So, unless drunk at 4:45PM (totally possible er, probable), my understanding of this forum is to embrace the enthusiast first and foremost.

That being said, an idea I've been kicking around is to have this forum be 'sponsored' only by enthusiasts. Now, we all came from somewhere and most of the people I know of are on CR.net.

Instead of just another forum with corporate sponsors, let's go social! Discounts if you are a member here, a link on their site directing people here (come to this site, join for the discount code, and stay awhile!) wouldn't hurt either.

Some that come to mind...

(CR) mk2tmr2: Makes vinyl stripes and stickers.
(CR) 2ndchanceroadster: Cheap used parts.
(CR) revlimiter: gauges, switches, etc.
(MT) jharris (IIRC): Still making extractor hoods?
(MT) Brain: DIYPNP

Anyway, the point is we need more traffic and we need an identity. Why not be the launching pad for upstart Miata enthusiast companies?

Thoughts?

 

IDK. Lemme think on it before I drop my 2 cents.

 

I think its a good idea, but how do we convince these guys to give discounts?? As in, what is the incentive for them if most people are just going to join from CR/MT, get the discount code and then use it to buy what they already were going to buy at the regular price from CR/MT.

ex.
-I see that mk2tmr2 sells vinyls for $15 at CR.
-What a steal! I am going to buy 3
-I find out that if I join MFz, I can get a $2 discount per sticker
-WOW even better.
-Join MFz, get discount.
-buy stickers, never post at MFz and mk2tmr2 loses $6 and MFz gets nothing.
-if I am mk2tmr2, why the ---- would I give a discount for that?

I am not trying to be a naysayer, but I think a discount system would have to be for senior/supporting members. As a matter of fact, this is the exact same idea I talked with Rick about as part of the sponsorship deal/benefits. Supporting members/sponsored drivers/promoters should get a smaller discount or benefit from any forum sponsor.

Some limitations:
-Must be a supporter/sponsored/promoter.
-Must have a post count of x.
-If we decide to implement a helpful point system, we can include that in the limitations. (for example, must have x positive feedback points before you are eligible). Although we need to discuss this VERY heavily as I can this being problematic.

 

First I want to add, RyokuRob to the list. Just got his tow hooks this past weekend, and the fitment, fit, and finish were all top notch. You couldn't tell these weren't made by some large corporation. Everyone's that's seen them has been impressed by the fit, and quality.

Second, I think the forum needs a optional donation system. We can have polls for what is done with the donation money. It could either be used on parts to raffle off to members. Or it could be given to a sponsor, for a promise to offer a special discount for MFZ members only (this way the donations get spread out between members). It could even be used in the same way on GBs, that can be price much lower than GBs on other forums.

 

How about exclusive group buy's? Or set a donation goal, then when that goal is reached, there's a group buy of an item, with free shipping?

 

that could work too, just difficult to pick something enough people want for a GB.

 

group buys are hard enough to fill up sometimes. We are working on a rating system I think, which should make this a bit easier. The idea is good and active members get rewarded.

 

nice! make sure there's a demotion system too!

 

I have never been a fan of shop discounts because I see how the consumer (me) has been gamed before.

We did club cards. Goto shop. Shop wants you to present club card before billing. They tack on a few % then when presenting you bill take off 10%. In the end they may break even or only take off 1-2% since they bumped the price. Now, shops who list hard prices like on an estore then give a coupon / code is a better more reliable, but generally there are other codes anyways. Why this forum would have a code say over the next forum like MT doesnt make sense.

We have had shops approach us already about sponsoring this site outright, infact about 6. So far Brain and I have told them right now is not the time. We are trying to keep the site ads free.

 

On an old forum I used to be on, there was this game you could play where you would battle other forum members. It was kinda like a strategy game where you could only do so many turns a day. Like that one game umm mobsters or w.e/ And as you built up your armies you could attack other user's armies for points and loot and stuff. Then in your avatar area it would say like your rank and kills etc. But like it was integrated into the website, it wasn't like a flash game or anything just like how there's a garage section, there was a war section.

It made it pretty fun. I know ideally that's not why you would want to attract people to the forums, but it's definitely unique!