TUGBrian
Administrator
Starting off fresh for 2010, and ive always been one to open things up for discussion, while these are not going to be implemented instantly...just an fyi for some changes to be coming within the next month or so....and the reasonings behind them.
1. 25 free ads per year decreasing.
While the ads will still remain at $3 per ad (assuming you go over the limit)...due to abuses of the 25 limit (basically some people are just buying more memberships instead of paying for the ad overages)...we are going to have to adjust this number significantly to put it more in line with the cost of a membership. It will be at a minimum of 5, thus allowing you to post an ad the entire year, at no additional cost to a member.
Note that less than 200 members have even posted 25 ads since the ad system went live back in 2007, so this isnt going to impact the vast majority of members. I just want those who utilize the benefits of TUG above and beyond the regular membership fee, to pay their fair share if they are not submitting reviews and or referring other members.
2. Renewal Fees will change. Currently a 1 year renewal is $10, this will go to $15. However we will still give all members the option to renew for $10 a year with the 3 year renewal going to $30 (or $10 per year)...and both of course will come with ad credits just as before.
Now for the main reason behind this.
The past few years, one extremely large expense new expense for TUG has developed, and this is legal fees.
While I cannot discuss details (obviously), I can say that it costs tug many thousands of dollars a year to defend your right to post your opinions here without censorship.
Many of these companies that prey on the uneducated and or gullible, do not like to see the truth about them posted on a public timeshare owners site that is readily available via google searches for their company name...and in attempts to get us to alter or remove said posts, sick their lawyers on us.
TUG keeps a lawfirm that specializes in internet law on retainer to handle any and all legal threats (and there are many) that come in. and each and every one of them is due to posts on the forums.
I personally will ALWAYS support the right to free speech, and allow everyone to voice their own opinions without the fear of a lawsuit...and thankfully there are laws specifically written to protect your right to publicly state your opinions without the fear of being sued.
The problem is, many of these organizations feel its in their best interests to attempt to threaten with legal action, in the hopes that we will just agree to their demands. I however take personal offense to that, and this is where the legal fees come in.
TUG of course is in no way going anywhere, and overall the costs are not actually increasing for the regular user, as a 1 year membership is still $15, and you can still renew for $10 a year total. I merely want to offset the costs of these new legal fees as much as I can, so I can continue to protect your right to actually educate other owners regarding the TRUTH about some of these timeshare organizations.
also note that for those that contribute to the site in terms of reviews and referrals, will also be able to do so without any change....as I never want to eliminate the ability for those that contribute to this community on a regular basis to make it better and larger, should not have to do so with money!
other new items coming in 2010:
1. newsletter signups for non-members
2. TUGBBS thread searches linked on resort review pages (ie a new link will exist on every resort review page that will display any and all discussion threads about that resort here on the forums)
3. upload photos for resorts within the resort review page (no more emailing!)
4. points systems review pages
5. a suprise =)
I wish you all a fantastic new year, and thank you all for making TUG the best place on the internet for timeshare owners!
1. 25 free ads per year decreasing.
While the ads will still remain at $3 per ad (assuming you go over the limit)...due to abuses of the 25 limit (basically some people are just buying more memberships instead of paying for the ad overages)...we are going to have to adjust this number significantly to put it more in line with the cost of a membership. It will be at a minimum of 5, thus allowing you to post an ad the entire year, at no additional cost to a member.
Note that less than 200 members have even posted 25 ads since the ad system went live back in 2007, so this isnt going to impact the vast majority of members. I just want those who utilize the benefits of TUG above and beyond the regular membership fee, to pay their fair share if they are not submitting reviews and or referring other members.
2. Renewal Fees will change. Currently a 1 year renewal is $10, this will go to $15. However we will still give all members the option to renew for $10 a year with the 3 year renewal going to $30 (or $10 per year)...and both of course will come with ad credits just as before.
Now for the main reason behind this.
The past few years, one extremely large expense new expense for TUG has developed, and this is legal fees.
While I cannot discuss details (obviously), I can say that it costs tug many thousands of dollars a year to defend your right to post your opinions here without censorship.
Many of these companies that prey on the uneducated and or gullible, do not like to see the truth about them posted on a public timeshare owners site that is readily available via google searches for their company name...and in attempts to get us to alter or remove said posts, sick their lawyers on us.
TUG keeps a lawfirm that specializes in internet law on retainer to handle any and all legal threats (and there are many) that come in. and each and every one of them is due to posts on the forums.
I personally will ALWAYS support the right to free speech, and allow everyone to voice their own opinions without the fear of a lawsuit...and thankfully there are laws specifically written to protect your right to publicly state your opinions without the fear of being sued.
The problem is, many of these organizations feel its in their best interests to attempt to threaten with legal action, in the hopes that we will just agree to their demands. I however take personal offense to that, and this is where the legal fees come in.
TUG of course is in no way going anywhere, and overall the costs are not actually increasing for the regular user, as a 1 year membership is still $15, and you can still renew for $10 a year total. I merely want to offset the costs of these new legal fees as much as I can, so I can continue to protect your right to actually educate other owners regarding the TRUTH about some of these timeshare organizations.
also note that for those that contribute to the site in terms of reviews and referrals, will also be able to do so without any change....as I never want to eliminate the ability for those that contribute to this community on a regular basis to make it better and larger, should not have to do so with money!
other new items coming in 2010:
1. newsletter signups for non-members
2. TUGBBS thread searches linked on resort review pages (ie a new link will exist on every resort review page that will display any and all discussion threads about that resort here on the forums)
3. upload photos for resorts within the resort review page (no more emailing!)
4. points systems review pages
5. a suprise =)
I wish you all a fantastic new year, and thank you all for making TUG the best place on the internet for timeshare owners!