SHO Forum Financial Crisis

[sdpatt]

To all of the good SHO Forum faithful, it seems that there is a shortage of funding to keep the Forum operating. If you enjoy this discussion board and hope to keep it in business, you should visit the topic below. Please keep our SHO Forum alive. Thanks for reading.

http://www.shoforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=000827

 

[TotalHst]

Hey sdpatt, I don't think any of you guys know this, but I am the CEO of Total Host(http://www.totalhost.cc). I have been thinking of starting a SHO website, and would be more than happy to host this forum as an addition to the SHO website I will be launching at no charge. Im guessing this is the only operating costs this forum endures. All I need to know is visitors per month, and average bandwidth usage.

 

[Yamaha V6]

Doesn't this belong in the Open Forum? I don't know what this has to do with engine maintenance.

Not trying to be a ****, just asking.

 

[marlonius]

Yamaha V6:
Doesn't this belong in the Open Forum? I don't know what this has to do with engine maintenance.

Not trying to be a ****, just asking.

Dude, Scott is one of the BEST when it comes to the SHO. Don't worry, he's not lost. I'm sure he just wanted to post this message in the well-traveled categories so that everyone would see the message.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

[email protected] is the man to ask all the questions to.

 

[jthomas68]

Scott-Thank you for understanding.
TotalHst-It`s not quite that easy.There are many costs involved,and although SHOForum may be up for sale to the right person,it`s a pretty big investment.The major problem is is www.shoforum.com were to change hands,it would no longer be the same forum we`re used to.Since most everyone here stay because they like it here,changes would mean less members,which equals less helpful info.I think most would agree that staying put would be the best for all.
As for this being in nthe wrong forum,i think Scott may be making a point(very well too).The main focus is to help SHO owners maintain their cars for as long as they are owned.It is appropriate to look for help in the forum that host the main object of the entire site.

 

[Bizzy]

jthomas68:
As for this being in nthe wrong forum,i think Scott may be making a point(very well too).The main focus is to help SHO owners maintain their cars for as long as they are owned.It is appropriate to look for help in the forum that host the main object of the entire site.

Agreed. This topic will stay open as posted by sdpatt. Well said Jeremy. thumbs_u

Thanks Scott for posting this info here for me. It never dawned on me that this was probably the best place to start. wink

<small>[ August 12, 2002, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: Bizzy ]</small>

 

[sdpatt]

Thanks for understanding my purpose by posting in the different topics. I know that not all members and guests visit all of the topic headings. You see, if this Forum closes, I will have to open my own pay-per-response site. wink You guys don't want to have to pay for what you are now getting for free, do you?

Scott

<small>[ August 12, 2002, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: sdpatt ]</small>

 

[TotalHst]

TotalHst-It`s not quite that easy.There are many costs involved,and although SHOForum may be up for sale to the right person,it`s a pretty big investment.

Believe me, with a forum this small hosting the forum, or putting it on a dedicated server, is the only costs. You are running free forum software, and whatever is on your dedicated server doesn't seem to be of cost. Unless i'm missing somthing here, I don't think you are running plesk, cpanel, or ensim.. If there are no costs in hosting the forum, there are no costs period. I know forum owners that own forums 20x as big as this, and their costs are the forum software (in their case vbulliten, not free) and the dedicated server to host the forum. I do not know why your payment on the dedicated server is 350.00/month, which is ludicris for the low amount of bandwidth this forum uses. But I think it might be time to re-evaluate your costs, and possible eliminate some if you know what i mean wink

 

[N3FOL]

I am setting up my account on paypal as we speak.

It will be there soon...

 

[fredhurderjr]

Totalhst -
the software is not a free version, to my understanding. Also, the dedicated server hardware is significant (I've seen the info). If you're interested in buying the rights and the hardware (turnkey operation) talk to Greg or Jay.

If you're into hosting, then you know this setup isn't a 486 sitting on a 56k modem in someone's home closet. It's a dedicated co-location setup. I don't know what pipelines are running to this thing, but those guys could answer that.

 

[MeShoHorny]

Totalhst- Here is the quick breakdown for ya. Server (high end needed to to software requirements)
$200 a month which we purchased, but are making monthly payments on.

