403 replies to this topic

[Dudley]

Just an idea Bira/Paul. Have you thought about setting up an account with Nochex so people can pay with a normal debit card as well?

If you have a VISA brand debit card you can now, just pretend it's a visa credit card.

[Nomad]

I have read all of this thread and after a bit of breathing space I think it's time to add my thoughts.

I started using Atlas while travelling in countries where getting hard copy magazines was nigh on impossible.

On Wednesday morning my credit card bill arrived in the post, 'crikey:eek:' I thought I need to cut some expenses.
Then I log on to Atlas and see a big picture of Ralf
Click the link and get the subscription page.
Waaaaaaaaaaagggggrrrhhh! I wanna read it!! (small child stamping my feet)
Tempted to hit the credit card there and then, but can't.
Thought about it a lot since then
1. Didn't like the surprise
2. Understood that Atlas need to be paid for.
3. Know I can get the news elsewhere but don't much care for the lay out of other sites and some ridiculously slow download time due to adverts
4. It isn't really that much money to me...(but lots of littles are making one big credit card bill)
5. I'm a backpacker...we're even tighter than students ;)
6. I've been reading the actual articles less and less since this season began, not sure why.
7. I do feel loyalty to Atlas.
8. I don't understand from a business point of view that if Atlas has been slowly creeping into the red why we have recently had new features to the site ie My Atlas, Bruce's cartoon, Daily Grapevine or even back in the past the move from UB. This leads me to suspect two things either the management didn't forsee the financial situation (this doesn't inspire me with confidence) or it was known some time ago that Atlas was going subscription & this was the prelim taster. I know that Bira has great pride in her work (which I think is excellent) but I could have lived quite happily without the extras.
9. I want to know what others think/feel
10. I need time to find out if my need for Atlas outweighs my need to reduce my credit card bill.
11. I reckon if I quit smoking I will easily save enough money to join, you may just have been the first people to ever give me a real reason to stop....treu.

So I haven't decided, but I bet if you write out the questions in the Ralf interview I can give you his answers anyway

[arcwulf7]

I think if Atlas manages to set up a system to pay by debit cards, available to anyone who has a bank account, by law, in most countries, and puts in a realistic price structure, that takes into account there are many free competitors out there, but also realizes it has developed a loyal customer franchise over the years -- and that getting a VOLUME (rather than cherry picking the affluent) of subscribers is their major task (the only hope?) -- this at least has a chance. But i don't see any light at the end of the tunnel yet.

[djned]

i have been reading atlas since 1995.
i love this site.
i love my.atlas and all of the awesome features on it.
i fully understand the reasons atlas wants people to pay. to recognise it as a professional site, etc.
for many people it's probably worth it too.
i am unemployed.
i have no income.
i have no credit card.
i am saddened by the way this was just sprung on me and all the other loyal readers - many are more active than me and i feel bad for them !

i think it's because i have been online for a while - before 'e-commerce' was a word, when the internet was about the free and fluent sharing of information etc - i think that's why i am so insulted by this. it's like a kick in the teeth.

sure, i'm a freeloader. but... over the last year i've been working full time with no income on a similar (motorsports unrelated) website - www.inthemix.com.au. we're only just starting to attract advertisers but this is a new concept to me - it was never about money, it was about passion for a subject, and sharing that enthusiasm. i'd never ask anyone to pay to share in my passion.

paid sites are the weakest link. goodbye !