Paid Premium Accounts

cstdenis · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:43 pm Post subject:

Before people get upset over this, I dont plan to make this a pay only site or anything, just considering adding special additional features for paid members.

So I will open this up to discussion of the community, starting with the following questions.

* Would you pay for an FAC account for additional features and other bonuses?
* What kinds of features would you want for this?
* How much would you be willing to pay for such features?
* What methods of payment would you be interested in (Paypal, Paypal equivelants (like yowcow, ProPay, PayDirect, etc.), credit card, Cheque/money order/cash, or somthing else.
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majohime · Very bored Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 240

Although I never join these premium member things, I guess a member is allowed to:

browse the site with out the ad
they are top priority when the submitted pics are being accepted
can post more than 3 pics per day

...can't think of much but I was thinking about these features when was mentioned premium.

X2CY · Still very bored Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 340

I don't think this is a good idea. People should have equal privleges and should not be restricted to what they can and can not do. A lot of people can not afford this or do not wish to spend money over the net, therefore may be put off by this.

Stratadrake · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 1:09 pm Post subject:

I agree with both sides, to an extent. If people want to pay for additional features, let them.

But the basic core privileges should be equal and for everybody ([i]sneers at dA's "only paid members can use our search function"[/i] <_<).

While I can't say I'd go for a paid account myself, the kinds of features I think go well with paid accounts could be:

- More e-mail alert notifications. Like when your faved artists submit new stuff to FAC, or when somebody faves you
- A different color (green?) for when your faved artists are online
- Ability to see which artists have faved you & your pictures
- Popup window for instant notification of new profile comments (like the forum PM system)
- Random picture of the day displayed on their FAC profile page

Of course, some of these we wouldn't mind seeing as basic, free features... the hangup, then, is that we generally don't want to see existing features removed into the "paid members only" category ([i]glances again at dA[/i] Rolling eyes

)
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fallenangel · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:36 pm Post subject:

Jesus Christ, what the hell is so wrong with DA's subscription system? Guess what, newsflash, you can use Google to search DA. Just click on advanced and limit the search to deviantart.com....[b]and[/b] it works BETTER than the DA one does. The DA search doesn't give you nearly the options google does. Anyone who used to site before knows the search feature was crap. You'd get maybe 2 pictures of what you were looking for and 500 "close" results. Like if I searched for "Axl Rose" (you can't use quotes to say you want [i]all[/i] and [i]only[/i] certain words) I'd get maybe 2 drawings of him and 500 rose photos. It was crap. So please, it's NOT nearly as bad as people bitch at it for. If there were no perks to being a subscriber, people wouldn't do it and the site wouldn't have nearly the amount of features it does now (and unlimited uploads, journal, number of categories, etc. are A LOT of features for a free site)

Selfish. DA kicks ass for what it is and for being free. You don't [i]need[/i] any of the paid features, especially the search. Making polls, your own forum, the *name, being able to see who looked at your page recently, members only forum, it's all bonus stuff. It's the people who have free accounts then whine about the ads or how slow the site is that need to be smacked. If [i]you[/i] don't do anything to help, you take what you're given and deal with it. Everyone's not and shouldn't be equal. Hell, it's an art site, people will never be equal. Some get a million comments on everything they submit, and some get none. Some people end up on the frontpage as DD or DTF every time they upload, and some will never get that. And whaddayaknow, some people get to use a crappy search and a * by their name.

Anyway, I think a paid membership is a good idea.

[i]* Would you pay for an FAC account for additional features and other bonuses?[/i]

I can live without them (am a free DA user), but I'd subscribe anyway.

* What methods of payment would you be interested in (Paypal, Paypal equivelants (like yowcow, ProPay, PayDirect, etc.), credit card, Cheque/money order/cash, or somthing else?

Don't have a Paypal account yet, but cash I can do. May be able to work on the Paypal thing...
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Stratadrake · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:23 pm Post subject:

I asked for that, didn't I....

Sure, you can do a google across the dA domain -- I must've spent three-four hours one day doing one search after another and coming up with almost nothing of what I was searching for (a very specific artist/drawing DG-Sama alluded to) -- but then I switched the search to "page titles only" and found it almost immediately.

It's kinda sad, really... you wouldn't be able to run a Google search on FAC nearly as efficiently since Google can't discern between title/artist/comments like a built-in search engine does....

Which kinda reminds me, just how does the FAC search function work? Single keyword/phrase only?
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fallenangel · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:51 pm Post subject:

The DA search doesn't have the options FAC's search does. It's a single field that searches for any of the words you type in the keywords field. That's why google is better for DA. Not FAC. Just sayin' DA search being for paid members isn't a big deal because even if free members had it, they'd be better off using Google anyway.
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cstdenis · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:47 pm Post subject:

[quote] (sneers at dA's "only paid members can use our search function" ).[/quote]
I can see why that feature could be paid only on that site, searches can be rather database intensive. However, that is not one I plan to make paid only.

[quote] Anyone who used to site before knows the search feature was crap[/quote]
Speaking on which, A better search feature here is somthing I would like to do at some point. I know FAC's search needs work too.

[quote]Which kinda reminds me, just how does the FAC search function work? Single keyword/phrase only? [/quote]
Fac search in its current for is just wildcard.
it gets searched as *keyword* or *this is a phrase*

I do want to make it better tho.
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Stratadrake · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 11:31 am Post subject:

Some of the really large sites out on the 'Net have entire servers dedicated to database queries, right?

