Webteam kills discussion.. but not the money grab

[Halligan84]

I guess if its your website you can take it home with ya when the playground gets rough. You killed a whole thread because people dared not be thrilled to get stuck for something they currently get free? If you really thought people would be happy, its obvious Firehouse.com doesn't do drug testing.

You want 14.95 a year (the first year, a savings of AT LEAST 40%) and offer what we already have, plus long promised never delivered archives and some new forums. Excuse those of who have been a little cynical toward you and don't see this as a wonderful development, but once the site is paid the free section will rapidly begin to shrink to nothing.

If you want people to even consider paying, you better be willing to discuss what we're going to get or the future plans for the site in detail.

[Ten8_Ten19]

Why are you so cranked about this? If you don't like the deal don't take it. I won't sign up either but I don't begrudge them the right to try to turn a profit. If you don't like the show turn the channel.

[webteam]

See This thread:
http://www.firehouse.com/cgi-bin/for...c&f=1&t=004487

Everything the service will include and won't include is listed on the announcement.

Thanks for everyone's support.
WebTeam

[E40FDNYL35]

Ten8_Ten19 I agree with you.
I'm out on it because I feel we should not have to pay for our story. Just my 2 cents

[LtStick]

Why mess up a good thing. All there gonna do is hurt there selves. People will just go to a different site where they don't charge you. So hey if they want to do this more power to them. There other sited people can go to. So if they want to hurt thereselves so be it.

[PAVolunteer]

So would you guys rather not pay for anything and have Firehouse.com eventually go out of business because they can't afford to run the site anymore? Good freakin' gosh, it's $15 a year!!! That's $1.25 a month. $0.29 a week. $0.04 a day. Everybody quit your cryin', buckup & shutup.

Stay Safe

[Halligan84]

15 this year.. at LEAST 40% savings.. that means around 21 or more next year. I agree, we'll all shut up.. pay your money and watch what happens.

[E40FDNYL35]

PA Volunteer I work as a Firefighter and feel I should not have to pay for our story to be told. Firehouse will have a members only area and that's ok with me. I will not pay that's all. That's how I feel. Firehouse does a GREAT JOB and I THANK THEM. BUT with or without Firehouse LIFE STILL WILL GO ON. JUST MY 2 cents

And I am not being MEAN....

[PAVolunteer]

$21 per year. $1.75 per month. $0.40 per week. $0.06 per day.

E40/L35 - I understand what you say about not paying for your story. Wouldn't you pay though to hear other stories (i.e. DCFD, PG County, LAFD, etc.)?

Firehouse.com is running a business. Their business is bringing us the news and information in order to be better firemen. If they don't turn a profit, or at least cover their expenses, we don't get that news and information.

We pay $X a month for cable to watch Millionaire athletes on TV. How much better spent is that money to get better FF information? As for me, I'll have 5 fewer beers next year, that will pay for the Firehouse.com members area.

Stay Safe

[E40FDNYL35]

• Galls:
• Auctions:
• NY Fire Store: Best Selling FDNY T's
• Books:
• Code 3:
To name a few...they all make MONEY OFF US...
I am not saying this is a bad thing here.
Me, myself and I are out on this. That's how I feel...still my 2 cents...and that all you will get from me on this...

[Feynman]

As someone who has converted large paper based items on into a useable form for the web, I know what an effort it can be. However, at least since I first started visiting this site, access to the archives has been something that was "coming soon." The magazine is the reason this site was started in the first place. To charge access fees now for the very thing you aimed to provide at the start is less than admirable.

[BlackJackCo]

I don't necessarily mind about paying for the site, but I wonder just how much profit do they need? The idea seems solid, but they get money from all the advertisements posted all over the pages we view. It is great to have the free access and I for one appreciate the quality of information we are provided. It would also be nice to have a fully searchable database of old articles and forums from firehouse.com and firehouse magazine. If this is what they intend to do I don't mind paying $15 or $21 a year. But I do disagree with providing the information to make huge profits, if that is actually the case.

