PistonHeads - Would you pay for it ?
Discussion
I have been a fan of this web site since it first hit the web and must say that it's the best site on the web.
Well run, lots of interesting news, free for sale section and these forums and the people who post are always interesting (you dont have to agree with them..).
Now something I always ask myself is - we quite happily pay £35 each year for a car club membership (TVR CC or Club Lotus / Lotus Life) and they have interesting magazines but their web sites can only try to copy PistonHeads
- so the question is why is pistonheads free.
Now Dave (Petrol Ted) has not put me up to this...
Why not have a either compulsory or voluntary membership where we pay ..say £5 for a years membership and get say a free window sticker with a catchy slogan which changes ever year.
Anyone agree / disagree.....
Well run, lots of interesting news, free for sale section and these forums and the people who post are always interesting (you dont have to agree with them..).
Now something I always ask myself is - we quite happily pay £35 each year for a car club membership (TVR CC or Club Lotus / Lotus Life) and they have interesting magazines but their web sites can only try to copy PistonHeads
- so the question is why is pistonheads free.
Now Dave (Petrol Ted) has not put me up to this...
Why not have a either compulsory or voluntary membership where we pay ..say £5 for a years membership and get say a free window sticker with a catchy slogan which changes ever year.
Anyone agree / disagree.....
Agree - to a degree!?!?!?!
I was on another motorsport forum once, which decided to start charging, lots of people including myself left as all the news was readily available elsewhere (Not so with this forum I have to say). They wanted to charge £20 or so and I felt this was too high.
A £5 fee is in no way unreasonable, but there is not much for free and it's good to get free things now and again.
PistonHeads must make some money as Ted already does clothing and things, and I don't doubt this question has crossed his mind a hundred times.
Keep up the good work Dave, for free, but, if it's a fiver well then count me in!
I was on another motorsport forum once, which decided to start charging, lots of people including myself left as all the news was readily available elsewhere (Not so with this forum I have to say). They wanted to charge £20 or so and I felt this was too high.
A £5 fee is in no way unreasonable, but there is not much for free and it's good to get free things now and again.
PistonHeads must make some money as Ted already does clothing and things, and I don't doubt this question has crossed his mind a hundred times.
Keep up the good work Dave, for free, but, if it's a fiver well then count me in!
I couldn't disagree more.
One of the best things about PistonHeads is that it costs nothing. You don't even have to log in to take part. It's like meeting loads of like minded TVR owners in a pub.
Paying for the site would turn it into a business and remove a lot of the site's informality.
The club works very well and gives excellent value for money at £35. But the club gives something different - something material and structured.
All that said, I think the site is excellent and has saved me a fortune in garage bills alone, so if Dave said he wanted a fiver for his time, I'd pay up.
One of the best things about PistonHeads is that it costs nothing. You don't even have to log in to take part. It's like meeting loads of like minded TVR owners in a pub.
Paying for the site would turn it into a business and remove a lot of the site's informality.
The club works very well and gives excellent value for money at £35. But the club gives something different - something material and structured.
All that said, I think the site is excellent and has saved me a fortune in garage bills alone, so if Dave said he wanted a fiver for his time, I'd pay up.
I think it would be a very tricky thing to get right. Sure, you, I, and most other "regulars" would happily cough up a fiver to continue to hang out here.
But I put it to the jury, would be have become regukars if it had been a fiver to join up?
A group like the Pistonheads Gassing Station needs a certian "critical mass" of members for it to work. If many people left then would it all die? I'm not sure.
As I said, I'd happily pay a fiver. Maybe Ted could offer a "gold" service over and above what we get. I dunno, maybe a pie icon next to your name when you post to the Gassing Station with "this is a good bloke 'cos he gave me a fiver" on your profile.
But I put it to the jury, would be have become regukars if it had been a fiver to join up?
A group like the Pistonheads Gassing Station needs a certian "critical mass" of members for it to work. If many people left then would it all die? I'm not sure.
