MR supporter price increase

[7thson]

I’ve been a supporter for the last 2-3 years. It was $25/year and it felt right, and good, to contribute to what I consider a well run site and forum. I was more than a little disappointed when I was encouraged to renew recently without any explanation as to the 100% price increase. I actually doubted my memory but checked to confirm it was indeed $25 last time I paid.
To be clear, I don’t feel like $50 is outrageous but it is more than I want to spend and combined with the lack of communication about the reason for increase has left me feeling like MacRumors is pulling corporate level shenanigans with its price modeling. It makes Apples price increase on its services look downright reasonable in comparison.
Not looking for a dog pile on this topic one way or another. I’d love an explanation for the justification but am content to just not renew and be done with it.

 

[icanhazmac]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/front-page-story-filtering-and-macrumors-supporter-tier-50-yr.2354817/?post=31339681#post-31339681

 

[7thson]

Thank you @icanhazmac. I tried searching for an answer but didn’t see this.

 

[annk]

I can't answer for @arn as to the increase, and speaking only a member, I can mention that the cost of membership was $25 back in 2004 when I became a contributing member, so the price has definitely not increased over a period of at least 19 years. Seen from that perspective, it doesn't seem so bad that it now has increased to $50.

 

[7thson]

I can't answer for @arn as to the increase, and speaking only a member, I can mention that the cost of membership was $25 back in 2004 when I became a contributing member, so the price has definitely not increased over a period of at least 19 years. Seen from that perspective, it doesn't seem so bad that it now has increased to $50.

Ah, good perspective.

 

[KaliYoni]

I’ve been a supporter for the last 2-3 years. It was $25/year

the cost of membership was $25 back in 2004

And $25 in 2004 adjusted for inflation is about $40 in 2023 dollars (and, for context, the S&P 500 increased around 300% during that period).

Inflation Calculator | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

What’s a dollar worth? How far does a past dollar stretch to equal the modern dollar? What would past prices be today?

www.minneapolisfed.org

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Interactive Chart for SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), analyze all the data with a huge range of indicators.

finance.yahoo.com

 

[annk]

And $25 in 2004 adjusted for inflation is about $40 in 2023 dollars (and, for context, the S&P 500 increased around 300% during that period).

I'm sure the site owner can answer this better than I can, but I seem to remember that the perks were also changed. My point is that I think there was thought given to the increase (and it is a privately-owned site, after all).

 

[icanhazmac]

I would like to submit, again, my request for a new subscriber perk.... remove the daily disagree limit.

Your move @arn and team.

 

[MacNut]

$50 for access to a private forum seems high. I wonder if that will be too much to keep people. Considering the size of this forum that does seen exessive. This is not some upstart website that needs help to keep the lights on.

 

[Clix Pix]

If I recall correctly, when there was a price increase a year or two ago, long-time contributors/supporters were "grandfathered" in and when we upped our contributing membership for another year the cost was not increased and we paid what we had paid in earlier years. Is this no longer the case?

 

[Apple_Robert]

If I recall correctly, when there was a price increase a year or two ago, long-time contributors/supporters were "grandfathered" in and when we upped our contributing membership for another year the cost was not increased and we paid what we had paid in earlier years. Is this no longer the case?

You are correct and the policy is still applicable.

 

[Clix Pix]

You are correct and the policy is still applicable.

Thanks, but.....are you a Stealth Mod or Admin so that you can actually answer the question with authority?

 

[icanhazmac]

Thanks, but.....are you a Stealth Mod or Admin so that you can actually answer the question with authority?

Why do attempts to help get met with responses like this?

It is pretty easy to prove without being a "stealth mod", whatever that is, or an admin:

Account Details : Paid Membership

 

[icanhazmac]

Thanks, but.....are you a Stealth Mod or Admin so that you can actually answer the question with authority?

From my post in this thread #2, from @arn

Existing subscribers to the contributor tier can continue to extend using the previous pricing, but for new subscribers, the price for this tier is $50/year.

Note: No mythical "stealth mod" powers were used in the creation of this post.

 

[Clix Pix]

Yes, I just checked my account (don't know why I didn't think to do that earlier!) and indeed the rate for "legacy" subscribers is still set at $25.00.

 

[KaliYoni]

are you a Stealth Mod or Admin so that you can actually answer the question with authority?

Why do attempts to help get met with responses like this?

FWIW, I didn't read the question as an attack but rather as a request for clarification because the post it refers to is extremely terse and brief. Also, I feel the post's tone implies the answer has an official status.

 

[icanhazmac]

FWIW, I didn't read the question as an attack but rather as a request for clarification because the post it refers to is extremely terse and brief. Also, I feel the post's tone implies the answer has an official status.

FWIW, I think the reply to helpful information could have been worded in a little more friendly fashion as well.

Like: "Thanks, where did you find that information?".

Perhaps you never saw it but terms like "stealth mod" have been used in a derogatory fashion in the past. Thankfully most of those members are no longer here.

 

[AZhappyjack]

I’ve been a supporter for the last 2-3 years. It was $25/year and it felt right, and good, to contribute to what I consider a well run site and forum. I was more than a little disappointed when I was encouraged to renew recently without any explanation as to the 100% price increase. I actually doubted my memory but checked to confirm it was indeed $25 last time I paid.
To be clear, I don’t feel like $50 is outrageous but it is more than I want to spend and combined with the lack of communication about the reason for increase has left me feeling like MacRumors is pulling corporate level shenanigans with its price modeling. It makes Apples price increase on its services look downright reasonable in comparison.
Not looking for a dog pile on this topic one way or another. I’d love an explanation for the justification but am content to just not renew and be done with it.

Same. Supported for 3-4 years. When I saw the "increase", I chose not to continue... I considered it a "charitable" contribution... so if @arn wants to turn his nose up at it, that's his choice.

 

[AZhappyjack]

You are correct and the policy is still applicable.

I was not able to do so... so I opted out.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Same. Supported for 3-4 years. When I saw the "increase", I chose not to continue... I considered it a "charitable" contribution... so if @arn wants to turn his nose up at it, so be it.

If you will contact Arn, he can help with you not seeing the $25 renewal for legacy accounts. I believe there is a glitch in the system where it doesn't show like it should to those contributing members.

 

[AZhappyjack]

If you will contact Arn, he can help with you not seeing the $25 renewal for legacy accounts. I believe there is a glitch in the system where it doesn't show like it should to those contributing members.

Not interested if I have to beg @arn to "let me" contribute... and I think the spammy message at the top of each forum page ("Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.") it particularly cheeky.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Not interested if I have to beg @arn to "let me" contribute... and I think the spammy message at the top of each forum page ("ecome a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.") it particularly cheeky.

You are simply making him aware of a problem on your account not begging. How can he fix a problem for you and others if he doesn't know?

 

[MacNut]

Isn't this one of the more successful forums on the internet. Why the up-charge all of a sudden. Unless the goal is to weed out who joins the private forum.

 

[svenmany]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to give up my "demi-god" title . I just can't justify $50/year. Finances these days are not quite rosy.

Probably I didn't get a renewal reminder, which would have allowed me to renew at the legacy price before it expired. I know I got such a reminder last year.

 

[AZhappyjack]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to give up my "demi-god" title . I just can't justify $50/year. Finances these days are not quite rosy.

Probably I didn't get a renewal reminder, which would have allowed me to renew at the legacy price before it expired. I know I got such a reminder last year.

Exactly my situation. Some have suggested that I contact @arn and beg ask him to let me support him at the old level. That's not going to happen... and I've noticed that I am spending less time here these days, anyway... so it's a win-win for me.