bianca 08 Oct 2006

Thank u AW....i used to run BBS in olden days for 10 years and am technicaly inclined about hardware.....if u need monitor to monitor the site i will volunteer my time..my BBS used to go down and i used to reboot over the phone....hehheheheh great old days... its is frustrating at the times..but it is well understood the financial part...but u have to do what u have to do....even if that means cutting down and increasing price...i personaly undestand....Thanks for letting us know...

Bo Fransson 09 Oct 2006

Change your policies to a mature level and you get members who are willing to pay mature prices. If the difference between paying and non paying membership is insignificant, then you get the numbers you show. 1+1=?

Jacqueline Bishop 09 Oct 2006

i don't mind paying the price to have my works posted here, i think this is a wonderful site & very helpfull, but i would hate to pay more just because others that have been here way longer than me don't want to pay anything at all.

Emily Reed 09 Oct 2006

Thank you for this apology. It goes a long way toward soothing ruffled feathers. I was in O'Hare Airport having just paid for WiFi time and had AW go down with lots of time to spare. Very frustrating!

Perhaps you could adjust your membership prices to bring in more income. You haven't had a price increase in a long time, and maybe 2 free images a month instead of 3 for free acounts. I remember when it was 5 (a long time ago)! Your premium membership price is very reasonable, and a small increase could be tolerated.

Steph Salt 09 Oct 2006

Thank you AW, I understand.

Jack Kurzenknabe 09 Oct 2006

Im new to this site and being a corporate webmaster for many years I understand what it takes to operate a site and would agree with Emily that increase would be tolerated.. The day of the free lunch on the internet has long past.. Again thanks for the quick come back&

Gayla Drummond 09 Oct 2006

Thirty day free trial, have two membership levels...one with a limited number of uploads, one without. There's plenty of other art sites/communities that don't allow uploads unless you're a paying member, and they seem to be doing just fine...something to think about, I guess.

I'd pay a little more yearly. =)

bianca 09 Oct 2006

INCREASE PRICE is in order....give 7 days trial period...make the site MATURE SITE...i agree....i am willing to pay more...:)

Terry Bassett 09 Oct 2006

I don't think increasing current prices is the answer.

There are only around 700 paying members here.

To increase the price, to the point where it would make any substantial difference, would merely drive many of the existing paying members away.

I certainly wouldn't be willing to pay more while the differences between a free and paid account are so minor in real terms.

Let's face it.. it isn't the paying members who overload the site's ability to cope with demand..

Terry Harris 09 Oct 2006

I liked Gayla's suggestion. Also would like to add, while would not like pop-ups, I wouldn't mind on forum and other than portfolio pages to have sponsors of art supplies listed in a side column. Many other sites do this in a non pop up way. Most of us are all buying materials or software programs anyways, so such links would be ones we might need or could reccomend a company for quality.

Chris Hoffman 09 Oct 2006

If your costs are exceeding your income then make paid memberships mandatory.I do not think the site will be around long if it continues to lose money.It seems a bit chincy to me that members post their work here but do not spend a little $$$ to support this site.Artists are usually broke,but they do find the money for supplies....and they can find money for a membership.

Greg Summers 09 Oct 2006

For the small fee - this site is an amazing value - I would like to add my encouragment to those who can and don't pay - there is no free lunch - we are talking about a Starbucks a month.

Dig deep because you definitely get what you pay for. It isn't all that deep. $30 bucks a year is a gift.

C'mon get out those credit cards and keep this site operating.

Beth Melamed 09 Oct 2006

I'm probably in the minority here, but if Artwanted were to go paid membership only, I'd be gone. There are tons of other art hosting sites that garner more traffic and are free (without any limits on how many images you can upload a month), with an option for a paid account with extra perks.

As much as I enjoy this site and I've gotten some exposure from it, it's not worth it for me to pay when I can go elsewhere.

Patrick Miller 09 Oct 2006

It isn't a question of money for me, but of principle. I see censorship, and I don't support the practice. Period. So a mandatory paid membership is something I would not be receptive to without certain changes in the rules. I think I am not alone in that belief either.

Also, quick head math with very vague, rounded figures would seem to suggest to me that the premium memberships, art sale commissions and whatever else should be able to keep a server running.

But as long as there is censorship, that question answers itself for me. But, I never expected an explaination or apology from AW either...they were down...sh*t happens.

Ponder that......

Paul Traudt 09 Oct 2006

thanks for the quick response Aw I probably have the least money out of anyone here on this website and I have been a premium member from day one. I have to say this isn't a time for principle or I can go somewhere else talk. This site is such an incredible value for the price. Anyone that thinks they can go anywhere else for free and get the value HEY SO BE IT , you aren't paying anyway so go find your freebee leech fest somewhere else this site is for serious artists not the same old losers out there trying to get all our art for free as well. You get what you pay for .. in this case thanks to artwanted you get a million times more for NOTHING. AW, Raise the price , get rid of the freeloaders don't let the losers ruin a great website.... Thanks for your dedication,time ,effort, blood and sweat in making an excellent forum for ALL artists of ALL levels to share and sell their work. Sincerely Paul JTraudt PS I am sick and tired of people expecting something for nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patrick Miller 09 Oct 2006

Yeah! All you freebie losers!...he he

Thats pretty funny...cuz like I guess I'm not serious.

Patrick Miller 09 Oct 2006

Oh wait....I forgot I'm serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heidi Olson 09 Oct 2006

1st of all, AW, you do a great job keeping this site up and running smoothly. On your limited budget, we are getting a really good deal.

As for paying more...I would pay a little more. One of the reasons I use AW is because it is SO affordable. I agree with some of the other posters and think the free service is probably outdated. I think its pretty obvious that this has become much more than just an art "hobby" site. So, maybe it is time the site start turning more attentioon to those ends. As far as ads go, that works both ways too. If we have ads on the site, there is the advantage of moving up in hits. Pop ups aren't necessary. Someone mentioned a column ad. I think that would be fine. I know there is plenty of room in the right margins for something like that. As long as the ads are within the art world category..I see no problem with it.

Heidi

Sheila Chambers 09 Oct 2006

I agree, i will be a paying member very soon. This site has been a great start-off piont for me and others i am sure. I think -and i don't know this may have been covered already but maybe just make the first month free with a confirmed sign up or something.That way people get to see all the bennefits of being here and they will want to continue. I have applied to other free sites just to get an idea of what i will be getting, i have to say i am not that impressed. This has a community and you feel like you are a part of something. Those other sites are not at all like this one they are very lonely.So if some leave - more room for the rest of us I say......

bianca 09 Oct 2006

i am paying $60 dollars a year ....as i chose to do so....and help this site by paying monthly and been doing so eversince...what is $30? u cant even get good dinner for two....i beleive we need all to help this site stay on its feet....this site is a very good site, has a great potential...and yes some stuff around here needs changes...but all with time i beleive...no free lunch like someone said....if there is only 700 paying members that is $21,000 dollars a year....out of that cost for maintance of the server is $400 plus...that alone is $4800 a year...i looked into it to pen my own server and website made with cold fusion....but would cost me well over $20,000 initial investment....and i put aside for now...and headache that comes with yikes....its better this way pay a little and enjoy the ride...lol I am just to busy....But dont be hurt if u pay little more....this is very friendly and great site...and customer support is EXCELLENT...