What do you think about the mumsnet books concept?

[Enid]

I feel odd about it but I'm not sure why.

That's a good point pupuce

A PS to my last message - I'd rather spend the odd few minutes filling in a survey than spend the rest of my years without mumsnet!

I'm really wary about filling in these little questionnaires and I don't register with many sites because I hate being bombarded with spam (DH gets really cross with me if that happens). Can anyone tell me just what information is passed to these people if you do fill a questionnaire in, ie do they get my email address, information about my computer system etc?

I actually got an email from someone claiming to be Microsoft Security this morning with a security update attachment, but I know from bitter experience that this is a scam - they infect you with a virus and then charge you for the software to get rid of it. I don't know where this email came from but doubt very much that it was really from MS as we haven't registered our copy of Windows with them properly. I'm not blaming Mumsnet here because we have a lot of people in our address book and some annoying friends who insist on sending us lots of "pass this on to a friend" junk sites. I'm just saying how careful I am (that is the only reason why I don't allow my email address to be published on this site too).

pupuce - I've filled in the survey twice (not hard as my answer to the first question was None of these) but couldn't see an option for Do not show me this again or whatever. I don't object to seeing a pop-up once but it's daft that you have to see it repeatedly after you've completed the survey.

Tigermoth,
There is no cut off point for contributions - but people can elect to opt-out/ change nicknames any time. This is explained on the talk home page.
Justine

Although initially irritated with the pop up, if it's another way Mumsnet can gain revenue then I'm all for it (but as Fionn said, once we've completed it, shouldn't it be able to remember and not show up again)?.

Justiner, is there any way I can pay my contribution using Amex? It is the only credit card I have and I don't have an English checking account.

Hi Oxocube,
I'm afraid Worldpay, who operate the payment system for us, don't take Amex. Is there any way you could get a friend to do it for you with another card? Sorry it's such a bother.
Justine

I did take a degree of satisfaction at filling in the 'other' box every time it popped up (which it did on entering the site and on entering the talk section). Hopefully that will show them that SD etc are not the nation's favourites!

Just out of interest has anyone had any success in using The Great Little Trading Company link to get 10% off? I have tried a number of times and nothing happens. I am about to place a large-ish order and would love to get the discount.

Hi Micky,
I know people have received their discount - as soon as you click through from the links on our discount page www.mumsnet.com/s/mn.Uop?form=wm_gltc.html you get a message which says 10% will be deducted from your total - but the 10% off only shows up at the end. You have to click through from mumsnet, though, or it doesn't work.

Thought I'd revive this as apparently only 250 people have subscribed out of 8,000 members. Did anyone else get the email from mumsnet? Now, does that mean we have 7000 odd lurkers? I for one, am very worried about the fact that mumsnet are not getting enough money and could, potentially, end up having to close. Anyone got any other ideas to stop this happening? I do tell people about mumsnet, but only if I don't mind them knowing a lot about me; i.e really close friends only. Anyway, I just thought I'd bring this up again since mumsnet have and what would we do without it?!!!

Think the problem is that, of the 8,000 who've registered in order to ask a question, only a couple of hundred actually log on with any regularity. Maybe I'm wrong - surely Mumsnet must be able to find out. Why can't they set up something like Which? - eg: one month's free trial and then compulsory subscription? Everyone who uses the site regularly must be able to spare an annual fee of say £5 to £10 (with the idea being that if you can afford more you can donate more) as they can afford to get online.

having just read the mumsnet email, can I just say to any regular lurkers out there, please, please, pay a sub!

Willow2 I am sure more that a couple of hundred log onto mumsnet talk - there seem to be new posters appearing every week and not that many disappear. When I first used mumsnet, there were about 15 - 30 current conversations a day, now there's usually well over 50 and I never have the time to read everything. I agree with you, it would be interesting to know just how many people regularly read talk.

Yes, come on lurkers, help Mumsnet to stay afloat, please!
Think Willow2's idea of a compulsory sub after a month's trial is a good one.
And is there anyone else who always namechecks the competition winners to see if she's ever heard of them?

Hi www, I didn't get a mail from mumsnet. I have the 'todays messages' as my link, so never go to the home page, so was largely unaware of the subscription business, so I'd like to thank you for bringing this up, as I've rushed off & subscribed straight away thanks to your cyber kick up the bum. Dunno why I didn't get a mail though, it would've helped I'm sure, as we've got to keep mumsnet going.

I asked my friend who got her spouts from Soupdragon to subscribe to Mumsnet. I am also racking my brains to try and think of ways of publicising the site.

Monkey, when you originally signed up, you would have had the option to receive regular e-mails from Mumsnet, and been asked to supply an e-mail address. This is not compulsory, so if you didn't click on the box, you would not get the mails but could still post etc.
Quite apart from reminders etc, you also get fortnightly parenting news round-ups, so it's a nice service.
You can change your membership preferences here if you want:
Mumsnet's members' page

Marina, I always look to see who the competition winners are - in the hope that one day I might see my own name there I know that quite a lot of people only register with sites so that they can enter the competitions and never intend to take part for anything other reason. I think competitions should be more favoured to loyal posters rather than new 'hello/goodbye' members. There's only so many tips you can think up. Perhaps special prizes for paid up subscribers would encourage more people to contribute.

Competitions only open to subscribers maybe??

PamT that's an excellent idea. Any prizes should only go to subscribers. Why not Justiner???

How funny, I was just thinking along the same lines as this.

How about all subscribers get automatic entry for all mumsnet prize draws?

Others can still enter, so newies are not put off the site, but non subscribers have to have to send in a review, recommend a friend etc in order to enter the draw.

thanks Marina

oh, I've just checked like you said Marina, and I'm down as a 'yes' to everything, so I'll give tech a nod 'cause they might have missed other people too. It's the right address they've got. Who knows? Yeah, and now I'm paid up - hear hear - competition for subscribers only!!

Nice idea guys but... sadly there are tax (Vat) implications of offering any special service in return for subscription (i could go into but won't bore you) so unless we could guarantee that lots subscribed it would probably be financially counter-productive (ie would cost us more than we'd raise). Still it might be worth the gamble - I think if we did it we'd probably include the discounts and competiton entry as a subscription benefit ie you only get and discounts and you get automatic competition entry if you subcribe. How valuable are the discounts to you all - do you think they would be a good incentive?