$150 a month for the co-lo rack and fract. bandwidth.

 

[billh]

My $$$ should be there. This site has saved me buko bucks in maintaining my money pit, er SHO.
Thanks
Bill Heinson

 

[TotalHst]

You guys obviously don't want to rectify your financial picture by having a "host" which I am offering host this forum. Usually when sites are in financial problems they try to fix them, I guess that isn't the case here, sorry for being mistaken. You guys make my laugh, I have hosting hundreds of forums twice the size of this and up, running more server intensive software then this, and yes it is FREE, I can give you think link to download it if you like.

<small>[ August 13, 2002, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: TotalHst ]</small>

 

[Diameg]

TotlHost,

MeShoHorny posted the particulars there.
Perhaps you can show where the savings can be made and what, if any, changes would be done to the format?

Please guys, let's not get snippy at each other.
I am so sick of these conversations going that route when all we have to do it talk like decent human beings to each other and perhaps come to a nice solution which will benefit the forum and take the financial burden off Jay and Greg.

I realize it's friggin hot out but all it takes is understanding and communication on both ends, as well as patience.

Geez.

 

[TotalHst]

LOL, yeah if there was actually any communication besides "we need money... :'(" then I wouldn't be so adjetated. I am the CEO of a rather large hosting company known as Total Host (http://www.totalhost.cc) I can make their costs go to... hmmm 0?

 

[jthomas68]

Question #1-Do you even own an SHO?
Comment #1-Jay said to mail him offline.Do not respond with comments here.
Comment #2-SHOForum will not be moved.There is a few years of legwork,time,and money invested.It would be,however,for sale for the right price.
Comment #3-Please do not post on this subject here again,it is not the proper place to deal with the owner of the site in front of all members.Thank you.

 

[Diameg]

Okay, that sounds good to me.
Again, I would question what would need to be done to make that happen? Would the format have to change, would Greg and Jay lose control?
These are the types of things I feel should be asked because I'm a computer dummy, and they may be the things that people might have reservations about.

As a CEO of any company (I own my own company too), you would know full well that communication is such a valuable part of success, and of dealing with people.

As a student (both formally with a degree and informally with watching behaviour patterns) of Psychology and how people deal with each other, I just get so dumbfounded at how conversations take a turn for the worse so quickly in here.
This is in no way meant as a flame towards you. It is meant as a flame towards most people in here.

It's like, if someone has something to say and their point of view is not accepted right away, it's time for sarcasm and confrontation. I don't get it.

Anyways, back to you. As I said, it seems to me that what you have to offer is a really positive thing. Now, I have no say in any way on this forum so it's likely none of my business, but I'm just wondering what it would take to get to that point. Plus, I am assuming you would be doing this due to your ownership of the SHO, what if you sold your car? Are we on our own then?
If there are problems and the site goes down or something, do Greg and Jay still have access to get it rectified quickly?
That sort of stuff.

P.S.: If these questions are ridiculous and it seems like I don't know what I'm talking about...well, see the above comment about me being a computer dummy.

Edit: Yes, as Jeremy suggested it would be great if you, Jay, and Greg could perhaps keep in touch with each other offline and see what could be done. I do not retract my statement about me being a computer dummy at this point though.

<small>[ August 13, 2002, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Diameg ]</small>

 

[PuckHead]

Hey, the way I look at it, TotalHst, you just need to contact the guys in charge and give them your offer, and stop the back and forth banter between yourself and those that don't know how the forum runs. ****, I'm one of 'em! I don't really care how the forum runs, so long as it's HERE . thumbs_u

My $.02

Later!
burn_out

 

[jthomas68]

If the forum were to ever seriously go up for sale,it`s already been discussed.The format would remain completely the same as it is now.

Obviously,Greg and Jay know what they are doing.If it were as simple as finding someone already a member to host the forum for free,with no changes,it would have been done a long time ago.No matter how much the enjoy having the site,if there was a simple decision between a few hundred a month,and free,the latter would win out.Let`s all just thank Scott,take his advise,so keep SHOForum going strong.The last half of this topic was tainted a few posts back,and has outlived its purpose.Hopefully closing it will get more "curious" members to look at it,and do what they can.