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Topic starter
16/07/2025 6:03 am
Dear Club Members:
The diecast.org site is a custom site that requires maintenance. We used to pay for this maintenance with the Auction commission and fundraisers. We have not had any auction sales for a few years now, and we do not have any money to continue the website maintenance. The website is currently experiencing a critical error and we need to hire IT immediately to keep it up and running. We are implementing an annual $25.00 dues to members now to cover this expense. All members, please send $25.00 USD by Paypal to club@diecast.org Please include your name and preferred e-mail in the message field when you send your dues.
- E-mail club@diecast.org and request an alternate payment method if you do not have a PayPal account.
Going forward the annual dues will continue to be this very nominal charge of only $25.00 If anyone would also like to make a donation to the club, that would be greatly appreciated. Please send any donations to the same club@diecast.org Paypal address.
We will work to add some perks for the members. Exclusive models and discounts, model giveaways, raffles, etc. The first perk that will be exclusively for Club Members, is a code for 15% off all pre-orders from Mint Models mintmodels.com or Legacy Diecast legacydiecast.com that you will receive after you pay your dues. For almost 30 years, the Club has been the best community for model car collectors, and we all need to keep it going.
Thank you!
The Diecast Zone Model Car Club
We have all heard your concerns about public vs private. The site will be made available to the public for viewing. Only paid members will be able to post and comment.
** Addendum:
To pay by check
Send $25.00 USD and make the check out to The Diecast Zone.
Send to:
The Diecast Zone
16 Walker Way, Suite 4
Albany, New York 12205
We also just had Legacy create a way to do it on their website for us in case people only want to pay their dues by Credit Card. Link:
https://legacydiecast.com/fine-scale-models/the-diecast-zone-membership/p/33088
Thank you!
The Diecast Zone Model Car Club
This topic was modified 10 months ago 3 times by The Diecast Zone
This topic was modified 10 months ago by John Kuvakas
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
16/07/2025 6:12 am
If your name wasn't attached to this Tony, I would've deemed it a scam.
Jack Dodds and Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
16/07/2025 6:37 am
@chris I hear you Chris. When initially brought up I had to harken back nearly 30 years ago to the original D4C Club. I was Jay Olins' assistant editor when he provided the club newsletter. The dues were close to this, Then when we did the Limited Edition Club Cars, buyers had to be paying members. Been so long ago, I forgot. 
Christopher Moroni and Jack Dodds reacted
16/07/2025 7:43 am
I sent $25.00 from PayPal a few minutes ago, one thing this is going to have to be reminded each year so people won't forget to renew. I also would like to clarify that from the message above the forum will only be able to be accessed by paying members, it won't be available to others to just read the forums? I understand the joining to be able to post but doesn't preventing people from being able to just read the posts and see the photos and such limit the ability to entice new people to join the forum?
If I have read that wrong let me know.
Topic starter
16/07/2025 8:12 am
My understanding is that the forum will be visible to all - BUT it will appear just as it does when you (a member) are not logged in. You can see certain posts etc., but have no access to functionality. Your point about reminders is crucial and we'll be sure that is addressed.I sent $25.00 from PayPal a few minutes ago, one thing this is going to have to be reminded each year so people won't forget to renew. I also would like to clarify that from the message above the forum will only be able to be accessed by paying members, it won't be available to others to just read the forums? I understand the joining to be able to post but doesn't preventing people from being able to just read the posts and see the photos and such limit the ability to entice new people to join the forum?
If I have read that wrong let me know.
Christopher Moroni and Jack Dodds reacted
16/07/2025 9:14 am
@perrone1 Great, I just wanted to be clear on my understanding on that.
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
16/07/2025 12:05 pm
...got it. Dues pay for the opportunity to contribute (and some perks ), otherwise you're "on the outside looking in." 😏
Topic starter
16/07/2025 1:48 pm
John, in checking on this point, I currently understand that the club intends to make the forums completely private for paid club members. It will just be a slow process so that we can give every member a chance to join and pay their dues before it actually becomes private.I sent $25.00 from PayPal a few minutes ago, one thing this is going to have to be reminded each year so people won't forget to renew. I also would like to clarify that from the message above the forum will only be able to be accessed by paying members, it won't be available to others to just read the forums? I understand the joining to be able to post but doesn't preventing people from being able to just read the posts and see the photos and such limit the ability to entice new people to join the forum?
If I have read that wrong let me know.
We will let potential "new members” have a try-out period before they have to pay dues, so not to stifle new sign ups. We can slowly allow people to join as members with a grace period before they pay there dues; hoping to gain their sign-up during the grace period.
