Evening. While I think this is a really cool idea, I have to be honest and tell you I am not willing to pay for membership.
1: It is unclear to me what the benefit is for a membership payment. There is a blurb that I can get a discount, but I can only see what retailers are participating after I pay. And, a family membership? What does that even do?
2: You are creating a gated community behind a paywall. By default you are denying all Texas owners access unless they pay. Any important, relevant, helpful information (assuming there will be some type of forum-like section) is out of the reach of the public. On a website that is by definition designed to promote community.
3. Honestly, my harshest criticism, it feels a bit like a money making endeavor. That's not my kind of thing. I am on no social media at all (except here and one Tacoma forum). I think the monetization of information and data is driving a world of payments and subscriptions. This is just another one.
Now, before you take to your keyboard to get angry with me, let me also counter myself.
1. I am sure you are working hard to secure benefits from retailers and make it worth member's time. That takes a lot of time and energy on your behalf, and that is worth something. Time is money. For that work and any relief you can bring the club members, that's amazing.
2. A paywall can really help limit the amount of…extra stuff a website has to deal with. You know when you are there, other people have also paid to be there. It creates a level of (hopefully) respect and calm. It can cut down on the free for all aspect.
3. I get the hurt of doing it for free. I hosted a social club for people in my profession for three years. My site, my time, my events, my wallet. The sole reason we shut down was I wasn't willing to shoulder the cost anymore. It was way more than any of the participants realized. This shit costs money and takes a lot of time from your personal life. I get it.
So that's where I stand. Good on you for the effort. I understand what you are trying to do. I wish you the absolute best in this (I really do). But, I am not paying for membership.
