Cannibalization - The Supreme vs. Cheapskate Scenario - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

BullMarket · 03-31-2005, 05:25 PM

It has occured to me that supreme membership is in a way cannabalizing the non-supreme TN forums (currently, in a very small way). However, if eventually, the supreme subscriptions become significantly greater, fewer and fewer supreme members will be posting in forums that are also offered in the supreme section (like OT). Revenues would then switch from vendor's marketing on TN and lean more on the subscription base.

I mostly post in OT and have mentioned several times that I won't pay for supreme membership. However, OT was and for the most part still is whored up

by some of TN's most famous. I have noticed a strong trend toward subscriptions among our members. As such, I tend to believe they will be posting less and less in the non-supreme forums as the subsciptions pick up and more people join in on the supreme conversations. (I imagine with only a handful of supreme subscribers the convos couldn't be too interesting...but as the subsciber base grows that will change)

Which could leave the free TN forums....dare I say...lackluster

I imagine this scenario might take some time...maybe a really long time. But I think my logic is correct. Is TN trying to switch it's source of revenue from vendor advertisements to a more subscription-based forum??? If so, I think TN should realize this has the potential to cannibalize it's non-supreme forums.

Best regards,

THE BULL

SmokingTires · 04-01-2005, 12:01 AM

Nope, won't happen. In the Supreme forum, we lack any posts about our vehicles. People will continue to post in their vehicle specific forums. That will never change.

As for the conversation in the Supreme forum, it tends to be more mind exploring questions than the standard "look at this dumb person" that is normally posted in O/T.

I still post conastantly in the Camry section and where other tech knowledge is needed. People will never stop posting in the normal forums. And it is highly doubtful that the number of Supreme Members will grow extremely large (considering out 20,000+ members). It is still only a handful of people willing to pay it.

***Ratko*** · 04-01-2005, 12:24 AM

BullMarket,

I can understand your concern, because the reality is, you don't have all the facts. Which makes it hard for someone in your position to come to an accurate foresight into the forum's future. That scenario is just not going to happen. The supreme-only forums (which contain 2 subforums, one adult-related, and one related to the arcade) are supplemental forums. The main surpreme forum is basically a much slower mini off topic where people tend to start more intimate and more mature "OT" threads. The fact is that if you compare the growth-rate of Supreme signups to the growth-rate of new member registrations overall, the ratio is absolutely ridiculous.

The supreme forums in no way, no matter how many supreme members we happen to have, will ever cannabalize ANY of the existing forums that are available to all the normal non-supreme members.

And even if it WERE remotely possible, we wouldn't let it happen.

BullMarket · 04-01-2005, 07:47 AM

Mike:

I understand that the supreme section doesn't have it's own "car-related" forums...I figured that all along. I probably wasn't clear in my original post. I think supreme membership has the potential to cannibalize part of OT.

However, the fact that you DO have "thought-provoking" threads in the supreme forum suggests that you (and others like you) will post those type threads there instead of OT. Let's be honest, prior to supreme membership, this is where you would have put it, right? So let's say you do. Even if you DO bring it over to OT to get more response, those supreme members who already posted in the supreme thread will really have little motivation to reiterate what they mentioned before. This is, of course, barring any new statements made by non-supreme members that bristle you.

Ratko:

Thanks. Please read my Mike respose for clarification.

I never assumed supreme membership was growing faster than regular membership. In fact, I never expect "pay service" growth to outpace "free service" in ANY industry as long as similar benefits are being offered. It goes against the rational consumer mindset.

With that said, I guess I really wanted to say what I said to mike above. That is, the supreme forums do in a way detract from the old OT. Threads in the supreme member forums would have been posted in OT assuming no supreme membership. I think it is unlikely the supreme forums will become so enormous and popular that OT will become lifeless but I do think it hurts the THREAD QUALITY of the non-subscriber OT. That's all.

Thank you both for your insight.

BULLMKT

SmokingTires · 04-01-2005, 02:30 PM

The thing is before the Supreme section, we didn't have an extreme number of throught provoking threads. The stuff we post there probably would have never ended up in the normal O/T because it would just get whored with jokes.

However the Supreme forum is a much slower moving forum. Unlike O/T, it only gets maybe 1 or 2 new posts a day. O/T will always be the safe haven for posting extremely stupid video and all the other stuff it is known for

lucanhookup · 04-01-2005, 03:47 PM

just charge more for being a supreme member

***Bakemono*** · 04-12-2005, 08:12 PM

I dont think you have to worry too much about supreme membership taking over and detracting away from the other forum sections.
As I see it, supreme membership is intended as a way to bring in some extra money to pay for hardware/software maintenance and other kinds of expenses that the board will incurr.
The administrators realize that most people wont pay for that kind of membership without a little something extra in return. That is why they offer some small benefits with supreme membership (special forum sections, arcade, ect).
Myself, Ive been considering paying for the supreme membership. I dont care as much about the arcade, special forums or any of the other supreme perks.
Im considering paying for supreme membership because I feel a sort of responsibility as a user on this board. This board is a great resource and I feel that I should be finding ways of giving a little back. Sure, Ive helped some people out with good advice, but in a way I feel that isnt enough.
So you see, Bullmarket, the admins wont let supreme membership be a "cool people" vs. "freeloaders" situation. It is merely there for people who want a little bit more from their TN experience or who merely want to take an added step in supporting this board.
Cap'n

BullMarket · 04-12-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Toyota

So you see, Bullmarket, the admins wont let supreme membership be a "cool people" vs. "freeloaders" situation.Cap'n

I'm a freeloader and I'm cool

Thanks for your input

BULLMKT

CamNub · 04-12-2005, 08:45 PM

Yeah man. Lots of forums have a Donation service. At least here you get something in return.

Many people as Capt as shown may feel inclined to give a little back to the forum. The forum has taught you so much so you feel a little inclined to give a little back either in monetary funds or in knowledge or even both.

SmokingTires · 04-12-2005, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamNub

Yeah man. Lots of forums have a Donation service. At least here you get something in return.

Many people as Capt as shown may feel inclined to give a little back to the forum. The forum has taught you so much so you feel a little inclined to give a little back either in monetary funds or in knowledge or even both.

Hell, on MR2OC you have to pay for membership just to get privet messaging, this places is lavish in comparison.

onehotcamry · 04-12-2005, 09:53 PM

yeah, i'm supreme and compared to OT, it is slow as hell. I can check OT every 10 min and read new posts, i bet while I'm typing this I'll have to stop studying to go check real fast

. And my OT whoring has not decreased the bit, in fact, I'd even venture to say it has increased

Bull just pay money cuz u love us

***ASG14*** · 04-13-2005, 12:45 AM

You whore in every way Joel.............I did not do Supreme just to read the stuff, i also did it as a way to give back to a place that has helped me learn.