Will you all be paying for Mumsnet Premium?

[WorraLiberty]

I'm not sure yet but I'll probably pay for a month and then see what other features they bring in.

Thread by Justine incase you haven't seen it

YABU = No

YANBU = Yes, I might give it a try

I wonder how long it will be before the most popular boards are for subscribers only?

The cynic in me did idly wonder if this was a success for MNHQ then it wouldn't be long before they made AIBU or CHAT available for premium members only.

Doubt it.

Tbh, I think the content has deteriorated over the last 10 years so I only dip in sporadically nowadays anyway.

what will the post covid world look like, I suspect I wont be discussing it on here

I wondered where Talkinpeace had gone - she was lovely.

As I have said I probably would pay but have just been reading all other comments and am reminded of when the feminist board first started expressing concerns around trans issues, nothing near as strenuously as now but MNHQ were absolutely ruthless and banned multiple long standing posters. Some of us discussed it on FB groups and the emails people were getting from MNHQ were just so dismissive and even spiteful at times, almost contemptuous. I've just remembered that and now I look at what's allowed to stand and how clear it now is that a discussion was required all along. Makes me think about all those posters who were banned for so little and the way it was communicated to them, and paying for MN feels like something I really wouldn't want to do after all.

grudge holder

I don’t have any objection (in theory, clearly I can’t afford to subscribe to everything) to paying money for content that someone has produced that I gain value from. I also have participated in forums that are subscribers only (but they almost without fail are pretty dull as so few people) but where there is significant added benefit to being a member (eg access to information or content). But I won’t pay for access to a forum where the “selling” point is the views of the general public/ middle class mums as it’s not content mumsnet are producing. (Eg I pay for some podcasts but there is actual content I can’t get elsewhere). & there are other “free at the point of access” content affected by a drop in ad revenue Id rather support given a choice.

Actually given mumsnet is a huge timewaster(!) probably best to have a reason not to use the site.

it wouldn't be long before they made AIBU or CHAT available for premium members only
and as soon as they did that the traffic would drop no one would want to join in because no one would be there to join in with
MN is free because we are doing all the work and creating all the content

Yes I will. First hand experience of a business going under so I can appreciate what they are trying to do. Five pounds a month is nothing for the amount of time I spend on here and the useful resource it is...

Apparently 200 odd people have already subscribed. I'm amazed at how many people have willingly handed over money without knowing all the information

Have you ever had a charity collector call at the door and encourage you to sign up because "all your neighbours have already given"?

Just saying ...

I think someone on the other thread saying they'd happily subscribe as penis beaker and CenterParcs bum sex had given them so much joy does make you realise how much dross there is on here. I'd see AIBU going premium only as a bonus (and yes, I realise this is AIBU but I usually avoid it completely).

@Puzzledandpissedoff

The key word in your post is “charity”

Mumsnet isn’t a charity!

No I don't think so, like other pp's it'll be the kick I need if AIBU/Chat are subscription only.

Not a fucking chance, for the following reasons:

1. It has been demonstrated on more than one occasion that the site does not have sufficient security in place. Bad enough for email addresses and passwords to be leaked, but I'd be a lunatic to entrust my banking details to the same system.

1. £5 a month for an edit button and fewer ads is a ridiculous figure. And they get around the issue of ads already with the plethora of pinned posts peddling shite. As others have said, the price is the same as is paid for other subscriptions which offer a wealth of content.

1. It smacks a little of profiteering from the current situation.

1. A wage bill of £350k a month to moderate a website which is primarily made up of user content is outrageous. I used to be head of engineering and my wage bill for 40 engineers was in the same ballpark.

1. With profits in excess of £2m in previous years, and very little in the way of overheads, I'd question where the money is, and why there's no buffer.

1. I think charging people for a function which has been repeatedly requested, with the response that it wouldn't be possible to provide it, is unethical.

1. Charging people to subscribe to a service which is made up of their own content is outrageous.

1. The onus is on the company directors to reduce overheads, not on the service users to accommodate them. As a director you take the tough with the smooth, and trying to imply that you're hard up, taking a payment holiday, whilst asking people who are undoubtedly in a worse financial situation, is in very poor taste.

Mumsnet isn’t a charity!

I realise that, Bringring, and should probably have written "salesman" as that would have been more comparable
However it's more the "look who else has paid" suggestion I was thinking of ...

What on earth is the money going on?

No I don't think I will pay. I would probably go and do something more useful like read a book if I wasn't on MN so if I couldn't access it anymore I don't think it would be a hardship given the amount of time I actually waste on here.

And quite frankly most some of the threads on here since the lockdown are so over the top with judgemental opinions that I simply am not willing to pay for that.

@mochojoes There won't be ads if you pay the £5. That's what you'll be paying for......so far anyway

No.

About the amount of staff and their costs ... I assumed a fair number would be selling advertising?

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles
I do have my own online business and a separate forum. Somehow I like other site owners have managed to get our shit together and not had the serious breaches MN has had. If they couldn’t keep your email address safe you really trust them with card details?

Plus how do you know it’s Justine. For all anyone knows it’s yet another hack.

Rather than beg for cash I’m using profit.
Any other business that offered such vague details about what is on offer would be ripped to shreds.

@HavenDilemma I thought it said fewer ads but I actually meant what was the "offer" for that particular price point as it's the same as basic Netflix & Disney plus. I just think the cost is too high.

What I'm worried about, is that people in desperate need, such as those in seriously abusive situations and desperately need advice will be put off when they see the option to pay for a premium service. They might think "Oh. I might not get as much advice if I choose the free version as it may be limited...." or "Ah you have to pay, sod it, never mind"

imagine if FB twitter etc stated charging, activity would drop off a cliff and then no one would have any incentive to use it at all, dead as a dodo in very short order.

Not until they actually implement several more extra features than just no ads.

There won't be ads if you pay the £5

Not so I'm afraid; on MN's own thread they've been very clear that there'd be fewer ads, but certainly haven't said there'd be none at all

And "fewer" hasn't yet been clarified, despite countless requests