LOve the Forums; but WAY, WAY, WAY TOO MANY ADS and POP-UPS.

[Displaced Texan]

Maybe the same people who like to smoke meat and put gas in their car? We can't assume that just because that seems like a small amount of money for us that there aren't people making hard financial decisions to support their families instead of paying to support a bbq forum. I gladly pay because I can afford it and like you I despise ads. Site should be fixed though so others can enjoy it while not having ads block all the content

Like I said, if someone truly can't afford $15/month, then that is one thing. Probably not the case for most. But, who knows?

I don't disagree that choosing or having to see the ads should make the site impossible to navigate.

 

[indaswamp]

You are one of the big reasons I paid when you PMd me about the BellFab pit. But, here, I have to disagree. Who can afford to smoke meat but can't afford $15/MONTH?

My apologies if that is truly the case for some, but I wouldn't think so.

Hard times can hit anyone at any time. I know people that from the outside looking in, they seemed fine, but the reality is that someone in the family got very sick and they took on massive debt just to help them pull through after being saddled with $870,000 in medical bills. For this reason, I no longer judge people's circumstances.

You can acquire all the smokers your hearts desire, then wham...life hits you hard.

I personally have been rolling pennies for gas broke, and $180,000 in debt...I know what it is like....

 

[clifish]

Maybe the same people who like to smoke meat and put gas in their car? We can't assume that just because that seems like a small amount of money for us that there aren't people making hard financial decisions to support their families instead of paying to support a bbq forum. I gladly pay because I can afford it and like you I despise ads. Site should be fixed though so others can enjoy it while not having ads block all the content

Agree on some sort of mod, I was on here for over a year before I paid up, mostly because I just did not see the paid section. We have to make it usable for the new comers who, rightfully, might need a couple months just to see if it is a match for them.

 

[clifish]

Hard times can hit anyone at any time. I know people that from the outside looking in, they seemed fine, but the reality is that someone in the family got very sick and they took on massive debt just to help them pull through after being saddled with $870,000 in medical bills. For this reason, I no longer judge people's circumstances.

You can acquire all the smokers your hearts desire, then wham...life hits you hard.

I personally have been rolling pennies for gas broke, and $180,000 in debt...I know what it is like....

I grew up in that, my father had a very successful business, beautiful house in a great neighborhood and 3 Mercedes in the driveway (back in the 80's when they were not in everyone's driveway). Defense industry crashed, business closed, cars reposed and house sold. He went bankrupt at age 57, I was in college and switched from a private school to a state school just so I could continue.

That is why I still have some what of a "depression" mentality, make my coffee every day and almost never brought in lunch...something my kids do not understand or follow.

 

[Hijack73]

Try DuckDuckGo browser - I get less ads..... I use Chrome on PC but DDGo (get the app) is the way to do it on mobile.

 

[eaglewing]

It's all about the right extensions and I use EDGE
No adds

 

[sandyut]

I paid for the membership and it is well worth every penny.

The OP seems to have also...

 

[pineywoods]

People we know the ads suck but something has to pay the bills. This site is not cheap to run. Jeff doesn't want ads interfering with the ability to use the site and has fought with the hosting company to reduce and rearrange them but seems they sneak them in constantly and it's going to be a constant struggle.
The other problems with the site are being worked on as well but it takes time and again is almost a constant need.

 

[TH-n-PA]

I went to get a subscription and found I had $486 sitting my PayPal account.

I have no idea where it's from or how long it's been there because I almost never use PP.

That subscription has already paid for itself many times over!

 

[pineywoods]

I went to get a subscription and found I had $486 sitting my PayPal account.

I have no idea where it's from or how long it's been there because I almost never use PP.

That subscription has already paid for itself many times over!

Congrats I'm sure that was a nice surprise

 

[Daba's BBQ]

I just dropped $15 and paid for a one-year subscription. Jeff has provided me with some amazing recipes and video tutorials over the past year, so $15 is nothing compared to the education and knowledge I learned over the last 12 months.

