Suscription model for the site

[Guest bluboy]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-12-00 AT 07:21PM (EST)[p]I know this will be completely controversial but Hooboy needs to consider a subscription model for the site to cover the expenses and pay himself etc..(see Hooboys sob story)...this site is so valuable that many of us would be willing to pay an annual fee to be able to access it..and maybe we can set it up such that writing a review is free; message board is free but reviewing the reviews is not and is only availabe to members..you can get around the anonymity point in part by buying memebrship through a webcertificate gift certificate under an assumed name and this acts like a credit card on the web w/o revealing your identity...less valuable sites than this charge a subscription and get away with it...Hooboy you should consider this option seriously...somewhere between $10-15 a month is very very reasonable and anyone who cannot afford this is not likely to be affording escorts. Your demographic is reasonably well off given the rates we all pay escorts for 1-2 hours..so this is well within reach...for less than the price of an escort..be a memebr of this site for a full year...other thoughts on this matter..blu

[Guest bluboy]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-12-00 AT 07:21PM (EST)[p]I know this will be completely controversial but Hooboy needs to consider a subscription model for the site to cover the expenses and pay himself etc..(see Hooboys sob story)...this site is so valuable that many of us would be willing to pay an annual fee to be able to access it..and maybe we can set it up such that writing a review is free; message board is free but reviewing the reviews is not and is only availabe to members..you can get around the anonymity point in part by buying memebrship through a webcertificate gift certificate under an assumed name and this acts like a credit card on the web w/o revealing your identity...less valuable sites than this charge a subscription and get away with it...Hooboy you should consider this option seriously...somewhere between $10-15 a month is very very reasonable and anyone who cannot afford this is not likely to be affording escorts. Your demographic is reasonably well off given the rates we all pay escorts for 1-2 hours..so this is well within reach...for less than the price of an escort..be a memebr of this site for a full year...other thoughts on this matter..blu

[Guest Merlin]

A fee of $10 to $15 would drive away part of the participants and diminish its usefulness, begining a downward spiral. I suggest that you begin a section for paid ads of escorts and agencies.

[Guest Merlin]

A fee of $10 to $15 would drive away part of the participants and diminish its usefulness, begining a downward spiral. I suggest that you begin a section for paid ads of escorts and agencies.

[Guest NNJHornyGuy]

I agree with Merlin....although I would gladly pay $10-15 per month for this valuable site, I believe that it would drive some people away.

 

Bluboy does make a good point though, if we can afford escorts, $10-15 is reasonable, however just the hassle of buying and maintaining a membership would probably drive some people off using this site.

 

I think that having paid ads for escorts and agencies would be the way to go, and I also strongly believe that it would not compromise the objectivity of Hooboy or this site.....

[Guest NNJHornyGuy]

I agree with Merlin....although I would gladly pay $10-15 per month for this valuable site, I believe that it would drive some people away.

 

Bluboy does make a good point though, if we can afford escorts, $10-15 is reasonable, however just the hassle of buying and maintaining a membership would probably drive some people off using this site.

 

I think that having paid ads for escorts and agencies would be the way to go, and I also strongly believe that it would not compromise the objectivity of Hooboy or this site.....

[Guest gr8guy]

I agree with the suggestion to have escort agencies advertise here. It's a logical place for them to put their money because they are reaching their core - dare I say, hardcore - audience.

 

Rather than having individual escorts advertise, creating a conflict of interest over negative reviews, an agency is concerned about its business as a whole, not merely one of its guys. In fact, the agencies might actually appreciate the input they get about the guys who are not performing well.

 

On another front, if this became a subscription service, how would the escorts themselves get on? Aside from the ubiquitous Sean, who can apparently buy and sell us all, I don't think that most escorts have that much disposable income.

 

Just something to consider.

[Guest gr8guy]

I agree with the suggestion to have escort agencies advertise here. It's a logical place for them to put their money because they are reaching their core - dare I say, hardcore - audience.

 

Rather than having individual escorts advertise, creating a conflict of interest over negative reviews, an agency is concerned about its business as a whole, not merely one of its guys. In fact, the agencies might actually appreciate the input they get about the guys who are not performing well.

