The Question and Answer Board

[Bird of Prey]

Bob,

Currently, grandfathered and subscriber memberships are identical in that everything mentioned above is available to both. The only change to this that I can foresee is if we get any arrangements with other companies to make their services available for free or discounted to our members. I'd have to limit those to subscribers if they're deals that cost us money. And I've been in talks with one such company for several weeks to do just that.


Concerning Grandfathered status:

When Matt initiated the fee structure creating the "grandfathered" user, someone suggested that a means be set up so that "grandfathered" users could send in a "donation" to help keep the site going cash wise. Matt should still have a record of those transactions.
I mention this because of what was stated above would appear to mean that for certain features that may become available, "grandfathered" users would be excluded unless they pony up and subscribe.
As one of those "grandfathered" users that has supported IH both in spirit and with cash, this strikes me as a bit callous. I understand IH needs to turn a profit. But a covenant was entered into and now it appears you wish to depart from that covenant.
Before you begin thinking I am about to get angry or threatening let me offer an alternative that I feel would be fair to all concerned.

1. Decide on the amount needed for a lifetime membership from a grandfathered member.
2. Verify if a member has already made a contribution. If so deduct that contribution from the amount decided on in step one.
3. Convert those grandfathered members that have contributed at least the amount decided on in step one to subscribers.
4. Inform all grandfathered members of their status. Indicate that they have been converted to subscribers, need to contribute X to be converted, or can remain as Grandfathered with the option of converting at the price decided in Step one at some point in the future.
5. As new features are added make provisions for all users to be able to purchase those features on an a la carte basis.

I trust that IH management will continue its long standing tradition of keeping its covenants with its users. Even when they were delivered as comments in discussion on the site itself.

The Bird of Prey