astromart fees

I went to change my email address as my company changed it slightly, and a pop up box tells me the change would cost me 12 bucks. When did this start, and how come the system does not remember past supporters?


clear skies
Kevin

Kevin Brennan said:

I went to change my email address as my company changed it slightly, and a pop up box tells me the change would cost me 12 bucks. When did this start, and how come the system does not remember past supporters?


clear skies
Kevin

This happened several years ago... In the old days, Astromart required that all subscribers have a paid ISP. Part of the reasoning was that it was that free email addresses were easily abused by scammers.

However this excluded many potential Astromarters so Herb instituted a new system for folks with those free emails, it is my understanding that this involves a mini-background check. Such checks cost money so that is/was the reason for the $12 cost.

Later, this was applied across the board to new subscribers as well as anyone changing their Email address. Given that Astromart seems to be the most scam free internet site around, it seems like it is working.

Many of us also support Astromart with timely contributions...

Jon

It's better to pay for being safe then getting ripped off for free.

Chas

Okay.....this whole thread finally pushed me over the top on this support stuff. People whine about spending very few bucks supporting a site that saves us all thousands of dollars in this expensive and equipment intensive hobby - but have no problems selling equipment worth thousands of dollars. Kevin, you've sold 15" Obsessions, TOA 130, and a ton of other high end equipment - what would those transactions have cost on that other site that shall not be mentioned? Sorry Kevin - this really isn't directed at you - but I don't get it......

Every piece of equipment we buy - new or used - will likely be sold in a year or so. Without Astromart - where are you going to do that? Our needs and expectations change and so does the equipment we use. Without Astromart as a place where I could sell great equipment that I don't want or need anymore, or buy great equipment at huge discounts to new stuff - I couldn't (or wouldn't) buy anywhere near the gear I do today - Are you any different?

So what gives? Astromart is by far the best place on the net to buy and sell astro equipment - the next best is a joke in comparison. Yet I look at the ads, and only 10-15% of them are placed by current supporters. For the privilege of offering this service to the community, and putting up with all the BS (no wonder Herb is losing it a bit - Sorry Herb) Herb has to shell money out of pocket - Astromart should be self supporting. So why don't we all quit whining and toss in some bucks to help out!

I usually support AM on an ongoing basis - have for several years. I haven't re-upped my support for the last couple of months, however, and maybe I was just feeling guilty myself. The good news is that I saved enough on my last transaction to fix that problem.

Rant off - sorry for hogging the soapbox