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Fair membership costs? - Paying members & Free non-payin
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Sex God
Its a promise we made when we took over the site and one that we stand by.
We are still looking at possible ways to allow couples to chat in the same room, so I wouldn't write us off on that just yet.
We are still looking at possible ways to allow couples to chat in the same room, so I wouldn't write us off on that just yet.
I can clarify the 'why' of the free members. If you check back to what was being promised when I signed up for SH you'll find this:
The source of that quote is available .
So, at the point where Mark took the decision to sell the site there was a documented promise in place that the new owners would have struggled to overthrow. In fairness to them they chose the moral route and continued the promise for all existing users.
To be honest if Mark hadn't made the decision to sell, SH would probably have stagnated and fallen behind the others out there. Who knows, it might not even be here in any form now.
And let's face it, the number of 'active' pre-takeover members will atrophy naturally as people get too old to 'partake' so eventually all members will be paying to support the site. ;-)
Swinging Heaven is FREE and is staying that way
First things first. We get emails every now and then asking how to pay to use this site, or whether we will be making it a site you have to pay for to use in the future. We want to take this opportunity to say don't bother asking. No payment is required, no payment will ever be required. Keep your Credit Card in your pocket/purse! You will NOT come to this site one day and find that you have to pay to use it. We'd sooner stop all together than start charging anyone to use this site, and let that be the final word on the matter.
The source of that quote is available .
So, at the point where Mark took the decision to sell the site there was a documented promise in place that the new owners would have struggled to overthrow. In fairness to them they chose the moral route and continued the promise for all existing users.
To be honest if Mark hadn't made the decision to sell, SH would probably have stagnated and fallen behind the others out there. Who knows, it might not even be here in any form now.
And let's face it, the number of 'active' pre-takeover members will atrophy naturally as people get too old to 'partake' so eventually all members will be paying to support the site. ;-)
Sex God
Quote by essex34m
I'll take the hard place please ... :grin:
That would be my head then. Most people who visit there find it a hard place to be ;)
Sure you're not confusing hard with thick again Widey? :mrgreen:
Quote by meat2pleaseu
I'll take the hard place please ... :grin:
That would be my head then. Most people who visit there find it a hard place to be ;)
Sure you're not confusing hard with thick again Widey? :mrgreen:
Quite spooky seeing you pop up in here.
I thought of you today while I was in a supermarket. I thought they had named a loaf of bread after you, then I looked again and saw it actually said 'Thick Cut'.
Quote by essex34m
I'll take the hard place please ... :grin:
That would be my head then. Most people who visit there find it a hard place to be ;)
Sure you're not confusing hard with thick again Widey? :mrgreen:
Quite spooky seeing you pop up in here.
I thought of you today while I was in a supermarket. I thought they had named a loaf of bread after you, then I looked again and saw it actually said 'Thick Cut'.
Omg spooky, hello meat
Btw lads, girth is always better than length 
Quote by st3v3
Its a promise we made when we took over the site and one that we stand by.
We are still looking at possible ways to allow couples to chat in the same room, so I wouldn't write us off on that just yet.
For a lifetime regardless of changes and costs? Paying members have to pay for the upgrades that everyone uses? .... hmmmm
Quote by Aurora_female
Yes I was aware of the free membership when I joined some years ago just after the change over and have never complained over it before, so will not plead ignorance. But when the site hikes up prices again and tells us it is for this and that, yet still there are free members, yes I will complain when we are all using the new services together, why should just some of us pay a newer site and others don't.
As said before it is not a witch hunt against the free members and it should not be down to "if you decide that's unfair don't join up" This should be a fairly run site to reflect the new modern site that we now have. Even a lower fee for previous "free" members would be fair, but to make some pay for all of and any improvements is just wrong in my opinion.
Though again this is all known when you join. You knew there were free members and would continue to be so, there was never any suggestion of free members being cut out of standard site developments. You joined a site full of free members fully aware of their existence and then want it changed
As the site and the fees change yes lolwell i would like to know if there was a lot of people dropped out and renewals didnt go well would they then add all them extra costs onto existing members who pay, and say i know it wont happen but if it did would they charge the free members if the renewals didnt go as well as estimated to cover costs or would they just go bust rather than charge the freebies
Orgasminator
Quote by Mrniceguy2009
Yes I was aware of the free membership when I joined some years ago just after the change over and have never complained over it before, so will not plead ignorance. But when the site hikes up prices again and tells us it is for this and that, yet still there are free members, yes I will complain when we are all using the new services together, why should just some of us pay a newer site and others don't.
