MechSpecs Moving to a VPS Soon. Want to help out?

Any Subscription fee I had thought of would be like 1.50 / 2.00 per month. I had even thought about $2.00 as a one time fee for everyone registered (shrugs) there are lots of options. The online shop idea is also progressing but because I am not a US Citizen they want some sort of BS tax information for the IRS (shrugs) I'll print that and get to it eventually. So far more people are saying they would prefer the donation system which I hope means they are willing to chip in.

Most of this may not even be necessary as in the last 24 hours we have raised just over a months worth of VPS time so its a good start.

Yohgi: Thank you for the offer but most of this stuff is done in PHP and MySQL and is in fact already done. If the site progresses to the point that something new entirely is required then I will look at a few options I have available at that time.

 

you totally need a kickstarter for the mechspecs upgrade! Something like the project phoenix.

 

Users in Germany (me included) could pool orders and transfer them in-country.

 

I'm having trouble trying to imagine keeping as many users as we do with an actual subscription fee. Frankly, we don't provide any information that can't be found elsewhere for free on the inter-webs.
I know it takes money to keep this site going, but you have to find a way for this site to pay for itself and at the same time not become a job but still keep the fan base coming.

And yeah, the price of coffee mugs online is way too damn high in general. I can walk to Target and get one for $2. But, what about something people use often and can be cheap like shirts or stickers? Who wouldn't rock a "Mech Specs" Decal? or maybe mech based bumper stickers?

 

I have disposable income, so I'm happy to donate.

I'll back Leonhart's idea for stickers (or vinyl clings). I'm sure the margin will be lower, but hopefully shipping, etc. would be as well. And we could put them anywhere!

 

Large Round stickers (Large: 3" in diameter) come in 6 per sheet and are $7.25 per sheet.

 

Yeah, that would be possible i think. Depends on the amount of single orders to dispatch in-country at least.

But be careful - our best friend, the "Zollamt" (federal customs duty) is very quick in charging big amounts of customs duty on it, especially if they think its a business-delivery. Taxpapers for the delivery have to be done carefully by the sender.

 

Not sure if it was an option you were interested in Mason, but, I used to handle all the merch for my band and you can find plenty of places online that will print decals for appx 45-46 cents (USD) a piece with min orders set around 250. Moreover, t-shirts can usually be printed for around $5-$8 (USD) per unit and hoodies for about $15-$20 (USD) per unit. That was all I ever really handled besides a few off items (messenger bags, guitar straps, cloth patches) and CD pressings. However, there are affordable options for having them made...

Selling them on the other hand, I have no idea. Not as easy as a moppy-haired scene kid hocking my stuff for me at a booth after a show. Damn legal transactions!

 

Its a question of having to store inventory and then go to the post office / courier every time someone orders something. I live in an apartment that Ikea would look at and go "Damn dude, you fit all that in here?!?!?!"

 

LOL Yeah. Know the feels.

 

Haha, iconic Ikea. Sometimes I think that's what my home country is most famous for nowadays...

 

Take a look around you my friend, look at your women... Now look below the neck line. This is what every north american (or at least Canadian) kid discusses as they enter manhood. I don't remember where or how or even why but I remember talking about the women of Sweden and the obligatory "Swedish Bikini team" comments.

 

Not sure subscription is the way to go. As stated previously, it is a free-to-play game, if I'm not paying for it, why would I pay for this?

Merchandise is nice, but yea, there's alot involved. (although mousepad and coffee mug would be soooo coool!)

That leaves Donation. Donations have worked well up to now. How about setting it up with an option for recurring donations? NGNG has/had (not sure if current) one set up. If you do better than you need, heck, use some for a prize to be offered at a future MechSpecs Tourny or something of the like.

 

Last comment on this sidetopic, thanks for the insights. It's kinda hilarious, we grow up with this so we don't really notice anymore.

@Morgana, 5/5 summary.

 

I will donate time and again, just ask. But setting up monthly recurring feels like paying for tax, and EVERYONE hates the IRS, no exceptions.

List a monthly goal like some of the chan sites, and we fill them up the best we can, the extras goes to the next payment.
Also, just look into having a commercial banner, it does pay for itself. (no porn banner or voice banner please, I don't want to know about thai shemale BBW wrestling while looking at my Atlas builds)

 

Agreed, I'm not even an American and I hate the IRS. For some reason the online store thingy is making me send a document saying I'm not an American Citizen so that that IRS can't tax me. Or something.

[quote author=enileph link=topic=3936.msg24478#msg24478 date=1381318397]
List a monthly goal like some of the chan sites, and we fill them up the best we can, the extras goes to the next payment.
[/quote]

Done. I've split the yearly cost of a VPS into 2 goals; one for October and one for Novemeber so it doesn't seem so damn high. 420 for a VPS per year (no pun intended).

[quote author=enileph link=topic=3936.msg24478#msg24478 date=1381318397]
Also, just look into having a commercial banner, it does pay for itself. (no porn banner or voice banner please, I don't want to know about thai shemale BBW wrestling while looking at my Atlas builds)
[/quote]

I had thought about this but it really makes a site look..... dirty... ya know? Not just the SheMale but also arriving on a MWO related website to find banners for... whats that?.... MWO? "But I already play the game. That is silly". LOL

 

"My other Vehicle is a 70 ton BattleMech"[sub]www.mechcpecs.com[/sub]

 

Don't think I could sell anything with the word battletech in it for fear of lawyers lol

I did add the GOAL METER thingy to the donations page so hopefully that will help. I predict Tuesday we will bounce the CPU cap again as we do every time do thing new is released on MWO. Dunno how many mor warnings they will give.

 

Remember everyone, every little bit helps, even if it is only $5, it all helps.

If every member on the site donated 25 cents, that adds up to more than $800.
I implore everyone, if you have a spare dollar or two, and want to put it towards something that you use, why not put it towards MechSpecs and help us to get to this server.