With the recent upgrade in software, MousePlanet can now offer paid memberships for our MousePad discussion boards. While everyone can continue to access to the same features they currently enjoy, those who wish to experience MousePad with enhanced features and premium services can now do so.

Why is this being offered?

As MousePlanet and MousePad have grown, we have experienced a tremendous increase in traffic and strain on our servers. Two years ago, we implemented some restrictions--including capping our bandwidth on our main server and disabling avatars (user icons) from MousePad--in an effort to control our server costs.

Although members said that they would gladly pay a small fee to keep avatars and increase the speed of MousePad, there has been no simple way to manage that--until now. The latest vBulletin software upgrade comes with a subscription feature, so now those members who wish to use bandwidth-intensive features may pay a nominal fee to do so.

We are also pleased to announce that we have moved MousePlanet and MousePad to a brand new server, which will provide increased speeds to all of our readers and members.

Remember that all existing MousePad members will continue to have all of the features currently offered to our members. Nothing is being taken away, and you will not have to become a paid subscriber just to post here.

How much will the subscription cost?

We are offering two tiers of subscriptions:

Basic. Register:

On or before Friday, June 4, 2004, and receive a one-year Basic subscription for a contribution of $9.95
On or after Saturday, June 5, 2004, and receive a one-year Basic subscription for a contribution of $12.95

Premium. Register:

On or before Friday, June 4, 2004, and receive a one-year Premium subscription for a contribution of $19.95
On or after Saturday, June 5, 2004, and receive a one-year Premium subscription for a contribution of $29.95

Basic subscribers receive:


Avatars
Expanded Private Message box storage (100 messages)
Special Subscriber icon below their user name
Access to a subscribers-only buy/sell board*
Premium subscribers receive:


Avatars
Expanded Private Message box storage (300 messages)
Special Subscriber icon below their user name
Access to a subscribers-only buy/sell board*
No banner advertising/no pop-ups.
Ability to post a profile photo (in addition to an avatar)
Ability to post to the public Community Events calendar
*Use of the buy/sell board is limited to private party sales of Disney-related items only. No commercial advertisments are allowed. This is a fully-moderated board, subject to specific posting rules.

What happens if I don't subscribe?

Absolutely nothing. You can continue to read and post just as you do today, with absolutely no changes in your account.


How do I subscribe?

Beginning Wednesday May 26, a "Subscribe" button will appear at the top of every page. Clicking on that button takes you to the payment gateway, where you can process your subscription. Online payment options include credit cards (Visa or Mastercard) or Paypal.

What if I can't afford it?

Subscriptions are completely voluntary. More importantly, all existing MousePad users will continue to have all of the features currently offered to them. Nothing is being taken away, and you will not have to become a paid subscriber just to post here.

Can I pay for someone else?

The subscription system is driven by user name, so you must log in as that user in order to purchase that user's subscription. If users trust you enough to give you their password, you can log in, pay for them, and log out again. We do suggest that they change their password after this process.

You may also mail in a payment for that other user, and we will apply the payment to their account.

What if I don't have a credit card?

You can pay via Paypal (link (http://www.paypal.com/)) if you have a checking account. Be aware that a new Paypal account takes a few days to establish because of its security steps. If you need to set one up, do so soon so you can take advantage of our lower prices.

What if I'm under 18?

You should speak to your parents to determine the best payment method. If they allow you to make your own online transactions, let them know about prepaid cards, such as the Visa Buxx card from Visa (link (http://www.visabuxx.com/)), which is accepted at all locations that accept the Visa card.

What if I don't want to pay online?

Online payments are preferred because they entail less work for the MousePlanet staff and provide instant access to the premium services. However, if online payment is not an option (for any reason, including a desire for anonymity), you may mail a payment to:

MousePlanet
401 North Brookhurst St Suite 108
Anaheim, CA 92801

Payments must be in U.S. funds, and must be made via money order or cashier's check. We do not accept cash or personal checks for subscriptions; they will be returned, and your account not upgraded.

Be sure to provide your MousePad user ID when you send in your payment. Your subscription will begin when your payment is received. To take advantage of the promotional pricing, your payment must be postmarked by June 4, 2004.