 

On another front, if this became a subscription service, how would the escorts themselves get on? Aside from the ubiquitous Sean, who can apparently buy and sell us all, I don't think that most escorts have that much disposable income.

 

Just something to consider.

[bill]

I can "afford" $10-15 a month and still afford escorts, but that is not the point. $10-15 for this site, $30 for an agecheck id, $30 for an adultcheck id, all of the various fees for "great services" on the internet add up to real money.

 

So I would not pay the fee. Not because I cannot afford it, but because I would choose not to pay it.

[bill]

I can "afford" $10-15 a month and still afford escorts, but that is not the point. $10-15 for this site, $30 for an agecheck id, $30 for an adultcheck id, all of the various fees for "great services" on the internet add up to real money.

 

So I would not pay the fee. Not because I cannot afford it, but because I would choose not to pay it.

[Guest cleverock]

the "demographic" here probably includes a lot of people for whom an escort is an occasional "splurge". Beyond a very small core group, it would be difficult to sustain interest if the mothly fee was into the double digits.

 

I would guess that there are ways to increase advertising revenue. there are nay number of related sites (Atkol, Rad Video, Man-net, etc). Aaron Lawrence has plenty of ways to make money, have him pay to essentially advertise himself. there are probably other avenues.

 

If it comes down to making this a subscription site, then the fee should be about the same as theusual AVS services and at least part of the site should be free.

[Guest cleverock]

the "demographic" here probably includes a lot of people for whom an escort is an occasional "splurge". Beyond a very small core group, it would be difficult to sustain interest if the mothly fee was into the double digits.

 

I would guess that there are ways to increase advertising revenue. there are nay number of related sites (Atkol, Rad Video, Man-net, etc). Aaron Lawrence has plenty of ways to make money, have him pay to essentially advertise himself. there are probably other avenues.

 

If it comes down to making this a subscription site, then the fee should be about the same as theusual AVS services and at least part of the site should be free.

[Guest bluboy]

taking ads from escorts will overtime erode the objectivity of the site..it will be a very difficult decision when Hooboy has to put up bad reviews and the escorts that support the site fincancially end up pulling their support becuase of bad reviews. Just as we could never get over paid TV but somehow many of us did...we would get over the fee...btw..it may even keep out more fake postings....we should always keep the message board free...even those of you who say that you would not pay..2 or 3 expensive bad escort hirings will show the error of your ways that it is much better to pay the small fee and get advice..think consumer reports of the escort business....advertsing may sound good to start but the more the economics of the site depend on the advertisers Hooboy would have to be a SAINT (which he might be) to be completely uninfluenced by the very people paying the bills. And why afterall should we in this great capitalist society of ours get such a valuable for free..do we somehow have a right to our escort reviews...porn as a business remained the only profitable business on the internet for a very long time..somehow people seem willing to part with more money for sex than for most other things..i suspect the site would lose less activity than you might think..where would you all go muscleservice- YUCK!...blu

[Guest bluboy]

taking ads from escorts will overtime erode the objectivity of the site..it will be a very difficult decision when Hooboy has to put up bad reviews and the escorts that support the site fincancially end up pulling their support becuase of bad reviews. Just as we could never get over paid TV but somehow many of us did...we would get over the fee...btw..it may even keep out more fake postings....we should always keep the message board free...even those of you who say that you would not pay..2 or 3 expensive bad escort hirings will show the error of your ways that it is much better to pay the small fee and get advice..think consumer reports of the escort business....advertsing may sound good to start but the more the economics of the site depend on the advertisers Hooboy would have to be a SAINT (which he might be) to be completely uninfluenced by the very people paying the bills. And why afterall should we in this great capitalist society of ours get such a valuable for free..do we somehow have a right to our escort reviews...porn as a business remained the only profitable business on the internet for a very long time..somehow people seem willing to part with more money for sex than for most other things..i suspect the site would lose less activity than you might think..where would you all go muscleservice- YUCK!...blu

[Guest cleverock]

Bluboy---lecturing us won't change people's minds. If anything it will make people dig in their heels. One reason businesses fail is because they fail to listen to their clientele.

[Guest cleverock]

Bluboy---lecturing us won't change people's minds. If anything it will make people dig in their heels. One reason businesses fail is because they fail to listen to their clientele.

