Advertising Taking Over the Forum?

many people who will readily shell out $500, or even $1,000 or more, for yet another locomotive without even batting an eye, would go absolutely nuts over just the suggestion of paying anything for something they were already getting for free.

I believe that's a bit unfair because we contribute to this forum unpaid.  So if you want us to pay then pay for our contributions.

Correction

I don't want to be paid because I get enough from this forum as compensation. Which is why all of the stuff I post is not copyrighted or patented.

Which is why I laser cut or 3D print stuff for other formites gratis.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Is this horse dead yet?  We've certainly beat it enough!

There you go....always somebody raining on someone else's parade!  It is sort of nice to see a thread that supports something OGR does for a change!  You guys keep posting...our sponsors appreciate the thread and this helps get the word out!

AlanRail posted:

many people who will readily shell out $500, or even $1,000 or more, for yet another locomotive without even batting an eye, would go absolutely nuts over just the suggestion of paying anything for something they were already getting for free.

 

I believe that's a bit unfair because we contribute to this forum unpaid.  So if you want us to pay then pay for our contributions.

If someone wants to be paid for sharing, then all one needs to do is contribute to the magazine that makes this forum possible in the first place. Authors are paid, and so are those who submit publishable photos for our Readers' Rails section. We always welcome new authors (layout features and how-to-do-it articles), as well as new (previously unpublished online or in print) photos for Readers' Rails. Both can be submitted electronically, just like any forum post. Some folks are willing to share information freely online and yet they still may be willing to help support the medium that facilitates this sharing. Others may not be so willing for whatever reason. Hence the term "voluntary" at this point. Now if the magazine were to disappear at some point, who can predict what might happen then?

Rusty Traque posted:

The "event" occurred about a day ago.   There were a fair amount of announcements consisting of 3-4 subject lines crowding out regular subjects it the recent posts sidebar.  IMO, it began to feel like those multiple ambulance chaser commercials on TV.

I know the advertisers here pay the freight, but it was getting a little out of hand. 

Rusty

I find it to be the "usual suspects", it equates to click bait you find anywhere on the internet. There only a very few advertisers that do this. 

I stopped reading the adds when I realized the "sales " really weren't sales at all. Usually just items discounted after being marked up.

I purchase from other vendors that don't play games or post panic adds and get better deals.

Whatever, as long as the OGR Forum continues to be "popup free" I can easily scroll past things I'm not interested in.

AlanRail posted:

many people who will readily shell out $500, or even $1,000 or more, for yet another locomotive without even batting an eye, would go absolutely nuts over just the suggestion of paying anything for something they were already getting for free.

 

I believe that's a bit unfair because we contribute to this forum unpaid.  So if you want us to pay then pay for our contributions.

Uhmmm....what Allan Miller said.... Seems to me that OGR started the forum years ago.  Since I have been a member of this forum (14 years) I don't recall OGR soliciting contributions on the forum  As Allan said, we do so for the magazine and offer payment so if you want payment, contribute to the magazine and we will pay you.   Remember, you chose to join this forum so that you could participate.  No one is required to join if they want to just read posts.  It is also your decision if you decide to provide a service for free for other forum members....    John may have been correct...perhaps it is time to close the thread.  Instead of this continuing as something positive for our advertisers, it is drifting off topic.....as usual.

I get my OGR at my LHS.  But that may have to change because of the current situation.....

My take on this is as follows, it pays for this forum, and reduces the cost of the OGR magazine we get. It also gives us multiple sites to check on a price for something, for the best price/deal.

I read every one of them...keep them coming advertisers!!

I don't buy anything modern, so I don't check out the deals. But it sure doesn't bother me none. I understand the need.

I felt the same way back in the "VL Big Boy Wars" but you need to realize that these folks pay  for the forum and while we all don't want to see the ads, they are necessary to the forum.  Just skip over them.  A lot of dealers right now are probably able to do a good inventory and shop structuring for the first time in many years so they are probably finding stock that they want to get featured.  I say keep the ads coming.  Keep the forum free and enjoy.  In this day an age a forum ad is the least of my worries.  Some folks priorities are really messed up.

Wow, this is amazing, as for me, I think its ok for the advertising, it lets us know that they are still open and trying to help us in these crazy times.  I like all the great comments from the various members that give us great and wonderful tips and techniques  and I have to say that I've learned a bunch from the members of the group and like has been mentioned, those don't even cost me anything.  As for the ads, I don't mind them at all, if I don't happen to like the add for some reason, I just don't mess with it.  If you don't happen to like them, you can do the same thing, just don't open it or click on it or whatever.  I think it is good for all of us, at least they aren't shut down and out of business until all of this blows over.  Thanks to OGR for everything, it is an amazing forum with some great guys and some grumpy old buggers too, all in all, a great place to come to learn, converse with like minded people and look at some great layouts and pictures.  My suggestion to those that don't like it the way it is, no one is making you read the posts.  I love this place.  Cheers and Happy Easter to all, thanks to all for helping me keep my sanity while I'm packing to move and waiting for my house to sell so I can move and be with my better half.

I've tried to ignore this topic. Can we just agree that some don't like any ads and that everyone else understands that they pay for the rest of us to play here?

I am grateful for our forum sponsors and the time and effort put into maintaining the forum as a service to subscribers.  It would be nice to have the ability to opt out of unsolicited advertising emails while still receiving account related correspondence. The ability to set communication preferences has become industry standard for almost all sites.