Announcing Slashdot Subscriptions

For some time now we have been developing a unique subscription system that we hope will make our users and advertisers happy. Please hit the link below to read an explanation about how the system works, and why it works that way. Also you will learn what a subscription will give you, and what our future plans are for it.Update: 03/01 16:38 GMT by Hemos : A lot of people are asking about the only Paypal option. In answer to everyone: Yes, we are aware of the problems with PayPal.. And, yes, we're currently working on other solutions - read the full copy below, as Rob already states that.

To understand why the system works like it does, you need to first understand that Slashdot is about to start accepting new ad formats. The large ads that you see on many other sites are coming here. We really don't have an option: these are what advertisers want, and if we don't provide them, we won't be around much longer. But we want to give you an option to see Slashdot without these ads. Second, you need to understand that Slashdot readers fall into a variety of types, and charging the same flat fee just isn't possible.

Slashdot subscriptions will essentially let you buy a thousand pages to be viewed without banner ads. And you will have some flexibility to decide what types of pages (Comments, Articles, The Homepage) you want ads removed from, and what types of pages you just want to see the ads.

The rates are currently set at $5 per 1000 pages. To put this into perspective, $20 (typical magazine subscription) will be enough pages for 82% of our readers to view Slashdot without ads for a year. Another 15% will need to spend $5 a month to accomplish the same thing. 3% of our readers would need to spend more than $5 a month- but they could choose to see ads on comments and in almost every case, still pay around $5 a month. (As an aside, it's also worth noting that more than half of all comment posters fall into this 3%)

We realize that this system is more complex, but Slashdot has a third of a million readers per day with different reading habits, and this is the best way to accomodate everyone fairly.

Currently we only accept payment via paypal. It was simply easy and fast. We intend to offer other options as time permits and readers request.

Eventually we intend to offer additional features to subscribers. Exactly what those plums are remains to be decided: Access to the rejected submissions bin? A 'Gold Star' in your comments header? Karma? (I think that would be hilarious) We really don't know. We'll decide and implement what makes sense as we have time to do it.

We are doing our best to learn from the mistakes made by other sites that have started charging for subscriptions. We won't create subscriber only features that cost more to maintain than they generate. But we do need support from you if we are to continue. So anyway, here's that link again if you forgot it ;)

Comments

Death of Slashdot, story at 11:00

[hobit]

To understand why the system works like it does, you need to first understand that Slashdot
is about to start accepting new ad formats. The large ads that you see on many other sites
are coming here.

Put me down as the first to predict the death of slashdot.

In lieu of paying you guys...

[EricKrout.com]

I have a serious proposal. Rob, Hemos, Tim, Michael -- read this.

In lieu of paying you guys five bucks a week for life ($5/week * 52 weeks/year * 70 more years/lifetime = a shitload of money), I have a proposal: I'll be Slashdot's spelling and grammar guy, aka Executive Editor. Never again will there be a comment busting on CmdrTaco's confusing AM/PM or spelling "receive" incorrectly. Hell, if I could even avoid those huge annoying Flash(tm) ads by spellchecking the trolls' posts, I'd do it!

;-)

Why bother?

[Xpilot]

What's the point of this? There's only one banner ad at the top, which is non-intrusive and I don't really notice it. Heck, I even like to see some of the cool stuff at thinkgeek once in a while (although I never buy anything). I don't know how much money you'll get from this.

Re:Don't rush to sign me up

[Hemos]

Yeah, we're currently working on implementing credit cards. When we started it, Paypal was still...doing well.

Hrm...

[Uller-RM]

At a time when nearly every other decent site with subscriptions (K5, etc) is charging a per month fee for no ads, /. is charging per pageview.

It's all a secret plot to stop people from refreshing nonstop to get first post. ;)

Re:Good Riddance to the Ad companies

[fscking_coward_2001]

Of course, bandwidth doesn't grow on trees. The electricity to run the hardware doesn't either. Nor do the people requried to maintain and improve the site. All expect to be paid, though. Ads can do it. Subscriptions can do it. The choice is up to you.

Re:ads and such - WHY THE HELL WAS THIS MODDED

[lemonhed]

Can someone please explain to me how this moderation crap works?

When does a comment deserve the term "flamebait?" From now on, Ill have to worry about why my thoughts are or I may be labels as "flamebait" I mean come on! This was just my opinion something I believe in and you Mr. Moderator are trying push your agenda.

I will pay if all my stories were posted ;)

[antdude]

[grin] :)

Re:Put your money where your mouth is.

[LoseNotLooseGuy]

I have seen a lot of complaints about "hitting refresh and loosing another page view"

I am uncertain how one would go about letting loose or releasing a page view. Perhaps you were referring to a user failing to retain credit for a page view after simply hitting refresh. If so, the word you were looking for is losing.

Congratulations! You have been participant #42 in my campaign to rid Slashdot of this error.