Increasing Gold Membership numbers?

[Brian]

Just a question for you guys out there.
Really could use a bit of an income boost here, and with Paypal preventing raffles etc, the easiest way is to increase the Gold Memberships here: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/subscriptions/

My question to you guys...both current Gold members, and non members is, what features would you like to see offered in Gold membership that would either convince you to renew your membership, or those that aren't, convince you to take up a membership?
We currently offer a bunch of advantages such as increased pm limits, editing time, daily posts, reduced search delay time, posting size limits, commercial signature link (gonna have to crack down on that one) and other features. Are there other features that would sway you? Are the current limits enough or would you like any of those increased?
A section available only to Gold members? Maybe with shoshin signatures or a private chat area? Or anything else that the software is capable of?
The upcoming software update will have a lot more features, and there will also be exclusive Gold member themes/color schemes and other things.
There are a ton of features we don't use. I don't want to lock non-Gold members out of any useful downloads, or resources we have currently. Would like to remain limit free on sales listings. But would really help all of these if we can come up with some way to increase interest in Gold.
Let's hear your ideas, if they are possible and don't take a huge amount of admin time, I'll consider them.

[Brian]

Oh, just want to clarify, there are no thoughts of increasing Gold membership fees.
My intention is to try and increase numbers. At $5/month, I think people are getting a bargain. But based on the lack of any response, doesn't seem like there is much motivation or interest.
Would have to have to limit free sales listings  or consider some form of income from that beyond the current voluntary. But if no-one has any interest or suggestions I am going to have to give some thought as to how to raise some funds. We're going slightly backwards, and while it isn't uncomfortable right now, I don't want to have to stress later.

[kissakai]

Give it a couple of days

I've thought about this but as yet I can't think of an incentive

 

[Lareon]

Same with me, to be honest the incentives on the membership plan i don't even think about.
I only subscribe to support the forum which has been invaluable to me over the years, one of my daily websites

[Lewis B]

As a newcomer to nihonto and tosogu collecting I have found this forum to be invaluable in so many ways. We are in an enviable situation now with plethora of sources of information from books to societies like the NBTHK-AB and EB, as well as local organisations within our jurisdictions. These society interactions no matter how important, are, by their nature, sporadic. The NMB is always there, with members who are often very willing to share the knowledge they've acquired over many decades of diligent research. This is how a field of study grows by participating and sharing. I have found many friends on NMB in the course of the last 18 months, since starting my journey, people I might not otherwise have met.

 

I know for a fact I wouldn't be where I am today without NMB and its participating members. I would not have had the confidence to take a chance on a forgotten blade, one that might have been lost to history in its current state, if its fate had not been secured. Just as I saw something in that blade so we must all decide how much this forum has contributed to our own growth and enjoyment. By subscribing we are doing something small to preserve the knowledge and experience for future collectors, especially those outside Japan. Losing Darcy and his Yuhindo website was a massive loss and it would be a crime if something similar happened to the NMB. By subscribing we ensure this wealth of knowledge, a lot of it only found here, is preserved. As Brian says it's a bargain in the grand scheme of things. 

 

Someone made an interesting comment recently which really struck a cord with me. Why are there no grassroots Japanese nihonto forums? You would think this would be the obvious place for such a community to grow and thrive. Is the collecting culture so different in Japan that there is a reluctance to share knowledge and ideas? That really brought home how lucky we are to have this community and one that shouldn't be taken for granted. 

 

I will be subscribing as soon as my replacement credit card arrives from the US. 

 

As for other ideas to increase revenue? I don't see any problem in charging a small fee to list items in the Classifieds and/or make this a perk for subscribers. Perhaps a third level of membership eg $5 for a month if people want to list items for sale on an occasional basis. Many forums operate such a business model, the VW California Club, Home Barista and Kitchen Knife Forum (for new members or those with low post counts), 3 forums that I also frequent on a daily basis.

[Rawa]

Seriously doing anything towards monetizing fresh members is bad idea. 