As said before it is not a witch hunt against the free members and it should not be down to "if you decide that's unfair don't join up" This should be a fairly run site to reflect the new modern site that we now have. Even a lower fee for previous "free" members would be fair, but to make some pay for all of and any improvements is just wrong in my opinion.
Though again this is all known when you join. You knew there were free members and would continue to be so, there was never any suggestion of free members being cut out of standard site developments. You joined a site full of free members fully aware of their existence and then want it changed
As the site and the fees change yes lolwell i would like to know if there was a lot of people dropped out and renewals didnt go well would they then add all them extra costs onto existing members who pay, and say i know it wont happen but if it did would they charge the free members if the renewals didnt go as well as estimated to cover costs or would they just go bust rather than charge the freebies
they'd go bust anyway because the majority of the free members would probably not pay... and to be honest their company has fingers in many pies, they could wind this site up at any time and not blink too much about it...
Sexpert
Quote by Cubes
I can clarify the 'why' of the free members. If you check back to what was being promised when I signed up for SH you'll find this:
Swinging Heaven is FREE and is staying that way
First things first. We get emails every now and then asking how to pay to use this site, or whether we will be making it a site you have to pay for to use in the future. We want to take this opportunity to say don't bother asking. No payment is required, no payment will ever be required. Keep your Credit Card in your pocket/purse! You will NOT come to this site one day and find that you have to pay to use it. We'd sooner stop all together than start charging anyone to use this site, and let that be the final word on the matter.
The source of that quote is available .
So, at the point where Mark took the decision to sell the site there was a documented promise in place that the new owners would have struggled to overthrow. In fairness to them they chose the moral route and continued the promise for all existing users.
To be honest if Mark hadn't made the decision to sell, SH would probably have stagnated and fallen behind the others out there. Who knows, it might not even be here in any form now.
And let's face it, the number of 'active' pre-takeover members will atrophy naturally as people get too old to 'partake' so eventually all members will be paying to support the site. ;-)
Maybe SH should make this even clearer.
When was this promise made?
When did SH start charging new members?
How many existing members are free members?
But I suppose it just mirrors other parts of life - the few are supporting the masses!
Sex God
Quote by essex34m
I'll take the hard place please ... :grin:
That would be my head then. Most people who visit there find it a hard place to be ;)
Sure you're not confusing hard with thick again Widey? :mrgreen:
Quite spooky seeing you pop up in here.
I thought of you today while I was in a supermarket. I thought they had named a loaf of bread after you, then I looked again and saw it actually said 'Thick Cut'.
you could have blown the dust off that joke before you posted it- fat head
Sex God
Quote by domino_2
Maybe SH should make this even clearer.
When was this promise made?
a few days after we took over here
When did SH start charging new members?
a few months later that year, I think it was December, its all out there if you dig around, but in this case I don't think the devils in the deatil as this debate is about principles, I think
How many existing members are free members?
If you mean free for life, around 345,000
But I suppose it just mirrors other parts of life - the few are supporting the masses!
Nothing in life is perfect, as Cubes mentioned above people leave and move on, for our part we appreciate the fact that people come here and help to make SH what it is.
Some have said that we don't care or listen, that isn't true, we do both, although its not always apparent, our aim has always been to try and make SH as good as it can be.
There will have to be a price increase, but it won't be anyything like the trial prices that we tried, basic annual membership for new members would be , for existing members renewing it would be , extras would be extras, for those with monthly subscription no change to what they pay if they continue.
Some havesaid that we don't care or listen, that isn't true, we do both, although its not always apparent, our aim has always been to try and make SH as good as it can be.
Sometimes there is frustration on both sides and yes members will feel not listened to at times, the same goes for SH staff working behind the scenes like trojans which we do not usually see or appreciate (especially so with the new chat rooms). But even throughout the "fee" debate, which has been fraught with feelings, you can see that no one wants to move on elsewhere and really we do love you!
