[Fox_Tango] Help now or lose it
Eugene Rippen
[email protected]
Wed, 14 Aug 2002 11:31:52 -0700
Hi Dave,
I sent Al a substantial contribution about 6 months ago. And I will
probably continue to do so.
Now we have all this money frenzy. Now I am also having some second
thoughts about the whole process.
First, about what you have said I am a little confused possibly. You say
there are "200,000 QSL.NET users" . I doubt there are 200,000 DIFFERENT
qsl.net users, or qth.net users, either one. If true, break my heart ... Al
can easily become a multi millionaire overnight. (Maybe he could be
"Forced" to do so from the lack-of-contributions beyond his control.)
Which leads to my other confusion .... did you mean qsl or qth?
My understanding is that the web sites, email accounts, etc. are on qsl.net,
and the reflectors are on qth.
My undertstanding is that at least part of the qsl.net operation IS
commercial. However, if Al chooses to provide free web sites, or email
accounts that is certainly his choice, and if he intends to switch later to
get advertisers, or turn it into a paid service later, that is fine with me.
Many ISP's have got their start that way. That works very well, as most
people are reluctant to move their web sites or change their email
addresses.
As for the qth.net. 550 reflectors in itself is ludicrous. Regardless, my
understanding is they are intended to be free for the occasional user, and
the more frequent users are told that contributions are requested. So, 500
contributors may not be that unreasonable. Would not surprise me if 500
individuals make up 80% of the email reflector traffic.
The result of my reconsideration is, I suggest as follows:
1. Get rid of the seldom used reflectors.
2. Start TEXT advertising on the reflected emails. Don't want to hear any of
that senseless "keeping emails pure of ads", from those same readers of
newspapers and magazines, and listeners to radio and TV.
3. Tell us frequent users of the reflectors that we are OBLIGATED to
contribute. ( I will continue to do so.) Maybe put a limit on the number of
emails that non-paying users can send to the reflectors.
4. Above all. lets have Al tell the facts to ALL of us himself, not just
through third persons. ( That really does not come off as sincere.)
5. As for qsl.net, not only should it be treated separately, it should
treated as any other ISP. It just hasn't got as big as AOL yet. (I pay
what I consider to be a fair amount to my ISP, an amount that will keep it
profitable, and in business.) There should be no trouble keeping qsl.net
profitable with the tremendous start it has. What a great source of
homogeneous potential buyers of advertised goods and services. Qsl.net is
the real commercial threat to QST and other ham publications. (Maybe ARRL
should be paying Al not to accept ads.)
My personal Bottom line .... I have absolutely no objection to being
charged for the use of the reflectors, and/or there being reasonable TEXT
only ads on our reflected emails. What is becoming annoying is a
proliferation of self-imposed shills whining about helping out on THEIR
supposed Al's folly, which I don't know for sure is "folly" or is it just
good business?
Hey! The problem is solved! I'll personally, totally end the continuing
losses. I'll buy qth.net. I guess the price would just be the value (or
even original cost) of the servers. (Those high priced lines can surely be
used for qsl.net.)
Right?
Hey! RIGHT? ..... I don't hear any agreement to my offer.
WHAT? Did I hear someone suggest that qth.net has become a very valuable
asset?
Eugene Rippen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Haney" <[email protected]>
To: "hamma reflector" <[email protected]>; "sw-ita reflector"
<[email protected]>; "patcomm reflector" <[email protected]>;
"PARK reflector" <[email protected]>; "paham refelctor"
<[email protected]>; "hamfest reflector" <[email protected]>;
"fox_tango reflector" <[email protected]>; "dx-qsl reflector"
<[email protected]>; "ares-races reflector"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 9:16 AM
Subject: [Fox_Tango] Help now or lose it
> Folks,
> I really hate to keep beating the same dead horse, but I was truly
> stunned to learn a pitiful 500 hams (out of 200,000 US QSL.NET users) have
> contributed to help keep QSL.NET viable with approximately $7,000 in
> donations. That means that 99.75 %.of our subscribed have contributed
> nothing, zilch, nada....
>
> I am not going to ask for more of you to do the right thing, but
> consider the words in an old Joni Mitchell song: "You don't know what
you've
> got till it's gone." I know hams are traditionally thrifty, but sending a
> few bucks to keep something as valuable as QSL.NET is a pretty good
> investment.
>
> Don't think someone else is going to pay your share; they are busy
thinking
> the same thing about you.
>
> 73
> Dave Haney
> W3SJ
>
>
> Now, more than ever, QSL.NET is in urgent need of your financial support.
>
> Please help QSL.NET by sending a donation now.
>
> ________
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>