[Brian]

7 hours ago, Rawa said:

Seriously doing anything towards monetizing fresh members is bad idea. 

There are no plans for that and there will always be free listing of items for sale, and the ability to look at the ads.
However we need to look at people who list dozens of items regularly and never contribute. There is a limit.
Not many of them, most here are decent people who are happy to contribute.

Those that participate in the Nihonto community regularly and profusely are the ones who most likely find advantage in not having to clear out their pm folder as often, or watch their posting limits. I may have to look at those limits a bit. However the majority of features will always remain free.

I do intend to look at some small Nihonto-related banner ads if I can find the time to work out the coding. These may be one way to bring in funds.

I don't have to mention how convenient it is to have a forum that allows free uploading. The fact that we have several hundred thousand attachments bears that out. Most places have strict limits, and the longer we continue, the more we need to increase web space.

 

It would be easy to set up Gold-only sections for certain discussions, but I know that would cause a riot.i

Another possibility (but only if I have support for it) is that this software has the ability to set up "clubs" with private access where say an organization or area of collectors can have their own private place with their own members. This is popular with other forums. So for example a Midwest Token Kai can have their own password protected or member-added section where they can do as they please. 

 

In an ideal world, some of the Japanese  dealers who do so well with the Western market would contribute. I know for a fact they get huge numbers of sales from discussions and promo here. But they are still old school and getting them on board with that isn't easy.

Appreciate all the feedback, will get back to the one or 2 that messaged me as soon as I have time.

[Lewis B]

Currently as a non member the feature I find most frustrating is the search button delay, especially if I'm scrolling through multiple pages of a thread. Good to hear this is addressed for Gold subscribers. The search system is a little annoying (or maybe I'm missing something) if I'm searching a particular topic by a specific member. 

[Lareon]

Probably got the timings on the search about right then if it's only a little annoying and could lead to a member upgrading.

 

@Brian the thought of the private clubs is something I'm not super keen on. I wonder what information I would miss simply by being in the UK. It's already restricted enough here :p

 

Over the years I learnt an awful lot just from watching conversations play out by people who have spent decades recording serial numbers or are arguing over a mei and the angle of a chisel stroke.

 

Having this locked away by region is something I would feel sad about.

 

So since Im Shooting this one down I'll think of some gold features.

 

High Resolution Gallery for kantei, oshigata or Mei? With community / moderation (perhaps only papered examples). Only available to gold members and only swords owned by members.

Think Hawley but with a small selection of high quality images per smith. This would also invite debate. We're not reinventing shinsa but storing for research. 

Gold members only. Or a new tier (platinum)

 

I suggest this because the way I research usually requires a lot of trawling or the web or books. We're not replacing the knowledge of people like Markus or Hawley but adding to our combined knowledge with examples maybe not seen before.

 

Obviously a lot of people don't like to share what they have as in all collections but I would very much like this resource. I've sent private messages to many people asking for images of their ko-gassan Mei for example as it is my main field of study.

 

Gold members, 1 month sticky on for sale page to keep listing at the top? Unsure on this one as volume of sales isn't high so there isn't a big turn around.

 

More controversial but - a limited number of posts on the translation forum for non gold members.

I've seen a lot of people clearly using the translation section to get info for their sales elsewhere. Which is fine but a contribution would be welcome for something that Is enabling your business.

 

This wouldn't restrict those few coming to seek help but would mean people who are using the forum for gain have a small contribution to the knowledge they receive. Say 20 posts (not topics) per year. Probably enough for someone to get translation on one to two swords max if they've got a hand me down or are just starting etc.

 

A small perk - how many years of gold you've purchased since joining. Could be tiered like the current ranking system. 

 

If I think of more I'll add them.

 

 

 

[Lewis B]

Tony makes some great suggestions. I'm constantly reminded how good some collections are, especially within Europe. These connoisseurs keep a low profile and prefer not to brag or discuss their collections in public forums, which is perfectly understandable. I'm fortunate to see many of these superb pieces as a NBTHK member so know they exist.