There will have to be a price increase, but it won't be anyything like the trial prices that we tried,basic annual membership for new members would be , for existing members renewing it would be , extras would be extras, for those with monthly subscription no change to what they pay if they continue.
This to me looks more like a sensible price rise that most should be able to swallow a little better. Thank you for listening
£49,95? A year?
Come on as i have said alredy a pound a week?
What do people really want here for there money?
From our short time here it seems good value for money and if ohter sites that are free ofer the same levels as this one then the best advise would be to join the other free site and leave here?
Come on as i have said alredy a pound a week?
What do people really want here for there money?
From our short time here it seems good value for money and if ohter sites that are free ofer the same levels as this one then the best advise would be to join the other free site and leave here?
Sex God
Quote by Aurora_female
Yes I was aware of the free membership when I joined some years ago just after the change over and have never complained over it before, so will not plead ignorance. But when the site hikes up prices again and tells us it is for this and that, yet still there are free members, yes I will complain when we are all using the new services together, why should just some of us pay a newer site and others don't.
As said before it is not a witch hunt against the free members and it should not be down to "if you decide that's unfair don't join up" This should be a fairly run site to reflect the new modern site that we now have. Even a lower fee for previous "free" members would be fair, but to make some pay for all of and any improvements is just wrong in my opinion.
Though again this is all known when you join. You knew there were free members and would continue to be so, there was never any suggestion of free members being cut out of standard site developments. You joined a site full of free members fully aware of their existence and then want it changed
As the site and the fees change yes lol
Sadly though thats not in the deal you signed up too.
Admin, ever considered having a paypal donations page for free users? I'll donate, I do it for other sites that offer me a free service all be it of a totally different nature.
Master of Sex
Why not give us fee paying members a 'block all free-loading scumbags from coming within 50ft of me' button.
Orgasminator
Quote by Jewlnmart
Why not give us fee paying members a 'block all free-loading scumbags from coming within 50ft of me' button.
I can see it now:
Total memberships = 100
Non-fee paying members = 75
Fee paying members = 25
Total operating cost = £1000
Average membership cost = £10
Factor non-fee paying members = £750
Spread across the Fee payers (25) = £30 per head
New membership costs:
Fee payers = £40
Non-fee payers = £0.
Now extrapulate the sample to actual figures (number of memberships and operating costs) and you can see where the increases come from. Sounds about right.
Sexpert
Total members to date - Members - 1,248,279
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
So over a quarter of the members are getting FULL access to the site, whilst the rest of us have to pay a minimum of , and more if we want extras.
It seems unfair that that the Free for Life members appear to get Extras free too.
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
So over a quarter of the members are getting FULL access to the site, whilst the rest of us have to pay a minimum of , and more if we want extras.
It seems unfair that that the Free for Life members appear to get Extras free too.
Sex God
Quote by domino_2
Total members to date - Members - 1,248,279
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
So over a quarter of the members are getting FULL access to the site, whilst the rest of us have to pay a minimum of , and more if we want extras.
It seems unfair that that the Free for Life members appear to get Extras free too.
They don't domino, they just get the basic full membership. The extras have to be paid for at the same rate.
Orgasminator
Quote by domino_2
Total members to date - Members - 1,248,279
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
So over a quarter of the members are getting FULL access to the site, whilst the rest of us have to pay a minimum of , and more if we want extras.
It seems unfair that that the Free for Life members appear to get Extras free too.
We don't get the extras for free we pay for it... And do you honestly think all the original members are still on here lol next you'll be saying all 1248279 members of the whole site are...
Sex God
Quote by two-4-more
Total members to date - Members - 1,248,279
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
So over a quarter of the members are getting FULL access to the site, whilst the rest of us have to pay a minimum of , and more if we want extras.
It seems unfair that that the Free for Life members appear to get Extras free too.
We don't get the extras for free we pay for it... And do you honestly think all the original members are still on here lol next you'll be saying all 1248279 members of the whole site are...
lol @ two 4 more
Maybe there should be a default on members not signed in for a year that their memberships expire. It would clear away some of the dead wood I'm sure.
