One way or another, giving a basic member access to one (or more) PMs could be a good form of promoting upgrading to VIP. (All members, Basic and VIP, can read and reply to PMs from Admin.)
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In addition to your suggestions, maybe a "Free Trial" to read your first PM, or one free PM per year. Upside / downside: if the first PM is an engaging, informative, or provocative PM ("Yes, I've met Mary. PM me if you want more info."), the basic member might be inclined to upgrade. If the first PM is an insulting, time wasting POS or spam ("If you want to know about Mary, pay for VIP you cheap son of a bitch and read her reviews you lazy ass scumbag." "Gee, I'm glad i do NOT have VIP and PM privs!")
Posted By: Justourluckyday
Currently Basic members can not read mail. Thus, VIP members have no way of knowing whether the mail was read. I have four such posts
Three changes.
1 notify Sender that recipient is only Basic and mail will be inaccessible
2 offer special delivery. Paying members would automatically have mail opening privilege go to recipient. OR Nonpaying members could pay one of their days for special delivery.
3. Recipient would be notified of use of this option with note You have a Special Delivery post in your mailbox …
Yeah, some combo of notification, "special delivery", free (1 PM or 1 hour or 1 day) trial, etc. sounds like a good idea to me. And it could increase VIP revenue for TER.
