Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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PG, well done! I agree with you entirely.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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PG, I view my donation as an annual subscription. I paid up earlier this year and will do so again when the season proper begins. (I'll wait until my title changes back to being a normal user and will use that as a prompt to make a further donation).
I know this place is free but it provides much amusement and even some useful info, and so I think it is worth a donation (speaking from my own personal circumstances - wouldn't want anyone to feel obligated)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PG
Well said.
I am one of those who stayed on the fence and eventually came down to use Paypal and did my share. It is important that we all participate to make this a great site for "ourselves". A few quid is all it take to participate.
I shall renew my donation this year too.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Yup with on that PG.
Well done U
maybe those without Paypal may send a cheque if there was an address
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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PG wrote: |
Since starting the Race forum now linked to SnowHeads, I realise just how time-consuming the admin side is. But if running something that is tiny in comparison to snowHeads keeps you busier than you'd think possible, how much time must U have to do a proper job earning money?
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As far as I recall U had taken some time off work so snowheads was pretty much full time. I'd be interested to hear how things have developed.
Basically PG, you don't run a forum for money - if you did the minimum wage inspectors would be taking you to court! . I have a friend who set up London Skaters - they had about 1,500 members at the height and a very large amount of traffic. He eventually gave up as he was spending 40 hours a week on site admin which was cutting into his time teaching and spending time with his family and he found his data transfer charges were consuming a great deal of the money he was generating through adds.
There are some forums that have achieved escape velocity mind. At Skipass the owner has subcontracted the admin and moderation and concentrates on cross marketing, selling ski holidays etc. But they get around 30 million page views per year. Advertisers are also somewhat wary of forums as there are a lot of repeat eyeballs which don't convert into sales.
Problem with donations is that many people expect information to be free on the Web.
Just some thoughts
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Careful davidof, U's depressed enough already! Skipass is a good model, but it's been going for what, seven years? That forum, visually and technically, is not a patch on the phpBB versions, imho. Different market, younger (and less well off?)....
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From what I gather, U is running this as his full time job, and does a little chargeable work in the evenings/weekends.
So, please give generously (or for those who use Bank of Mum/Dad/Boyfriend/Husband, get them to give generously - if they ask why, explain that if it wasn't for this place you might be out on the streets, or taking drugs, or pimiping, or... ok, you get the idea)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Quote: |
Problem with donations is that many people expect information to be free on the Web.
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Do they now? Who are these cynical freeloaders? The objective of snowHeads should be to build a community so large that it cannot be ignored by advertisers, sponsors or anyone else. Yes, there is obvious spin-off potential in just about every department: snowHeads chalets, snowHeads hotels, snowHeads snowDomes, snowAir low-cost airlines. You name it.
I'm serious! TimeOut magazine in London started as little more than a pamphlet and is now a substantial publishing company. From little acorns, oak trees grow.
I think you're being unneccessarily gloomy, davidof. This is undoubtedly the future.
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Tony Lane wrote: |
I'll wait until my title changes back to being a normal user and will use that as a prompt to make a further donation |
I didn't realise that would happen - good idea though. I'm more than happy to pay up: this must be the cheapest bit of fun I know.
Ubrain for President! With PG as deputy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I didn't contribute until recently when I realised just how time I spend here - OK, not many posts, but I'm a bit shy and not as knowledgable as certain snowheads.
I'd like to pass on my thanks to U for doing a great job and to the Snowheads community for taking up so much of my time ( wife and employer not so grateful !!! )
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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David Goldsmith wrote: |
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Problem with donations is that many people expect information to be free on the Web.
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Do they now? Who are these cynical freeloaders?
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Probably the same kind of people who exchange software, music and films on P2P networks. They are probably not cynical, they just expect stuff to be free.
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I'm serious! TimeOut magazine in London started as little more than a pamphlet and is now a substantial publishing company. From little acorns, oak trees grow.
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Yeah, maybe but it is a physical thing. So far the Internet has shown that it is very hard to monetize web sites. There are exception such as eBay, but they have introduced a complete new business model that wasn't possible before the Web.
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I think you're being unneccessarily gloomy, davidof. This is undoubtedly the future. |
I hope so for U's sake. I know that Guilllaume who runs skipass had to work full time for his travel company for six years before skipass could support him full time.
Forums are probably not the ideal route to go as they require quite a bit of care and attention and tend at attract a fairly small hard core of contributors but at least Snowheads as managed to attract some of the best contributors to the old SCGB forum.
