Am I The Only One.....

[mhr900ss]

Hi all:



I was away a while. 'Came back to find the new, elitist "Alpha" section of this forum. I do not understand this. If other Hummer owners need help and they are in my area I would want them to be able to find me and ask. I don't like class discrimination in any form and to me this is what the Alpha section represents. From the apparent lack of threads and responses I'm guessing I am not the only one who feels this way.



Am I missing something here?

[JL]

I don't have any inside scoop about why the new membership was offered, but from my perspective I see it from a few angles. First is the cost to run a site like this, the forum software isn't free, web hosting isn't free, and in fact is quite pricey! Should the club owners use their own pay cheques to provide us this service? Debatable, but I'd say no. On this alone I think it's fair to ask a small (and completely optional) fee.



The second reason I think is good will towards the club, since we're all here enjoying it then it just makes sense to give something back. That's how the world works, you know? In a general sense, when we support each others endeavours we succeed, but when all we want is to take then the system breaks down pretty quickly.



On top of that, I've seen tons of car clubs ask their members simply for good will donations with nothing extra in return, whereas the Hummer Club is at least offering something for your money rather than asking for a handout!



I understand your feelings, but for me 'discrimination' isn't a word I'd use. The club is a service, and in this world we pay for what we use, you know? It's not fair to expect it for free when someone else has committed their time and money for our benefit.

[Khamul]

[quote name='JL' date='16 July 2010 - 08:27 AM' timestamp='1279290421' post='19273']

I don't have any inside scoop about why the new membership was offered, but from my perspective I see it from a few angles. First is the cost to run a site like this, the forum software isn't free, web hosting isn't free, and in fact is quite pricey! Should the club owners use their own pay cheques to provide us this service? Debatable, but I'd say no. On this alone I think it's fair to ask a small (and completely optional) fee.



The second reason I think is good will towards the club, since we're all here enjoying it then it just makes sense to give something back. That's how the world works, you know? In a general sense, when we support each others endeavours we succeed, but when all we want is to take then the system breaks down pretty quickly.



On top of that, I've seen tons of car clubs ask their members simply for good will donations with nothing extra in return, whereas the Hummer Club is at least offering something for your money rather than asking for a handout!



I understand your feelings, but for me 'discrimination' isn't a word I'd use. The club is a service, and in this world we pay for what we use, you know? It's not fair to expect it for free when someone else has committed their time and money for our benefit.

[/quote]





Kudos!!



I totally agree as I have 2 websites I have to pay for and they can be pricey depending on what package you have and the data usage required. Becuase this site uses a blog based platform - not cheap!



Although I don;t necessarily like the other "class" I do agree with it's principles and would further suggest an optional annual fee for being in the club instead. If Everybody chipped in $10 +/-, I think that would at least pay for the costs and purhaps give them a few bucks for simply running this forum...



Just my 2 cents....

[Sugarphreak]

I don't really like the Alpha section idea either, most forums that introduce fees and restricted sections like this end up alienating some of the existing members and strongly discouraging future members.



The members are the ones that provide the site content and the advertisement hits, they do so out of their own free will on their spare time. Without members your site dies, for this reason I never agree with charging people on forums.

[RUNOVRU]

It is accepted common practice for many businesses to offer their users a choice of service levels, at varying costs.



Car rental companies offer sub-compact to luxury rentals, credit card companies offer basic "green cards" to "platinum", airlines coach seating to executive service. Electronics stores offer "extended" warranties, beyond the free warranty, for an additional price. This can't be considered "class discrimination".



The CHC is offering its members a CHOICE of service, with enhanced features and benefits, for those who chose pay the premium, without losing any of the current features of free membership for those that chose not to.



The enhanced features require additional web-site modifications and administration, the costs of which are offset by the low annual fee for an Alpha Membership.



The Alpha Membership fee as an important choice one can make to help support club activities, events, and promotion of our brand. I’m hoping that most of our members see the value in supporting the club financially, and will enjoy the enhanced benefits in return.

[duncanpa]

[quote name='RUNOVRU' date='16 July 2010 - 01:13 PM' timestamp='1279304036' post='19284']

It is accepted common practice for many businesses to offer their users a choice of service levels, at varying costs.



Car rental companies offer sub-compact to luxury rentals, credit card companies offer basic "green cards" to "platinum", airlines coach seating to executive service. Electronics stores offer "extended" warranties, beyond the free warranty, for an additional price. This can't be considered "class discrimination".



The CHC is offering its members a CHOICE of service, with enhanced features and benefits, for those who chose pay the premium, without losing any of the current features of free membership for those that chose not to.



The enhanced features require additional web-site modifications and administration, the costs of which are offset by the low annual fee for an Alpha Membership.



The Alpha Membership fee as an important choice one can make to help support club activities, events, and promotion of our brand. I’m hoping that most of our members see the value in supporting the club financially, and will enjoy the enhanced benefits in return.

[/quote]



Well stated Julie....look at it as a "for those who want to" and everyone is NOT loosing anything that they already had....It is still the same forum with the same access to all of the places that you've already had access to....I don't mind the Alpha as I know how much time, effort and money goes into running a site such as this....

[dwaxman1]

Thanks for all the feedback. I am glad so many of you understand the costs involved of running an International Club, of this size and complexity.



Based on member feedback, we felt that members Contact Info should be limited, as there is an understandable privacy issue here.



Nothing precludes you from asking members for help through the Forum, at anytime, regardless of membership status. Historically, our CHC Members have always been accommodating, and willing to assist other members, in varied forms of help. And, I am certain members will continue to do so.



We welcome any further input, and thank you for your continued support, and friendship.





Derek

[mhr900ss]

I appreciate the professional and well thought-out perspectives in this thread - so much better than the short single sentence followed by a gazillion emoticon responses this site usually fosters.



When the Canadian group first started my obvious considerations were that this would be an opportunity to meet some fellow Canuks with similar interests and a way to share technical help and spare parts sources from our north-of-the-border perspective. Some recent threads and the "Alpha" section got me concerned. There was some recent discussion about members not being "worthy" if they have not particated in Canadian Hummer Club activities - I think it may have had something to do with Alpha membership, I can't remember. Canada is huge and we are well-dispersed. There are no Hummer Club activities in BC!



I have been an active member of the Hummer Network, the Flash Forum and an occasional visitor of the Hummer X Club. There is no better resource for H1 owners than the Hummer Network. The Flash Forum's tech site is also invaluable. I never expected this Canadian site to compete from a technical perspective - this would be a mistake. It's better to have one very strong tech site to share and draw from rather than dilute techhie stuff all over the web. The Hummer Network makes some money from donations resulting from the classified section, the occasional auction and of course the calendars.



I applaud Derek and any others that have developed this Canadian site but I still think that there has to be a better way to generate financial support than the "Alpha" group. Even the name bothers me! Sounds like a fraternity.



I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and I'm sorry if I sound a little grumpy. My H is dead! #8! GEP have been on holiday for two weeks so I hope to order a new Optimizer long block on Monday. 'Probably have to sell one of the kids to pay for it.

[dwaxman1]

Everyone is allowed to be a "little grumpy" some of the time. We are open to a "better way" but, you can never please all of the people all of the time.