Vote***financing Fauna***vote

Originally Posted by alvaro

Wouldn't we be leaving out the minors? From what we have seen over the years in the BOI they are quite a large group, and also the future of our hobby/industry. What about those that for one reason or another don't have current access to a credit card?

I didn't say, "implement it". I said, "research it". I'm not completely sure it would be a feasible model, but we might be able to learn something from the third party verification sites and how they work. It's possible that methods of verification currently available may be able to function without a credit card; I don't know.

However, since Fauna is *not* a pay per view porno site, what would be wrong with asking minors to have their parents sign them up on a verification site using a credit card? The minors in this hobby that we want to hear from are not the ones hiding snakes under the bed so that Mom doesn't find out.

Originally Posted by deicide

Once again just my observations and my opinion.

Like I said, I was really torn on this issue and completely understand where you are coming from. I just feel the good will far out weigh the bad in the long run.

There is not going to be a perfect solution that is going to be perfectly acceptable to everyone. It is just not possible or it would already be implemented. I do feel that a scenario like the one you outlined is possible, but I think that would be the exception, not the norm.

On the flip side, maybe we will not see as many false claims either, if people are having to pay to make false claims. More food for thought.

I might research the model that adult sites use for age verification, and require a credit card to sign up whether or not a fee was charged.

Wow, what a fantastic idea.

Originally Posted by KelliH

Wow, what a fantastic idea.

It is for age verification only so you don't have any problems with title 18 legalities with the feds. For membership it is a little more complex. Most ccbill company's requires the addy on the card to match the addy you sign up with. Plus the CID number must be entered along with other verifying items. this if for fraud protection. As far as site protection it is common to use a server who is more adept to your sites needs.

So it would not work here because it is only age verification. I think maybe I should donate some red pots like the salvation army uses and let certain members here camp out on the homepage.

Originally Posted by deicide

So yes to them $10.00 maybe alot. But just because they can't afford the membership fee (could be using that to feed the animals). They are automatically guilty of being a scammer because they can't afford to pay the fee??


While I agree I can spend $10 without even thinking of it there are others who are right at the edge. Where that $10 can be food for a few days, could feed a few snakes, etc..etc..

So I guess what I am saying is are we to disregard the hobbyist for the business people??


Once again just my observations and my opinion.

Still one of the biggest supposed downfalls, ie. being broke. As I posted earlier, I couldn't afford to add any snakes to my collection, last year, so I'm not saying this as one of a small handful of people who actually make money in this field. It all comes down to what you think the site is worth, to me it's worth $10 to be able to research my prospective purchase, whether it saves me from being burned on a $25 corn snake or a $5,000 BP.

And as a poor person and a hobbyist, if $10 means the difference between feeding yourself or your snakes then a person in my opinion is being quite irresponsible by owning snakes. They need to sell their snakes (hopefully they don't get burned, cause they didn't pay the $10 to research the BOI) until such time as they can afford to feed them and take care of any unexpected costs ie. Vet bills, light/heat bulb burn out (these can cost much more than $10), etc.

Originally Posted by reptilebreeder

And as a poor person and a hobbyist, if $10 means the difference between feeding yourself or your snakes then a person in my opinion is being quite irresponsible by owning snakes. They need to sell their snakes (hopefully they don't get burned, cause they didn't pay the $10 to research the BOI) until such time as they can afford to feed them and take care of any unexpected costs ie. Vet bills, light/heat bulb burn out (these can cost much more than $10), etc.

Interesting perspective that I hadn't really considered.

If you can't afford $10, then what the heck do you need to post on the BOI for anyway? You certainly can't be looking to buy animals from someone, now can you? Or should you? Perhaps you need to sell some animals, and the $10 fee is too high for you there as well? Well, I don't know what to tell you about that, but I think you need to make a major change in your lifestyle. Perhaps this $10 fee should be considered as your wakeup call.

Those are the people most likely to fall victims to a bad guy. Why? Because those are the people most likely to fall for the "deal too good to be true". They will get $$ in their eyes thinking they will buy that "steal" then turn it around immediately for a colossal profit. Most scammers use greed as the primary bait in their scams.

Originally Posted by WebSlave

If you can't afford $10, then what the heck do you need to post on the BOI for anyway?

When I've been low on cash, I haven't skimped on animal care, but I have skimped on other things that were not necessities. Internet connectivity is not a necessity. Neither is a pay-for-info web site. So yes, there are people who aren't going to budget $10 for a web site who might really be in a position to use it, or to contribute towards its useful information base.

Originally Posted by snakegetters

When I've been low on cash, I haven't skimped on animal care, but I have skimped on other things that were not necessities. Internet connectivity is not a necessity. Neither is a pay-for-info web site. So yes, there are people who aren't going to budget $10 for a web site who might really be in a position to use it, or to contribute towards its useful information base.

Oh well. I never was one much for lowering my standards to meet a lowest common denominator level. That's $10 PER YEAR...... Not PER MONTH, nor PER WEEK, but PER YEAR. I'm sorry, but I just would find it incredulous that anyone would try to get me to believe that they could not afford that amount. No, it's NOT a necessity. But then again, neither is it a necessity to be buying animals and wanting to check up on a prospective seller. As I said before, anyone in that kind of position needs to take a long hard look at their life and make some changes.

Oh and the point was brought up somewhere about kids not affording to pay this fee. Well, that certainly is a valid point, but personally, I don't believe anyone should be doing business with minors anyway. So they really have no business posting on the BOI or in the classifieds section trying to sell things.

My opinion, of course.

[quote=WebSlave]Oh well. I never was one much for lowering my standards to meet a lowest common denominator level. That's $10 PER YEAR...... Not PER MONTH, nor PER WEEK, but PER YEAR. I'm sorry, but I just would find it incredulous that anyone would try to get me to believe that they could not afford that amount. No, it's NOT a necessity. But then again, neither is it a necessity to be buying animals and wanting to check up on a prospective seller. As I said before, anyone in that kind of position needs to take a long hard look at their life and make some changes.
QUOTE]

Agreed

I still would pay the twenty five

And I still dont get this! People feel like the end of the world is coming if they have to pay for a Service.

And it is the people who use the service the the most, that say they are going to run for the door first.

Originally Posted by Dennis Hultman

Hey thanks for the really swell site, Rich, but if you charge money for it so you can maybe make a buck instead of doing it all for free, well heck, I would pay the fee.

--------------

This is a great site I have contributed maybe only a hundred dollars in the last couple of months between contributions and auctions and will continue to help support the site.

Just my opinion and nobody take it personally, I just cannot understand the people that spend so much of their time here and have over a thousand posts under their belts can't even contribute $25.00 to the site.

I think by the time someone actually has established himself or herself here and by after posting two or three hundred times they would see the value of the site and would be willing to pay a yearly fee.

If you charged a fee after a certain amount of posts would give the new person a chance to see what this site has to offer. Which will keep it free for the casual user. If they do not contribute after that they are just trolling around and delete the user name. Plain and simple. If they have established their name they are not going to give it up to reregister a fake name.

As far as the classifieds, you have to pay to earn anything. I would love to go to my local newspaper and tell them I want to put up an ad but do not charge me or I will not buy your newspaper anymore. You think it would work?

Rich, do what you think is best. I think this is a great route, you keep everything free for the casual poster (non-classified) and viewer and charge the rest.

I think both sides of this issue wins, people have access but when they drive your costs up (time, effort, server) they pay.

P.S.
When you start printing those t-shirts Rich, do not forget the hats.