[CHARLESTON]

Question: What about those who have been subscribing to Firehouse magazine for years? Shouldn't that loyalty qualify us for something? What about access for those who have a subscription? How much $$ is enough?

[webteam]

Folks

Just to reiterate what was posted in other threads on this topics ... we're not talking huge profits (at least any time soon) ... we're talking the survival of Firehouse.com in its current state and continued expansion.

Thanks
WebTeam

[SilverCity4]

I've certainly spent a lot more than $15 on stuff I didn't need, so I'll give it a try. If it isn't worthwhile, then I'll cancel it later.

I don't think there's any reason to panic here.

[cilfd]

I think the fire service is being had on this one. In many areas on the net, free content paid for by advertisers has come up short and the only way for those sites to stay in business is to charge for the content. I don't think that is the case Firehouse.com - just look at this site - filled to brim with advertising. This doesn't look like a site hurting for advertising dollars.
No, I think we're being had. Now they want you to PAY to participate in a Forum that they will then SELL to others. That's pretty good wouldn't you say - we have to pay to create the content that Firehouse will then market and make a profit on.
I participate on a number of other forums in the fire protection field and they all are FREE. Check out American Fire Sprinkler Association if you are interested in sprinklers - FREE FORUM. There is one for fire alarms and others - ALL FREE.
This seems like a clear case of bait and switch - get you hooked on the site and the free forum and then once they got you hooked - claim poverty and charge you for it.
Like I said, I participate on a number of forums and NO CHARGES. This is a commercial site with a profit motive and don't be had.
DON'T PAY TO GIVE THEM CONTENT TO SELL BACK TO OTHER FIREFIGHTERS. Think about it!

[webteam]

Folks,

Before you post, please read the announcement and the details what the service will include.

These forums are FREE and will continue to be FREE.

There will be forums specifically for members, which won't include advertising, and are just an added feature for the Members service.

Again, if you are going to criticize and make these assumptions, please read the facts not the statements of others that are false.

The MembersZone is an add-on service that will truly be unique and offer some very cool features as it grows. The MembersZone also won't include advertising.

Thanks
WebTeam

[DaFAO]

Due respect to the Webteam and all they do...For sure, it's a difficult job...I question, if I may...

I've heard word that Paul Brown of St Louis Firenet, the author of the WOF report, will put the report into the paid members section of the site when that section of www.firehouse.com activates, and that he's being compensated for this...Okay, that's cool, I guess...

A few of the paging groups that Brown uses information from to compile the report have indicated that because he is being compensated and they are not, he may not use their page information any longer...

Webteam, can you shed any light on this, and why the decision was made to make it part of the paid site? Im not criticizing- I just want to understand...

Thanks for all your hard work...

[toneloc177]

The BULK of our content will continue to be free. But please realize it takes countless hours, funding and resources to run a site like Firehouse.com. The MembersZone will offer some very cool services and if it takes off, can be grown into a true online community with tons of interactive features that we could in no way do without it being a paid service.

If you don't want to join, please don't make assumptions on what will happen...the MAJOR content of Firehouse.com ... the news, photos, calendar, forums and the like ... will continue to be FREE. We thank everyone for their support.

So, that's it? Not very informative. 'Interactive features' sounds intresting though. Too bad i'll never enjoy it. Don't make enough on a civil servants salary to be tossing money aside.

Why not hit up the ADVERTISERS (Galls, Code 3, etc., etc., etc.) for a few extra bucks? We subscribe, we pay, we go to the Expo, we pay, we log on - we shouldn't be paying.

[Brian Dunlap]

I don't think it's all that bad of a deal. What services will we be paying for ??? I may have missed that part. I say try it out if it's a waste than I won't pay. Web-Team does a great job on this site and I fully enjoy ALL the content and actually use what I read here....It comes in Handy at times