Christopher Moroni reacted
16/07/2025 2:33 pm
@perrone1 - May I offer my two cents as an experienced and lifelong entrepreneur who started, operated, and sold multiple firms? Without a doubt, I'm just a member, and this isn't my call. However, this is merely my opinion on the outside looking in.
As legacy members, while we might want to keep our current site alive, and might be willing to pay an annual fee, I believe attempting to charge NEW members to join "The Zone" will be a fatal mistake. There are several reasons why I believe this is a flawed strategy.
1. Via social media, particularly Facebook, there are dozens or perhaps hundreds of pages devoted to model cars in all mediums, scales, and genres. Some of the page memberships are in the tens of thousands. They're all free!
2. Realistically, who out there in the world, who isn't currently a member, is going to fork over $25 to be a member of a page populated primarily with us old retirees?
3. The Zone had its moment in the sun. It's pretty obvious, with rare or little participation from new members, that the moment has faded into the sunset. Frankly, I think the current website direction is outdated. This is evident in the fact that to keep the site financially viable, we are required to pay an annual fee. I suspect this is due in large part to the membership being in their 60s, 70s, and 80s (can you say stubborn?) and resistant to change. Instead of having a private website, which requires an annual fee, we could easily have a private Facebook Page for free! Furthermore, if members insist on having separate pages for the different scales, we could create multiple Facebook pages for the various scales/genres.
4. Being on Facebook would expose "The Zone" to an entirely new audience of millions of potential new members. Mint Models could benefit by directing membership to their website.
Again, my two cents.
Topic starter
16/07/2025 2:53 pm
Good points to ponder Marty - well worth two cents and THEN some. I'll pass this on right now to management for their thoughts - thanks!@perrone1 - May I offer my two cents as an experienced and lifelong entrepreneur who started, operated, and sold multiple firms? Without a doubt, I'm just a member, and this isn't my call. However, this is merely my opinion on the outside looking in.
As legacy members, while we might want to keep our current site alive, and might be willing to pay an annual fee, I believe attempting to charge NEW members to join "The Zone" will be a fatal mistake. There are several reasons why I believe this is a flawed strategy.
1. Via social media, particularly Facebook, there are dozens or perhaps hundreds of pages devoted to model cars in all mediums, scales, and genres. Some of the page memberships are in the tens of thousands. They're all free!
2. Realistically, who out there in the world, who isn't currently a member, is going to fork over $25 to be a member of a page populated primarily with us old retirees?
3. The Zone had its moment in the sun. It's pretty obvious, with rare or little participation from new members, that the moment has faded into the sunset. Frankly, I think the current website direction is outdated. This is evident in the fact that to keep the site financially viable, we are required to pay an annual fee. I suspect this is due in large part to the membership being in their 60s, 70s, and 80s (can you say stubborn?) and resistant to change. Instead of having a private website, which requires an annual fee, we could easily have a private Facebook Page for free! Furthermore, if members insist on having separate pages for the different scales, we could create multiple Facebook pages for the various scales/genres.
4. Being on Facebook would expose "The Zone" to an entirely new audience of millions of potential new members. Mint Models could benefit by directing membership to their website.
Again, my two cents.
Marty Johnson and Christopher Moroni reacted
16/07/2025 3:01 pm
A Facebook page would be nice for those who are on Facebook. But it leaves out the rest of us: I deleted my account a couple of months ago because I didn't want to look at all the angst; I don't miss it and don't see myself going back to it.
16/07/2025 4:07 pm
Quite so. I don't consider myself particularly paranoid about online activity (although I do vaguely worry about tracking cookies and suchlike) but I do have a pathological mistrust of Facebook and its intrusive practices and ruthless personal data gathering, and if the forums went there, I regret to say wouldn't follow.A Facebook page would be nice for those who are on Facebook. But it leaves out the rest of us: I deleted my account a couple of months ago because I didn't want to look at all the angst; I don't miss it and don't see myself going back to it.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
16/07/2025 4:13 pm
Seven cents a day.
Forty-eight cents a week.
$2.08 a month.
Definitely affordable. Like Marty, I question whether this business model can attract new members, but I like this bunch of wackos over other groups and will be happy to pay my part of it.
16/07/2025 4:31 pm
@paul-rouffa Paul; I knew that as a previous Jeopardy contestant/winner you were a bright guy but man do you impress with your guzinda ability!
This post was modified 10 months ago by Jack Dodds
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