How secure is your online credit card processing?

Very. MousePlanet processes credit cards through AuthorizeNet, one of the largest online payment processors in the world. AuthorizeNet uses advanced security systems to safeguard transaction data, and is in full compliance with the Visa Cardholder Information Security Program.

What personal data will you see about me if I subscribe?

The only information we will see is what you provide. In order to process your subscription, you will be asked to provide sufficient information to verify your right to use the credit card you submit for payment. MousePlanet will be able to retrieve this information if needed to address a cardholder dispute.

If you pay via Paypal, we will be able to access only the information you provide to Paypal.

All data collected, either with a credit card or Paypal transaction, fall under our MousePlanet privacy policy, and will not be used for any purpose other than to process your MousePad subscription.

How will subscriptions improve MousePad?

Subscription fees will help offset the cost of the new server needed to enble the use of enhanced features on MousePad.

What happens to my subscription fees if I am banned or suspended?

All members agree to abide by the MousePad Community Policies when they join and/or subscribe. If a subscriber violates these policies, they will be suspended or banned like anyone else. Subscripion fees will not be refunded in the event of a suspension, banishment, voluntary hiatus (extended break), or departure from MousePad.

Question: since the subscriber folks will have access to features that will take up more bandwidth, is that going to negatively affect anyone who chooses not to subscribe, making the system slower, or is the change of server going to already compensate for that?

The new server can handle pretty much any bandwidth requirements we can throw at it. So you should not see any slow down or system degredation from this. Honestly, we could be linked from SlashDot again, and still not see a major server hit.

Cool, thanks.

This is a sad day for MousePlanet :(

Why? If you don't want to subscribe, you don't have to and you lose nothing you have now.

This is a sad day for MousePlanet :(
Totally.

This is like fastpass for mousepad. :|

Why pay for features everyone else offers for free ? I've never heard of a message board that charged for avatars.....well, um, until now.

No, but I've heard of several that charge to post. Would you prefer we go with the precedent?

I prefer neither.

Couldn't there be another way to raise money, like a PayPal donation box or something ?

Personally, I'm surprised that anyone who spends a lot of time here, met some wonderful friends here, spends about $10 for dinner at Disneyland once a week, and understands just how much servers cost would complain about paying $20 for an entire year.

I'm still considering whether getting rid of ads is worth it to me for the Premium, but I'm definitely going to be sending you at least $10 for avatars.

This is what it is. The only thing I REALLY have issue with is the "special subscriber icon." As if the avatar disctinction isn't enough, you're going to promote even more elitism by rubbing people's subscriber status in the average slobs face? Sorry if I'm sounding harsh about it, but while I can understand everything else, that bugs me.

I just subscribed for a premium. :D When can I upload my avatar? I want it now!!! :p

So, it's the caste system for MousePad then, is it?


Well, this may be just me personally, but a tiered system of Padders really rubs me the wrong way. I believe it was the U.S. Supreme Court which wisely declared that separate is inherently unequal, so the statement that nothing is lost to Padders who don't subscribe to a higher level of features rings a little hollow to me.

Frankly, I would have much preferrered a simple and inexpensive subscribtion fee for all Padders rather than a paid Fastpass or Fantasmic desert buffet kind of thing. Better yet would have been a paypal donation button. As a regular poster, I would have made regular donations. Asking me to pay for the privilege of having an avatar, however, gets my dander up - - and the result is that MousePad will get no such fee from me.


Maybe the member base is just too large for a volunteer money system, but I would respond much better to 'please contribute' or 'everyone contribute' than I will to a stratified system of preferential class.

I don't see a problem with it at all. Costs tons of cash to run something like this, they are simply offering a little something extra to those willing to pay for it. As far as it being a "Caste" system, I think people are used to paying more to get more. You want first class features on a flight, you gotta pay. I think it is a far better system than requiring everyone to pay for the basics. Kudo's 2 da crew.

I do agree with GD that the "Special Subscriber Icon" is rather unecessary and distracting. I assume that is the big blue ribbon all the moderators now have. It just adds clutter. If it is deemed necessary, perhaps a simple text message under their user name indicating subscriber status would suffice?

