New Donations System

[bszopi]

With the new server move, our operating costs have gone up slightly. So with that said, we are implementing a better donations system. As of right now, its just the default install, so it looks ugly. I hope to fix that in the near future. Anyway, its not that we NEED the money, as I am willing to continue to support the site as needed. BUT, with more donations, there is the thought that we will be able to provide other features to the site in the future. This will include site merchandise hopefully (stickers, shirts, hats), possibly extended content, and maybe even a lottery for merchandise (see if we can convince Ben to donate some stuff again). Anyway, I am NOT asking for money from anyone, but I would like to provide a better donations system than we currently have, and let people know how who else donates, as well as how much donations the site brings in.

I would also like to thank EVERYONE who has donated in the past. Every dollar has helped keep this site up and running and ad-free!

[34blazer]

sent in a small donation

[bszopi]

Thanks! I appreciate everyone's donations so far. Much more than I expected in the first day!!!

Now the bad news... LOL. I just upgraded to the newest version, and for some odd reason, it is causing an error in the CMS site of the site. So I have put up a temporary redirect to the forums. But realize that most of the content probably won't work until I get this issue resolved.

[sprucegagt]

You greedy bastards! Oh wait, your only asking $75 versus $1500 like some other site.

[SappySE107]

540 a year vs 1500 actually:P We haven't factored in VB license or domain name but 50 a month would cover all expenses for the server. This site does not need to cover the entire server so we are still WAY ahead of that other site. If we had 1500, Brad would just buy another Beretta:P

[bszopi]

I think I got the issue resolved with the donation system. A new version was released this morning, so I upgraded. Well, it appeared the author missed one change in the database access file. I finally found it, changed it (alerted the author), and updated the site. Everything appears to be working fine now.

And yeah, I think $600 would cover the server, VB license and domain registration for the whole year. But as I stated, I would like to offer stuff for people to get as donators. I know a site I belong to (non-car related) has a lottery to give away something every month. Basically for every dollar you donate, you get 1 lottery ticket towards the prize. So the more you donate, the better chance you have to get the prize. And even if you only donated $1, you would still have a chance to win. It would probably piss off the people who donated more, but oh well. We'll see what we can do. If anything, I want to at least get some decals made (finally) that I can ship out to people who donate.

And we are actually only looking for $45/mo, which would cover the server cost. Not sure where you got the $75 from...

[asylummotorsports]

Is there a way to allow a monthy withdrawl from my (or anyone's) Pay Pal account?

[bszopi]

Recurring payments are available in the PRO version of the hack. I currently only have the LITE (aka FREE) version of the hack. I was discussing with Ben last night about possibly buying the PRO version ($40), but wasn't sure the extent the additional features would merit the price. BUT, since we have basically received enough donations in the first day to pay for the monthly server fee AND more than half the cost of the PRO version, I think I will probably go ahead and purchase the PRO version tonight. I know several people who would definately use the recurring payment option.

[kflo 93 gt]

I'm game to make a recurring donation. $5 here and there is the least I can do for one of the few bastions of true knowledge remaining on the internet.

[SappySE107]

Brad will get a new beretta soon enough!

[bszopi]

Ok, I just finished installing the PRO version. There is ALOT of crap to this thing!!! Anyway, I know I don't have it all tweaked yet, but I will be working on it over the next few days. Recurring payments should be set up now though (having Ben test it out as we speak).

[SappySE107]

it works. There is a delay between the site knowing and paypal clearing (site doesn't know yet). Im going to sleep.

[asylummotorsports]

So do I get a merit badge or a trophy or something for suggesting this?

[sprucegagt]

And we are actually only looking for $45/mo, which would cover the server cost. Not sure where you got the $75 from...

From a basic misunderstanding of the vernacular resulting in the extraction of said information from my backside.

[bszopi]

So do I get a merit badge or a trophy or something for suggesting this?

Unortunately, no, since I was already thinking about doing it. Just wanted so see how the system worked before I dropped the $40 for the pro version. BUT, if you do donate, you get an indicator in your postbit (which also needs to be changed, because the gold bars are lame).

I am still working on figuring out all of the settings of the pro system. I need to figure out how the GOALS work, becuase I don't really like the way it is set up currently. We met our April goal (server costs), and so it started the next goal from the date the April goal was met. But I want it to have the goals be from the 1st of the month to the end of the month.