos of what goes into a McValue Meal on the wall of each McDonalds store, so you know what your getting. Here, I'm seeing the chips but I have no idea what else comes with them.

[Clips]

I can't be bothered, but someone else should post a screenshot of off-topic threads.

[Cussy]

But there are photos of what goes into a McValue Meal on the wall of each McDonalds store, so you know what your getting. Here, I'm seeing the chips but I have no idea what else comes with them.

Dude, it's ten bucks. There is no principles involved, its matters little if you do or dont join. We're just saying that if you are considering it, then take the plunge and have some fun, especially if you enjoy the banter and discussions with your current Ozhoops access.

[Leftfield]

So what!!! This isn't only about me, but anyone who wants to become a member of this forum. Hiding these extra pages maybe stopping other people from joining up.

[Cussy]

I know that, and thats what I have been saying all along. It just seems that you are keen to join in some ways, because you are asking a few questions, but then you let a "principle" stop you.

All I'm saying is if you enjoy the current situation, give it a shot. The same people that you may (or may not) enjoy talking basketball with are in there talking about other things.

[Jojo]

I signed up to Off Topic a few years ago after having fun playing in the Battlegrounds sections . As I was having fun in Battlegrounds & enjoyed reading the NBL threads ( but rarely posting as I was just a fan without a lot of basketball knowledge), I thought that these alone were worth $10 and happily paid my $10 while having no idea what was in Off Topic. Derek does a fantastic job in providing such a great forum.

Off topic is worth every cent. I have met some lovely people through posting in off topic & have found people to be really helpful. Cough up the $10. If, for some strange reason, you decide it's not worth it just don't renew the following year. $10 is not much to contribute, given the work Derek does keeping Ozhoops up & running.

[Daevo]

I'm 42. I know when I was 20-odd that seemed ancient, but it really isn't! No, it isn't!

Well said young whippersnapper.

My 2 cents, or rather $10 is that you get the ability to talk to the people you normally argue with in the basketball forums without the tribalism of what team they support interfering. If you choose to however, you can argue about politics, sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, body art & even boobies. As you can imagine, sometimes the arguments there are even longer & more heated than in the NBL forum.

It's also a great place to find suckers to buy $2 neck ties with random letters on them at grossly inflated prices.

[Jojo]

It's also a great place to find suckers to buy $2 neck ties with random letters on them at grossly inflated prices.

I guess there's one born every minute :)

[angel]

As you can imagine, sometimes the arguments there are even longer & more heated than in the NBL forum.

Don't say that, you don't want to turn people off paying the $10. ;)

But there may be a picture of boobs. :)

[Clips]

Great time to join OT right now.

Give your Ozhoops experience a real power boost and enjoy customs titles and mad pics. rraaaaaaaagggeeeeee

[Stumps]

With Ozhoops March Madness kicking off, let's re-open the Battlegrounds to the masses! Derek? hellcat?

[Silencer83]

Do you know what you are missing?

http://i54.tinypic.com/wwmb7q.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/33uuyvo.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/141vcsz.jpg

[SB.1]

awesome! I can get into the bottom bit though.

[Silencer83]

awesome! I can get into the bottom bit though.

Yep that is because Derek responded to this:

With Ozhoops March Madness kicking off, let's re-open the Battlegrounds to the masses! Derek? hellcat?

Think of it like a preview screening.

[Da Houndawg #55]

Do you know what you are missing?

http://i54.tinypic.com/wwmb7q.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/33uuyvo.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/141vcsz.jpg
Silencer is propogating the masses! Silencer is propogating the masses!

Pretty soon the Have-nots will all see what the Haves get and will line us all up next to ol' Madame Guillotine...

[Daevo]

Speaking of Haves & Have-nots Hound, I reckon Derek owes you a refund ;)

[Stubby Holders]

This is unfair, we join this forum to share what our thoughts and beliefs in basketball and this is what you did to us hiding pages what kind of forum is this.