Forum Future

[t700bes 1]

Hey all,

 

So as we know the Forum has been neglected, its old but it has such great content and it would be such a shame for it to all go. The honest reason for the neglect is two fold, its costs money and time to keep something as big as this going, and over the years neither have been really available.

 

Thankfully, I run a web hosting company and can swallow the costs of hosting. However, this can't continue forever, and the fact remains the forum runs on very old insecure software that needs time to upgrade. I owe it to you all to protect your data and not leave it insecure.

 

On top of all this, there is so much material that I've seen on the servers that is not available... The wiki for example, with various how-to's

 

With this in mind, I'm looking to make the forum a paid members only forum.

 

I don't want this forum to end like Edition38 did. This is the only way that I can see it remaining, advertising and other means are no longer what they used to.

 

The good news is:

 

As a paying member, you have more of a say over:

 

 

• Can we get Tapatalk working
  
• Why doesn't X work
  

 

 

My ideas:

 

 

• MOT / TAX Reminder Service
  
• Full Proper shop for 'Merchants' so they can sell things through the new platform
  
• Bring back the Wiki howto information in a readable format
  
• Active Corrado Register showing how many are left
  

 

 

These are just a few ideas, but I'm really open to what people think.

[ChrisL 18]

Sounds great, I’d be happy to pay for the service.

 

I know it’s been done to death but is there no way of merging this with the corrado club gb? By paying to access the forum (even if it costs more) you automatically get membership to the club? Both benefit.

Edited August 21, 2019 by ChrisL

[ger040 3]

i would be happy to do that also - need to be able to upload photos easily for us non tech geeks

[vw rule 19]

Hi Toby,

 

likewise it would be a crying shame to see this great forum disappear, as it's a fantastic community with priceless info that you just can't get anywhere else.

 

Regarding payment only membership that's probably not a bad thing, as it may stop the SPAM one hit wonders, but then on the other hand anyone that's joined this forum years ago, may only reply or post every once in awhile, and might feel they're not getting their money's worth.

It's swings and roundabouts but for me I honestly don't mind continuing paying for membership if it helps keep this great forum alive.

 

It would be good if poss to get the photo issues rectified please, as hardly any of us can attach any at the moment.

And the Wiki howto is a great asset to this forum, which ideally we all need back up and running on full cylinders so to speak please.

 

Si

[Dox 23]

http://the-corrado.net/showthread.php?95286-CCGB-Why-can-t-we-fill-shows

 

Plenty of discussion here regarding CCGB using this forum for business.....

 

A closed forum would be a bad thing going forward, no one is going to stump up for something before they've seen the goods first?

 

You can get free apps that remind you of impending MOT, servicing, insurance and RFL etc

 

Would I pay to support the forum, yes

[easypops 8]

I’m not sure making it exclusive to paid members is the way forward, that’s more likely to drive the occasional users to Facebook etc, I’m happy to pay, in fact, I’m sure I already do but I’d like to see it remain accessible to all. Obviously I have zero idea of what it entails to run the forum, just my opinion

[robrado974 1]

I’m happy to pay .Ive always donated anyway. This forum has to stay alive .

[tonedef 9]

I’ll sign up for that, would be a crying shame to lose the forum after so long.

[n3p 3]

Why not a Corrado forum annual meet, with entry admission? I don't actually know the costs associated with running a forum for a year so disregard if my suggestion is stupid.

 

I'm not sure if a paid only forum is a good idea

[sexybourbon 0]

I'd pay for it

 

A cost per month or year would be a good place to start

 

The way I see it, this forum and its knowledge have saved me using mechanics countless times over the years, all the help must have saved me loads of money by not having to pay mechanics! And the advice on here is why iv saved that cash so I'd be willing to give a bit back to keep it alive

I'd like to see tapa talk come back for the simple fact that it makes it easy to post pictures, something I mentioned in another comment a few days back

 

The return of many of my photos from my build thread would be great aswell if they still exist as that's one of the reasons I stopped updating it

There's no point in adding more content to it if the start of it is being slowly deleted

 

This is a great forum and always has been and I'd like it to stay

You pay a subscription to everything else's in life so why not this if its that important

[fendervg 33]

I have no issue with paid membership in order to support the forum - but it should be read-only and searchable for free, with maybe some sections restricted to paid members such as the wiki and suppliers. You need to be able to attract new members and be able to show what's available, otherwise it will just die a death as a closed shop.

