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16/07/2025 6:41 pm
Marty's pragmatic overview is quite sound. I believe all those who feel differently are simply not facing facts. Intuitively, I realized Marty's comments and subsequently viewed my payment more for what I have experienced, over the 2+ decades I've been around, rather than a fix to ensure the Forum's longevity.
17/07/2025 3:41 pm
If it goes Facebook then I am out, you can't even look at most Facebook accounts these days because Facebook wants you to join in order to just look. I would rather keep this site. When ever I try to look at something and it leads me to Facebook I can't ever see the content and it pops up a box to join Facebook, I have no interest in Facebook.
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
18/07/2025 4:53 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.
Tony, are you saying that the full website functionality will be available only to "club members" ? And non "club members" will have only read privileges?
Christopher Moroni reacted
18/07/2025 8:35 pm
@chav If I may, yes that is correct Chav. Your dues allow you to contribute (and enjoy some perks ). For all others, who don't pay dues, they'll be "on the outside, looking in." They'll have the ability to view posts but will be prevented access to participate, the same as a non-logged in member.
Chav reacted
18/07/2025 9:05 pm
@chav If I may, yes that is correct Chav. Your dues allow you to contribute (and enjoy some perks ). For all others, who don't pay dues, they'll be "on the outside, looking in." They'll have the ability to view posts but will be prevented access to participate, the same as a non-logged in member.
Thanks for the clarification Chris. My opinion, for what is worth ... closing the site for "members" only, is the next suicidal move for this site. How many dedicated members will pay their yearly "membership" 50? 75? 100 the most, $2500 an year (you cannot hire a IT person for these money), no young people here to keep the ball rolling, this site will eventually disintegrate. I personally want the database and search back, that was the biggest feature that I am constantly missing. I completely agree with Marty's post above. This "business model" makes no sense to me.
Marty Johnson and Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
19/07/2025 6:12 am
The Diecast Zone will basically return to the original Diecast Zone. Membership allowed posting, auctions and the ability to partake of the Limited Edition Club Car. It will stay public in that posts can be read but not responded to without being a member.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.
Tony, are you saying that the full website functionality will be available only to "club members" ? And non "club members" will have only read privileges?
Christopher Moroni reacted
19/07/2025 12:09 pm
@chav If I may, yes that is correct Chav. Your dues allow you to contribute (and enjoy some perks ). For all others, who don't pay dues, they'll be "on the outside, looking in." They'll have the ability to view posts but will be prevented access to participate, the same as a non-logged in member.
Thanks for the clarification Chris. My opinion, for what is worth ... closing the site for "members" only, is the next suicidal move for this site. How many dedicated members will pay their yearly "membership" 50? 75? 100 the most, $2500 an year (you cannot hire a IT person for these money), no young people here to keep the ball rolling, this site will eventually disintegrate. I personally want the database and search back, that was the biggest feature that I am constantly missing. I completely agree with Marty's post above. This "business model" makes no sense to me.
Please picture this: A collector is Internet surfing and happens to find this site. They click on a forum to see the conversations take place there. They decide to chime in with a comment, and then they receive a message:
To participate in the Diecast Forum, there is a $25 annual membership fee. Go "here" to pay the fee and review the additional privileges.
For what I predict will be the reaction, I think the common phrasing is, "Major Buzz Kill."
Realistically, how many new collectors are going to be willing to pay the fee to make a comment? Can you imagine walking into a new restaurant, asking to see a menu, and the hostess says, "We charge $1.00 to look at our menus." What would be your reaction? Would you pay a site $25 to make a comment? I think most of us would agree that it is a big ZERO! How many are going to be turned off, never to return again? I think most of us would agree that it is a big 100%! Honestly, I think too many of us think The Diecast Zone is a 10 when, in reality, in its long-in-the-tooth condition, is a questionable 5. 
Here's my alternative solution. Allow ANY and ALL people to participate with no requirement to be a paid member. If the rest of us "old nostalgic foggies" want to enjoy the old memories, camaraderie, and friendships, and keep The Zone alive, I'm betting we'll step up and continue to support The Diecast Zone with the annual membership payments. But I highly recommend, let's not risk bringing in new and needed membership by chasing them away by requiring a fee to post. For my business sense and aptitude, that just seems crazy!
