I've only read through/have time to read throgh the first 15 pages, give or take.
I've seen a few comments made that people were happy with this site 6 months ago; then changes happened and it appears that most people weren't happy with those changes...yet they are staying in place and more will be coming.
I didn't really see in what I've read so far who asked for those changes (the extra bells and whistles)? Was it the members? Was there a poll taken to see if the proposed changes were something the members wanted? Was there a pm sent to all members alerting them of this poll, so everyone would be aware?
The other night I was at a buddies (another snowest member) and asked him what he thought of the new fee. Both of our wives (who aren't on the site) immediately said...it's a forum, doesn't the advitersiers pay for the forum?
Yes, we have a lot of money into the sport, and $10 is peanuts for a year; but it really is the principle. Who says this won't go up to $20 per year in 3 years?
If all these changes (bells and whistles) will make this the biggest/baddest site, won't that in theory attract more advertisers? Is snowest going to be the first forum that you have to pay to be a member?
AND, everyone tells you they lose money...yet businesses don't stick around if they really are losing money. When I bought my sled, the dealer was losing money. When I bought my car, the dealer lost money; and snowest is losing money, yet this site has been running for how many years?
I used to work for a non-profit business...the employees there were paid very well.
This sounds like typicaly corporate America...things come down the pipeline that are best for all of us, yet no one asks what the people want. I always say it is what it is...you can buck the system and it really does you no good, or you can just go with the flo.
Do as the black back bison do...put on the blinders and continue on through the storm. As the black back will be out in a few hours, vs. the regular bison will sit and wait for it to pass, but will be stuck in the storm for days.
Anyway, just food for thought...