Astromart should

Hello Doug, I have to agree with you. The most fair way is to just pay for each ad one places. And those who wish to pay "support" in addition should get some sort of "discount" according to the level of support. With the exception of those who have paid a "lifetime" support option, who had the agreement of being lifetime with no additional fees. I am not in favor of any percentage fee because just because one sells a higher value item does not mean they are making any money. In fact, they would be "punished" for having good equipment and be losing even more money on the deal. Someone selling a $2000 scope for $1500 already lost $500. Where someone selling a $500 scope for $400 is only losing $100 and pays a lesser "penalty". That is absolutely not fair at all.

Jeff

Doug Sanqunetti said:

I would rather pay $1-$5 for each ad I place instead of a yearly fee or even worse a percentage of the sale price. It would be easy to implement and manage a system where a fixed amount is charged for each and every ad. Each Astromart user pays for every ad they place. There is no need to plead for support and the same few people who support are not burdened to pay everyone's share. Based on past ad volume numbers, you can easily budget expenses to keep the site running. For the last year or so, I have been purchasing sponsored (yellow text ads) and feel like I am paying a fair price for my use of Astromart. With a yearly fee, a person who just browses would pay the same as a person who placed 50 or more ads. If I have to pay a percentage of the sale price, I will probably go somewhere else to sell my expensive items. I think you could implement a fixed transaction fee for each ad without losing ad volume.

That is not a bad idea. Sort of what I was talking about to Doug.

Jeff

Sergio Figuera said:

Check this out, if you would like a light membership charge $15 per year. At this price point if someone wants to place an ad charge them $1 per ad on an a la carte basis. If someone is a light user but also places a few ads per years, Charge $20, this will include 10 ads and $1 per ad after that. A premiere annual membership would be about $35 and would include 25 ads and $1 per ad after that. The top tier membership (Ultimate) would be $50 per year and include unlimited ads. What do you think?

If everyone is charged for being on this site, there would be no "non-supporters". It would certainly stop the whining about those who do not support. :S But the sellers would take a big hit from being a lot fewer potential buyers available. Which in turn would turn sellers away to other venues causing a downward spiral. And attitudes of people sour as well when you denigrate people for not being able to afford to support. Making a list of supporters is positive and makes people proud to be on the list. But listing people who do not causes animosity between people and ruins the atmosphere. People start pointing fingers. Sure, it prods some who can afford to, but those who cannot just leave. Make it fair for all and let the good times roll!
I like the idea of a tiered level of support, and per ad combination with "discounts" given to those who pay support in addition. Plus having wanted ads free. That keeps all the potential buyers for those who just want to sell something and pay their way.
A combination of some sort of Doug S., and Sergio's ideas should work out pretty well.

Hey Jon,

Another good idea...

So you have for more than 10 years offered a FREE website and now you are charging those who have "abused" it? The only ones you are not attacking are those who have in some way paid for the FREE site? Astromart is no longer free, so figure out some way to finance it by charging everyone.

Bob Schmall

~ AstroMart LLC~ said:

Here is where the we have come down on this "issue"

There are 4 groups of members

1) Those that have paid $12 to have access and supported

2) Those that have paid for access and never supported

3) Those that have paid to support but have never paid for access

4) Those that have never paid for access and have never supported

No one in the last 2+ years has gotten access to Astromart without paying the $12 so we feel that it is time for the never paid never SUPPORTED group to pay for access. The worst case for these users is that it will cost them 40 cents for each month they have had access and in many cases as low as 14 cents. This will also strengthen the security of the site in that it will require grandfathered users to be real people with real names and real credit cards and will provide a more secure member base. Again - IF YOU HAVE SUPPORTED you will be asked for no additional money.
This will be implemented over the next few days or weeks.

Thank you for your ideas
Astromart.com

It's about time. Now the dead beats can go to CN if they don't like it. I think CN gets about 30 hits a day. Martin

Fine with me...I am all for making those who have rec'd a free ride in many area of life to start paying, especially here.

First - I enjoy Astromart. I have bought sold and traded numerous scopes here.

I have paid for support in the past as a thank you, but have not paid all the time. I will continue to buy support in some form every year, and feel lucky to be able to use the site.

In some ways, I always considered Astromart to be a marketing mechanism for Anacortes as well as a user's community.

I would be interested to know how many Astromart members have purchased equipment through Anacortes. How much is astromart worth to anacortes in advertising? I have purchased some equipment from them in the past, and did so because of this site.

What are the operating costs per month? How does that compare to an advertisement in Sky and Telescope? Is this being done to make money, or to cover overhead?

And - how many members might be lost if support becomes mandatory? Not sure. Anyone remember starry messenger? It disappeared because of Astromart and other free web based sites. I would hate for Astromart to disappear as well. CN / Telescope Reviews' membership numbers seem to be growing pretty quickly, as it is free.

You brought up some interesting points that initially did not cross my mind as I blindly voted for the $15/annum. I didn't think about driving buyers and first time users away. There is a wide variety of users, some desperate for $ from a layoff, casual browsers, equipment junkies and those looking for a hard to find part etc.
A couple of thoughts:
Discounts for customers of Anacortes.
I'm not sure of the gambling laws as they pertain to commercial enterprises but maybe use online raffles to raise money. The raffles work well for charities.