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I hope so for U's sake. I know that Guilllaume who runs skipass had to work full time for his travel company for six years before skipass could support him full time. |
Take most of your points above, but I don't recall Guillaume ever having a donation system in that time? Could be horribly wrong there, but I thought he just sold t-shirts and a bit of advertising space...
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You know it makes sense.
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Those of us who were kicked off the SCGB forum early this year for not being members, will remember how bereft we were until we came across Snow heads. I myself spend far too much time browsing the posts even though I post very little, (usually because its been eloquently posted before,) and would hate to miss such a valuable and entertaining resource. £1 per week is very little these days.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ditto!!!!! Time for another donation I think.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Cathy Coins, As I am not renewing my ski club membership, I'll consider it a bargain!!!!
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 13-10-04 21:29; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Well shame on me and may I eat yellow snow for ever. You have successfully pricked my conscience. And I thought you qualified for the illustrious title of "super-snowhead", "mega-snowhead" or "boring-old-fart snowhead" according to how many posts you'd made. But I never bother to RTFM until it's broke.
Situation now remedied.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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scream, got it eventually! Hoped someone else would ask ref. RTFM
Doh.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PG,
Thanks - saved me the embarrassment of having to ask!
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 14-10-04 7:46; edited 1 time in total
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Those who should RTFM usually also suffer from UFT.
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kuwait_ian, I refuse to be drawn !
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Chris B wrote: |
Those of us who were kicked off the SCGB forum early this year for not being members, will remember how bereft we were until we came across Snow heads. I myself spend far too much time browsing the posts even though I post very little, (usually because its been eloquently posted before,) and would hate to miss such a valuable and entertaining resource. £1 per week is very little these days. |
Hmmm. £52/year. To re-join the SCGB forum would have cost you the annual subscription - currently £49/year, for a single member. Seems re-joining would have saved you £3, Chris (hey, it'd get you a drink ). All a bit ironic.
I joined to defend the SCGB rep system and the club which were being bashed. But here's also turned out to be a fun place, and it is visible to all - so I've coughed up a tad. Not £52, though!
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Tony Ellwood, since it doesn't come up on the Lucky Button in Google, 'User Finger Trouble.' Not so naughty.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Nick Zotov, The difference being that what I choose to donate to snowheads is at my discretion based on what I feel I get out of the service. As a member of the SCGB for ten plus years and living in Lincolnshire I personally got very little for my subscription.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Chris B, nice county, I live there too! The Lincolnshire Wolds are a largely unknown delight, IMO.
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Nick Zotov, yes, but it's much more fun here than at the SCGB forum
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You know it makes sense.
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Cathy Coins, Snotbad Mind you, there is the odd lively thread Over There.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I tried to donate but I don't want to use Paypal. I'd prefer to just do a simple online credit card transaction. Is that possible???
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Poster: A snowHead
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johnfmh, Trouble is CC systems cost a fair sum to set up, plus an annual fee, plus a % of the transaction... so until snowHeads has a few thousand more members I can't see it being worthwhile for U! Other than Paypal - or a couple of dollar bills in a thick envelope - not sure what else is possible really. Money orders involve a big charge as well as bank tranfers....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Nick Zotov, The Wolds certianly are, especially when you live on the flat fens.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Chris B, Tealby is about half an hour's drive for me. A wonderful area for summer walking - and a drink at the pub. Mind you, even in the flat lands, there are gems.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PG& johnfmh, What about a direct bank transfer, then Paypal don't get any % of the donation. Drop U a PM and ask if it's possible
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Bank transfers involve charges, as much as £30 at the UK bank end, irrespective of the sum transferred. Sometimes at the sender end too. So unless donations run at least into three figures.... (dream on!)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PG wrote: |
Bank transfers involve charges, as much as £30 at the UK bank end, irrespective of the sum transferred. Sometimes at the sender end too. So unless donations run at least into three figures.... (dream on!) |
Actually internet bank transfers between friends are free - from my bank, anyway. BUT U would have to divulge his account details - and there are an awful lot of folk out there who would be etremely interested, judging by the spam my company receives
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But Johnfmh would probably be charged for an international transfer. I get charged $25 at the US end and £7.00 at the UK end when I wire money from the US.
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stuarth wrote: |
But Johnfmh would probably be charged for an international transfer. I get charged $25 at the US end and £7.00 at the UK end when I wire money from the US. |
Doh! I missed the States connection - I can do slow on the uptake
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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So has this thread produced many more donations? Perhaps a bit early to tell....
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