As I said, I'd happily pay a fiver. Maybe Ted could offer a "gold" service over and above what we get. I dunno, maybe a pie icon next to your name when you post to the Gassing Station with "this is a good bloke 'cos he gave me a fiver" on your profile.
Thanks for your thoughts guys. Rest assured PistonHeads isn't about to become a subscription only service.
I don't believe paid for web content works in the 'recreational' sector. People will pay for content if it's of use in their work, but not otherwise.
Besides, if people were paying for it then I'd feel obliged to get out of bed each morning rather than do it because it's fun.
The voluntary membership (tiny) fee thing is something that I still ponder. Perhaps tied up with some discounts from suppliers this might be useful. However, if I ever did consider this I'd have to present it very carefully otherwise it sends out the wrong message about the business viability of the site (i.e. it makes it look desperate!).
I don't believe paid for web content works in the 'recreational' sector. People will pay for content if it's of use in their work, but not otherwise.
Besides, if people were paying for it then I'd feel obliged to get out of bed each morning rather than do it because it's fun.
The voluntary membership (tiny) fee thing is something that I still ponder. Perhaps tied up with some discounts from suppliers this might be useful. However, if I ever did consider this I'd have to present it very carefully otherwise it sends out the wrong message about the business viability of the site (i.e. it makes it look desperate!).
quote:
But I put it to the jury, would we have become regulars if it had been a fiver to join up?
Good point - and I think that's the key to it. You need to have used Pistonheads for a while to appreciate its value...and be happy to pay for it...and clearly many of us would be...but introducing a joining fee would alienate casual surfers who find the site through searches etc.
You could have a tiered charge rates but
the risk in providing a "gold" service that has a charge is that the non-paying users may feel alienated and stop visiting.
Difficult problem. Its hard to come up with a way of selling "premium" content.
Good luck, Ted. Whatever.
I would guess that as a "marginal" type of member (eg, I don't actually own a sports car!!!), I wouldn't have subscribed.
On the other hand, it is a brilliant website, and one that I spend a lot of time on.
I think Ted ought to consider running up a set of stickers & badges, as I would be glad to shell out a few quid for some *stuff* !
You have to see tangibles. Because of the size of the 'net, there WILL be other sites out there that are free, and a lot of users will only ever go to the free ones.
Regular contributors also help make the site interesting - no new writing = shrinking "membership".
Well, just to say again - well done Ted for putting it all together.
Carl
On the other hand, it is a brilliant website, and one that I spend a lot of time on.
I think Ted ought to consider running up a set of stickers & badges, as I would be glad to shell out a few quid for some *stuff* !
You have to see tangibles. Because of the size of the 'net, there WILL be other sites out there that are free, and a lot of users will only ever go to the free ones.
Regular contributors also help make the site interesting - no new writing = shrinking "membership".
Well, just to say again - well done Ted for putting it all together.
Carl
The problem for Ted is probably not simple. The more people visit and use the site, the more valuable his banners are. Specialist car dealers, etc couldn't dream of a more targeted audience! On the other hand, Ted is up night and days running this thing and it is just fare that he should be able to make a decent living out of it - something that would allow him to enjoy the cars praised on this web site. 
Personally would happily pay a tenner.
Personally would happily pay a tenner.
Guys, worry not. As Romain says, the site is becoming a more valuable commodity and the advertising is becoming easier to sell (which is lucky as I've run out of kidneys to pay for hosting).
Instigating a membership system would be a time consuming process. Time is a commodity I don't have a lot of. I'm better off spending that time persuing advertising.
The concept works and you guys are already doing your bit. Unique readers rose by 10,000 to 93,000 last month and that's entirely down to you guys because I haven't done any marketing. The readers of PH have made it what it is today.
I've got some ideas for 2002 that should make it more fun still and encourage more readers/newsmakers to contribute. PH is not a magazine, it's a community.
Edited by PetrolTed on Friday 7th December 14:19
Instigating a membership system would be a time consuming process. Time is a commodity I don't have a lot of. I'm better off spending that time persuing advertising.