Sex God
Quote by domino_2
Total members to date - Members - 1,248,279
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
So over a quarter of the members are getting FULL access to the site, whilst the rest of us have to pay a minimum of , and more if we want extras.
It seems unfair that that the Free for Life members appear to get Extras free too.
I'm sure that many people sign up and never come back when they figure out that you actually have to pay to be able to send any messages or enter the chatrooms. Of the total members, it would be interesting to know how many fall into this category.
I would also think that if you didnt renew your account and yet didnt de-activate it you would also fall into the category as above.
I would be interested to know how many paying members there actually are.
Orgasminator
Quote by Funlovers2009
Total members to date - Members - 1,248,279
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
So over a quarter of the members are getting FULL access to the site, whilst the rest of us have to pay a minimum of , and more if we want extras.
It seems unfair that that the Free for Life members appear to get Extras free too.
I'm sure that many people sign up and never come back when they figure out that you actually have to pay to be able to send any messages or enter the chatrooms. Of the total members, it would be interesting to know how many fall into this category.
I would also think that if you didnt renew your account and yet didnt de-activate it you would also fall into the category as above.
I would be interested to know how many paying members there actually are.
no free extras here
I have to agree with Aurora, and I didnt even look at her pictures, what I wanna know is how come there are free members on here from 2008????? I first joined in 2006 and had to pay - have I missed something ??? x x x It does seem unfair to up the prices for the paying members to subsidise the non paying ones - sorry flower I know you are a freebie, but heh !! x x x
Sex God
Quote by nuttybird
I have to agree with Aurora, and I didnt even look at her pictures, what I wanna know is how come there are free members on here from 2008????? I first joined in 2006 and had to pay - have I missed something ??? x x x It does seem unfair to up the prices for the paying members to subsidise the non paying ones - sorry flower I know you are a freebie, but heh !! x x x
There are no free members from 2008 only from pre takeover which was around the end of 2005.
As Flower said the new owners promised all pre takeover members that those accounts would remain free as that was the site policy at the time. Anyone who has joined since then has taken the choice to pay for a site with free members on it. Its nothing new I do it all the time in on line games. Beta testers or the first 2000 on line get a free account everyone else pays. Happens all the time in various guises, nothing new.
Orgasminator
Quote by nuttybird
I have to agree with Aurora, and I didnt even look at her pictures, what I wanna know is how come there are free members on here from 2008????? I first joined in 2006 and had to pay - have I missed something ??? x x x It does seem unfair to up the prices for the paying members to subsidise the non paying ones - sorry flower I know you are a freebie, but heh !! x x x
I think you may mean me?
I know it looks like that from my forum avatar and details, but check my profile, I joined in Sept 2003, so well before the cut off for "free" membership. Not sure why it's different on my forum details, maybe first date I posted in the forum, not sure :dunno: Hope that clears up your query? Quote by nuttybird
I have to agree with Aurora, and I didnt even look at her pictures, what I wanna know is how come there are free members on here from 2008????? I first joined in 2006 and had to pay - have I missed something ??? x x x It does seem unfair to up the prices for the paying members to subsidise the non paying ones - sorry flower I know you are a freebie, but heh !! x x x
The confusion may be because there are two types of 'free' memberships:
- The people who were here pre-takeover, who get premium access to all areas of the site for no fee as promised by the new site owners.
- The new members who've signed up post-takeover but who have not upgraded to premium membership, which would involve them paying a fee. They have limited access to browse the site, post ads, send winks etc.
Hope that helps. ;-)
Sex God
If you mean free for life, around 345,000 - by my maths thats 28%.
I would be interested to know how many paying members there actually are.
would a bank tell u how many customers they have n how much money they have of them?
next peeps be moaning at clubs cos single fems get in free, n guys have to pay over the top. why should we pay to get the banks out of trouble? now they should pay our money back to us......but no we have to suffer n they still get big hand outs.
I would be interested to know how many paying members there actually are.
would a bank tell u how many customers they have n how much money they have of them?
next peeps be moaning at clubs cos single fems get in free, n guys have to pay over the top. why should we pay to get the banks out of trouble? now they should pay our money back to us......but no we have to suffer n they still get big hand outs.
