I want to thank the sensible owner & mods here!

*emeleel* · #1 02-15-2002, 07:34 PM

Those of you who read mine and Magenta's posts in the Freebies/Coupons forum know that we hang out at MyCoupons.com to get our deals. This morning, the MC community woke up to a new option: the "Loyal MyCouper" premium level.

Seems that MC is getting sued over some sort of patent thing about the coupons on site - I haven't looked at all the articles so don't totally understand it all. But MC is big time in the hole for money to fight this lawsuit, so they say, and needing money. So as of today, they are offering a $20 premium level that gets you:

You member name in *bright* green, with an equally bright green clover beside it...a 120 minute phone card...getting bumped up the line if you have a problem with the site...better email management...lifetime membership in case they ever have to go to a paid-membership only...and the "best" of all - special "Loyal Members Only" boards! (forums)

Needless to say, this is quite divisive. What's so silly is....the new boards are just duplicates of the regular boards, but only open to the "Loyal" members! There's nothing special about them except you have to pay to get into them! Now everyone is fighting and bickering about what it means, whether people should do it, are the "Loyal" members a bunch of goody-goodies, etc. Everyone is HOPPING mad over there at the elitism, etc. that is being shown with this "great idea".

Anyway...long story short....

I just want to thank the imminently sensible Amy and her board of mods and various helpers who had the sense to offer a paid incentive that doesn't divide the community. Even though I can't afford it right now, it's nice not to have it thrown in my face with big neon letters that some people can. Sheesh, it's like WWIII over there! I'm glad we've never had any blow-ups like that over here.

Thanks, guys! :thumbs:

magenta321 · #2 02-15-2002, 08:17 PM

It's really bad. I was about to refer my mom to mycoupons, but I told her not to bother because there was a war brewing there.

What they did was different than what EA did. My understanding of what EA said was more or less this:

we're free, we've always been free, we will continue to be free, but, gosh darnit, this money is coming out of Amy's pockets. You can help pay for this board by paying this fee, and you'll get increased features. You'll be known as a premium member. If you don't pay, that's fine. Nothing will change for you. We still love you and want you here.

What mycoupons did was different.

They wanted to thank their loyal users (ie, the ones who paid $20 to them) by honoring them with a shamrock next to their name (read: Star-bellied Sneetches) and giving them a carbon copy of the board that already existed and telling the "Loyal Users" that it was their board.

It didn't have to turn out so bad. They could have done it more the way that EA did it, so no one felt slighted.

It got worse, IMHO when someone said (this is my version of their words, not an actual quote) "let's put the good deals in the paid forum. Then, we can put a link in the free forum that says 'if you want to take advantage of this deal and find out all of the details, please pay to be a member of the "Loyal member board."'"

[aside](Wow, I think I did the the quotations right... but boy does that look wrong) [/aside]

Anyhoo, it's bad over there. I think Mycoupons could have learned something from EA

**amykhar** · #3 02-15-2002, 08:42 PM

Thank you ladies. It's a shame that things are going so badly on the other board.

Amy

**pluckyduck** · #4 02-15-2002, 08:53 PM

Don't tell Amy I said this, but....

It was a huge deal for her to even offer a paid option. It's been a bitch getting her to take contributions for the board since day one, heaven knows I've tried.

When banner revenue became non-existent, the one thing that was for dang sure, was that there was no way that money was going to come in between friends.

Maybe its just easier here because we are friends. You don't charge a friend to come into your living room, ya know?

Andrea

sleeper54 · #5 02-16-2002, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pluckyduck
Don't tell Amy I said this, but....
--snip--
Maybe its just easier here because we are friends. You don't charge a friend to come into your living room, ya know?

Andrea

No, but use of the...uhh...facilities requires a separate fee...:-)

sleeper54

theeye · #6 02-16-2002, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sleeper54
No, but use of the...uhh...facilities requires a separate fee...:-)

sleeper54

Anyone else saw Urinetown on Broadway? Despite the name, it's really worth seeing.

**taurusmoon** · #7 02-16-2002, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by theeye

Anyone else saw Urinetown on Broadway? Despite the name, it's really worth seeing.

I did and loved it.

Sara

theeye · #8 02-16-2002, 08:52 PM

We took our entire company (we're pretty small

) to see it last month as part of our annual company party. The title drew a few raised eyebrows, but everyone had a good time.

**taurusmoon** · #9 02-16-2002, 09:24 PM

What a great party idea!

