Commercial and Contributing Memberships

**Derek Zeanah** · October 13, 2012, 09:52 AM

Paid memberships are now available. There are two types:

Commercial memberships. These are required if you are conducting business here on THR. If you sell items commercially, or if you have a single login for use by employees for the purpose of interacting with THR members, then you need a commercial membership. These cost $99 every six months.
Contributing memberships were created because people kept asking for them. Contributing members get a title change, more PM space, more storage space on disk, and access to the albums feature, but the experience here won't change. There are no "members only" forums or anything, and contributing members are held to the same standards as everyone else. Contributing memberships cost $25 per year.

Both memberships are turned on via the Paid Subscriptions function. Click on User Options, then look in the bottom left-hand panel. Or, click here. Processing is handled by EC Suite even though vBulletin thinks its CC-Bill.

RCArms.com · October 14, 2012, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Zeanah

Paid memberships are now available. There are two types:

Commercial memberships. These are required if you are conducting business here on THR. If you sell items commercially, or if you have a single login for use by employees for the purpose of interacting with THR members, then you need a commercial membership. These cost $99 every six months.
Contributing memberships were created because people kept asking for them. Contributing members get a title change, more PM space, more storage space on disk, and access to the albums feature, but the experience here won't change. There are no "members only" forums or anything, and contributing members are held to the same standards as everyone else. Contributing memberships cost $25 per year.

Both memberships are turned on via the Paid Subscriptions function. Click on User Options, then look in the bottom left-hand panel. Or, click here. Processing is handled by EC Suite even though vBulletin thinks its CC-Bill.

Derek,

Just to make sure I understand the policy.

If I hold a FFL01 and only come to THR for participation on discussion threads, would I still be considered a Commercial User and required to activate a commercial membership?

I look forward to your reply.

Don

**Derek Zeanah** · October 14, 2012, 04:56 AM

Nope. Only if you're using THR as an extension of your gun counter.

AWorthyOpponent · October 15, 2012, 02:13 AM

Disclaimer: I used to dabble in Web Marketing, So I am looking at this as a money making opportunity for THR, and nothing else...

For the people that are here more than not or want to donate more, is there a way to become a "Life Member"? For say, $50-75? Maybe it could get rid of the Advertising?It might be a good way for you to get more "donations" from those people that want to be a contributing member now, but choose not to renew next year, or the year after. Also, gives them a reason to keep coming back because they feel like they've paid to be here and that means more money up front for THR.

**Derek Zeanah** · October 15, 2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Disclaimer: I used to dabble in Web Marketing, So I am looking at this as a money making opportunity for THR, and nothing else...

I added contributing members mostly as an afterthought to the commercial member policy, because lots of people were wanting to support THR directly.

I'd certainly consider a "no ads, contributing member" sort of set-up if there was some real demand for it. I don't know about the permanent memberships though -- the payments processor I'm using supports a max of 365 day purchases if I remember correctly. It's one thing to support an idea intellectually; it's another entirely to agree to handle the logistics for it forever. I can only imagine what my inbox would look like if I went on vacation for 3 weeks without Internet access and payments had been made in the mean-time...

I know what I'm good at, and I know what I'm bad at. Non-automated payment processing isn't something I'd like to commit to.

Thanks for the ideas, though.

omcf · November 26, 2012, 09:26 PM

It's been a month, and there don't seem to be many commercial members posting. I do notice that there are several gunstores still posting as members, is there a reasonable grace period going on?

October 13, 2012, 09:52 AM	#1
Derek Zeanah System Administrator Join Date: December 20, 2002 Location: Statesboro, Georgia Posts: 6,462	Commercial and Contributing Memberships Paid memberships are now available. There are two types: Commercial memberships. These are required if you are conducting business here on THR. If you sell items commercially, or if you have a single login for use by employees for the purpose of interacting with THR members, then you need a commercial membership. These cost $99 every six months. Contributing memberships were created because people kept asking for them. Contributing members get a title change, more PM space, more storage space on disk, and access to the albums feature, but the experience here won't change. There are no "members only" forums or anything, and contributing members are held to the same standards as everyone else. Contributing memberships cost $25 per year. Both memberships are turned on via the Paid Subscriptions function. Click on User Options, then look in the bottom left-hand panel. Or, click here. Processing is handled by EC Suite even though vBulletin thinks its CC-Bill. __________________ "We're going to suspend your rights to protest, bear arms, privacy, and trial by jury." "Why?" "To protect you from terrorists." "Why do we need to be protected from terrorists?" "They hate you for your freedom." Last edited by Derek Zeanah; October 13, 2012 at 10:27 AM.

October 14, 2012, 04:56 AM	#3
Derek Zeanah System Administrator Join Date: December 20, 2002 Location: Statesboro, Georgia Posts: 6,462	Nope. Only if you're using THR as an extension of your gun counter. __________________ "We're going to suspend your rights to protest, bear arms, privacy, and trial by jury." "Why?" "To protect you from terrorists." "Why do we need to be protected from terrorists?" "They hate you for your freedom."

October 15, 2012, 02:13 AM	#4
AWorthyOpponent Member Join Date: May 15, 2009 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 373	Disclaimer: I used to dabble in Web Marketing, So I am looking at this as a money making opportunity for THR, and nothing else... For the people that are here more than not or want to donate more, is there a way to become a "Life Member"? For say, $50-75? Maybe it could get rid of the Advertising?It might be a good way for you to get more "donations" from those people that want to be a contributing member now, but choose not to renew next year, or the year after. Also, gives them a reason to keep coming back because they feel like they've paid to be here and that means more money up front for THR. __________________ A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms shall not be infringed. Last edited by AWorthyOpponent; October 15, 2012 at 02:24 AM.

November 26, 2012, 09:26 PM	#6
omcf Member Join Date: July 28, 2006 Location: Northern Occupied Cuba Posts: 51	It's been a month, and there don't seem to be many commercial members posting. I do notice that there are several gunstores still posting as members, is there a reasonable grace period going on? __________________ There is nothing quite so exhilirating as having been shot at and missed-Winston Churchill