 

There are 'elite' (sorry but hard to find a better word) collectors in Japan who hold some of the finest collections outside major nihonto museums that are only known or talked about in tightknit groups. I think a 'private room' might encourage a little more openness as sharing these top tier blades can only be positive for encouraging the next generations of collectors that follow. 

[Brian]

Search intervals are VERY resource intensive on the database and short search delays really do up the server use, so most forums have a decent interval to prevent hammering the processor.
But yes..the short delay for Gold members is a big advantage. So that is a tool I rely on to make Gold more attractive. It's a necessary evil.
I have seriously considered a Gold member area where we can post shoshin examples of swords and tosogu that are verified. 
In fact, it's partially set up, but invisible. The idea would be to have it alphabetically by smith name, and it would have to grown constantly. I know it would be a great resource, but very admin intensive.
Yes..regular members would moan, but for $5 a month...if you can't afford that they you shouldn't be collecting Nihonto. But I see that as more of a future goal.

As for private areas, it would more be for organizations and clubs, to have a place where their members can interact. Yes..there would be some discussion there that could benefit other members, but that's how a club works. Surely JSSUS or NCJSC etc wouldn't mind having a private area for their members to announce events, discuss them etc etc.
They could have access to grant access to whoever they like. Costs would need to be discussed, either paid by members or the club.

Translation section...that is a tricky one. I think we have the best Nihonto translation resource here in the world. Fast, free and usually spot on.
I don't want to monetize that, but maybe a person should at least have 2-5 posts before they can use it, otherwise we have the hit-and-run members and dealers using it recklessly for profit. But that doesn't monetize it and I don't think we want to either. It's a big perk of this forum.

Galleries....we have access to member galleries etc. It's a powerful feature we aren't using. Having your own gallery for your collection or to show others would be do-able if there is interest.

There is a lot that can be done with that, and I can look at having that added to Gold membership if there is some use there.

[Bruce Pennington]

I know we've tossed the banner ads idea around before, but I don't see why not, Brian.  Every other forum I frequent uses them.  I've clicked on several simply to see if they carried any Mantetsu or swords with stamps!  They aren't a bother at all.

[Lexvdjagt]

When considering small but meaningful features for Gold members, I would suggest adding the ability to bump posts without having to add a new comment. 

 

I also agree with @Bruce Pennington about banner ads. I think they could be valuable to dealers and provide a practical way to support the forum. On another Forum I was active in during the 2010s, non-premium members saw banner ads placed along the right side of the homepage, rather than across the full width of the page, and it worked very well.

A similar approach here could create a steady source of revenue, attract more traffic, and improve cash flow. 

[Hokke]

Brian, do have a way to generate numbers on those members who have ONLY posted in the translation or classified sections? I would be curious to know how many people have come exclusively for those sections without any intention of participating in the forum as a whole. Coming from a large watch community, your idea of minimum posts before being able to access certain parts of the forum, is a popular tool. 

As for gold member only sections or clubs, I dont know why you presume that would cause a riot. Sure people may miss things, hence, the member upgrade and for clubs, if youre not invited, thats just how to world works. Just remember there are always unintended side effects that are foreseen. 

With respect to the idea of "bumping" posts, thats also pretty standard on other forums, however, some forums get bogged down when there are no limits. How many times you can bump and how many items can be bumped makes a difference. I am not a fan of being able to pin a post to the top.

 

[Scogg]

These days, NMB isn’t the only place people turn to for Nihonto information. Free communities on Facebook and Reddit are active and often feel more approachable to newcomers. Many of us use those platforms too.
 

The challenge is: why would a new collector choose to support NMB financially? Longtime members understand NMB's value, but for someone just starting out, that value can be hard to see. Especially if their first experience here feels more negative than positive.

