Today this one guy was trolling for rate info in the ISO and
NY boards.  I told him to upgrade to VIP and didn't give him
the info just on principle.

This was very specific info, not some aesthetic issue like
"who has the best breasts" or "who eats the best ass" type of
question.  This was clearly someone, for whatever reason,
won't pony up for VIP.

What are your thoughts?  Was I right or wrong?

thanks,
fr

you were wrong, why not help out a fellow hobbyist with some info, that doesn't cost you a thing. So if he doesn't pay to be a vip, that only hurts the people that run TER, and we're not here to make them money.

I disagree, denverdon...when I was new to TER, I tried to get privileged info without paying and eventually got VIP status after getting burned too many times. It's made all the difference having full access since I became a serious hobbyist. Non-VIPs still reap some benefits for nothing, but if they want the good stuff, they should pay for it.

I'm a VIP member but I haven't paid for the membership.  I submit accurate and honest reviews to maintain my membership as well as notify the staff when I find problems with provider profiles so the database can contain as much current and accurate info as possible.  I think of myself as a "TER database scrubber" of sorts.  

With that being said, I can certainly understand supporting TER so those who run the site don't bear the burden of operating the site solely on their own.  I'm not sure what the costs of operating this site are but given Alexa's ranking of the site the bandwidth costs *alone* must be staggering.

I've got no problem with people asking for info here BEFORE they become VIP members since I think it's reasonable for them to try the site out and see if it would be worth it to them to become a VIP member.  I'm not sure I'm the same kind of "VIP" as those who pay for membership so if I'm not, I apolgize for "lumping" myself in your group.  All I know is I can access my private messages (at least until my membership expires.... ).

I guess I'm in agreement with you, blakkromeo2k on this.  

Now, how do those of you who pay for memberships feel about people like me who go the review submission route?  If you don't approve of that approach, please direct your comments at ME specifically so others won't get offended or anything.

Peace...

The San Diego board has had a LOT of sniping about this very subject, and a lot of it is because there is a big LE presence there.  Of course, we have LE VIP's (hi, guys!), but we are talking about a lousy $20 a month here, people.  If you can't afford that (or don't hobby enough to make it with reviews), you shouldn't be here, and if you don't want to pay that, you should make a name for yourself as an active poster and then post your e-mail address on any "question" posts.

IMO, posting questions like that on a board is a bad way to get info anyway...you can just PM hobbyists who have seen the person you are curious about, or who have seen similar women to what you like.  Do your searches.  I honestly feel, though, if you aren't willing to pay $20 a month for a VIP or review for your VIP, you really don't have much right to ask questions and expect them to be answered.  You can look, but you can't taste.

TER is here because of the VIP's, not because of the general public.  There is no government subsidy for it.  Country club members get special privileges.



-- Modified on 4/30/2004 6:38:57 PM

IMO, the women should have the rate info on their website. I didn't read the thread you're speaking of but I don't see any harm in giving basic info on the boards. Anything that is more personal in nature should only be backchannel.

is the fact that how you answer and to whom you are answering (you've no idea who it is) might be incriminating yourself or the lady of whom they are questioning.

The poster was right. Say very little, as, in our situations, 'less is more'.

That's the whole deal behind TER... allow for the exchange of good info without having to pay.  The other board (TBD) scammed people on this issue... it started as a free site and asked for people to contribute reviews.  When people did, TBD wouldn't let them access the info until they paid.  

I think it's complete BS to charge others for access to an information database that you built for free.  TER allows free access to that info as long as you keep contributing info... that's as democratic as you can get!

I'd say the cost of paying for VIP is trivial, especially when you consider what you get for your money.  TER is a good product, and I've never minded paying for quality.  I myself maintain my VIP through a combination of reviews and payment.  They have methods of paying that should satisfy even the most security-concious.  VIP is worth every cent.

OK, commercial's over now...  

Cheers!

Even though I've been a VIP for over a year I have been unable to figure out "who eats the best ass."  Can you pass that important info on to a vip?

I have a paid membership. I paid the fee because their were things I wanted to see/read that I couldn't as a VIP.  I've paid the $20 and I've also submitted reviews to get the VIP membership. If someone PM's me with a question, I'll answer it depending on what the question is. If its something stupid like "who has the best breasts" or "who eats the best ass" then I won't answer them. If someone PM's me asking rate info then they shouldn't be asking me, they should ask the provider.

Good post BTW.

-- Modified on 4/30/2004 8:34:45 PM

Well, that's just the thing.  I don't think the TER database does exist for "free". You've got the hosting costs, domain name maintenance cost (mainly registration and renewal), bandwidth overage costs, etc.

All of those could add up.  Maybe there are enough paying VIP members that the above costs are already covered and any new memberships are "gravy".  I really don't know.  I've got no issues with paying for a VIP membership but I wanted to try out the review submission route to see how I liked the site and maybe I'll pay for membership later on.  Who knows...

Peace...

A VIP member is a VIP member - doesn't matter which way you got it. You are contributing to the overall hobby experience on the board.
Thanks

But if they bothered me again, I'd tell them to get lost and get the VIP membership.  There's no reason to let them use me that way.

I have to think of two other concerns: 1) if they are this cheap about TER, how are they going to treat the ladies?  Cheap doesn't bode well in this hobby, and I have to consider the possibility that they could "poison the well"; 2) Are they LE?  I'm sure Asscrost's goons (Hello Boys and Girls!) read this board, and they are probably going to raid somebody before the election.  I hope it's not here, and I hope I'm not the one to give them the information they need to do it.

/Zin    

We are all here to help each other, not to hinder others in finding information.

In doing what you did is just snobbish and would detour other joining or reading TER.

I believe that is just a Kindnesses ....... If you met the same fellow in the middle of the road and you ask him information for a direction and he will going to answer you .... "buy a map !!"

Not everyone can purchase on their card or simply does not think there is any reason for doing so.
I know where you're coming from, but imagine it as their loss.

Like other sites, this one has it's expenses... but don't believe for one minute the owners of TER aren't making money.  As you recall, the owner of the TBD reported making over 100k / year off the site... that was the net, not the gross. I'm sure the numbers for TER are very similar. That's a pretty darn good income for simply maintaining a website.

I almost forgot to mention the Heaven or Hell website... the owner there made 18K the first year it opened and he didn't charge a monthly fee... it was a donation of 10 bucks or you needed to submit 2 reviews a month.  18k divided by 10 bucks... thats a lot of members.

-- Modified on 5/1/2004 4:22:54 PM

I had computer problems but I'm back!!

of paying or reviewing I will let you in on a little fact. All providers who want full access pay the fee... Believe me TER makes its money back... just think of how many providers there are... LOL... nationwide...heck include Canada too...