[Guest bluboy]

I did not know I was lecturing but continuing in a lecturing vein..the number 1 reason INTERNET busineses are failing is the lack of a sustainable economic model..where revenue is greater than costs...if you completely go after what consumers want..we as consumers will all say the highest and best quality offering for free...and anything less is a compromise...but we all have a utility curve and busineses need to strike the right axis along the utility curve, i.e. what level of service am I/you willing to pay for what. ...blu

[Guest bluboy]

I did not know I was lecturing but continuing in a lecturing vein..the number 1 reason INTERNET busineses are failing is the lack of a sustainable economic model..where revenue is greater than costs...if you completely go after what consumers want..we as consumers will all say the highest and best quality offering for free...and anything less is a compromise...but we all have a utility curve and busineses need to strike the right axis along the utility curve, i.e. what level of service am I/you willing to pay for what. ...blu

[Guest hottie]

Hooboy can make money by marketing or auctioning off products catering to the needs of clientele to this message board. Have an "eGay" type auction. Auction off used videos in which the various models have appeared condoms, lubs, magazines, a vacation for two to some romantic resort for example. A good marketing plan is essential.

[Guest hottie]

Hooboy can make money by marketing or auctioning off products catering to the needs of clientele to this message board. Have an "eGay" type auction. Auction off used videos in which the various models have appeared condoms, lubs, magazines, a vacation for two to some romantic resort for example. A good marketing plan is essential.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Bluboy has brought up for discussion one of the more important issues (if not the most) to be raised on this board, in my mind anyway. I have given the issue of 'long term viability' of this site passing consideration over the last few months -- I haven't really had occur to me an obvious desirable answer.

 

I don't join pay sites -- period, well almost never. I did sign on to Adult Check and joined a small subscription site (small fee) for processed newsgroup images (porn and nonporn). I sampled a few other pay sites but always bailed after the trial not being satisfied with the cost/benefit ratio (not that they were so bad but rather that I demand quite a lot -- maybe too much -- if I am going to part with money. ). So I am very much sympathetic with those that don't want a pay site.

 

Having said that, I have made a contribution to HooBoy to help support the operation of this site because I am concerned about its viability. Why, given my proclivity for avoiding pay sites? I have found this site extremely valuable to me regarding the escort reviews (value = saving me money and grief) and not to mention the quite informative and entertaining message boards.

 

Regarding a subscription fee, I agree with Merlin, in part,

 

<A fee of $10 to $15 would drive away part of the participants> -- it probably would.

 

 

I think NNJHornyGuy is right about this...

 

<Bluboy does make a good point though, if we can afford escorts, $10-15 is reasonable...>

 

but I don't agree with him here...

 

<... just the hassle of buying and maintaining a membership would probably drive some people off using this site.>

 

Spending money on the internet is just about the easiest thing one can do anymore -- I've become an expert at it without trying. It does help to have a credit card but isn't always necessary. And if discretion is a concern there are a number of ways to handle that issue. So I don't by the hassle issue for not signing up, there may be other issues but not the 'hassle' one in my view. Even if you pay by conventional means, say for discretion's sake, a money order -- it is no more hassle than getting a carton of milk at the store. How many people starve to death because going to the store is a hassle -- not many I conjecture. So there may be other valid reasons or someone might be just lazy -- who knows.

 

I think NNJHornyGuy has proposed an ineffective and partially bad idea here

 

<I think that having paid ads for escorts and agencies would be the way to go, and I also strongly believe that it would not compromise the objectivity of HooBoy or this site.>

 

I see nothing wrong with the idea of agency adds but the problem I do see is that there are not enough agencies to carry this site financially.

 

But I think gr8guy is right...

 

<Rather than having individual escorts advertise, creating a conflict of interest over

negative reviews...>

 

and bluboy follows up

 

<taking ads from escorts will overtime erode the objectivity of the site... it will be a very difficult decision when HooBoy has to put up bad reviews and the escorts that support the site financially end up pulling their support because of bad reviews.>

 

I agree with both assessments and the prime imperative, as I see it, is -- DO NOTHING THAT COMPROMISES OR APPEARS TO COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SITE.