I sometimes see derogetory comments about NMB on other platforms, usually stemming from early interactions that left a bad impression. That’s concerning, and likely a barrier to growing membership. We can still be honest and maintain the highest of standards; but with a more encouraging tone for those who are still learning.  

My first ever boss once told me: "A person with a bad experience will tell dozens of people. A person with a good experience might never mention it."

 

Creating a more inviting environment will go a long way toward helping NMB grow subscriptions in the long run.
That’s how I see it, anyway.
-Sam

 

Edit: All good ideas above. Banner adds wouldn’t bother me either 

[Mushin]

I think people will pay if:

 

1) They sense brand value, belonging and "exclusiveness" 

2) There are perks to membership

 

These days there sufficient third party companies that can print or embroider t-shirts, hats, mugs, tote bags, etc. that are exclusive to your corporate clients. You can also use Fiver to have somebody design these for you for literally five bucks or thereabouts. Or maybe on of our more creative members can do this. Submit the designs and colorist the printing company and then sit back. These are offered to the general public on a special page maintained by the company, at  set prices ($15 to $35) , and then you can offer discounts to your paying members ($12-$15). You don't have to do anything as once you submit the designs, they produce and ship, handle order processing, etc. and give you a cut. Think of it like Lulu but for stuff not books. It helps raise money as well as build a brand and attract newcomers. These are true and tried and they help groups such as ours. This is but one idea. There are many out there.

 

 

 

[Mikaveli]

A "new members area" would be nice - somewhere explicitly for coaching people through the early stages on ownership (with behaviours policed more strictly).

 

Sales etc should generally be a paid service, especially if regularly.

 

Likewise, as someone else mentioned, translations too - maybe the first is free (allowing for people buying / inheriting a first sword), but after that a paid perk.

 

Higher res images for member only - keeps access open, but detail to gold?

[George KN]

It's long over due since I realised the insane value of this forum even a few months in to collecting, but I've just paid for gold membership now after seeing this thread  
 

• Monetisation-wise, I was really surprised that selling things here is available for free members. In fact, as a buyer, it provides a bit more confidence to know that a seller is a gold member since it means at the very least the forum has a card or some other information on the seller which should help discourage fraud.
• Not sure about monetising translations though, as it might feel then that the users that take the time to do translations then become a financial commodity, and there would be little stopping people from messaging those regular translators directly / going off forum for information

Something I've seen a lot of in other niche online communities that may apply here:

 

• Additional donation tiers - people can pay more just because they want to support the forum more. Maybe give them a cool badge, but even without perks you may be surprised that some people will pick this option
• Paying monthly for donations - it may be a barrier to entry that people need to pick 6 or 12 months of membership - I know it's cheaper to pay in a lump sum, but younger people especially are much more acclimatised to regular payments they can turn on or off
• Branded merch / Secondary sales (someone else mentioned this too)
  • Unsure the NMB logo particularly lends itself at the moment as a brand, but I don't think anyone would mind if the forum began selling some useful essentials like tsuba boxes, sword stands, or microfibre cloths
  • Amazon referral links for relevant books
  • Discount codes/partnerships with certain stores

 

In general though, more regular users = more paid subscribers. 

From an SEO point of view the Google results the NMB has always been super high in the search list whenever I use collecting terms ("nihonto", "Emura", "Nakago"), it does this really well! But I do wonder whether it isn't so great when a complete novice is looking up "Original Samurai Swords, what do they look like", so a bunch of people may never find us here.

 

We might benefit from a beginner friendly page or two with a proper introduction to the subject, that isn't part of the forum itself, similar-ish to the FAQ page, but which would show up in such search results? Even a completely separate website that addresses these common issues and links specifically to the NMB for further information would help (a bit like the https://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm but more modern and mobile friendly).

[Rivkin]

The forum wins over FB in maintaining long term, extensive discussions. It looses significantly in short term outreach.

Sales will never be popular, unless there is a drastically different software tool which displays all items for sale at once, with custom sort and filter options. Like a real aggregator site for stores or auction houses.