Couldn't there be another way to raise money, like a PayPal donation box or something ? We've had the Amazon Honor System (donation system) on MousePlanet for... 2+ years? It's on every single content page.

Asking me to pay for the privilege of having an avatar, however, gets my dander up I can't imagine why. As you correctly stated, avatars are a privilege. They are resource intensive. They cost us money. Not everybody wants or will use them. Rather than making everyone pay for a service that they don't use, we're allowing people who wish to use them to contribute towards the added costs. It's completely optional. And as has been discussed, there are no features lost to people who prefer not to subscribe. MousePad is as functional as it has been - moreso in fact, because we have this lovely new server which makes life faster for everyone.

AVP

Better yet would have been a paypal donation button. As a regular poster, I would have made regular donations.
Yes, we've appreciated the steady stream of income from the Amazon Honor System links in our articles.

I don't mind it. Sites need funds. I like this site. I can pay funds to help it. And get a little something in return, like avatar use.

And I was extremely glad to get the no-Ad function once I registered.

One could also say that the "tiered" AP structure at DL is also a "caste system". I'm sorry, but to me, it's just like saying that all AP's deserve 365 days of admission regardless of what they pay. ;)

If people want avatars that badly, they'll pay for 'em. I did. (But, mainly I thought it a cool way to donate $20 to MP since I use these boards so much, and MP has literally changed my life by introducing me to fantastic people and inadvertently playing a role in my finding the love of my life. :D)

I might be wrong, but we dont have to have the avatar or "special subscriber icon" showing on our posts, so its a choice.
And though I was considering one, I'll leave it off, out of respect for iSm.
However, for me, it was the "No pop up ads" that convinced me.

I try to support the site when I can, and I dont always read the artciles, or click the... donate here buttons. Why did I this time? It was right there in front of my face, easy link, and I could paypal.
A no ad land..... I can check at work without annoying pop up ads. I love it.

Okay... I tested it... I dont have the special subscriber icon, and I registered. NOT a complaint, merely observation.

I Lied... I closed the window and reopened it... there it was. Sorry. I cant see how to take it off.

I have been part of other sites that change this way, and my question is this will the flood gates of pop up adds be on the way for thoses of us that keep the free sevice?

As far as ads go:

We are currently happy with the ad structure on MousePad and have not even considered changing it because of this.

That is not to say that we won't change in the future (a lot of what we do with ads is dictated by the prices being paid for them), but it won't be because of this change.

So, no chance of getting rid of the "I'm better than you because I paid" subscriber icon? It doesn't seem there's an option to turn that off.

Yes, we've appreciated the steady stream of income from the Amazon Honor System links in our articles.
Sorry, but I haven't been in a position to notice them. I don't want to seem insulting, but I haven't read MousePlanet in quite some time. It took a serious dip in relevance, IMO, and I ceased to be a reader.

Have there been any such links actually on the Pad that I have overlooked?

I might be wrong, but we dont have to have the avatar or "special subscriber icon" showing on our posts, so its a choice.
And though I was considering one, I'll leave it off, out of respect for iSm.
However, for me, it was the "No pop up ads" that convinced me.

We're having some challenges with the PayPal system - it is registering the payments, but not activating the subscriptions. I am doing that by hand at the moment, so it may take a bit of time for it to become active. (I am in Dallas at the moment and flying to Houston tonight, so connectivity is a bit spotty)

As for the Avatar and Subscriber icon, you don't have to have an avatar,. You can also chose not to see avatars if you don't like them. We are considering options for the subscriber icon - the text is one option being considered, as is a smaller icon.

I do agree with GD that the "Special Subscriber Icon" is rather unecessary and distracting. I assume that is the big blue ribbon all the moderators now have.

If you put your mouse over the ribbon, it says "MousePlanet staff", so I'm presuming only staff can have that. I'm assuming that doesn't count as an avatar, because I've got avatars turned off, but I can still see the ribbon.

Hadn't thought about the "special subscriber icon" thing, but now that it's mentioned, it does seem odd to me. Why would it be necessary for others to know whether or not someone has subscribed? I can't think of a feature that requires that info.