jerdavey

I would understand if you have to pay to join the forum. But you dont, so dont worry about it. If it bothers you so much become a supporting member and get rid of the ads.

df.dima

iTrader: (12)

see you at diyma

FrankB

iTrader: (1)

whining Part2

JordyO

iTrader: (17)

Bingo!

I *realy* don't get people who take advantage of a free service and then have the nerve to complain about HOW it's given to them.

If I were to walk up to any member on this forum and hand them a $20 bill that was dirty and a bit torn I'm sure they'd gladly accept it rather than whine about the condition of it.

So why is this any different?

The web site is here and it's free. If you like it and want to participate (in a positive way) then we're glad to have you. If you don't like it then there are any other number of forums out there.

JordyO

iTrader: (17)

I still think it would be worthwhile to support the site. I mean, some people just don't like ebay and would rather deal with someone local. Wouldn't you like your name to be front and center when they go looking?

Dukk

Personally I use ebay as a source of used, old or hard to aquire pieces that I can't find in a B&M store. I find lately that aside from scab electronics sellers, I can get a lot of things locally for the same or marginally more anyway. Plus I DO put value in local service and warranty.

I'm picking up an MSD coil pack and spark plug wires from a local speed shop today and paying LESS than I could find on ebay

Staff @ CAFz

iTrader: (5)

The reality is, this site costs money to run.

The hosting costs are enormous, the server costs are huge and the time and effort is enormous.

Without revenue being generated there is no site. That is a reality of all sites. Domains, licenses, hosting etc.

We have made it as easy as possible to help support the site and not see advertisements. You can become a subscriber, support the site, not see the banners.

Straight up, subscribers are awesome and they support the community. You can donate $10, $20, $30 per year and you have this forum that connects you with the biggest Car Audio community in Canada. Never mind the resources that are here to help, teach etc. This is the place to be.

So yes, you can remove ads.

As for the market place. I have made it so when you click new posts and or todays posts the ads shouldn't come up. You can also remove the posts from your manual searches here.
You dont even have to subscribe to NOT see them in searches.

Ebay vs. Vendors.
As i have said, myself personally i would buy 90% of my gear from a shop. Proof is in the pudding and i have purchased from shops here on this forum. I have NEVER bought gear from eBay.
As i said, i am a firm believer that vendors bring a lot more to the table than just good looks and gear, they have knowledge. For a person like me, i rather pay people who know how to get it done right.
There are tons of people out there who wont use a shop but only ebay. Some people might even price shop. I have no idea.
General feedback via pm's is that the eBay stuff is a neat feature.
Statistically, vendor ads generate the same amount of click throughs with eBay running.


Vendors Supporting Site
There are currently 3 vendors supporting CCA.
They are all active within the community. People who value their knowledge will buy from them before eBay all day.
If they don't, they get the service of installs, so they still make money.

Vendors have the right not to advertise here. If they feel the eBay stuff is too much heat for them, i am sure i will be the first to know about it.
On 11-23-2007 a post was put up about the ads here. I personally spoke to 1 shop about it and they understand, eBay is not going anywhere.
"eBay will become a part of the site in early 2008 as we finalize some details."

That amongst many other things were stated in that post, again, no comments.

Canada and the lack of vendor support

We have 3 vendor shops here on CCA. The site changed hands in 2005, has more than doubled in size etc and we have 3 shops.

99% of the vendors in this industry from dealers / reps / manufactures and shops have never once supported the site. If they cant afford $50 / $100 a month to promote their shops , shows, products etc, then maybe they shouldn’t be in business.

While others opt NOT to support the site that has catered to them for years, others have stepped up. In the end, the sites survival depends on advertising and in 2008, we have moved away from B&M shops and are focusing on working with bigger marketing companies, eBay, adsense etc.

While guys like Frank say they’re happy they did not support the site because they have personal vendetta against me because they have been banned, makes no sense. I am not here to be anyone’s best friends, CCA is ran like a business, money is invested, I care about up time and the community. A smart business choice is to be a part of the community.

