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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,175 ✭✭✭✭Goldengirl


    It's paid via Stripe though which is very safe . I was not under the impression that the payment is automated to repeat as per @Dublin Calling?

    I agree that as many options that are available should be used .

    Help keep Boards going , subscribe or donate if you can.

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,175 ✭✭✭✭Goldengirl


    Edit

    Help keep Boards going , subscribe or donate if you can.

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭con747


    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.

    Help Keep Boards.ie Alive sign up here

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/ Keep Boards Subscribed To.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,175 ✭✭✭✭Goldengirl


    No , obviously ,hadn't seen that until now . Connection hit and miss where I am .

    Help keep Boards going , subscribe or donate if you can.

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,418 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I didn't see it till now as the site brought me to post 1624 rather than 1622 and I missed it.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,771 ✭✭✭archfi


    Please God that and the bouncing should be the first fixes, feck everything else till then!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,813 ✭✭✭eightieschewbaccy


    I think you probably need to make clear to posters that vanilla is here too stay as well. I'm pretty confident that it isn't feasible to migrate to xenforo at this stage.

    Equally I think an effort should be made to get a long term archive of the site for the sake of it very much so being a valid part of Irish social history. So even if the site does go kaput in six months or something that some form of the history remains. That doesn't necessarily have to be continuously updated but just to a point in time.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭Hibernicis


    Given the vast social repository that boards.ie is, your second point is very important. Boards.ie should engage with Digital Repository Ireland (www.dri.ie) now with a view to ensuring that the asset is preserved, whatever the outcome of current deliberations. The National Library of Ireland is another possible home as part of its digital collections.

    @Boards.ie: Odhran @Boards.ie: Mike



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 13,932 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    I still haven't seen if that €50 is auto-renewed. I'd prefer not to have to remember something is about to come out of my account in a year#s time.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,771 ✭✭✭archfi




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  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 79,501 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    I also mentioned the National Archives, a while ago.



  • Boards.ie Employee, Boards Employee 2, Boards Employee 3, API Token user Posts: 221 ✭✭✭✭✭Boards.ie: Odhran
    Boards.ie Employee


    image.png

    Yes, renewal emails should go out 7 days before your sub is due to renew.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56,089 ✭✭✭✭Headshot


    Are boards set on continuing with Vanilla or have you looked into any alternative instead?

    If you're going to persist with Vanilla, why?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭Hibernicis


    Thanks to @New Home for compiling the list and to @Boards.ie: Odhran for taking the time to respond.

    Regarding point 1, the message isn't sinking in. Just look:

    Screenshot 2025-07-18 at 14.36.36.png

    The current banner conveys NONE of the seriousness or urgency and is most likely being missed by a large number of members. It's far too laid back and nice. A far more intrusive message that draws attention to the seriousness of Boards.ie's plight and the need for action is required.

    And regarding the Plan of Action, it should/needs to be taking shape at this stage, or at least a direction should start to become apparent. Perhaps there are things happening in the background, perhaps not. @BrendanBurgess (post #63 in this thread) suggested getting "a few of your many strong supporters into a private forum to generate a few ideas on how to make boards more sustainable in the long term". I suggested getting someone with substantial business (restructuring) experience to come in and look over the model and quickly determine whether there is a route to viability (on a pro bono basis if necessary). I appreciate that there is a lot going on, and it can be difficult to do the strategic stuff while treading water under pressure to pay bills etc. But the time is limited, the current batch of subscriptions is very much a one-off goodwill gesture to give a breathing space. The greatest risk now is prevarication and taking the foot off the pedal. The time for decisions and action is now, while there is still time and the issues have focus. Please don't let it drift.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 364 ✭✭Beagslife


    Hi Odhran,

    Can I suggest that you add the option to allow users disable auto-renew for annual subscriptions. A pretty standard practice and another little thing to encourage more annual sub take-ups.

    Thanks 😎



  • Boards.ie Employee, Boards Employee 2, Boards Employee 3, API Token user Posts: 221 ✭✭✭✭✭Boards.ie: Odhran
    Boards.ie Employee


    Yep - thanks…
    You can manage your subscription and cancel at anytime… it will be an option on the renewal email.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,821 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    »Since day one I have said I am not a great poster - I don't engage a lot on social in general - but I engage as much as I can especially with things like this. However, I work with Mike daily who is indeed part-time.

