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April 28, 2009, 06:59 PM
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Dugi's Guide Threads closed to replies (Warning: Long and Venty)
Warning: Long and ranty. I'm not happy right now, so this isn't going to be full of hugs and fluff. I woke up this morning to find both of my Dugi's threads full of derailing posts about other guides. And my inbox full of crap for trying to sell guides on the site. First all, I'm not selling them, I'm promoting them. Second of all, it's simple stupid people - if you don't like something DON'T BUY IT! Seriously, you need someone to tell you that?  This site costs money to run. No you can't run it on a 10 terrabyte $9.99 hosting plan. We have our own server box which is actually in need of an upgrade shortly, and that costs money. A lot of money. I also recently put more money into it to help with the server loads recently because people were mentioning a slow response time. I did that for you, the ones that use this site for free (bar those who subscribe). Yes there are advertisements, but if you think they're making me millions you're deluding yourself. Most advertisements pay between 10c - 50c per THOUSAND impressions. Sure I can get lots more for cost-per-click or cost-per-action ads, but no one does anything with them. I don't know if it's just Warlocks who are lazy, or gamers in general, but if I have to use ones that pay per impression and don't require anything from you guys because otherwise I'd not make a cent. Hell even as something as simple as entering a zip code gets hardly any response. So I started to look for alternative ways to support the site. I'd like to hit a point where I'm not stressing about money every month. I found Dugi's guides which, in my honest opinion, looked very cool. If I was playing WoW at the moment, and had the money, I would be purchasing. Then I found out I can allign myself with him and make commissions from sales. Nice commissions. I'm talking only 2 sales a day = enough to keep the site running without stress. 4 sales a day = it would be paying for itself and a little extra for me to be able to run competitions and such again. But then some people (ultimo since you posted to both) seem hell bent on stopping me being able to succeed. Yes there are always going to be alternatives out there (be they free or just cheaper), so you know what, go get them. I'm not forcing anyone to puchase Dugi's guides. I'm not demanding you to. I'm simply advertising something I thought was cool that other people might like. And hopefully, find a way to succeed with the Den. After 5 years of paying for it, paying for prizes to give away and spending god knows how many hours a day, every day, upkeeping it, it's a nice thought to think I could actually recoup some of the costs. In regards to WoW-Pro and James guide, you won't ever see me promoting them. For those who were around in Crypt's days might remember, but they copied and pasted his entire Horde leveling guide to their site, and then, when asked to remove it, bitched and complained about it, then slagged of Crypt, his guides and this site. So no, you won't see me giving them any favours. What a lot of people aren't aware of is that I paid Crypt for those guides... That is actually something I have been working towards getting back to. In the feedback thread, a huge part of it was the lack of guides on the site. In the past I've tried everything from begging, pleading and groveling, to offering prizes/rewards/incentives such as game cards, copies of Wrath of the Lich King and others to get them done. All of that has been paid for out of my own pocket. But half the time it didn't work. So I thought I might go back to out and out paying for people to do it. But I simply can't afford to do that at the moment, certainly not while I'm still covering other payments. In the current resession, advertisements are worth even less, and everything else is getting more expensive. To put a little perspective on it, I started running the zip and email offers in the notice bar at the top because I couldn't afford food for near on a month. I needed to find a way to make the site cover more, so I didn't have to. There are also other site enhancements that I'd like to get that cost money. But I've not got any spare, so won't be getting any. I'd also like to be able to show Pernicious just how much I appreciate him redesigning a new front page for us, etc. Things cost money, life costs money. Except for you to view this site - you get all the information threads, all the help you need, and any guides that do get submitted here, for FREE. God forbid I offer something that isn't. I could make this a paid membership site. Give just the bare basics for free and then make everything else a monthly cost. Or, I could slap up pop-ups, pop unders, interstills and a thousand other ad options, but I don't. Why? Because you guys don't like them. I do all of this for those who view the site, so I get confused and angry when those same people turn on me for trying to recoup something back. But if that's how it's going to be, then I'll stop promoting them. Stop trying to recoup my losses and then, when I do run out of money, I won't accept any blame when the site shuts down. Unfortunately I feel I have to close this thread off to replies as I don't want yet more promoting off other guides out there, or cop more crap than I already have. I'm sure I'll get more via email. Dugi's guide threads are still there. I think they're awesome and will leave them there for those who want them. I make a good commission on them, and I've offered ad-free subscriptions to those who purchase them. That's something you won't get with the other guides. If you don't like them, or think they're too expensive, use your brain and don't buy them. But don't come in here and slag off the guides, or my idea to promote them. Just leave them alone.
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