So yes, while Frank feels proud to work against the grain, it truly doesn’t hurt me or the site. Had Frank spent maybe $50 a month he wouldn’t have had to sell out to FM Audio.
And even at that, do you think I will ever allow FM Audio to be a vendor here when a guy like Frank is happy or content to see what he believes is the site tanking? Never. Sorry wait, I should have said “FM will never be a part of CCA, ever”.
See how clever that is.
And in typical fashion I am sure he would say he would never ever want his current shop to be a part of it. That’s cool, that’s like being a hockey stick manufacture and to NOT wanting your sticks used in the NHL.
Again, people just need to realize that I will do what it takes for this site to survive (except pop ups for ANY members.. LOL )

For the love of the sport

This is likely the most famous line. Dealers / reps / shops all saying everything they do is for the love of the sport. Biggest bunch of bullshit ever.

I mean people need to realize, I love the sport, the community this site brings together and all the people who are genuinely nice. Sadly, as much as I LOVE THE SPORT this site takes $ to make it exist.

This site is FREE for people to be on. It was free before I bought it and it had ads to now, free and has ads. The ads have changed, there are more ads but then again, this site is has changed a ton since the 3400 members days.

For the love of the sport is having a CCA show and me putting up a ton of money for it. I am not a dealer, I am not a rep. I have nothing to sell and everyone I promoted this to is for the most part is a member here.
If you think 1 new member who came through the show has had that huge of an affect on revenue generation like 1 new potential buyer at a shop being d out by a show has happened, then you’re nuts and have no idea how the internet works and or the costs associated with this site.

Selling Out

In 2007 we had 4 offers on the table to sell the site. While I can’t disclose the companies I can tell you I could have easyily said “see ya later CCA” and road off into the sunset.
I wouldn’t have to defend my actions with this site; I wouldn’t have to care about my friends that I made on here or the general public.

We had turned down all 4 offers.

I can say that I am almost 100% sure not 1 person on this site would be willing to put up the kind of funds for this site. I am almost as certain that a group of 20 guys would not be willing to put in the thousands each to buy the site.

I do not regret ever saying no to these organizations. Will the offers come down the tube when I am totally frustrated and sick of dealing with some people from here, who knows?

Some might wonder why not sell?
Aside from my personal belief that I would be selling out on some of my friends here like Paul and Jordy and the other guys, it just doesn’t sit well.
As I have said to Jordy, if I truly ever consider selling the site he will be the first to know and he will have a chance to scoop it up with Paul. It is my word that if its within reason I will personally chop g’s off the other offer so that the site stays in the community.

My commitment to this community has always been 100%. Regardless of how many people have said they want to kill me, hate me etc. I have never bounced on this site when seems horrible, but trust me, I could have and at the worst times have felt the best thing to do would be to let it go.

Just like a member saying he is quitting, there are also other options for me as well, except after 2 years, I am still not willing to give up.

In The End

In the end, myself, GTcars, jordy, dukk and the mods run this place. Followed by the subscribers who give up their bucks to make sure this place stays afloat, followed by active regular members etc.
There is a hierarchy here. And while the staff reads what is written, and the other admins and mods pass things off to me, I have to decide what is best for keep the site up.

When a guy like dogstar wites a post like this, it ultimately means nothing to the ‘real community’. For every 1 member(s) that leaves 10-20 a day new ones join, fresh blood to the hobby. Most call them newbs, I believe they are the future of the sport. Am I willing to sacrifice one displeased member with 350 posts for 10 new guys who are eager to come out to events and talk car audio, absolutely!

There are many unsung heroes here on the site. There are guys who do what they do for no profit or business means, I am not one of them. I have the burden of paying the bills here. I have to make sure money comes in, and if that means that after exhausting talking, mailing and emailing shops I have to turn to other agencies like Adsense and eBay, so be it.

There are people who make this site what it is and the reason why I find a personal value in the site.

So yes, Dogstar, fairwell. Just understand you could have left without the dramatics, you could have hit X and never returned. You could have also spent $10 and become a subscriber and cut out the ads.

In the end, CCA will stay with ads, without ads etc.

Hopefully this ads some clarity.

**moved to the feedback area.**

veeman

iTrader: (3)

not sure where most of these ebay haters are from...but I hate to break the news to them...it's here and it ain't going anywhere. Get used to it, ebay, if used properly, can be an excellent source for many hard to find items and some really excellent deals. I have used it countless times, just as I've purchased locally countless times, and sometimes the deal is just too damn good to pass up....period. All these contributors fail to realize that not everyone at this forum is interested, or needs their expert opinion on anything. Some of us actually know what we're doing, and enjoy the chat, helping other enthusiasts if we can, and just being somewhat connected to the hobby...keyword there, hobby, that this car audio thing is. If you can't enjoy a free forum that caters to all types of enthusiasts...then it's not for you.