 

And bluboy makes cogent arguments about the nature of the internet business success/failure phenomenon -- just look at the NASDAQ internet stocks in the last 6 months -- there are a lot of young x-millionaires walking around in a daze (still a few real ones left out there too of course.)

 

And cleverock is right, not about bluboy lecturing (I didn't take it that way, anyway), but about

 

<One reason businesses fail is because they fail to listen to their clientele. >

 

Another reason they fail is insufficient cash flow to keep the creditors from the door. Running a business is a balancing acting between these and other considerations. It helps if you are not in a highly competitive business area -- that is the good news, HooBoy has no serious competitors, IMHO. I have run across one or two sites that purport to have escort reviews but they were pay sites and I declined to join, especially because of this free site which I knew to be worthwhile and because I don't by a pig in a poke'. Also, who is going to join a pay site to leave a review? I'll come back to this later. Moving on...

 

I agree with Bill...

 

<...but that is not the point. $10-15 for this site, $30 for an agecheck id, $30 for an adultcheck id, all of the various fees for "great services" on the internet add up to real money. >

 

It became apparent to me shortly after I got Adult Check that AVS services were multiplying like rabbits and trying to keep up was a loosing proposition so I didn't.

 

So Bill chooses not to pay ...

 

<So I would not pay the fee. Not because I cannot afford it, but because I would choose not to pay it.>

 

I can understand his position based on my own history and philosophy, but I have chosen to pay -- as a voluntary contribution. It is a question of priorities and values. For me, to lump this site in with the others mentioned just isn't possible in my personal assessment. If Bill doesn't perceive sufficient value in this site to separate it from the pack and subscribe then he shouldn't -- I certainly wouldn't under those conditions.

 

On the other hand, over the long term there is no reason to give nonsupporters a free ride on the shoulders of supporters, the primary one being HooBoy followed by the individual contributors.

 

It is my fervent wish to keep this site free and let everyone participate as they will, reviewers, posters, and those just seeking information from time to time. But if it comes to the point where the comfortable survival of the site is an issue it may very well have to be turned into a pay site.

 

If eventually, this site must become a subscription service to survive, it will have to be carefully considered as to how it is done. I don't have any answers for this now but I do have a few opinions:

 

1. you don't have to be a member to submit a review

 

2. probably a 30 day introductory free ride to fully expose potential subscribers to the site benefits

 

It seems premature to go into justifications for these opinions at this time, but careful thought is needed if subscription has to be resorted to. Hopefully it will not and HooBoy has a Business Plan that will make him a millionaire and us very happy campers with a wonderful free service.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Bluboy has brought up for discussion one of the more important issues (if not the most) to be raised on this board, in my mind anyway. I have given the issue of 'long term viability' of this site passing consideration over the last few months -- I haven't really had occur to me an obvious desirable answer.

 

I don't join pay sites -- period, well almost never. I did sign on to Adult Check and joined a small subscription site (small fee) for processed newsgroup images (porn and nonporn). I sampled a few other pay sites but always bailed after the trial not being satisfied with the cost/benefit ratio (not that they were so bad but rather that I demand quite a lot -- maybe too much -- if I am going to part with money. ). So I am very much sympathetic with those that don't want a pay site.

 

Having said that, I have made a contribution to HooBoy to help support the operation of this site because I am concerned about its viability. Why, given my proclivity for avoiding pay sites? I have found this site extremely valuable to me regarding the escort reviews (value = saving me money and grief) and not to mention the quite informative and entertaining message boards.

 

Regarding a subscription fee, I agree with Merlin, in part,

 

<A fee of $10 to $15 would drive away part of the participants> -- it probably would.

 

 

I think NNJHornyGuy is right about this...

 

<Bluboy does make a good point though, if we can afford escorts, $10-15 is reasonable...>

 

but I don't agree with him here...

 

<... just the hassle of buying and maintaining a membership would probably drive some people off using this site.>

 

Spending money on the internet is just about the easiest thing one can do anymore -- I've become an expert at it without trying. It does help to have a credit card but isn't always necessary. And if discretion is a concern there are a number of ways to handle that issue. So I don't by the hassle issue for not signing up, there may be other issues but not the 'hassle' one in my view. Even if you pay by conventional means, say for discretion's sake, a money order -- it is no more hassle than getting a carton of milk at the store. How many people starve to death because going to the store is a hassle -- not many I conjecture. So there may be other valid reasons or someone might be just lazy -- who knows.