This post was modified 10 months ago 4 times by Marty Johnson
19/07/2025 12:22 pm
This forum works very well, people who are not members can read threads and look at the photos and videos, the only thing they can't do is post, as for a subscription fee $25.00 is very reasonable that is just 4 Starbucks coffees a year, I also donated another $50 dollars to the site to help with the maintenance cost.
As far as Facebook is concerned I do not like the lack of privacy that Facebook has, they use everyones data for what ever they want, I don't like that, also as I stated in another post if you are not a member of Facebook you can't even look at a site, whenever I open a site that is on Facebook I start to scroll to see the content a box pops up requiring me to either sign in or create an account and Facebook stops you at that point.
I don't have those same issues with sites like this one, my data is not shared or sold off to other companies. I can't even look at the MNTrailers Facebook page because Facebook stops me and wants me to sign in or create an account.
Facebook is not the be all end all of the internet and businesses that direct me to a Facebook page lose my business, it is as simple as that.
There are many automotive forums that use software similar to this site and they thrive. For me I will stick to the forum as is.
This post was modified 10 months ago by john3976
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
19/07/2025 1:25 pm
@john3976 - LOL! John, since you previously made this point regarding Facebook, I'm assuming that your comment is addressing my last post. My previous comment was only regarding charging $25 to non-members for posting a comment.
This post was modified 10 months ago by Marty Johnson
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
19/07/2025 2:01 pm
Try this, do a search for 1/18 scale Diecast Forums, I get this site and a few other sites, not one site comes up Facebook, so if someone is searching for diecast via a browser search they are going to be pointed to this site and a few other similar forum type sites, I did not get one link for a Facebook site.
Now if I do a search for MNTrailers 1/18 scale I get their website, there Facebook account which I can't view because I am not a member and I get their instagram site with is owned by Facebook and again can't view unless I become a member of instagram and I get a few forums that have done reviews of MNTrailer products.
So if you are only interested is reaching the Facebook crowd by all means make this site a Facebook page and only members of Facebook will be able to access it.
The forum in its current state can be accessed by anyone on the internet right now without having to join any site, the exception is if you want to post comments and photos and video then you need to join. That is far more access then Facebook gives you because Facebook requires you to join Facebook or it stops you from even seeing the sites content the same with Facebook owned instagram if you are not a member you can't even look.
I could use the skeleton trying to peek into a Facebook or instagram page only to have the same set of blinds snap closed on the Skeleton because they can't even look without becoming a member of Facebook or instagram.
This post was modified 10 months ago 4 times by john3976
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
19/07/2025 2:37 pm
Here is an idea, most forums have a section for sponsors who contribute to have space on the forum, that would give companies who sell diecasts a presence and people who are members of the forum can get incentives/discounts and such and those who are not members still can read the forum, and see the sponsor section knowing who is offering diecast products for sale even if special deals are for forum members only. That may be an incentive for someone to join the forum in order to receive a special deal on a diecast they want.
This also allows the sponsors to post and interact with the people who purchase diecast as well. It is my understanding that Mint Models/Legacy Diecast have been long time supporters of this forum so a section for sponsors would benefit the sponsor, members and those who are just reading and looking as they can see what companies are sponsoring the site.
Mint/Legacy Diecast, Fairfield Diecast, Motorsports Collectors, are just three companies that sell diecast products we enjoy on this forum, having a section they could have their company listed in and they could post in with up coming releases or sales they may be having would benefit both the companies and the forum members as well as those who are just looking and see something they might like.
Companies like ACME, CMC, Autoart and others might also be interested in having a presence in the forum as a sponsor as well.
This post was modified 10 months ago by john3976
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
19/07/2025 2:42 pm
Chav, Marty, John, et al; all great ideas flowing here. I'm not making decisions for the club any longer, but I'm gathering these all up for scrutiny and liking what you're all saying.
Christopher Moroni reacted
19/07/2025 3:26 pm
Chav, Marty, John, et al; all great ideas flowing here. I'm not making decisions for the club any longer, but I'm gathering these all up for scrutiny and liking what you're all saying.
We get it Tony, it is sad, the site is on life support, no investment for several years, what was the site once it is no longer, at least for me. With no hope of getting the database and the auctions back, as well as the annual club car, with no business/leadership seriously backing this community, I don’t see how this site will survive the next several months, hopefully few years. With the decline of personal spending, Mint Models probably already experiencing difficulties generating cash, the $25 membership won’t fix anything.