Miata Mailing List: August 1997, Message #23
sponsored by



     



From: 	Gary Fischman <miata@eunos.com>

Subject: Support of Miata.net

Date: 	Fri, 1 Aug 1997 09:01:37 +0000



I want to thank everyone who has suggested ways to raise some revenue for

Miata.net! Its very comforting to know that Miata.net is valued enough for

you to want to provide financial support. Sorry I didn't respond earlier,

but I

didn't want to be too hasty with my response.



Keith and I have been giving this some thought. If you recall, there was

similar support around this time last year for the M Club concept. 

Unfortunately, after all the people from the list gave their support, and

a few others, it rapidly dropped off to almost zero. So while there may

seem to be a groundswell here, it probably won't end up encompassing the

general public. Still, we'd like to come up with something for those who

*do* feel the urge to help us out.



Before going on, I just want to address one of the suggestions. Someone

suggested that the vendors pay a higher sponsorship amount, then give

discounts. The cost of sponsorship is at a level now where it is fair to

both of us. Its at a point where it is already difficult to attract new

sponsors. This is why there are only 15. In addition, most of the vendors

are already operating on very thin margins to provide the best possible

pricing to you, the Miata nut. If they were *able* to absorb additional

discounts, their competition would already be undercutting them. So that

isn't really an option. And since sponsorship pricing is not based on 

the number of hits, hammering away at Miata.net is not helping at all

either. It will simply bog down the server.



Several people have also generously offered to help by working on 

Miata.net. This has come up several times over the past three years.

Sadly, every single person that has offered help (with 1 exception)

has failed to make good on the offer. If you're inclined to offer,

regardless of how good your intentions are and even though "it'll

be different this time" (as I'm sure it will), I have to say, "Thanks,

but no thanks."



As I indicated in previous posts, the preferred method of supporting 

Miata.net is by supporting the sponsors and avoiding the vendors who

are not sponsors. When you contact the ones who haven't "seen the light",

please let them know that you think they should support Miata.net.



For those who still feel appreciative of Miata.net and would like to 

provide additional support, we've come up with a couple of options:



	Level		Annual Cost		"Gift"

	----------	-----------		-----------------

	Basic		$25			M Club sticker

	Gold		$50			Sticker plus email address



There are no other "benefits" to membership. No discounts. No membership

card. No magazine subscription. No password protected area of Miata.net.

(We'll soon be moving the stuff from the protected area into the main

site. It will be done in increments - there's a fair amount of work.)

I suppose what we're saying is: If you're doing it to get something more

than the gift, we'd prefer not to have your money. (Yes - several people

actually sent us hate mail because they never received their magazine

after sending in their M Club dues - even though we never said a word

about any magazines.)



In the interest of full disclosure, I'll add that a portion of the

funding that comes in this way will go to Keith Tanner, although the 

majority will go to Eunos Communications (me). Keith receives 

additional support through the sale of Miata.net Stickers, Windshield

Banners, Hats, and Windblockers - with 100% of the profits from those 

items going to him. 



If you haven't hit the delete button by now and you still would like to help

support Miata.net, please send your *very* appreciated donation to:



	Eunos Communications

	12 Spring Court

	Old Tappan, NJ 07675



Include your return address, 2 or 3 choices for sticker color (no

guarantees here), 2 or 3 choices for miata.net email alias (if you've

chosen the "Gold" level and as long as it isn't already taken), and the 

address you want your mail forwarded to.



In conclusion, I want to thank everyone for your suggestions and your

good intentions. Knowing that you *want* to help out Miata.net means

a lot to me.



--

	Gary Fischman

	MFWIC@Miata.net