Group purchases?

[Rich Stern]

First of all, Happy Easter to everyone. Hope you all had a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.



For those of you who have been around a bit, you already know that I publish several other web sites based on the same technology platform that this web site runs on. Some of the other sites are commercial, meaning that they have paying sponsors. Those sponsors pay for the servers, software, bandwidth, etc., pretty much everything we need to keep the lights on.



I just finished developing a feature that allows my sponsors to manage group purchases via the sponsored web sites. Basically, the sponsors offer an item at a low price to members, based on a certain number of members agreeing to buy at that price. When the number of members wanting that deal reaches the specified minimum set by the sponsor, the sponsor contacts all of the folks signed up for the purchase and completes the transaction.



So, my question to the members here: Would you like to see that capability on this site? You would be able to suggest items you would like to see in a group purchase. I'll create an electronic sign-up list, and then I will go shop that group deal to a vendor who'd be willing to offer and honor an aggressive price on the item in question. Nobody's name or email would be made available to potential vendors. I would simply let a vendor know that we had X members ready to purchase the item based on the best possible price offered. When the deal is in place, then the vendor would be allowed to contact the members that had signed up to participate.



Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Bill P]

 

[Dewey Leggett]

What could it hurt? I would more than likely buy on occassion.

 

[John Foster]

I agree with Bill. I don't mind Sponsors as long as I'm not forced to look at them like the BFHP. A separate page or banners at the top are OK.



So Rich. I can GUARANTY that if you get Shamano to offer all of us Curados at $80.00 a piece. They would sell a few hundred real fast...LOL

 

[Huck Palmatier]

http://www.popupstopper.net/product_dpps.html

...try this.
http://www.popupstopper.net/product_dpps.html

 

[Staci Matheis]

Sounds like a GREAT idea to me, Rich!



me!



P.S. I've been thinking about some of those Sospenders you guys like so much.....

 

[TrepMan]

Hurry up and get them set up with a vendor who sells line counter reel combos for trolling for stripers!



Like John F. said i'd be all for it as long as it was voluntary (with the ability to take your name off the list) and it did not effect the look/feel of your site (i.e. no banners, popups...)

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Sounds good to me. Volume is a good thing when buying. How about some 901's? LOL

 

[David Munaretto]

PLEASE NO POP UPS/ POP DOWN ADS!



Other than that, ya got my support...

 

[Brian Feist]

I have no problem saving money... Sounds good to me...

 

[Roy Cody]

Wouldn't hurt to try it out. If we don't like it or if there's not enough interest to continue, no harm done!

 

[Tom(fishfafun) Lutz]

Good deal as far as I'm concerned....sigh up Yamamoto Baits fast!!!



Tom

 

[Greg Meyer]

Yeah...

 

[Rich Stern]

Just a follow up comment regarding pop-ups: I don't do 'em.



For the sponsored sites I run, there is a single, non-rotating banner ad at the top of each page. No flashing neon or distracting animations allowed. In other words, it's designed to be there if you want it, but not in your face if you don't.



I can't promise that we won't ever have similar ads here, but if it does happen, I do promise that it won't interfere with how you use the site.



One of the things that I have tried to do with the sponsor concept is to make sponsors part of the site community. Not unlike how Ken Neeley participates here. The sponsors interact with the members on the message board, provide technical help, resolve problems, answer questions, etc., just as any other member might. It works really well, and the members generally appreciate having the sponsors on the site, just as you guys have grown to appreciate Ken.



You'll have to trust me on this, but I am a careful custodian of how well these sites run. I won't mess up what you have grown to like.

 

[Ken Neeley]

Thanx Rich....you know how much we all appreciate this site.

I wouldn't mind pop-up ads as long as they were really big and frequent and only said "CALL KEN AT BPS!!!" LOL

 

[Staci Matheis]

Rich -



As much as I hate ads of any kind.....



I think that you owe it to yourself to sell some space on this site. You've put in a ton of work. You deserve to be compensated financially for the work you've done - after all, this is how you make your living. All of us will understand and appreciate your position. None of us will go away.



You've put together the finest boating / fishing site on the internet! We all are deeply grateful to you!



God bless!

me!

 

[Rich Stern]

Ken, quote for said services is on the way.

 

[Rich Stern]

Scott, thanks for saying so. We'll see what happens. I'm not going to go out and do any heavy selling. Let's see how the Group Buy thing works out. We may get some vendors who appreciate the group purchase potential of the member base and are willing to work with the site for the opportunity.



In the meantime, we want killer prices on all the good stuff, right?

 

[Robert Spradley]

Yes Rich, I agree with Scott, (can't believe I said that!!LOL). You have put a lot of time here and deserve rewards. If u have to, I will understand advertisements on this website. Robert

 

[JAMES MOORE]

Go for it RICH,

We all will bennefit along with the retailer.

 

[Sam Elkins]

Count me in also.

 

[Adam Murray]

I'm always a sucker for a deal - count me in!

 

[Barb Baggott]

Count on me to spend my OT bucks! How about new Avalances for the group? What kind of discount?