    Nobody is looking for you to be posting in AH or anything like that. But you have advised there is an issue, and the updates on said issue are painstakingly slow. There has been a call to arms, but then you say »The plan of action … I think that needs a bit more thought than a one liner, so I will come back to it as it needs to include more than just subs conversation. Surely you should be providing more info here if you want the community to help out, no?

    Also - even if effort is needed and return isn't great, I fail to see why you wouldn't try all sorts of revenue streams (e.g. merch). Some money is better than none. Or is the issue that you don't want to do any of the work for this or allocate any of Mike's time? I'd imagine the more creative people here would happily throw up designs/etc for you.



  • Boards.ie Employee, Boards Employee 2, Boards Employee 3, API Token user Posts: 221 ✭✭✭✭✭Boards.ie: Odhran
    Boards.ie Employee


    Mike is going to update the message now.

    Nothing is being let drift and no foots off pedal. We really appreciate the sentiment and suggestions. Monetising Boards is not a this year problem… its a 20+ year problem. We just got it to profit - that was a first. But relying on ad revenue was never going to be a longer term solution. So we are not green in trying to get blood out of a stone!

    Adverts was a route but its not an option anymore - and we also don't have the share of eyeballs that we used to have (not just from the traffic drop - we compete for share of time from social, tv etc…). This is not about a restructure … its can we extract more revenue from ads by putting more in place … and ontop of that for users who use Boards offer them a better experience by not seeing ads and getting a bit more from being a member. If current subs are a one off well that will be dissapointing for all. So we need to make that sub worthwhile by adding more to it… that will come in time also.

    Happy to join private forums … but public just as good so everyone see's what is being suggested. Here is as good a place as any for now?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 978 ✭✭✭Avatar in the Post


    C’mon! 413 is a great result so far. A real community effort 💪



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭Hibernicis


    Thats a very fair response thank you, and happy to leave you to it; sounds like you know what you're at !!

    Happy to join private forums … but public just as good so everyone see's what is being suggested. Here is as good a place as any for now?

    Thats fair. It's just that the constructive suggestions get lost among the flood of goodwill, relentless moaning and occasional muppetry/trolling.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 790 ✭✭✭ngunners


    An email in a year's time (which might end up in spam) is not the same as being able to cancel renewal at any time which you can do on any other site I am subscribed to.

    I signed up for a year happily but blocked my card from making any further payments as I don't know if I'll want to pay that again next year. Being able to pause and unpause would be much more practical.



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,876 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    The National Archives is a repository for state and government department material that is 30 years old (i.e., they take in the material from 30 years ago each year). While it has accepted donations from, say, a solicitor's office closing down, it's not in the remit to help boards. DRI is a great shout though.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 8,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭HildaOgdenx


    Brendan Burgess of askaboutmoney said this on his website. He has also encouraged posters there to help boards, as he has done by taking out a subscription.

    'I have brought the potential demise of boards.ie to the attention of the National Library and the https://dri.ie/'

    Brendan



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,303 ✭✭✭Rubberchikken


    If I came upon 5 1euro coins on the road, not only woukd I stoop down and pic them up, I'd actually contribute it to this poor wreck🙂



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,403 ✭✭✭RoyalCelt


    Nearly 500 donations so far is a very good start. I didn't think we'd get past 200 tbh. The hunger so save this site is there.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 18,516 ✭✭✭✭fritzelly


    can we extract more revenue from ads by putting more in place

    @odhran considering most of the ads on the site are absolute trash that is very highly unlikely quite the opposite - more of a turnoff (one of the more egregious ones was the Aussie ad that you couldn't get rid of specifically on mobile, along with the foreign adds some Indian or similar),

    Properly targetted Irish ads is something you don't seem to have pursued, relying entirely on Google (?) to provide them

    Reliance on ads for revenue ended years ago anyway



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭con747


    You tagged the wrong person, they have been inactive since 2009. You need to tag @Boards.ie: Odhran

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.

    Help Keep Boards.ie Alive sign up here

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/ Keep Boards Subscribed To.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 18,516 ✭✭✭✭fritzelly




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,949 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    I know I'll be derided for this suggestion by the "with it" brigade but here goes. @Boards.ie: Mike make it possible to pay a yearly subscription in cash while enclosing details on username/email. You'll get a few subscriptions that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,418 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Or you could buy a postal order postal money order. Otherwise - shove €50 in an evelope, buy a stamp, post it. Mike has to take money to bank. Or. Money goes missing, Mike gets accused of pocketing it, aggravation ensues.



This discussion has been closed.
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