People will not submit their blades photographed. Because people in nihonto don't do that.
They have papers = no need to discuss what they have.

Private clubs... Interesting idea but it does not offer much. They have email lists.

There is already a "secret" forum for "select" people and discussions.

 

Commercialization is .... very difficult. Nobody found a great way to do it.
Has a high chance of killing the space. Keeps making it more and more "pro-dealer" environment.

[When Necessary]

36 minutes ago, Rivkin said:

There is already a "secret" forum for "select" people and discussions.

Well, there's a surprise.

Billionaires and oligarchs only?💰💰💰

 

If you broaden gold membership I suppose you'd have to then have a 'super secret' forum. 
 

Personally, it makes no sense whatsoever for me to buy gold membership as I half expect to be banned with virtually every comment I make.
Now that's a possible motivation - maybe gold members could be awarded a 'get out of jail free card' whatever they post. (That seems to be in effect for some people on here already.) 🤔

 

 

[Rivkin]

19 minutes ago, When Necessary said:

Well, there's a surprise.

Billionaires and oligarchs only?💰💰💰

 

Its not affiliated with NMB. But has significant cross-correlation in membership. 

[Alex A]

One thing that springs to mind, if not already mentioned.

 

Cant remember if there was an option to pay monthly rather than every six months?

 

Some folks likes paying monthly, for various reasons.

[Lareon]

I agree with an additional tier. That has no extra benefits just supporting the forum. Ok you are just feeding off the gold members that are willing to pay more but I think many would.

 

Banner ads don't bother me. 

 

With the sword photos sharing etc. i know a lot wouldn't this is normal but I think  enough would. I really enjoy it and sharing what I have for open discussion. 

 

[Lareon]

2 hours ago, When Necessary said:

Well, there's a surprise.

Billionaires and oligarchs only?💰💰💰

 

If you broaden gold membership I suppose you'd have to then have a 'super secret' forum. 
 

Personally, it makes no sense whatsoever for me to buy gold membership as I half expect to be banned with virtually every comment I make.
Now that's a possible motivation - maybe gold members could be awarded a 'get out of jail free card' whatever they post. (That seems to be in effect for some people on here already.) 🤔

 

 

 

Why do you feel that way? It's never even crossed my mind, what are you doing that makes you think you'd be banned? Lol

[Brian]

Phew, a lot to unpack here, so I'll do it in several bursts as I get time.

Ok....so let's start

 

15 minutes ago, Lareon said:

I agree with an additional tier. That has no extra benefits just supporting the forum. Ok you are just feeding off the gold members that are willing to pay more but I think many would.

There is always the Paypal option to contribute at any time. That link is above in the DONATIONS section, and you can do it via Paypal, direct credit card (best to pm me so I can send a payment request as the processor link isn't always reliable) or even WISE now. So Gold is useful, but we do get contributions that way by a handful when they sell something else, and it comes in very handy for bills.
 

49 minutes ago, Alex A said:

Cant remember if there was an option to pay monthly rather than every six months?

I'll set up a monthly Gold membership for anyone who wants to do that. It is via Paypal subscription, so would likely be $5 a month, and would automatically renew monthly until someone cancels their subscription with Paypal. Thanks for the advice. Not sure what the takeup would be, or how much the fees would eat it up, but let's see. I do lose about 6% for every donation to Paypal fees.
 

2 hours ago, When Necessary said:

Personally, it makes no sense whatsoever for me to buy gold membership as I half expect to be banned with virtually every comment I make.
Now that's a possible motivation - maybe gold members could be awarded a 'get out of jail free card' whatever they post. (That seems to be in effect for some people on here already.) 🤔

Have banned many Gold members. Contributing doesn't buy you any favours. I work on the basis that if you find the forum useful and want to contribute, go for it. But don't expect leeway if you act out. Being useful in the NMB community or having serious knowledge or having good contacts in Japan may sometimes get you some little leeway. But few know what happens behind the scenes and who gets warnings, bans etc. Most of you have no idea what happens behind the scenes. But no...contributions don't buy leeway. Never have.

