At $20.00, it IS cheap. $1.67 a month...two less beers a month, or 3 soda pops. 40% of ONE gallon of gas a month.

Just different philosophies. I pay my way, whenever, wherever, even when I can't afford it. I've gotten WAY more than my $20.00 out of the site. Ten times over. So I feel obligated, but more so, even honored. I think the only reason NOT to contribute, to keep the site running, is if I DON'T get the benefit. And if I don't get the benefit, I'm gone - no sense wasting my time. And I have one site that I did that with. I was one of the very first members, at one time moderated over 50% of the forums, almost a full time job! When they charged, I quit - 6 years ago, and I've been back three times.

Hopefully, that will help you understand, why I don't understand...but more so, I really get irate, when I see non-supporters, complaining about slowdowns and stoppages...that, to me, is looking a gift-horse in the mouth.

 

Roger,

I try to pay back the site by supplying answers to questions posted. I use my own bandwidth from my site to store all of the documents and images I post. I also have a small library of truck information I gladly scan and post whenever I see some one needing it. I feel I contribute to this site, maybe not monetary, but time, resources and bandwidth. Every time some one pulls up a image I have posted it goes against my server space that's why FTE doesn't allow you to link to images from the their site, it costs them money.

I enjoy talking truck, you know that, I drove 100 miles, one way, off my direct path home, just to jaw with you about your truck, that's why I enjoy participating on this site. My wife thinks I'm a bit obsessive about trucks. I enjoy this site and I also enjoy giving back whenever I can.

 

All good points... However, I have been down this road before and the symptoms are all too familiar. When these things go belly up there is no refund. I've been through this once before. A little assurance in terms of more than just, things are slow and we don't know why. If you have experienced what I have then you know these things can dissapear without warning or notice. Since we are making donations and not payments for service they have no obligation to warn us or refund the donation in case of a meltdown. I assume that you think the probability of the afore mentioned scenario is unlikely, and you are probably right. All the same, without specific assurances I think I'll take a wait and see attitude towards this issue. It appears they are selling lots of advertising, and truth be known, that is probably quite lucrative. That revenue source can dry up in an instant if those who are paying see that the site is not constantly functional. If that happens this site will crash and burn. The donations aren't enough to keep this boat afloat. Typically ISPs charge a base rate plus a traffic charge. That alone can get pretty high if you are running a site like FTE.

Like I admitted above, it is possible there is no danger and I may be perceived as paranoid but I prefer to think of it as heightened awareness. Like I said, been there, seen it before... I saw where Havi said that his morning session went OK today. Mine didn't when I tried, but I didn't try again after wasting time for the past two weeks every morning. I have just resigned myself to looking at the site after lunch. I do hope it all works out.

 

Dave,

I don't personally worry about FTE dieing, although many times when a big entity takes over a small one things don't always work out. The one area that seems to be affected the most is the "bottom line". It seems many times the corporate bean counters know a better way of operating something than the guys who have been doing for years. When the bean counters get involved that's when it seems every thing falls apart. I deal with it on almost a daily basis. Many of my customer's won't let me pull a 5¢ bolt off the shelf without taking 10 minutes filling a requisition form, which makes the 5¢ bolt cost $10.05.

To get back to the subject, I'm still just a cheap SOB.

 

Bob - I know you do, but they ain't the same thing - you are paying ME back, along with all the members - NOT the ones that provide the service. That's like saying my left-side neighbor gave me a riding mower, so I mow the right-side neighbor to pay him back...doesn't make sense to me. We all contribute to the best of our ability to each other, some more than others. But, if it wasn't for the site, not many of us would be connected, and able to provide that. It costs money to run. Period. When I was involved with several airplane forums, one went gang-busters, and netted the originator with over a million bucks, when they bought him out, because of his over 300,000 members. But that's rare, usually they don't break even. My other site was "stolen" from me, by the provider that hosted the domain, but it went downhill, and I get maybe 3 messages a month. But, it was in financial desperation when I had it, so we were buying a new server, when the host (who actually owned the name, I wasn't so smart back then) took the name, said HE was going to do it. So, no one would pitch in to support it so it's dying a slow death.

