Premium Memberships

[aeffertz]

Just an idea from another forum I frequent which also uses VBulletin. Basically you pay an annual fee and get perks to the forum. Here's some ideas...

Removal of some of the advertisements on VWVortex.
Some stay, they paid before this was implemented and is not as intrusive.

Custom Avatar
Premium members would be able to upload custom avatars to certain size limit.

Custom title
This goes under your name, for an example, mine says Member.
You can change it any time you want. Cannot be anything along the lines of Banned, Banner Advertiser, Site Admin, etc.

A logo under your name saying you support VWVortex.
Just an example:
(It looks better under your name)

Access to a private forum limited to those with a premium membership.

Larger Private Message Storage.
Instead of the usual 250 stored messages, you get 1000.

What if you get banned?
You forfeit your money.
Hey, it was your fault, you screwed up.
There will be no transfers, no refund. This is primarily a way to donate to the site.

The account could be upgraded at anytime the member likes by purchasing a 'subscription' through the User CP.

Just a thought. I wouldn't mind paying a little something to get more out of the forum. Could have it set up where you can pay for one year for $X, or multiple years at discounted price.

What do you guys think?

[Tim@VMG]

We've considered this in the past, but we strongly believe that our forums are a resource that should be free and equally open to everyone, so we won't be using premium or pay memberships here. We realize that not everyone likes that we run ads, but we think that the trade off of having a totally free place to use is worth it.

-Tim

[aeffertz]

I don't mind the ads, they aren't very obstructive. I would just like more PM storage. 250 between inbox and outbox is pretty skimpy.

Figured this would take up more space, or bandwidth, I don't know the terms, so in order to make up for that, the price of the optional premium membership comes into play. Figured the avatars and titles would just be for fun and help justify going premium. Nothing would be different to regular members. Thanks for the reply, though. If you could implement the ideas without offering a premium membership deal, I'm all for that too.

[zrace07]

Good idea. SLC, I think he just meant "bonus features". Everything will be as it is, just enhanced stuff for premium users.

[aeffertz]

Exactly.