 

3 hours ago, Rivkin said:

The forum wins over FB in maintaining long term, extensive discussions. It looses significantly in short term outreach.

For me, FB is instant gratification, drowned out by a flood of incorrect info. If it wasn't for people like @Ray Singer etc giving translations and advice, it would die fast.
And it is terrible at looking things up. The info posted today is gone tomorrow and searching for it is next to impossible. You can get instant answers, but if you want to research something, you come here and search 19 years of info from people who are quickly corrected if they give wrong info.
I never feel like FB is a threat. The type of people that post there are not usually the ones that study much, just want to be spoon fed.
It has its place. But I don't support a platform that will ban you if you post a sword for sale on Marketplace because you are some danger to society, and which hates edged weapons collectors.
 

 

9 hours ago, George KN said:

• Monetization-wise, I was really surprised that selling things here is available for free members. In fact, as a buyer, it provides a bit more confidence to know that a seller is a gold member since it means at the very least the forum has a card or some other information on the seller which should help discourage fraud.
• Not sure about monetising translations though, as it might feel then that the users that take the time to do translations then become a financial commodity, and there would be little stopping people from messaging those regular translators directly / going off forum for information

Translations will always be free, just maybe we need some limits or control. But it's the main advantage here. My main regret is that we don't get in enough to compensate those that freely give of their time assisting with that. I would LOVE to reward them in some way and it's always a plan. I won't mention names because I am sure to forget someone and don't want to offend,

 

11 hours ago, Mikaveli said:

A "new members area" would be nice - somewhere explicitly for coaching people through the early stages on ownership (with behaviours policed more strictly).

Not a bad idea. I'll look at a New Members section where we can archive useful posts, advice and maybe moderate that section stricter so that there is a gentler approach. You guys know that I work on the "blunt is best" principle when it comes to replies, and that people need to have a thick skin and if they stick around they will be fine. But maybe a section with no negative stuff and only the gentle approach would be a decent idea. Translations to be done only in that section, but basic advice for novices to be posted there and then they can be moved elsewhere if/when necessary. I'll look into that, and we would need members willing to help there that are like minded.

 

10 hours ago, George KN said:

Branded merch / Secondary sales (someone else mentioned this too)

Always considered that, and it is possible. Being in South Africa makes it a bit more difficult, and especially with all the countries present here, but it's something I have always considered.

 

14 hours ago, Scogg said:

The challenge is: why would a new collector choose to support NMB financially? Longtime members understand NMB's value, but for someone just starting out, that value can be hard to see. Especially if their first experience here feels more negative than positive.

Simply because you can get free and accurate advice, in a very short space of time. Nowadays we are living in a world where every time you almost get decent info, you hit a paywall and are asked to pay for the "report" or something else. You can ask on forums, but unless those people have been there for years, how do you know if the person giving you advice has been studying for 3 weeks or 10 years? At least here you can see the person answering you has 10,000 posts and been around for years, so his advice is probably more reliable.
Just watch FB, where a person posts a sword, and 5 people say "Genuine military sword" when it's obviously a fake, and the 2 or 3 people calling it out are drowned out by useless opinions from people whose exposure to swords comes from anime.
Same with dealers. You search the forum, you are going to get decent accurate feedback about a dealer. And if he's a member, you know he isn't going to ghost you or con you.
If that isn't worth paying $5 a month for...then I don't know.

 

On 9/8/2025 at 4:12 PM, Hokke said:

Brian, do have a way to generate numbers on those members who have ONLY posted in the translation or classified sections? I would be curious to know how many people have come exclusively for those sections without any intention of participating in the forum as a whole. Coming from a large watch community, your idea of minimum posts before being able to access certain parts of the forum, is a popular tool. 