I know you like talking trucks, and we spent an enjoyable afternoon. But we just have a different view - if not for FTE, we would have never met. I just think $20 is a small price to pay, for what I receive.

I am an Electronic Technician working for the company with the largest intranet presence in the world. The bigger you get (and FTE is rather large by most standards, with a LOT going on at once), the harder it is to pinpoint bottlenecks. I perceive that they are taking actions to try to remedy it, and they are picking one of the times that MOST people are at work, and probably some of the slowest action as a whole...oh, except for 3:00 am. I'm sure you expect everyone to come it at that time, so you can have FTE with your coffee? They do like ANY business does - re-vamp when it has the least amount of impact on the least amount of people. It's almost like it's your RIGHT to have FTE here when you demand it. Don't work like that. I feel pretty confident that if they KNEW what was going on, they'd try to let people know. We had a machine that bogged down TWO T-1 lines, and dropped us to maybe 80% capacity. It was a simple fix, but a very difficult search, that took us several weeks.

And if they do only last another 6 months, then you'd only be out $10.

Geez...

R

 

OK, it took me a while to think of a rebuttal to your statement so here goes;

I would hope I'm, in sort of way, supporting the FTE site.

First, by not being a paid supporter I am subjected to the ads that are on the site. If I was a paid supporter I would not get the ads. It's like commercial TV vs Public TV. Commercial TV is free but I pay by having to sit through all of the commercials.

Second, there are few people, compared to the overall membership, on this board that supply as much information as I, Number Dummy, Truckdog and a few others but to me it seems there are a lot more people seeking information than giving it, at least not in the volume that we do. By having our knowledge, resources and dedication to old Ford trucks, we draw in more people hence more viewers of the sponsor's ads, bringing in revenue for the owners of the board.

Hey, that's my view point. I had to post a rebuttal, didn't I? I don't really care, I just wanted to give you a hard time. That's what we're really here for, to have a good time and make friends. I have met a lot of good people here and have been fortunate enough to meet some in person. I haven't been disappoint yet.

 

Just tell them the truth BobJ, Your Wifes frugel German roots have taken hold.

 

SHHH!!! Dick I didn't want anyone to know I have to ask permission!

 

I think we all have to be cheap SOBs by circunstance, not choice. And yes, the bean counters have screwed up about everything they ever got their hands on. They typically spend fifty bucks trying to scrape a nickle up that is glued to the pavement. Their vision is only good for about the next twenty minutes. Unfortunately, the smartest ones are all embezelers. What a great lot... I'm not too woried about the site dieing either, but like I said, I'm reserving my cash support for a better performance. I'm sure they aren't too worried about the lack of contribution by one guy.

 

And one guy, and one guy, and one guy, and one guy, and one guy, and one guy, and one guy, and one guy...ad infinitum.

R

 

been meaning to join. the last time i tried my paypal account was screwed up thanx to some glitch on evil pay . geuss i'll have to break down and do it just so those floating ads go away .

 

Kevin - the floating ads stay - you're talking about the ones when you "hover" over a word? It's all the other ads on the sides, etc, that go away. I'm not fond of the "hover ads" either, but when you get the whole screen, they rarely pop up. At least for me - maybe I've learned to avoid the words with the cursor. Of course, it's easy for me, because I run two screens, so my mouse is usually on the other screen...

Just don't let that stop you...

R

 

yep that be the ones roger . i wont let it stop me from joining , i just gotta remember to budget it out of my truck money next go round . i may try this approach with the banker though ...... i dont receive all the car / truck mags i used to , let 'em all drop as they were all pretty much the same { thanx p---e media for screwin' up so many good mags !!!!!!!!!! } so this will be my new subscription . i wonder if that will actually work ........ hmmmmmmmm............... my devious mind is at work ....................

 

Yeah, I hear you on the magazines - I just get one (wife got the subscription for me), and a buddy sends me another one, when he's done with it. I've heard good things about Vintage Truck, or something like that, going to look into it "someday". But, I gain more here, in one day, than in a years worth of Classic Trucks. By far!!! Plus, here it's ALL about Ford trucks - no Chebs, Dudges, or furrin's...

R