It has been proposed for years that there should be a trial membership (30 days for $5?) with few restrictions. Maybe five emails a day, use of the forum and chat rooms, can’t give or receive certs until a full member. Doesn’t matter what the terms, there just needs to be some limits and a small charge to weed out kids (no credit card) and reduce fakes.
It won’t happen, makes too much sense.
~S~
“Gotta risk it to get the biscuit” Sorry, saw it on a t-shirt in Maui last week. Seemed relevant. Lmao
OK, I get it, free members are mostly freeloaders, but SLS actually promoted the problem by allowing free membership with basically full access, without any time limits. There is a huge difference between free and free for a predetermined limited amount of time. No, you cant consume a meal before deciding if you want to pay for it, but it is common practice to test drive a vehicle before deciding if it is the right fit for you.
I am sure my wife and I are an extreme example, but we joined for free, a few months later we paid for a 3 month membership, back to free, then a 6 month membership, back to free members, another 6 month membership and several months as free members yet again (she has commitment issues LOL), FINALLY after basically paying for almost 2 lifetime memberships already, we actually laid out the cash for our current lifetime membership.
A free membership does serve a purpose...as long as it has a limit/end, to promote either becoming a paid/lifetime member or deciding this isnt a good fit and leaving the site.
Lol. I have to agree.
I tried to take my wife on a nice weekend get-away last week.
I went to get a nice car at Avis, and I told them that I wanted to use the nice car for the weekend before deciding whether I wanted to pay....they said NO CAN DO.
I took her to a chic boutique, found the perfect outfits for her, and I told them that I wanted her to wear those outfits for the weekend before deciding whether I wanted to pay....they said NO CAN DO.
We went to a nice hotel, and I told them that I wanted to spend the night before deciding whether I wanted to pay....they said NO CAN DO.
I then took her to a nice restaurant, where I told the maitre'd that I wanted to have dinner before deciding whether I wanted to pay.....they said NO CAN DO.
I then took her to a nice show, where I told the greeter that we wanted to see the show before deciding whether I wanted to pay....they said NO CAN DO.
The whole weekend continued like this. Every time that we wanted to do anything, I told them that I wanted to use the service before deciding whether I wanted to pay.....they said NO CAN DO.
Damn, what is a person to do. I simply want to give my wife the life and privileges of having money, but I want to use those products and services before deciding whether I wanted to pay for them....unfortunately, NO CAN DO.
I couldn't even get cheap pizza on those terms!!!!!
Add our voice to the "totally fine group" supporting the limits on the Free …..loaders.
We think it’s a sound business decision to restrict free members access because this is, first and foremost, a business. Also, the membership fee here is incredibly reasonable, so the unwillingness to pay sends a pretty clear message (to us at least) about a free member’s level of interest and commitment.
Making somebody pay even the small membership fees charged here will filter out most of the phony baloneys and pic collectors who are mostly chronically unemployed middle aged single guys living in mom's basement who cannot afford the small monthly fee. We can all block the freebies from viewing our profiles and contacting us.
Really regretting paying for this site...we paid for a lifetime membership so we could talk to people and initiate conversations...but if the person you are initiating it with has no way to respond, or even SEE that we messaged them, then...what was the point? We paid money to have the exact same restrictions applied for what we were doing before. I get that free accounts can't initiate conversations and are limited to seeing most things...but what is our benefit to pay if we are still just as restricted? What was the point to broadcast to other locals if they are all deaf? Most of the people in our area are free members...so we are right where we started...but with over $100 less in our pockets and having to go to other places to find people to talk to. :(
Rabbit and Scamp, I was thinking it may be his alter ego, one of them at least.
Rabbit/Scamp, Gawd...for his sake lets hope he hasnt!
@TeddyBeare12
Have you met nutcal yet?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
There is a forum named "Politics" for this...
Why would anyone be surprised the libs haven't voiced any comdemnation about the restrictions on Free Members? They are the ones who voted them in! Its the libs who want to control everything we do! Soon, we will need to pay taxes for using the bathroom!
y big question is, with the restrictions, why are Free Members even allowed to sign up? There should be a disclaimer saying that due to governments big noses, people will no longer be allowed to join as Free Member. Members can't even communicate with them.
It's ironic this subject has come up, we just went thru this ourselves. I had limited experience here perhaps 18months ago as free members. We left , took a break and came back. Found the site(and others to varying degrees) very restrictive. Actually went so far as to inquire about trial membership if fee applied to lifetime membership. I'm not buying a car without test drive no matter how low the mileage. Was of course told no that wasn't an option. After consideration I decided on lifetime membership, mostly because I like the forums, stories and a large percentage of people I interact with here. BUT I can say I doubt I would have joined without Previous experience, and admit I had not considered the reality of reverse being true. Now WE can't talk to people we've paid to talk to...lol there's ironic for you.
Membership has it's privileges. Be part of the group across the board with everyone paying their fair share.
Scroll back 14 days when I suggested there should be a charge for a trial period to replace free trials or free memberships. I wasn’t saying $5 is the price of a membership.
~S~
An annual membership is $69.95, or just a bit under $5.83 a month. Close enough, eh.
Referencing that $5 is an incorrect amount. The actual amount is not much , but accuracy is a good thing.
You should ask your mom where she got it from. :-D
where did you come up with $5?
@drain
There are a number of reasons why this site should have failed years ago but actually expecting people to pay for services rendered isn’t one of them.
~S~
You are overthinking it, besides, people tend spend a hell of a lot more for one night of ecstasy than the cost of a lifetime membership.
Now, go find a nice gold member who showed commitment to meet you by purchasing their membership.
~Allen
Is this statement correct?
There is no way to communicate with free members.
They cannot reply to messages and I cannot give them alternative contact information. I would have never have started using this site if it was this restrictive when I started. There would be no way to verify before purchase whether or not the site works for you. This will negatively effect new membership relative to other platforms. I bought lifetime membership and now the company is effectively committing long term suicide?
Hey Rabbit and Scamp, thanks for the great Halloween cosplay idea from your post: Wicked Gumby and Pokey! Our beagle can be Nopey!
