Okay so with no GBA it is increasingly harder to even come close to buying some of the sites rarest items. I think that is something that we all know and can agree on. It's not even the price that is always the issue, simply the fact that there are so few of said items that those with them tend to hang on to them. This is the first issue. The second issue is menewsha's financial strain on the current administrator. Now I will be honest here in saying that Insomniac doesn't like me and from time to time we may have differing opinions, but that doesn't mean I want to see him have to shell out so much to keep this site alive. Here is my proposition. Well, rather, two propositions with the same underlying idea. The first is that during the month of an event (February and March) we have one (or multiple) rare(s) from the '07 version of that event in a raffle. For each CI a user purchases that month the buyer's name is put into a raffle. At the end of the month one (or multiple) name(s) is pulled from the "tickets" and said user(s) win the item(s). During the other months rare older CIs could replace the valentines and st pattys items. That is the first idea.

The second idea us the same concept, but less restrictive. Instead of only having the rare EIs during their event's month, and the CIs the other months, it would go like this: Each month the item(s) would be a complete mystery. Maybe it's a crown, a boa, a fan, a cover hairpin, etc. No one would know except Insomniac. At the end of each month the winner and the name of the item would be released.

I personally feel like the first idea makes users more likely to donate during those two months and less likely to donate during the other months which could be counterproductive. The second idea takes that out of the picture so I personally think the second way seems better, but I figured I'd propose both options anyways.

Feel free to post any comments, concerns, your opinion on the idea as a whole, or which you prefer and why. I'm excited to see what you all think.

o.o Honestly, I think the fact that the market is deader than the duck in a soup is more of an issue when it comes to the circulation of items than anything else. I've seen a small flood of 07 rares, but they haven't been getting many offers. And what offers there have been are item heavy, which aren't that appealing when yanno. Items don't inflate or sell. Honestly, I'd fix that stationary economy before stuffing more shit into it.

Now, a child's handheld calculator probably has more economic ability than I do. So if I'm wrong in saying all this, feel free to correct me.

This is actually a very very similar concept to what windy and hina did not too far back. It worked in like....the first month and then dropped off rather quickly when people lost interest or forgot about it. It might not loose interest quite as quickly if it where staff run.....but I think the staff mentioned in the past (don't quote me here) that the supply of old items on banned accounts is actually running thin....

I see your point when it comes to older items not moving at the moment. But honestly, and I know this will sound backwards but allow me to explain. Doing this could also help the sale of '07 rares.

Here is my reasoning and I'll use myself as an example. Going back to what I said before, those who have said items tend to hang onto them even if they claim to be selling them. Now why is that? I've been an exchanger since 2003 when I joined gaia, and I've been an exchanger on menewsha since I joined in '07. Now granted I have taken more than my fair share of hiatus, but none the less exchanging is all I've ever done when it comes to my personal experience on any avatar site. The reason I gave you that back story is as any exchanger will tell you, there is rarely anything not for sale with them. I myself have a valentines day hairpin, and a green cover hairpin. I see offers right now for both items. Now I don't want to get rid of either, but selling my green clover pin wouldn't really be a big deal. The reason I hang onto it even though I'm very willing to sell is due to the small likelihood of me ever getting one back. At this point once you sell it, in most cases that's the end, it's gone. I know this to be especially true with the valentines hairpin. The less there are, the less likely anyone it's to sell regardless of the price or how willing to sell they say they are.

With so few in circulation many of these items, at least as far as I can see, have basically gained an almost priceless status. An exchanger wouldn't mind heavily packed item and gold trades, granted they may price them in a sort if bulk manner, but it wouldn't be a big deal. In my opinion it's this rarity that keeps them from selling.

Another point to make is that a lot of these "sellers" are selling in order to obtain an equally rare item. With a few more on the market I'm sure we'd see far more older items moving. Whether it's an old item for an old item, or an old item for gold and items, I'm sure we'll see a large increase in sales. Now it may take a little while, but it would happen.

But you still can't create something from nothing. Alot of the V-day stuff left on the site lies with a few users who are A) not banned, and B) Not Active. Its the not Active users with these items that hurt us....We can't take the items despite the fact that they are not useing them.....however unlikely they will ever come back. Its not the same thing as taking from banned accounts. And the banned accounts are running low on the higher valued items. So as glamourous as it seems to add a few more of the big items to the market.....there just isn't any....

Originally Posted by Cora Lorington

This is actually a very very similar concept to what windy and hina did not too far back. It worked in like....the first month and then dropped off rather quickly when people lost interest or forgot about it. It might not loose interest quite as quickly if it where staff run.....but I think the staff mentioned in the past (don't quote me here) that the supply of old items on banned accounts is actually running thin....

Maybe a bit thin for a large amount of items at once, but using only an item or two a month would make this last quite a long time.

As far as it being similar to winter winds idea, that is true. However making a big deal out of it with announcements, and it being consistent, by being run by the staff, I believe it could be a pretty large success.

I doubt they even have a few months left. The way jelly.....or was it juru....made it sound is that there is basically nothing left.....maybe 1 or 2 big ticket items....but not much else.

Originally Posted by Cora Lorington

But you still can't create something from nothing. Alot of the V-day stuff left on the site lies with a few users who are A) not banned, and B) Not Active. Its the not Active users with these items that hurt us....We can't take the items despite the fact that they are not useing them.....however unlikely they will ever come back. Its not the same thing as taking from banned accounts. And the banned accounts are running low on the higher valued items. So as glamourous as it seems to add a few more of the big items to the market.....there just isn't any....

Again, I can next to guarantee there are more than enough to supply for at least a year to two or more. It doesn't have to be a ton to get people involved. I honestly think the allure of just one '07 rare would be enough to cause some people to donate who otherwise may never donate. Even just two dollars and fifty cents is two dollars and fifty cents toward menewsha.