Y'know, one thing that could save a little bit on search time would be the ability to restrict a search to whatever category you're currently viewing (i.e. not a dropdown list of the master categories list, because that takes forever to load, but say if I'm browsing the Anime/Manga category, I can restrict it to just that category and its subcats...)
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Jailcrow_of_Mandos · Still very bored Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 313

For my part, I wouldn't pay for it because I'm flat broke generally all the time. If people are going to pay for it, though, then they should get their money's worth. I say give them whatever they want. If I did have the money, getting pieces through the submission process faster would be a major perk to me. I don't mind the new adds at all, and I hardly pay attention to my favorites. It would be nice to reorganize the submission wizard page, though. I know you can type 'b' to get past the massive anime section, but maybe those mouse over buttons that turn into drag down lists would be less cumbersome (especially for favorite lists)? Of course, that would require members to have flash, wouldn't it?

Raymei · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject:

[quote="X2CY (stephanie)"] I don't think this is a good idea. People should have equal privleges and should not be restricted to what they can and can not do. A lot of people can not afford this or do not wish to spend money over the net, therefore may be put off by this. [/quote]
T.T well that's not well-thought-out....

I think if you keep the non-paying members options the same and just have special added features, etc for ones that pay, it's not really "unfair" T.-

besides...equal opportunities for non-equal members isn't fair....
If you're paying, that means you're working harder for it. If you're put off because you can't pay for it o.o personal problem, go find a way to deal with it.

I think it's a great idea. There are lots of things that could be added for paying people. FAC's getting bigger by the day (hopefully by somewhat older people with jobs, etc) so it'd be nice to try out.

_matt_ · Has No Life Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 582

you should ship free t-shirts and coffee mugs on a daily basis for those of us who pay for the premium accounts. Very Happy

Stratadrake · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject:

I just thought up an idea that could go well under the "paid accounts" category. You know, bells and whistles type of stuff to make some members' FAC lives more enjoyable.

How about this: When a paid member logs in to the FAC main page, underneath the list of online users, it gives a summary of all comments they've received since their last visit?

Sorta like when you log in to your e-mail account and you get a list of all new mail....

Like something to the tune of:

[quote]You have received new comments on these pictures since your last visit:
__________ - 1 new comment
__________ - 1 new comment
__________ - 2 new comments

You have received new comments on these stories:
__________ - 3 new comments

You have received (2) new comments on your [u]profile page[/u].

You have been faved by the following artists since your last visit:
___________
______
____________[/quote]

Basically, when somebody drops a comment for a paid member, it adds a note to this list saying that there's a new comment for whatever it is. When the person checks the appropriate page, the link is removed from the list until the next comment is added to it.

Similarly, if somebody faves you, it adds a link to the appropriate list, and when you check out their gallery, it removes the link from the list.
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aisy_nemo · My First Post! Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 1

i'ts nice to see your images!!! Very Happy

PhunkYMunkY · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:13 am Post subject:

I almost punched my pc because of that last post :angry:

..Ahem.. yeah.. You know my stance on paid accounts. I could and would pay but I don't think I use FAC often enough to be benefited from the 'bells and whistles'... I think maybe a paid-member part of the forum is a nice idea, though maybe pretty pointless, if not only used for querying paying-people of what they want updated...

I think the auto-approve would be ok but for say new members, we should still moniter thier work uploads for the first two weeks or so.. people might get the urge to post stolen art and etc..

unfocused · Moderator Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 6983 Location: Texas

*Yes, I'd pay for an acount here with added bonuses and features.

*Features,
- More e-mail alert notifications. Like when your faved artists submit new stuff to FAC, or when somebody faves you
- A different color (green?) for when your faved artists are online
- Ability to see which artists have faved you & your pictures
-browse the site with out the ads
And whatever other idea's you can give us from the 'where's the thread for general site suggestions?'

*I'd be willing to pay up to $80 USD/month (of course, I doubt anyone else would, this is just the maximum I'd go)

*Method of payment, Money Order would be my first choice, then cash. Maybe Paypal if I ever choose to get an account. I think there should be more than one option for members.

[quote="_matt_ (_lee_) Posted: Nov 28 2004"]you should ship free t-shirts and coffee mugs on a daily basis for those of us who pay for the premium accounts.[/quote]Hey, how about making T-Shirts, Denis! Or bumper stickers, or whatever, that will definately help to bring in more members (and maybe some with J O B's)
*edited*
[quote="PhunkYMunkY (Gray Roberts) Posted on Apr 7 2005"]I don't think I use FAC often enough[/quote] :huh: you're here everyday! Razz

I see your avatar so much, Roberts, that I have nightmares of being RAPED! raped by YOU. OMG it's so scary. YOU!

Denis, how many votes do you need to make up your mind to do paid accounts, I'm just wondering. And what are your choices for amount of payment?
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fallenangel · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject:

[quote]Hey, how about making T-Shirts, Denis! Or bumper stickers, or whatever, that will definately help to bring in more members (and maybe some with J O B's)[/quote]

We have a variety of t-shirt designs that were offered for awhile, but the store's still having...issues. Product options are limited for now to what can be done per order and not in bulk.
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PhunkYMunkY · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 4:00 pm Post subject:

I don't think FAC Artwork is an answer for sales. Maybe just the impersonal FAC logo? Which we don't have. I don't think many people would choose to walk down a street with an anime girl or a cute lil' grem-kitty on thier chest..

Maybe a simple "I'm such a FACer" or "FAC THIS!" or something like that.

Maybe just a FAC logo if one were to be designed.

Dogss · Would like fries with that Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 807

1rst: NO This has been an always will be a compleatly free website. Don't change it!

2nd: Members who added you to thier favs

.
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PhunkYMunkY · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:40 pm Post subject:

Anyone else catch sense of that? :huh: