01-04-2004 02:06									#31
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by Spiffor BTW, I didn't follow everything, but are all goodies available, or not yet? (bigger avatar and member badge)

The bigger avatar (see my avatar size to the left) and the rest are available. The member badges aren't yet per Mark's post above.

	01-04-2004 02:08									#32
	Got spare money?

well here's a thought: upgrades of 6/12 months subscriptions to lifetime, costing less that the price difference of the two types....

	01-04-2004 02:15									#33
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Yeah that's a good plan. I still think you are scaring off potential takers with the current lifetime rate. I wont go on about it any further (yeah yeah ), since of course I have the option of the yearly one.

	01-04-2004 02:15									#34
	Remove this text

Checked out the benefits, doesn't really seem worth it if you ask me...

Apart from having a bigger avatar

	01-04-2004 02:16									#35
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: I bet Jamski would consider a lifetime one now if it were, say, $90. *psst back me up Jamski*

* Jamski backs up Doc*

I would not hestitate... but wait...

quote: upgrades of 6/12 months subscriptions to lifetime, costing less that the price difference of the two types....

Marko has a yet better deal

Wait... no, then the life still costs $100+, but just paid in two installments... very sneaky

-Jam

	01-04-2004 02:17									#36
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by MOBIUS Checked out the benefits, doesn't really seem worth it if you ask me... Apart from having a bigger avatar

Ah, but it's about supporting our favorite fan site too. That and not seeing pop-ups anymore.

	01-04-2004 02:19									#37
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

PROPOSAL

When buying the 9th (or 10th) successive 1-year subscription the poster becomes a life-subscriber automatically.

Otherwise life-subscription is really such a huge risk. I have no idea what I'll be doing in 9 years time, and if I'll then be glad I paid upfront.

Sorry, I can't help it. I was brought up to count every last pfenny

-Jam

	01-04-2004 02:23									#38
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Many thanks and congratulations to DanS for being the first lifetime subscriber

No. Thank you!

At first, I was surprised that the lifetime membership was a lot of money in comparison to the annual membership. But I've been here a loooong time and wanted to show more support than was available in a straight fee-for-service proposition, but less than an outright philanthropic proposition.

Sometime down the road, please let us know in general terms how it's going. I would be interested in knowing.

	01-04-2004 02:24									#39
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Jamski * Jamski backs up Doc* I would not hestitate... but wait... Marko has a yet better deal -Jam

No Mark's proposal there would have be less than a lifetime one but be more (in total) than getting a lifetime one now.

I like your 9 consecutive years thing, but that reinforces the fact that no one will take the lifetime subscription now.

The lifetime one raises a lot of funds quickly, and a lifetime subscriber knows that future upgrades from yearly subscriptions and similar offers will erode the value of his choice. Hence no one (except awkward DanS ) will take the risk.

I, like DanS, don't really care about the features that much. This is not about value for money as I argued in the discussion threads, or people wouldn't be so keen on this. It's about supporting the site. However I'm not willing (or able ) to fork out $140, but I am say $90 for a lifetime subscription, even with the risk such a long term proposition carries. However the option I would choose under the current system is the yearly one, so do the prices chosen need tweaking? I'd say yes, but it's not my choice.........I'm just throwing up some thoughts.

Ok so I mentioned it again. So shoot me.

	01-04-2004 02:34									#40
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Rhothaerill The bigger avatar (see my avatar size to the left) and the rest are available. The member badges aren't yet per Mark's post above.

Great. Time for a bigger and better avatar, I think (sniff... after 15 months of the old one :tear: )

	01-04-2004 02:47									#41
	Full PM-box? Change here!

quote: No Mark's proposal there would have be less than a lifetime one but be more (in total) than getting a lifetime one now. I like your 9 consecutive years thing, but that reinforces the fact that no one will take the lifetime subscription now. The lifetime one raises a lot of funds quickly, and a lifetime subscriber knows that future upgrades from yearly subscriptions and similar offers will erode the value of his choice. Hence no one (except awkward DanS ) will take the risk.

I suppose the basic question is :

"What would benefit 'poly more? Capital investment now, or long term subsidary funding?"

I suspect that the regular income from 6-month and 1-year subs will do more to keep 'poly afloat in the long run. They're simply bound to gather more interest that the single lump sum payment.

And the other question is :

"Mrs Jamski would kill me if I posted $140 in notes to someone, but could I get away with a dozen?"

-Jam

	01-04-2004 02:55									#42
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Hehe.

Well my position is clear. 'Poly can have $90 guaranteed now for a lifetime sub, or it can have $18 now and the possibility I'll pay more in the future.

Personally if I was Mark I'd prefer the former. If I was just in it for the 'best' deal I'd take the year now and see what happens in the future.

Of course, like DanS I could just say screw that and be even more philanthropic than I would be paying $90. But alas that isn't going to happen.

Ultimately we can't turn it into an auction where everyone announces their price, but I think the prices are skewed so that 'Poly could do better with a tweak.

Ok no more. I mean it.

Last edited by DrSpike on 01-04-2004 at 03:02

	01-04-2004 03:35									#43
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Markos has already made quite a few announcements that I would otherwise be making here (blast! ). I can add, however, that a second Lifetime subscription is currently pending. Many thanks in advance to this individual, and all others who have subscribed to the service and who will be. Even those who do not subscribe now or in the future (although I cannot for the life of me figure why ), any constructive contributions to the discussion here is also appreciated as they continue to help flesh out ideas to consider and raise issues for redress.

Now, two other points...

Payment note: I have modified my PayPal settings such that payments sent in a currency that I do not hold will be automatically accepted and converted into U.S. currency. No more holding... holding...

Jamski: on your proposal above, I will consult with Markos. What you are talking about is some time down the road to being a 'current issue', and as such more pressing issues brought forward will be dealt with first. Still, I'm certain we will be able to formally respond to it within a week. It is a reasonable suggestion.

-----------
Dan; Apolyton CS

	01-04-2004 03:46									#44
	Remove this text

So Dan, if I keep paying my subs every year for 8/9 years, on a relyable and regular basis, would you consider I had paid my life subscription "by installments" so to speak?

-Jam

	01-04-2004 04:09									#45
	Got spare money?

I have to cover rent, plus expenses for my own ministry, so no go for now Markos on the lifetime subscription.

However, I will go for the year's subscription as soon as someone can help me out with the credit card angle!

Very pleased to see how professional this has all gone.

Well done, Mark and Dan.

Can't forget the Emperor.

	01-04-2004 04:22									#46
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Jamski So Dan, if I keep paying my subs every year for 8/9 years, on a relyable and regular basis, would you consider I had paid my life subscription "by installments" so to speak? -Jam

That is exactly the issue Markos and I are going to have to come to a consensus on. Whatever our decision, I believe it will be #1,876,32...

quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi Very pleased to see how professional this has all gone. Well done, Mark and Dan.

Thanks!

--
Dan

	01-04-2004 06:32									#47
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by MarkG sorry Tamerlin, things were runing smoothly so we decided to lauch my offer to cover with extra month(s) of service whatever extra cost your bank may charge you, still stands than kyou again for the interest

I will contact Rasbelin and see if he is interested in subscribing to ApolytonPLUS.

	01-04-2004 07:22									#48
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

A great idea, but the lifetime memberships are obscene...

	01-04-2004 07:28									#49
	Put an end to popups!

If we die before the 8 year payback is up, can our next-of-kin get a partial refund? Or at very least store credit?

	01-04-2004 08:01									#50
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

If this had been available a year ago I would have pulled out the credit card. Now I think I will pass

Last edited by H Tower on 01-04-2004 at 08:22

	01-04-2004 08:20									#51
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Immortal Wombat If we die before the 8 year payback is up, can our next-of-kin get a partial refund? Or at very least store credit?

we have aready addressed that

	01-04-2004 08:28									#52
	Full PM-box? Change here!

quote: Originally posted by Asher A great idea, but the lifetime memberships are obscene...

well, all these people wanted to give us money even without geting anything back(other that the joy they have already goten through using apolyton all these years). so this is their option....

	01-04-2004 08:32									#53
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Hehe the excpetion that proves the rule. I bet Jamski would consider a lifetime one now if it were, say, $90. *psst back me up Jamski*

Well, mark gets a steady source of income if people buy a new subscription every year. Lifetime subscriptions are one shots

It's like when American Airlines started offering Lifetime Business Class Tickets (and we all know how long THAT lasted )

	01-04-2004 08:36									#54
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

I think Jamski's suggestion is really a good one. To encourage people to take lifetime subscription now though, you should make the total costs a little higher than paying it upfront. In other words, one can become a lifetime member if he payed yearly subscription for say 10 years (instead of 8 or 9 years).

	01-04-2004 08:37									#55
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: If we die before the 8 year payback is up, can our next-of-kin get a partial refund? Or at very least store credit?

It's a LIFETIME membership in the case that you die, you no longer have life

	01-04-2004 08:38									#56
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

I thought that MarkG said that the lifetime membership can be passed to your kids ...

	01-04-2004 08:44									#57
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

to those who subscribed

is there anyone who wasnt required to have a paypal account?

	01-04-2004 08:59									#58
	Support Apolyton

thanks to Jamski and Honghu for the first official subscription that was purchased by a different user

	01-04-2004 09:00									#59
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Ok I'm fulfilling my promise now.

But this one or this one?

Attachment: avartar3.jpg
This has been downloaded 128 time(s).

	01-04-2004 09:16									#60
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Just signed up. So how long before the technical side is kicked in? I suppose Quick and Giannopoulos have to click the check box in the DB?