subscriber membership fee and member only caches?

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

is the subscriber membership fee really worth it or are subscribers paying to let everyone else know they support geocaching? there are few added extra benefits right now for charter member subscribers, but there may be more coming later.

in our area, southeast idaho, i just noticed the FIRST member only cache. it says it's for "dedicated" geocachers? what is dedicated mean? is it a more difficult cache? if i place a members only in southeast idaho, i just locked out most of the geocachers in this area. that's a good way to get very few logs on a cache. i guess member only caches have to start somewhere.

are there areas in the US that have alot of member only caches and do those caches have significantly fewer logs than free caches?

Creativity Within The Bounds Of Conformity

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

I did it to support the site because I like the way Jeremy runs it. I was really impressed when he asked our opinion about a site change. That's a rare thing with site owners.

Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by billybob2:
is the subscriber membership fee really worth it or are subscribers paying to let everyone else know they support geocaching? there are few added extra benefits right now for charter member subscribers, but there may be more coming later.

in our area, southeast idaho, i just noticed the FIRST member only cache. it says it's for "dedicated" geocachers? what is dedicated mean? is it a more difficult cache? if i place a members only in southeast idaho, i just locked out most of the geocachers in this area. that's a good way to get very few logs on a cache. i guess member only caches have to start somewhere.

are there areas in the US that have alot of member only caches and do those caches have significantly fewer logs than free caches?

Creativity Within The Bounds Of Conformity

Like any thing, you get out what you put in. For me its worth twice the amount I pay.

Lapaglia

Muga Muchu (forget yourself, focus)

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

A lot of members expressed their views in this thread from a couple weeks ago. I think the general sentiment is that pocket queries are the favorite tangible benefit - - not members-only caches.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

I was formerly employed by the Department of Redundancy Department, but I don't work there anymore.

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

I've seen some that are MO for the first month then are open to everyone. I guess its someone's way of promoting the site. I joined after I found my 20th cache. I was having a great time and thought it would be good to support the sport. I have seen some comments from non-members who took it personally and decided to not search for any of the hider's other caches, but I think thats their loss.

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

I think the single most valuable member benefit is unlimited watch lists. That way I can watch every cache in California. Of course, I then had to pay extra to my service provider because I started getting over 100,000 e-mails a day.

Oh drats, I thought it was the 1st already. Nevermind.

--Marky

"All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer with a backlit GPSr"

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

Is bob stirring things up again? I thought you had been dubbed a troll a few threads ago.

george

Pedal until your legs cramp up and then pedal some more.

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

I became a charter member to support the site, have not used any of the other features much yet, but do like the unlimited watched list now. May try the pocket queries soon.

Car37 & Shnde

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

Like many of the others have stated, I paid for a membership to support the site.

I don't take much advantage of the additional features available to us, but this is the site I use "for all my geocaching needs." I've sure had a lot of fun; if that doesn't warrant my paying for a membership, what does?

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by BassoonPilot:
Like many of the others have stated, I paid for a membership to support the site.

I don't take much advantage of the additional features available to us, but this is _the_ site I use "for all my geocaching needs." I've sure had a lot of fun; if that doesn't warrant my paying for a membership, what does?

I totally agree! I've never gotten so much for a mere $30. Even after hiding caches & buying trade items it's the cheapest & most fun hobby I've ever came across.

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

I became a paying member to support the site's costly operations. This should keep it relatively free of nuisance ads.

You get what you pay for. I don't watch TV. I geocache. This is my entertainment. $3.00 USD is virtually free compared to other choices.

canadazuuk

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

what's a "troll" in geocaching terms? i did a search on "troll" but did not find it in any of the logs. show me a thread where i was dubbed a "troll".

i guess asking a few questions and getting people to question what's happening on this site dubbes someone a troll? if so, we are all trolls, then does the term "troll" mean anything?? that is another question, so i guess i'm a troll again.

no more questions for anyone or you will be "troll'ed" by george the great self proclaimed troll designator.

eveyone but george had some good input about his question, made me start to think i wanted to support this site, and i will, but george didn't add anything new, only flame bait.

Creativity Within The Bounds Of Conformity

[This message was edited by billybob2 on March 17, 2003 at 05:16 PM.]

[This message was edited by billybob2 on March 17, 2003 at 05:17 PM.]

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by billybob2:
what's a "troll" in geocaching terms? i did a search on "troll" but did not find it in any of the logs. show me a thread where i was dubbed a "troll".

http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=3000917383&m=8300962455&r=9470963455#9470963455

george

Pedal until your legs cramp up and then pedal some more.

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

It's all in how you word things.

Wherever you go there you are.

Posted March 17, 2003 · March 17, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by Ltljon:
Originally posted by BassoonPilot:
Like many of the others have stated, I paid for a membership to support the site.

What they said.

ApK

Posted March 18, 2003 · March 18, 2003

I did it to support the site. I also believe in the members only caches, and plan to hide a few once the snow is completely gone. There is one in my 100 mile area radius.

Will cache for food.

Posted March 18, 2003 · March 18, 2003

And to support the site, then I started to actually use the GPX pocket queries. Mmmmmmmmmmm....

Posted March 18, 2003 · March 18, 2003

I like the site and how it's run. So I support it through my membership. Now that Im a supporting member.....most of my caches will be "members only" so help push others into joining. Of course, I will also put out some for everyone, but leeches always disgusted me. Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone, but very few things in life are free. If we can afford a GPS, we should be able to afford membership.