The concept works and you guys are already doing your bit. Unique readers rose by 10,000 to 93,000 last month and that's entirely down to you guys because I haven't done any marketing. The readers of PH have made it what it is today.
I've got some ideas for 2002 that should make it more fun still and encourage more readers/newsmakers to contribute. PH is not a magazine, it's a community.
Edited by PetrolTed on Friday 7th December 14:19
quote:
Well, as I have no Internet connection at home I'd very worried to have to pay for access for Pistonheads...
Please Ted don't forget the guys who have access via their office
Just to reiterate, I DO NOT INTEND CHARGING FOR ACCESS TO PISTONHEADS
You want paid for content? Go to www.sportscartesting.com.
Interesting content but no community feel. Far too sanitised.
Many of the articles I publish have been from readers. I pay for them because that's only fair, but I think that the fact that readers want to contribute is a sign of the great spirit here.
Hell, I`m on this site all the time ( Just ask my Missus ! )
It has great content, is humerous, and the people who reply are generally helpful too. And we all like the important things in life - Brown Trouser motoring..
I still haven`t even bothered logging onto the TVRCC site...I usually tell people at the club to log on here (oh dear)
But I sure wouldn`t mind seeing some stickers and stuff for sale if that is feasible..
Edited by Jason F on Friday 7th December 14:28
It has great content, is humerous, and the people who reply are generally helpful too. And we all like the important things in life - Brown Trouser motoring..
I still haven`t even bothered logging onto the TVRCC site...I usually tell people at the club to log on here (oh dear)
But I sure wouldn`t mind seeing some stickers and stuff for sale if that is feasible..
Edited by Jason F on Friday 7th December 14:28
I've been coming here almost everyday for 5 months, all the articles are relevant and the banter that goes on in the station is fantastic, really good for a belly laugh!!! i would be happy to make a voluntary contribution BUT surely the easiest way to contribute is to buy the goods on offer in the shop! Surely ted isn't selling them at cost price!
i would be happy to make a voluntary contribution BUT surely the easiest way to contribute is to buy the goods on offer in the shop! Surely ted isn't selling them at cost price!
). 
Hi, I'm with Roy!!! Good work Ted. I have been coming here for the past 18 months and have seen it change and grow. Lots of entertaining banter apart from the odd t*sser looking to cause some grief with throw-away statements. I have looked around the net for similar sites and can't find anything that even comes close to the mix you get here. Please don't bored Ted and here's to you - 
Dave (Ted) and all,
I'm a bit late here today - bloody car broke down again - twice in its first week
(wifey keeps saying 'the red one was ok, why did you change it'), however I'd like to add a comment.
I feel this site is unique, it offers by far the best information, message boards etc and does have a club feel. The S meet was a great example of this with lots of comments about further PH meetings needed - PH picnic - Pie + Guiness anyone ?
I've been a member since I discovered it last year and have recomended it to many people, I also visit the TVRCC site amongst others, but they offer something different.
I would also pay a subscription here, but I'm not sure if I would when I first found it...
However, although the site is now doing well, I know from what you have said in the past that it has not made you rich yet so if you (we) can come up with some form of merchandise / optional fee then I would support it. God knows what though.
People offering to pay you.... Christ you must be doing something right.
Cheers,
JSG.
I'm a bit late here today - bloody car broke down again - twice in its first week
(wifey keeps saying 'the red one was ok, why did you change it'), however I'd like to add a comment. I feel this site is unique, it offers by far the best information, message boards etc and does have a club feel. The S meet was a great example of this with lots of comments about further PH meetings needed - PH picnic - Pie + Guiness anyone ?
I've been a member since I discovered it last year and have recomended it to many people, I also visit the TVRCC site amongst others, but they offer something different.
I would also pay a subscription here, but I'm not sure if I would when I first found it...
However, although the site is now doing well, I know from what you have said in the past that it has not made you rich yet so if you (we) can come up with some form of merchandise / optional fee then I would support it. God knows what though.
People offering to pay you.... Christ you must be doing something right.
Cheers,
JSG.
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