Subscriptions/Donations

[Eddy Matthews]

We now have a new subscription system to make payments via Paypal....

One downside is that we cannot display how much we have raised to the members, but there are some more positive features....

The software will automatically upgrade your account as soon as a payment is made, so no more waiting for an Admin to manually upgrade your account.

The system will automatically send you a reminder email 14 days before your subscription expires.

Subscribers get increased downloads for the duration of their subscription, and there is also the option just to make a donation to help with the site costs if that is what you prefer.

As usual, you are NOT REQUIRED to pay a subscription, but you will be restricted to a maximum of 2 files in any 24hr period - Sadly we need to do that to keep control of our bandwidth.

If we can raise enough on a regular basis, it may be possible to change to a "Virtual Server" which would give us more file space, a bigger bandwidth allocation, and more server memory to cope with larger user uploads - videos, large images, large files etc etc. The current setup can sometimes throw a wobbler if an image is too large to process for example..... But to move to a virtual server would cost approx £400 (four hundred UK Pounds) per year, not an insignificant amount!!

Finally, a BIG thankyou to everyone that has helped to support us over the last year.

Regards
Eddy

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....the first of the automatic subscription  e-mails are on there way as I have just completed my re-subscription via Paypal 

So today my thanks    go not only to our PD moderators.........but as importantly to every PD member who has contributed by a question or an answer over the past year 

Tomorrow I finish my  in Adelaide & wing my way 1200 Km back to work  .....Derek

[steamboatmodel]

Hi Eddy,
Do you have any statistics as to what the average download is per member in relationship to there subscription level?
While I would like to continue as a Gold Subscriber, financial constraints may force me to cut back.
Regards,
Gerald.

[Eddy Matthews]

The honest answer to that is that I don't have any hard facts or figures Gerald. I could work it out, but it would mean trawling through various logs manually and would take a considerable time...

However, what I will say is this, those that support Paddleducks financially are generally the ones who download least - They  support us and take back very little. They are also the ones who are the most active in terms of forum input. Of course there are exceptions to everything....

There are two points I should make here, firstly the file limits are mainly there to stop the troffers from sending our bandwidth through the roof. And secondly, every contribution no matter how small, goes to support the website, so wether it's £5 or £500, they are ALL appreciated.

No-one is under any obligation to make a donation, it's a matter of personal choice. And of course I realise that times are tight right now, so tight for me personally that a family holiday is off the agenda this year!

Anyway, I'm going off topic, but I hope that gives you an answer?

Regards
Eddy

[steamboatmodel]

Hi Eddy,
That's about what I expected, I wonder if there should be a minimum charge for downloading privileges? I will contribute what I can when I can.
Regards,
Gerald.

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi Gerald,

Some members would complain if the files have to be paid for, so that's why we have our current system. Those that do not wish to contribute can download for free, but they are limited to 3 downloads in any 24hr period. And that allows us to keep our bandwidth at reasonable levels....

To me, the primary reason for making a donation/subscription is not to get more files, but to show support for what we do. Thankfully a decent number of members seem to agree with me, and for the last couple of years the donations have paid for all the site costs.

So, to everyone that has contributed, a BIG thankyou from me!

Regards
Eddy

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....Eddy...I see that I renewed my subscription to PD's on 29.01.2010....but cannot remember    if it was via a reminder or not 

Is it best to place...

1. a written reminder in my day book?
2. an electronic reminder in MS outlook @ home?
3. an electronic reminder in MS outlook @ work?
4..........  ...or will the PD WEB site remind me?....... .....Derek

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi Derek,

The subscription system will automatically send you a reminder 14 days before it expires...

Hope that helps?

Eddy

[Eddy Matthews]

In about a weeks time one of the larger bills for the website will be due to be paid, and sadly we've had very few people who have subscribed or donated this year to help cover the costs

Unfortunately the coffers are dry, and I cannot afford to pay it myself as I've done in the past, so I'm asking for donations from anyone that can afford it.... Just click on the link in the Main Menu at the left of the screen and pay via Paypal, or alternatively, PM or email me and I'll give you my postal address to pay by cheque...

Your help would be greatly appreciated guys, or Paddleducks may not be here for much longer...

Regards
Eddy

[derekwarner_decoy]

....January 09, 2011, 09:29:36 PM »Reply
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Derek, the subscription system will automatically send you a reminder 14 days before it expires...

Eddy.....the system did not send the AUTO reminder  ........possibly the cause of few subscriptions........

Paypal confirms you have my GOLD subscription this morning......

Come on PD's....please lets help out here if you can....after all it is our WEB site.......just run  by Eddy....... Derek

[Red_Hamish]

Hello all, a contribution was sent throgh from the Northern Isles to assist with the running costs. I hope it is received tomorrow in the NE of England. There is cross country support here and even more so from around the world for this wonderful resource on all things that have to do with paddlers of any ilk.

cheers

Jim

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi,
Hope by the end of the week you will have enough donations etc to cover the Paddleducks bills, Eddy.
A sincere thanks from the other side of the world for creating and maintaining such a useful and well maintained site for all us interested in Paddlers
regards
kiwi

[Eddy Matthews]

My sincere thanks to everyone that has made a contribution to the website - It was great to see such a positive response to my plea for help!

We now have almost enough to cover the impending expenses, and even if no-one else feels they can contribute I can cover the shortfall, so Paddleducks will continue at least until 2012

So once again, many many thanks to everyone that helped,
Eddy

[Bob Golder]

Hi Eddy  You may have guessed that my donation will be passed to you at the clubhouse on Wednesday

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi Eddy  You may have guessed that my donation will be passed to you at the clubhouse on Wednesday

Thanks Bob, greatly appreciated as always!

Regards
Eddy