We're going on a treasure hunt...we're not quite sure just where...but with our trusty GPS, we'll find a cache stashed there!!

By Daughter Cheryl

Posted March 18, 2003 · March 18, 2003

quote:
is the subscriber membership fee really worth it or are subscribers paying to let everyone else know they support geocaching?

I can't speak for anyone else but I ponied up because I actually DO support geocaching -- not to let everyone know. It's not about what people think, it's about whether you're willing to toss a small bone toward the people who make this all possible.

Considering what I've spent already on my GPS, ammo boxes, cache goodies and gas the membership seems pretty cheap. After all, this is a hobby/pasttime that at least on some level is based on giving things away (the stuff we put in caches). It seems reasonable to give a little something to the administration of the very well designed and administered Web site.

Posted March 18, 2003 · March 18, 2003

As I read through one of many threads complaining about some trivial problem as if the world would end if things didn't change in just a certain way.... I thought to myself: The people who put up with trying to make all this work on a daily basis deserve the small amount of money they are asking. Some days I think maybe running the UN would be an easier task. Had nothing to do with what anyone thought, just felt the Geocaching crew deserved it.

Posted March 18, 2003 · March 18, 2003

It's not worth it.

Jeremy Irish

Groundspeak - The Language of Location

Posted March 18, 2003 · March 18, 2003

I'll actually explain further. If your goal is specifically to see member only caches, don't sign up as a premium member. It's hit or miss and really regional. It was a request by geocachers to have a way to protect their caches from being plundered in their area, and member only caches don't mean they're the pick of the litter by any means.

I will say that now is the time to get a premium membership with the site, however. We're planning to offer many new features in the upcoming months, and we're raising our annual membership for those who are not current subscribers. Basically you're grandfathered in at the current rate for any new subscription-only features if you are a current subscriber and the rates change.

This isn't a marketing effort but an honest disclosure. We'll offer a bit more info after we launch the new geocaching site.

The ultimate reason for subscribing is securing the continuing upkeep of the site. Servers and bandwidth isn't cheap, and the subscriptions really do help keep us from cinching the belt too tight. I thank all the folks who help to keep the site running. My hats off to you.

Jeremy Irish

Groundspeak - The Language of Location

Posted March 19, 2003 · March 19, 2003

And my hat off to you Jeremy. Thanks a lot. Can't wait to see the additional enhancements.

Posted March 19, 2003 · March 19, 2003

So Jeremy, how is the .NET transition going? Any sneaky peeks yet or hints on what might be new?

- - - - -

Wisconsin Geocaching Association

Posted March 19, 2003 · March 19, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by Cheesehead Dave:
So Jeremy, how _is_ the .NET transition going? Any sneaky peeks yet or hints on what might be new?

The new site will allow you to seek out containers that are hidden around the world by other participants of the hobby. You'll be able to use GPS units to locate these items

Jeremy Irish

Groundspeak - The Language of Location

Posted March 19, 2003 · March 19, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by billybob2:
is the subscriber membership fee really worth it or are subscribers paying to let everyone else know they support geocaching?

There aren't a lot of benefits right now, and there aren't many members-only caches, either. I subscribed mainly because it's a way of supporting Geocaching and the site, and it's cheaper than flying to Seattle a couple times a year to buy Jeremy lunch and say thanks!

--

Scott Johnson (ScottJ)

Posted March 19, 2003 · March 19, 2003

Count the number of charter members on this thread

verus the "geocacher" members.

What does it mean? You decide, I did.

I have flouted the wild, I have followed its lure, fearless. familar, alone; yet the wild must win,

and a day will come when I shall be overthrown. By: Robert Service

Posted March 20, 2003 · March 20, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy (Admin):

quote:
Originally posted by Cheesehead Dave:
So Jeremy, how _is_ the .NET transition going? Any sneaky peeks yet or hints on what might be new?

The new site will allow you to seek out containers that are hidden around the world by other participants of the hobby. You'll be able to use GPS units to locate these items

Jeremy Irish

Groundspeak - The Language of Location

Man, that sounds way too cool!!!! I can hardly wait!!!!

Heeeyyyy, waaaait a minute..........

"Trade up, trade even, or don't trade!!!" My philosophy of life.

Posted March 20, 2003 · March 20, 2003

I decided to pay the membership fee after about 4 months of caching. I realized one day that I was having so much fun doing this, and wondered what I would do without it. I decided that if the site was ever shut down (or even reduced from the great coolness that it is) due to lack of funds, I wanted to know that I at least did my part to help keep it alive.

Night Hunter

If Wyle E. Coyote could afford all that ACME stuff... Why didn't he just buy DINNER?

Posted March 20, 2003 · March 20, 2003

I originally paid for a subscription, because I thought the site was one of the best run websites I had seen and wanted to keep it that way. I didn't care if I showed up as a Charter Member, I just felt it was money well spent.

The Pocket Queries alone are worth the money.

Last saturday, my wife got a babysitter so we could do "some serious, kid-free geocaching". Saturday by itself cost me about $50.

Jeremy, do the new additions to the site include babysitters? Now THAT would be worth $30/year!!!

"I would give my right arm to be ambidextrous!"

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