This weeks poll

Some of the discussion in the thread around that poll isn't around that there ARE ads but rather around the fact that subscriptions have alwyas been ad-free.

Ya think.....I know that.....Not the point........The point is, iyd kind of an idle threat.....Where can ya go that doesn't have ad's or just 1!

You assume that they actually HAVE TO go somewhere. Perhaps, they mean to just stop being a subscriber. I would imagine that there are a number of folks that do not view the subscription as a must have for a happy life and hesitate each time they sign up. Perhaps they would decide that this is just one more reason not to do so. If they already have the current subscriber skins and don't care about unlimited downloads and figure they see ads either way (regardless of the number of ads). Not my way of thinking, but it is not a stretch to imagine someone thinking that way.

I didnt see too much complaining.. there may be a flood of posts when people who have not read the article.. that subscribe.. start seeing ads when logged in though.

the ads here don't bother to me much Because their not in your face ads.
thats 1 season i am not a paid subscriber. but if I was a P.S. then I would Expect to see NO Ads as to WC telling us if you pay you will have no ads.
but if they want to lower the price then that would be somewhat ok examples

Paid full price $20.00 NO ADS
Paid $15.00 1 Ad
$10.00 2 Ads
this would include all other perks as full price
and just the Static ADS.

I know this is not your topic in general but it does relate in some way

vStyler
is right

to add to that their are people here that have paid to 2010 or longer and it would be unethical for WC to add ads to them as for it is a contract as if you Pay you get no adds.

I agree with this...the folks that are subscribed to the future already shouldn't "have" to see the static ads until their sub is up and then they re-sub. I'm sure there's a way to do that. For me, it would make no difference but for some it might.

From Zoomba's original thread about this



My sub runs until May 2010, I would certainly put up with a few static ads in return for more subscriber suites created by the talents of the Stardock Design skinners.

For me, being a current Stardock customer also, the only incentive to subscribe is to browse ad free. Before you say that I got 4 free blinds also, well the only Vista and WB6 blind was RIP2007 and I already had it. I subscribed due to the advert free perk and it seemed like the right time to do it since some of the money was going to the kids during this latest subscription drive. Now it seems they may take away the main reason I subscribed. Oh well, I also won a renewal so now I am subscribed until 2010. I will ponder renewing at that point is there’s a reason to do so. Since I will remain a Stardock customer, there may be little reason for me to renew if the ad free browsing goes away.

as in a current subscriber or one who as paid years in advance.
what do they get in return other then ADS?

For anyone who is a subscriber or decides to become a subscriber.
Once a suite is put out as a subscriber suite it will always be a subscriber suite.

so even the ones that have subscribed 2 and years in advance get it to ?

cool ?

The poll results appear to provide the permissions needed, but I'm not sure what questions it really wanted answered. It's certainly open to mischief. For instance, a vote for 'anything that supports the site', could in theory include a yearly sacrifice of a virgin skinner, to appease one or more of the old Gods. It fails to deal head on with any one particular issue.

I figured that while the 'I don't care' voters appeared at first glance to be more cynical and dismissive of the poll, it didn't give Wincustomize any more or less permissions to approach sponsors than the first option did. However as an option, it was in theory restricted to sponsorship, and so didn't risk incurring any capital expenditure on ceremonial robes etc. no room for virgin sacrifices in this option...... in that sense, it becomes the more focussed, community minded, financially sound response.....

I opted for the 'go for it but I'm not thrilled' option - I remember thrills, and I was hoping if I'd still got one left in me, it would be more fun than this...... we weren't offered enough straight road here to build up that kind of speed......

It felt like a really difficult poll for Zoomba , who I thought was in an awkward position. That thread didn't feel like the place to make an issue of it, but it felt terribly compromised from the start.

I struggled to understand how a full on subscription drive was initiated, without first reviewing the terms,/conditions, cost benefits etc. and deciding at that point, whether or not they represented an acceptable framework to go forward with. Whether or not it was something that they were committed to and happy to present to the community as something that was sustainable.

As a result, the timing of this proposal led me to feel that there had been a massive disconnect, consequently making it far more difficult for Wincustomize to own the core issue of formalising the role of 3rd party adverts to subscribers.

Ditto that!