quote:Originally posted by bbftx
Perhaps the funny part is that they want $40 to participate in the forum?
Going from "free content" to "all content only for paid subscriber" is usually not a model for success on the internet.
bbftx
My earlier post in this thread was in response to the above. What I meant is that whether a site has "free content" or "all content only for paid subscriber," members will still wind up paying for product. Free content is often a lure to get you there in order to sell your product. Nothing wrong with that. The "paid subscriber only" model may not be a model for success on the internet for a start up outfit, but Chuck and Randy are partnering with an established outfit in Medicus (and Chuck is certainly well established in his own right in the TGM and professional teaching field, so he is not really a start up entity). The tiny handful of golfers on this planet who actually give a damn about TGM will be augmented by the much larger numbers of golfers who will sign on due to the name recognition supplied by Medicus. If 5000 golfers sign on, that is $200,000 operating capital up front for the site, and a good starter base for selling products and services. If the product is good, it will grow (with a lot of word of mouth, that is "free" advertising. Note the success of Brian's site, Lynn's site, FGI, BSG, et. al.) and be successful.
Either way, for the forum member... Nuthin' is free
, you might get some teasers, but ya gotta pay for the good stuff. Which is only fair. Besides, nothing is more easily ignored than free advice. If you have to pay for it, you might actually heed it.
Now on to the concept of delivering product/services for moneys paid. I am a member of Chuck's "premium content." I don't have to pay to see any of this video downloads. I can pay for them here (and I have, confessions of a former flipper is still the best golf video short I have ever seen) as I choose. I recently got a sleeve of Medicus logoed Pro V1's without asking for them. I'm still not sure why, but I'm not complaining). They have delivered product (for whatever reason) and the site is not even really up and running. And Chuck has certainly delivered product in the "premium content" portion of his forum. There are over 100 instruction video shorts by Chuck and about 30 audio shorts of Homer himself. It's great. I wish I had joined sooner. I feel like I got my moneys worth.
Now, I have also paid $80.00 to be a Beta tester for Brian's original videos. On 12/4/03, I paid via PayPal, $30.00 for Never Slice Again through Beta 1.0, and Do It Right through Beta 1.0. At first I got nothing, but after I contacted Brian, he fixed the goof up and I received Do It Right and Never Slice Again, both the Beta 0.5 versions. I watched them both exactly one time. It was painful. It was pretty rough.
That is my only comment (you have gotten much, much better in front of the camera, Brian). But like many others, I eagerly awaited delivery of the final product. It has not happened. The reasons why have been well documented here, but still, the product has not been delivered after more than two years. So in a sense I have paid for free content here. Nuthin is free...
Am I seeking a refund? No. Will I accept it if you offer it? Yup. Will I return the original Beta 0.5 videos if you want 'em? Sure. I could put that money to better use elsewhere, and if you ever do finish and release your final versions, I have the option to buy 'em.
