I'm going to suggest the subscription as a present rather than getting stuff I don't really need! 😀😀

Hi Stephen, its a fantastic site for a very cheap outlay,
I often wonder why all members don't pay at least a Bronze membership.
I appreciate that not everybody can afford the payment, but when you see the amount of money people spend on their boats its hard to believe they can't afford a subscription

Gents, 'Subscription vs Donations'.
I recall some years ago I had a discussion with Stephen about Subscription vs Donation. He advised me that donations were actually better for the site due to Paypal's Transaction Fee.
If you have a monthly subscription there are 12 transaction fees subtracted from what you actually want to give to keep Stephen's great site afloat.
Since then at the beginning of the year I make one large Donation to cover the whole year. = only one Transaction Fee😉
That way our site gets more benefit from our dosh🤑😊

I too considered a Standing order for a direct Bank Transfer but was advised it must go via PayPal🤔
I don't suppose that this situation has changed SO I recommend that all monthly Subscribers switch to an equivalent single Donation sometime in January so we're afloat for the year at least.
All the best, Doug😎

Stephen the little extra is well worth it, and thank you for your tremendous work keeping it all together.
Cheers Colin.

Stephen, a slight increase in regular donation is fully understandable, with today's constant rises in costs you need every penny, you cannot be expected to foot the bills yourself. Keep going!
Nick.

Stephen.
You run an incredible site for us all.
Most of us know what it’s like to do such things.
It is time consuming and not without grief!
You do it in your limited spare time to a high standard.
Even in todays harder financial times the value for money is second to none for entertainment and invaluable knowledge from like minded people.
Keep up the good work.
Regards
Bill.

Dave, it’s never been subscription only. Subscriptions are optional and depending on the level, remove ads and make the experience much nicer. Functionally you can do everything still having no subscription.

This is also why everything is managed through PayPal. Everything is compulsorily above board. I’ve no time to manage direct debits or anyone’s payment details. Notifications have been sent to those few affected. A mass comm would be ridiculous.

Indeed, website bills have gone up, it’s expensive to have apps in all the app stores, web hosting has only gone one way, storage costs only increasing with the content being hosted increasing too, database backups cost, domain names and security certificates cost.

I’m sorry I’ve offended by not sending personal emails in advance of the PayPal comm, but at the end of the day, if the cost is now too much, please just unsubscribe. I run this, as you know, in my very limited spare time.

Around 10 members were adjusted on price. Plus a few who simply had a description change from “Website supporter” to “Bronze etc membership” and this is simply so the website code knows what membership type someone is.

Stephen

Stephen
You may well have changed the rates in 2022 but the site still today shows the pre 2022 rates. How members were supposed to know you had changed the rates is unclear so to now say "For those who subscribed earlier than that, it’s not entirely fair on newer members if costs aren’t equal to all." is implying you did not appreciate the support when if I recall the membership was free to all and you asked for help with covering the site costs. I accept that costs may well have increased but could you not have sent an email to all your subscribers advising of the change? If you were collecting using a Direct Debit you would have to have advised. PayPal have advised but you chose not to.
Please will you clarify that the site is now subscription only?
dave976

I agree my silver has just gone up from £3.00 to £4.50. Not acceptable!

My silver membership went from £3 to £4.50.

I now understand why, and will probably continue, but would have been nice to have a post first, rather than just a note from paypal saying the rate has increased without any explanation.

Appreciate this is volunteer work, a great community, and good value, and maybe I missed somthing.

I have had an email. I checked on paypal and still on £3 a month, last payment 12 Sept. I don't mind chucking in another thirty bob to keep things square...

Hi Stephen, I have just checked again on my PayPal and according to them my payment was £3.00 a month and hasn't changed for the next payment, do I need to amend anything to come into line?
Cheers Colin.

Membership costs haven’t actually changed since Jan 2022.

£2.50 Bronze
£4.50 Silver
£6.50 Gold

For those who subscribed earlier than that, it’s not entirely fair on newer members if costs aren’t equal to all.

If you’re one of the few with changes, you’ll have been informed at least 14 days before the next payment and perfectly entitled to cancel before then.

I know how costs of everything these days are increasing, but this is to align all members.

Stephen

I have checked with PayPal and its not a scam. Subscription cancelled.
Payment details
Regular recurring payment

Cycle frequency

Amount due each cycle

month

£2.50

Merchant details
Description

Bronze Medal Subscriber

Contact information

(email removed)
https://model-boats.com
Dave

I also had PayPal notification about changes, but my payment stays the same at £3.00 a month .
Cheers Colin.

Hi Dave.
I would suggest you check with Stephen (Fireboat,site admin) to check on this in case it’s a scam.
Regards
Bill.