[Cressa 44]

I have no issues with paying for my membership as the knowledge and assistance on here is invaluable.

[Dox 23]

A good start would be how many donate now and the predicted annual costs to run the forum?

 

How many would realistically become new or renew their donations?

 

I'd like to see more mods - frequent viewers to get rid of the spammers

 

I'd like to see a section for daily non Corrados where previous Corrado owners can contribute, their knowledge would benefit the forum and their traffic would contribute to other off topic subjects too.

[Guy 0]

I'd throw in.

Agree with what's been said about closing it off to non-payers entirely would probably be counterproductive though.

Posting privileges for only the paid-up perhaps?

[STU175 0]

id be happy with that

[James. 9]

I know it’s been raised before, but is this the point where the forum and CCGB come together ?

 

The Corrado Club Canada was also brilliant for technical help. And one day (without notice) wasn’t there.

 

It would be huge loss to current and future owners to see it all dissapear.

 

Maybe a social media re-direct link ?

Edited August 23, 2019 by James.

[dragon green 5]

I don’t mind paying,but some features should be open for all, otherwise the membership will stagnate,

[Dox 23]

I know it’s been raised before, but is this the point where the forum and CCGB come together ?

 

The Corrado Club Canada was also brilliant for technical help. And one day (without notice) wasn’t there.

 

Maybe a social media re-direct link ?

 

CCGB committee are against it.

 

I used Canada’s site to do my heater matrix, I also had various threads saved in my favourite for future use and as you say gone over night.

 

CCGB members direct people here most weeks as do some of the other fb Corrado groups to use the wiki or to search out other threads.

[Tigerfish 10]

I donate, and have no problem continuing with that. The forced payment could be tricky though. Fine if the forum wants to keep going with only the members it has now, but getting new joiners could be problematic. As mentioned by someone else, people are unlikely to pay for something that they cannot see and tell is worth while first.

 

Tapatalk was important for me, not just because of the picture uploading (although that was very helpful), but it kept all the forums I participate on in one place. It’s definitely reduced my visits since that broke. Admittedly, I don’t have a huge post count, but I try to chirp in where I can.

[Dogma 10]

What are the costs and what do you really need in the way of cash to keep this alive???

[_Matt_ 32]

Hi Toby,

 

Cheers for keeping us in the loop and for the support to date. I hadn’t realised you’re absorbing costs for us.

 

I’m not sure making the forum paid only is the best approach and might do the opposite and drive newbies away. At the moment although I’d normally be happy to pay I’m a newer member and was a tad disappointed all the old build and how to guides have lost their photos, my own build thread has lost everything and there are probably less than 15 people contributing. At the moment that makes paying for use of the forum difficult to justify but I can see you need money and appreciate you opening up to us on plans for the forum and would pay for that reason.

 

I don’t understand why the CCGB club don’t want to join forces as their website and forum needs desperate attention and we are all in the same community. This website has a far superior design and stronger footfall (albeit declining) and the CCGB has strengths in offering more as a club. Together they seem to offer strengths on both sides of the coin. The CCGB want to improve their website and forum and to me it seems short sighted of CCGB to not consider using Toby’s expertise, this forum’s superior look and feel and google analytics ratings.

 

I’m not sure MOT reminders and things will help. However like the idea of broadening the appeal of the forum to have sections for other cars. Look at Pistonheads – it started as a forum for TVR’s!

 

I’d happily moderate and can help with financial planning (I’m a trained accountant as well as financial systems specialist).

 

Cheers

Matt

[Dox 23]

As I see it CCGB were formed first- pre internet, they’re proud and protective of their club to the point it’s more important than the Corrado itself. Since I’ve been here there’s not been too much harmony between the two, but members of both happily co- existed all the same. There’s been the odd flare up, so I doubt there will ever be any kind of marriage even though many are members of both.

 

I doubt both can survive so it’s dog eat dog lol

 

If this place does fold there’s plenty of VW forums around without resorting to fb

Edited August 23, 2019 by Dox

[g0ldf1ng3r 15]

i have donated before & am willing to do so again

 

this forum & the great people we have on here are too valuable to loose

[Erallus 10]

Happy to support the forum in anyway necessary, and be more involved as well as donate.

 

This is such an important resource for the Corrado

[mooG60 11]

I'm happy to chip in if it's what's needed not to lose this great forum!