 

I think NNJHornyGuy has proposed an ineffective and partially bad idea here

 

<I think that having paid ads for escorts and agencies would be the way to go, and I also strongly believe that it would not compromise the objectivity of HooBoy or this site.>

 

I see nothing wrong with the idea of agency adds but the problem I do see is that there are not enough agencies to carry this site financially.

 

But I think gr8guy is right...

 

<Rather than having individual escorts advertise, creating a conflict of interest over

negative reviews...>

 

and bluboy follows up

 

<taking ads from escorts will overtime erode the objectivity of the site... it will be a very difficult decision when HooBoy has to put up bad reviews and the escorts that support the site financially end up pulling their support because of bad reviews.>

 

I agree with both assessments and the prime imperative, as I see it, is -- DO NOTHING THAT COMPROMISES OR APPEARS TO COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SITE.

 

And bluboy makes cogent arguments about the nature of the internet business success/failure phenomenon -- just look at the NASDAQ internet stocks in the last 6 months -- there are a lot of young x-millionaires walking around in a daze (still a few real ones left out there too of course.)

 

And cleverock is right, not about bluboy lecturing (I didn't take it that way, anyway), but about

 

<One reason businesses fail is because they fail to listen to their clientele. >

 

Another reason they fail is insufficient cash flow to keep the creditors from the door. Running a business is a balancing acting between these and other considerations. It helps if you are not in a highly competitive business area -- that is the good news, HooBoy has no serious competitors, IMHO. I have run across one or two sites that purport to have escort reviews but they were pay sites and I declined to join, especially because of this free site which I knew to be worthwhile and because I don't by a pig in a poke'. Also, who is going to join a pay site to leave a review? I'll come back to this later. Moving on...

 

I agree with Bill...

 

<...but that is not the point. $10-15 for this site, $30 for an agecheck id, $30 for an adultcheck id, all of the various fees for "great services" on the internet add up to real money. >

 

It became apparent to me shortly after I got Adult Check that AVS services were multiplying like rabbits and trying to keep up was a loosing proposition so I didn't.

 

So Bill chooses not to pay ...

 

<So I would not pay the fee. Not because I cannot afford it, but because I would choose not to pay it.>

 

I can understand his position based on my own history and philosophy, but I have chosen to pay -- as a voluntary contribution. It is a question of priorities and values. For me, to lump this site in with the others mentioned just isn't possible in my personal assessment. If Bill doesn't perceive sufficient value in this site to separate it from the pack and subscribe then he shouldn't -- I certainly wouldn't under those conditions.

 

On the other hand, over the long term there is no reason to give nonsupporters a free ride on the shoulders of supporters, the primary one being HooBoy followed by the individual contributors.

 

It is my fervent wish to keep this site free and let everyone participate as they will, reviewers, posters, and those just seeking information from time to time. But if it comes to the point where the comfortable survival of the site is an issue it may very well have to be turned into a pay site.

 

If eventually, this site must become a subscription service to survive, it will have to be carefully considered as to how it is done. I don't have any answers for this now but I do have a few opinions:

 

1. you don't have to be a member to submit a review

 

2. probably a 30 day introductory free ride to fully expose potential subscribers to the site benefits

 

It seems premature to go into justifications for these opinions at this time, but careful thought is needed if subscription has to be resorted to. Hopefully it will not and HooBoy has a Business Plan that will make him a millionaire and us very happy campers with a wonderful free service.

[Guest Jake]

The question of free vs. pay site comes up from time to time. The reason this site is free is because HooBoy wants it that way. As long as that is the case, I imagine it will remain free.

[Guest Jake]

The question of free vs. pay site comes up from time to time. The reason this site is free is because HooBoy wants it that way. As long as that is the case, I imagine it will remain free.

[Guest regulation]

The fact is that very few Internet businesses that ask people to pay in order to view content have succeeded -- the list of those who have is made up of the Wall Street Journal online edition and a few porn sites. If HB tries that model I suspect he will soon find that one or more competing sites have come into existence that offer similar content free of charge. I hope that doesn't happen, as I value this site and would not like to see it disappear.