Also, I know of a few personal friends that have been banned that have at least a few rares.

Originally Posted by Azazel

Again, I can next to guarantee there are more than enough to supply for at least a year to two or more. It doesn't have to be a ton to get people involved. I honestly think the allure of just one '07 rare would be enough to cause some people to donate who otherwise may never donate. Even just two dollars and fifty cents is two dollars and fifty cents toward menewsha.

Also, I know of a few personal friends that have been banned that have at least a few rares.

Can you guarentee they still have them?

Don't get me wrong, I really liked this concept even when it was just hina and windy.

I suppose I technically can't really guarantee anything I'm having a hard time remembering their usernames but here are a few:

Noah:
Gabriel:
Aero:

I forgot about Gabriel and Noah.....I don't believe there has been a Raffle or GBA since they where banned.....I don't actually know Aero....so I can't really say anything about him?

Aero had a ton. There are more I'm just having trouble remembering their names.

Really the more recent bans would be helpful.....alot of the older banned users have virtually been cleaned out....this may work on some of the recent bans though.

Either way, I really think this could work for at least a year. Now if someone donates every month due to this, then we run out of '07 items, there is a good chance they will continue to donate by habit. :) I really think this could help out menewsha financially.

No offense, but I really don't think that "donating by habit" is a good business strategy for Menewsha to rely on.

Continued no offense, but I don't think that "donating by habit" even exists...

I'm afraid I have to agree with you there.

Gaia's autocash, is kindof like donating by habit.
Just pointing that out. XDD

But, I don't really think it's a good solution to the problem.
There are plenty of current CIs in circulation, there just needs to be a stronger demand for them, which comes with more users. If there are more users, then there are going to be more people who might buy CIs period, you know?

Part of mene's problem is they need to rebrand themselves, a lot of other sites' users go, "Oh menewsha? Isn't that that site with the snobby staff and the too-uptight rules?"
Instead of seeing it for the "strong community" that it is.

And yes, I would like more 07 items, but if there aren't more to be had, there aren't more to be had. It sucks, and that's how it is. But that's just what happens when a site expands and the "Resources" are spread out.

Originally Posted by monstahh`

Part of mene's problem is they need to rebrand themselves, a lot of other sites' users go, "Oh menewsha? Isn't that that site with the snobby staff and the too-uptight rules?"
Instead of seeing it for the "strong community" that it is.

Nail

On

The

Head.



Azael's idea is a good one, though. There has been no giving back auction or quester's raffle in a looooong time. There has not even been a wishing well drawing for a good while. This could be a simple way for the staff to have a drawing that increases site interest while at the same time increasing monthly donations.

We do need new users, and I am not sure what would be the best to go about getting them would be. There must be a number of people who already know about Menewsha from the tektek ads. If we could just have some sort of game or event to get people talking about this site, they may come check things out and like it.

As far as "donating by habit" it isn't a permanent solution by any means and maybe it was the wrong way of wording it. it's more our less encouraging more users to donate while said resources are available. When they become unavailable it's my assumption, due to human nature, at least a percentage of the people that started donating due to that will continue to donate, not only from habit, but from want.if a user gains the sort of hold intake that comes with donating, and they become accustomed to it, it's not likely something they would want to give up.

As far as needing more users, I whole-heartedly agree. I'm glad we have little user run contests like the one Bartuc is running to try and encourage users to recruit, and I'm personally trying to expand menewsha's exposure. So for the "needing users" argument, I far from few disagree.

Now as far a the resources, I understand that they won't last forever, and again this isn't a permanent solution. However, that being said, I do think there are enough resources to do this for a year or more. Increasing menewsha's income for even just a year is still a financial increase. We all know a site needs money to run and menewsha is no different. Also, with more income comes more possibility. Like insomniac has said, it takes coders to develop new elements for the site, and it takes money to get the coders at all.

Originally Posted by Angel Spirit Girl

Nail

On

The

Head.

Whenever I try to recruit people, that's usually the jist of what people say why they don't want to. ;(
It's sad, but, at times I can understand why they see mene that way. Mene for a long time was very harsh about the rules, though *I* know they've lightened up and are more understanding, most people who haven't been here since 3 years ago, might not see that or believe me.

It's kindof like what happened to Stellarcon.
It used to be a respectable con, but then it had a few REALLY shitty years, especially last years, and now they're frantically trying to rebrand themselves so they can actually make a profit and venders will sell at their cons and guests will come, instead of continuing to lose money on it like they are so they have to shut down. >__<

Originally Posted by Cora Lorington

I doubt they even have a few months left. The way jelly.....or was it juru....made it sound is that there is basically nothing left.....maybe 1 or 2 big ticket items....but not much else.

With things like V Day items in particular yes, only 1 or 2 left.

@Jelly: Unless I'm going bananas, I know of three personal friends that had valentines pins and more that still have them on their avatars. Not to mention a few st pattys items and a few crowns, and that'd just three that I personally know, not counting any mules.

Either way, all in all I think this could really help.

Originally Posted by Azazel

@Jelly: Unless I'm going bananas, I know of three personal friends that had valentines pins and more that still have them on their avatars. Not to mention a few st pattys items and a few crowns, and that'd just three that I personally know, not counting any mules.

Either way, all in all I think this could really help.

You should know that you don't have to actually have an item in your inventory to be wearing it. My avi for example. They where probably wearing that stuff when they where banned and the items where later taken but the avi's remained unchanged.

@Jelly- I thought one of you had mentioned that.....although for the life of me I can't remember where it came up o.0

I know that Cora, I lent you that pin. I made the assumption that they took then off completely when used for GBA.