Four days ago I closed nearly all of the discussion forums on this site. Not just stopped them from replies, but completely removed them from even being viewed. And guess what? Not a single solitary soul seemed to even notice. No one contacted me to ask what happened to them. No one seemed to even raise an eyebrow in curiosity. Not that this comes as any surprise to me. But it was definitely a confirmation of what I have long been seeing as the direction and future of this site.
Around the same time, I changed the paid memberships in both cost and duration. Cut prices substantially because I cut the duration substantially. All of the paid memberships are now only for a duration of 30 days. Prices are not 1/12th of what used to be the yearly cost, however. With PayPal's cut, going too low would mean PayPal would get more money out of this than I would. Sorry, but no on that.
Sponsorships were ended completely. Too much hassle to deal with for just a 30 day duration and equivalent cost.
Any current paid memberships and sponsorships for 1 year will still run the entire duration. Just no renewal for that duration is being offered.
So why did I do this? Simple. I figured out that if I were to close the site right now, I would owe some people for those paid memberships and sponsorships. Even trying to prorate them would be a real pain in the ass. And would mean PAYING money to try to avoid LOSING money. Yes, that is income, but over a projected year's time would not cover the cost of the server lease used to run this site. It would not stop the terminal bleeding. So adding insult to injury, I would have to dig those funds out of my pocket just to close this and walk away from it. Yes, I could just stop accepting renewals, but that would STILL leave me having to pay for the server lease for an entire year with NO supporting funds coming it. That isn't very attractive neither. Looked like either way I would jump I would be trying to plug more holes in the dike than I have fingers.
So the monthly plan seemed the best choice. At least there might be some incoming funds for the next year. Of course, maybe not, but it appears to be the only reasonable path right now. Not enough money coming in to be back in the black, but hopefully enough to not bleed out completely. I believe I am now losing money every month this site stays alive. I know I have said countless times that I cannot do that. And I guess very few believed it, or really gave a damn. So the day I warned about has arrived. On July 1, 2027 I will stop accepted even those monthly renewals. On August 1, 2027, the plug gets pulled on this site and it is gone. I will say that if things seem to turn around by July, then I will re-evaluate the situation then, but I seriously doubt that will come about. I am no longer saying "if things don't turn around I will have to close this site". It has changed to "this site IS closing down unless I get surprised by things turning around".
I know some people liked being able to advertise here for free, but obviously too many figured on someone else to pay to keep this resource available for them. Sorry, that plan didn't work out for you. I kept this site running long after I got out of the business (16 years? Has it really been that long?) figuring I was making a little bit of money from it, and enough people were using it to make me feel I was still doing something constructive and helpful for the business itself. That is no longer true on either count. So I am cutting it loose, and cutting myself loose completely from the herp world. Going FULL retired. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. I only give a damn about people who give a damn about me.
So, there you go. The sand is running out of the hourglass for GAME OVER.
Around the same time, I changed the paid memberships in both cost and duration. Cut prices substantially because I cut the duration substantially. All of the paid memberships are now only for a duration of 30 days. Prices are not 1/12th of what used to be the yearly cost, however. With PayPal's cut, going too low would mean PayPal would get more money out of this than I would. Sorry, but no on that.
Sponsorships were ended completely. Too much hassle to deal with for just a 30 day duration and equivalent cost.
Any current paid memberships and sponsorships for 1 year will still run the entire duration. Just no renewal for that duration is being offered.
So why did I do this? Simple. I figured out that if I were to close the site right now, I would owe some people for those paid memberships and sponsorships. Even trying to prorate them would be a real pain in the ass. And would mean PAYING money to try to avoid LOSING money. Yes, that is income, but over a projected year's time would not cover the cost of the server lease used to run this site. It would not stop the terminal bleeding. So adding insult to injury, I would have to dig those funds out of my pocket just to close this and walk away from it. Yes, I could just stop accepting renewals, but that would STILL leave me having to pay for the server lease for an entire year with NO supporting funds coming it. That isn't very attractive neither. Looked like either way I would jump I would be trying to plug more holes in the dike than I have fingers.
So the monthly plan seemed the best choice. At least there might be some incoming funds for the next year. Of course, maybe not, but it appears to be the only reasonable path right now. Not enough money coming in to be back in the black, but hopefully enough to not bleed out completely. I believe I am now losing money every month this site stays alive. I know I have said countless times that I cannot do that. And I guess very few believed it, or really gave a damn. So the day I warned about has arrived. On July 1, 2027 I will stop accepted even those monthly renewals. On August 1, 2027, the plug gets pulled on this site and it is gone. I will say that if things seem to turn around by July, then I will re-evaluate the situation then, but I seriously doubt that will come about. I am no longer saying "if things don't turn around I will have to close this site". It has changed to "this site IS closing down unless I get surprised by things turning around".
I know some people liked being able to advertise here for free, but obviously too many figured on someone else to pay to keep this resource available for them. Sorry, that plan didn't work out for you. I kept this site running long after I got out of the business (16 years? Has it really been that long?) figuring I was making a little bit of money from it, and enough people were using it to make me feel I was still doing something constructive and helpful for the business itself. That is no longer true on either count. So I am cutting it loose, and cutting myself loose completely from the herp world. Going FULL retired. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. I only give a damn about people who give a damn about me.
So, there you go. The sand is running out of the hourglass for GAME OVER.