 

[Displaced Texan]

Hard times can hit anyone at any time. I know people that from the outside looking in, they seemed fine, but the reality is that someone in the family got very sick and they took on massive debt just to help them pull through after being saddled with $870,000 in medical bills. For this reason, I no longer judge people's circumstances.

You can acquire all the smokers your hearts desire, then wham...life hits you hard.

I personally have been rolling pennies for gas broke, and $180,000 in debt...I know what it is like....

Not judging. That’s why I said to each his own.

But that is an extreme example. Come on…

 

[daveomak]

Did you actually read just how many posts and complaints are on this thread. They go back 5-6-7 years. Obviously you and the staff, Jeff included, don't give a damn. If you did, you'd make changes to the site to make it better for the users.

Daba's BBQ ... Pretty harsh words you were spewing... I see you paid a membership... I'm thinking a real sincere apology is in order...
Us old timers kinda take stuff personal when our great owner, staff and members get bad mouthed...
I don't expect you to leave the forum, when your yearly membership runs out... You will be hooked... For what it costs, you can't buy a decent cook book...
Do you sell BBQ??? I don't s'pose you take recipes from the forum and market the grub??? That wouldn't be Kosher...

 

[DougE]

daveomak In his defense, the ads probably had him pretty frazzled when he made those comments. The ads are pretty rough for non-paying members, and the ad company has it fixed to where the site is disabled when using an ad blocker.

I became a premium member for 2 reasons. Reason one, the site had become unusable with all the ads blocking the response area, making it a challenge to post, and reason 2, because I think this site is worth my support for all I have gained from it over the years.

 

[Daba's BBQ]

Daba's BBQ ... Pretty harsh words you were spewing... I see you paid a membership... I'm thinking a real sincere apology is in order...
Us old timers kinda take stuff personal when our great owner, staff and members get bad mouthed...
I don't expect you to leave the forum, when your yearly membership runs out... You will be hooked... For what it costs, you can't buy a decent cook book...
Do you sell BBQ??? I don't s'pose you take recipes from the forum and market the grub??? That wouldn't be Kosher...

View attachment 634542

I did just that

 

[Brokenhandle]

So I understand the hard times thing...growing up in the 80s on a farm as a kid, bankruptcy, both parents working two jobs and someone leaving $100 dollar bill in our front door so our parents could buy us kids groceries. BUT...there was no cell phones, no internet, we didn't have a grill or smoke meat. $15 dollars a year is .04 cents per day. If that's too much money how can you afford a cell phone, or internet service? Are the ads annoying and make the site hard to use...especially on a cell phone? Sure does! See it every time when I have to sign back in on my phone, which isn't often but happens when restarting my phone. But at .04 cents per day...does that mean you don't smoke, chew, buy a can of pop each day, or stop for fast food? One stop for fast food would dang near cover a yearly subscription.

Am I crabby? Sure am! I love this site and have learned so much! But with all that said...hope the staff and Jeff can get the ads more user friendly for the newbies...I too was once there.

Ryan

 

[Brokenhandle]

I forgot to mention the most important thing...the friendships that I've made here! Never met any in person but have talked to a few via phone and hope to meet some in person. That in itself is worth far more!

Ryan

 

[indaswamp]

the ad company has it fixed to where the site is disabled when using an ad blocker.

Most adblockers....... They don't block them all, just the mainstream ones.

 

[xbubblehead]

daveomak In his defense, the ads probably had him pretty frazzled when he made those comments. The ads are pretty rough for non-paying members, and the ad company has it fixed to where the site is disabled when using an ad blocker.

I became a premium member for 2 reasons. Reason one, the site had become unusable with all the ads blocking the response area, making it a challenge to post, and reason 2, because I think this site is worth my support for all I have gained from it over the years.

Sometimes the use of an ad blocker can be hidden by disabling Java on that particular site.

 

[negolien]

I had 0 issues even before chipping in not sure what all the hubabalu is about. Not to mention a buck a month for what we get here.. Sorry if u say u can't afford that and still bitch... that's really a bs excuse lol. Thanks to all the mods and stuff love the page keep doin what your doin.