I saw it opening week, back in the end of August. I have a half-written review of it on my hard drive. It was supposed to be my entry into the HTP lovefest. I was late composing it and got totally derailed after Sept. 11th. I could never bring myself to finish it.

The Readers Digest version of my review: go see it.

Hmmm, we seem to have wandered way off topic, haven't we.

Getting back on track: You're welcome Melanie.

Sara

kurt_messick · #10 02-17-2002, 12:28 AM

I'm happy too. Someday I'll contribute, I promise!

magenta321 · #11 02-18-2002, 09:01 PM

I had to copy and paste this here. Let me explain first.

Since the division of mycoupons into two boards (my coupons and Loyal my coupons -- ie, the ones who paid to show their loyalty), there has been a lot of dissent on the regular my coupons boards. The regular boards are filled with thread after thread of dissent, and the shopping deals are being obscured by these posts. My coupons keeps locking and deleting threads like crazy, which is good and bad (good cause you can find the deals once they clean the place up, bad because people need a place to vent about this idiotic decision.)

Anyway, this is the (rather long) post that just cropped up on regular my coupons. I wanted to post it here since at least Melanie, Amy, and myself are members there, and because this shows how to alienate members of your board, for all interested. I would have just linked it, but I will almost gaurantee this thread will be deleted rather quickly.

[start cut and paste]

barb
(Ultimate Member)
02/17/02 08:37 PM
Let's Talk Reply

Lifetime Members,

I see post after post of lifetime members bowing to
the naysayer group, even saying things as "I won't
post on the new boards" and also "I don't want two
boards." AND..."the clover isn't important to me, they
can do away with it as far as I'm concerned."

I even deleted two long threads of "About Loyal Member
Gripes" that was member after member talking like this
to their compadres.

I know you are feeling "separated" right now. But this
is temporary. It will even out, and all will be well.
If I were a lifetime member, I'd be posting replies
like:
"It's fun at the LMBoards."
"We don't have secrets there, we have fun there."
"C'mon over and join us - see for yourself."
and other POSITIVE replies I know you can think of.

Do not copy/paste things from board to board!

Ya'll want one board again. You need to be patient.
With time, LMBoards will be the major board here. Will
you help to speed this process? You are here already -
you are here for a Lifetime! You can enjoy it now!

Post your deals right here; post your trades right
here; post your reward programs here; and post your
parenting and family matters right here. We became the
#1 site with open boards; now we have the opportunity
to become the #1 Lifetime Membership Board.

They will follow....they will come.....because they
will hear "good positive talk" from the members here
now.

We understand you want your friends to be here with
you. But telling them that you won't post here is not
the answer. It just delays the process.

Happy Day!

B
Administrator
ShoppingBoards

I copied and pasted it to the boards, becuase I thought all should be aware of this- My post was dele tedI was banned from further posting on any of the boards, but fortuately some people had the chance to read it.

Then I recieved the following e-mail from Barb-maybe they "the loyals" have their own newsletter or something!;

Do you see what I mean? That is an example of a
jealous person who wants to be here, but is just
trying to convince you to go along with their
thinking. By you replying you won't be posting here,
only the old boards, you are just hurting our cause,
and hurting yourselves by delaying your friends
decision to come over here.

Of course, you did not pay for the purpose of getting
the "clover". But the clover should be worn proudly!
First - it shows you care about this site. You love
MyCoupons(tm) Shopping Boards - the clover is our
icon. The naysayers are trying to make you feel
ashamed - don't let them do this to you. You have
nothing to be ashamed of -- and everything to be proud
of.

Following this post, I will post the story of the icon
and how it came into existence. Maybe that will help
you wear your clover with pride.

All these things people are saying, they are saying to
get to you.... and in some instances, they are
succeeding. If your reason is because there are some
who cannot afford the $20, certainly you know they are
not being ignored. (Members are helping Members - what
a wonderful bunch we have.) I'm sure you noticed, the
people who are saying these things to you are most
times not the ones in dire need. They are merely
believing the naysayers, and trying to turn around
your thinking too. Don't let them do this to you.

WHY do I ask for your help? Because we have a goal
here. We have a goal to save the fact there is "any"
MyCoupons.com. Remember, the goal here is a big one,
and we need everyone's help. We CAN do this! We WILL
do this -- with your help.

Let's move ahead in a positive manner and positive
posting.

Happy Day!

Barb
Administrator
ShoppingBoards

Just trying to spread the word!
[/end cut and paste]

Does this piss anyone else off? Grrr!