As for gold member only sections or clubs, I dont know why you presume that would cause a riot. Sure people may miss things, hence, the member upgrade and for clubs, if youre not invited, thats just how to world works. Just remember there are always unintended side effects that are foreseen. 

With respect to the idea of "bumping" posts, thats also pretty standard on other forums, however, some forums get bogged down when there are no limits. How many times you can bump and how many items can be bumped makes a difference. I am not a fan of being able to pin a post to the top.

Agree with you on most of the above. Unfortunately no real report I can dig up on who posts where, but it's a fact that some will only post in one section and ignore everywhere else.
Another thing that most don't know about is how many amateur dealers spend their days reaching out to novices who post, buying up their swords.
I obviously don't have access to pm's, but have been made aware of how often and regularly it happens. Some build an amateur business out of doing that.

Banner ads are likely going to happen. There isn't any reason not to try and use it to generate income. 
The question is how many dealers (both members and others out there even if they aren't members) would be willing to pay for some extra exposure.
It's easy to say "Japanese dealers don't care" or "larger US/European dealers don't think it's worth it" but these comments ignore exactly how many people browse this site and aren't members. A dealer who wants to ignore several thousand weekly views and thinks it's not important really don't need the money.
I have access to the figures, and us posting here are a tiny part of the people browsing, from over 32 countries.
If dealers want to try clickable ads at a very fair price (still need to decide how much) then it may very well pay off for them.

Another question is....do I make ads visible to everyone, or make not seeing them a perk of Gold membership? On one hand, not seeing them would be a good incentive for Gold membership.
But on the other hand, advertisers would probably not want them hidden from anyone.
Hmmmm

 

 

[Alex A]

Maybe call it $5.30 to cover those Papal fees, lets face it, that's peanuts for what's available here,

 

Really am surprised more people don't support the forum, it costs nothing in the grand scheme of things.

[Lexvdjagt]

3 minutes ago, Brian said:

Another question is....do I make ads visible to everyone, or make not seeing them a perk of Gold membership? On one hand, not seeing them would be a good incentive for Gold membership.
But on the other hand, advertisers would probably not want them hidden from anyone.
Hmmmm

I think it would be best to have banner ads be visible for both gold and non-gold members. This would be an incentive for dealers to have their ads placed here, as most gold members are already dedicated collectors. 

 

You can always opt for a large banner that would only be visible for non-gold members and smaller banner ads for both gold and non-gold, but I think this might be overkill. I think it's best to start with some simple, smaller banner ads for both gold and non-gold members to see if the dealers bite. One other thing you should ask yourself is who would be allowed to buy banner ads? Do we want Ebay Yahoo resellers to be able to run ads? Or only dealers who have at least some reputation or are known on the board?

[Conway S]

I have a few thoughts:

 

- Limit the number of total posts a non-paying member can make per month.

 

- I know logistically it may be hard for the moderators to mail out NMB merchandise to gold members, but maybe club merch could be designed and gold-members receive a link to go to a third-party website where they can purchase/claim NMB-branded merchandise.   

[When Necessary]

12 minutes ago, Alex A said:

Maybe call it $5.30 to cover those Papal fees, lets face it, that's peanuts for what's available here,

 

Really am surprised more people don't support the forum, it costs nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I normally wouldn't hesitate to pay that, Alex - as you say, it's just pocket change.

My personal reservations are that I do not want any of my bank details or personal details known to the organisers of this forum. Yes, there is a wealth of knowledge here but the inherent elitism, the non-stop personal attacks and the arbitrary punishment - or complete lack of it (as everything seems completely subject to Brian's personal whims) - give me no incentive to interact beyond comments or using reaction icons.

 

[Alex A]

Its paypal linked to a credit card, no issues

 

Dee, you need thicker Skin, you get wound up too easily.

 

It has been talked about before, but maybe there could be a an area for top notch sword talk?

 

Only say that because we see a lot of low to mid end blades come through the forum and it seems to set some folks off.

 

Though to be honest, if i were Brian, i couldn't be assed trying to separate it.