Re: My favorite Apple II

[Eric Shepherd <sheppy@syndicomm.com>]

On 2005-05-11 01:53:31 -0400, "PZ" <skierpaul@yahoo.com> said:

> Interesting.  I didn't see anything about free membership (limited of
> course).  Even on the signup page, there is no information about a
> "limited free account."  You'd think they'd offer new users a taste
> with a free trial or read-only access to the Bullitin Boards at least.
> Something to let people know that there's a great resource behind that
> wall - news isn't everything you know.  Once again, its a great site,
> no argument there.  - Paul

About two years ago, we responded to suggestions like this by offering 
a very inexpensive ($5 per month, back when our monthly rate was $15) 
read-only access plan.  Full access to the file library and email, plus 
read-only board access.

Only one person signed up in the six months we offered the read-only 
plan, and that person never bothered to pay their bill after sucking 
our library dry.

So we canceled that plan and lowered our prices across the board, but 
folks still aren't happy.

Syndicomm has lost thousands of dollars per year since I took it over, 
until this year, where it turned a very slim profit due to low expenses 
(we didn't have to buy any new hardware for the business during 2004).  
The simple fact is that the $35 per year we now charge is practically 
nothing, and the company is only still afloat at all because our 
product sales through our online store are quite good.

I'm sorry that some folks think that $35 per year is too much to pay 
for access to several different forums, file libraries, message boards, 
and so forth, but it's already actually less than we can afford to 
charge -- it certainly can't come down any farther, and I actually wish 
I hadn't cut it so much, but I'm not going to jack up the price, 
because I want to keep the customers we already have.

It pains me when people complain that we're exclusive or elitist, 
because that's totally contrary to what we're trying to accomplish.  
But you guys all need to understand -- this business generally costs me 
a bunch of money each year -- money I could be using for other things, 
except that I love the Apple II way too much to shut it down.

If that's not good enough, well, I'm not going to apologize for doing 
everything I can to provide what I think is a valuable service (both in 
terms of the online service and selling a wide variety of Apple II 
products), even going as far as to take a loss to do it.

There's nothing more I can do about it than I already am.

I'm not going to read the rest of this thread because I don't really 
want to get all annoyed, and I've been having a really good week in my 
personal life, so I just don't want to go there.  But I felt it 
important that I drop in here and explain what's up with Syndicomm. :)

--
Eric Shepherd
Syndicomm: Feed your Apple II
http://www.syndicomm.com