As a Giant fan since 1955 and a BBI viewer since the 1990's and Pete's Corner, I have admired the many advances and improvements Eric has made and he certainly should be rewarded for his efforts.
I recall Eric's early position where he opposed dues and ads, but both he and most BBI viewers finally realized that money was needed to have this site continue and grow.
My concern is with the great proliferation of ads and popups in recent years, whether or not these revenues are sufficient to pay all bills and give Eric a decent profit.
I think all fans of this site would appreciate it if Eric would provide income, expenses and bottom line profit or loss for the last few years, as the lack of this information makes one wonder whether both ads and contributions are needed any longer.
Speak for yourself buddy. Some of us contribute simply because we want to (which I've done the past several years and will do again after I recover a bit from my recent vacation) and really don't care what happens to the money he receives. If you're that concerned about where and how your money is being used, don't contribute. It's really as simple as that. If you decide not to contribute, the beauty of this site is that you STILL will be able to post and enjoy all of the benefits of this site. So I personally don't need Eric to prove or show me anything....but maybe that's just me.
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I think all fans of this site would appreciate it if Eric would provide income, expenses and bottom line profit or loss for the last few years,...
Speak for yourself buddy. Some of us contribute simply because we want to (which I've done the past several years and will do again after I recover a bit from my recent vacation) and really don't care what happens to the money he receives. If you're that concerned about where and how your money is being used, don't contribute. It's really as simple as that. If you decide not to contribute, the beauty of this site is that you STILL will be able to post and enjoy all of the benefits of this site. So I personally don't need Eric to prove or show me anything....but maybe that's just me.
T-Bone, it's not just you. That was very well said.
Only in America would be people complain about a free service, don't come to BBI if you need some kind of corporate transparency, or public statements.
Eric has been clear that he is using money to support the site, and it is pretty frugal.
He has a beat reporter at camp, and is giving him some gas money.
For those of us at the BBI meet-up last week, it is pretty clear he isn't living high on the hog, he got picked up at Newark by a fellow BBI'er, stayed at a crap hotel and doesn't have a smart phone, so give me a break with the public crap/
I think the OP should be banned.
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I think all fans of this site would appreciate it if Eric would provide income, expenses and bottom line profit or loss for the last few years,...
Speak for yourself buddy. Some of us contribute simply because we want to (which I've done the past several years and will do again after I recover a bit from my recent vacation) and really don't care what happens to the money he receives. If you're that concerned about where and how your money is being used, don't contribute. It's really as simple as that. If you decide not to contribute, the beauty of this site is that you STILL will be able to post and enjoy all of the benefits of this site. So I personally don't need Eric to prove or show me anything....but maybe that's just me.
Ditto
You're a stupid fuckface.
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I think all fans of this site would appreciate it if Eric would provide income, expenses and bottom line profit or loss for the last few years,...
Speak for yourself buddy. Some of us contribute simply because we want to (which I've done the past several years and will do again after I recover a bit from my recent vacation) and really don't care what happens to the money he receives. If you're that concerned about where and how your money is being used, don't contribute. It's really as simple as that. If you decide not to contribute, the beauty of this site is that you STILL will be able to post and enjoy all of the benefits of this site. So I personally don't need Eric to prove or show me anything....but maybe that's just me.
This. It sounds kind of cheap and bitchy to say "I won't pay a nominal amount for something I enjoy all the time unless you prove to me that you really need it."
Life's not just about taking.
You seem to be asking that I share my private financial information because you think the money I am making from the ads OR donation drive should be sufficient?
First and foremost, if you are that uncomfortable with supporting the website, don't.
Second of all, anyone who has met me in person (seen what I drive, seen what I wear, hell, even seen my 10-year old cell phone) thinks I'm making any serious money off of this site. When I did the trophy presentation last week, I stayed at the EconoLodge (ask Ray in Arlington or gidiefor) because that's what I could afford.
BBI is second job for me. I work 14 hour days between my real job and BBI. I could survive keeping my real job. I could not survive living on BBI income (as indicated in my interaction on recent Obamacare debates on the site).
If I am working 14 hour days, I expect to earn a second income. If not, it is not worth it to me or my family. And again, BBI income is not sufficient if it were my sole source of income. If I had to pick one career, I would have to terminate BBI.
Overall, despite increased traffic, advertising revenue has largely been static the last few years and donation revenue has declined dramatically.
Ad revenue took a hit when I reduced the number of ad networks from five to two in order to reduce complaints on this site about problematic ads.
Regarding the donation campaign, the same people pretty much donate each year. The same people who don't, usually don't. I've received 20 donations by mail to date, 16 of those donations are from people who donated last year. I haven't checked the PayPal stats yet, but I assume that is pretty much the same case.
I hope this addresses some of your concerns.
We need to see a copy to believe you. Sorry. And a printout of his current bank balance.
FL Mike, what do you consider a "decent profit?" As you're a fan since 1955, I'd say there's a pretty good chance you're retired. Did you ask your employers to open up their books to make sure they weren't turning too much profit from your labors?
I hope Mr. Kennedy makes as much as possible. This is the best Giants site there is and the information that's available from the NFTs is pretty valuable to those who go there seeking advice.
BBI provides me with all the Giants news as soon as it happens.
You have access to beat writers, plus entertainment news, NFL news, and laughs. Isn't this worth a few bucks? If not, and here is the cool thing, you can still come here and never pay a penny.
It really is a strange request.
You do a great job. IMHO, FLMike owes you an apology.
How can anyone be so obtuse?
(1) the complaints alone were soaking up hours per day.
(2) it encourage people to use ad blockers.
In a nutshell, keep in mind that ad blocking is become more prevalent. Combine that with the fact that only a few hundred people donate, and that should pretty much paint an accurate picture about why BBI isn't a very lucrative income.
Eric - You were much more diplomatic in your response than I think many of us would have been on your behalf.
One thing I have noticed - as I mentioned above - it's usually the same people each year who contribute. That means a lot to me. I recognize the names and e-mail addresses now. For those who donate each year, believe me, I recognize that and appreciate it.
(1) the complaints alone were soaking up hours per day.
(2) it encourage people to use ad blockers.
In a nutshell, keep in mind that ad blocking is become more prevalent. Combine that with the fact that only a few hundred people donate, and that should pretty much paint an accurate picture about why BBI isn't a very lucrative income.
Fair enough, your call of course.
Eric, keep on doin what you're doin and stop apologizing for the very reasonable request of modest remuneration for your hard work. I've been lazily putting it off but this boner will spur me to get off my ass to donate.
Another year, another windfall. And all it takes is a flip-phone,
And a night at an Econo-Lodge to keep these rubes in the dark.
Jeeves! Another brandy!
Da noive of some people.
Eric, marginally intelligent threads like this one are actually a service. They give the rest of us the opportunity to crap on someone, guilt-free, while also expressing our support.
FLMike, why in the world do you need to know his business model on a voluntary-pay site? Really, WHY IS THAT ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS?
There are some annoying implications to a combination voluntary pay/ad-supported model, to be sure. On the other hand, you can just not pay, or find another site.
Eric has generated great passion for a really terrific site.
That is pretty much all you need to know.
It has to suck dealing with this.
Would have helped me out more, but go look at how their message boards operate. (their college boards are their model)
They have separate premium (fee-based) and free boards and content.
For a fan, it sucks. Would have helped me financially but sucked for BBI'ers.
I mean how can you use the internet unless you can scrape up $10 $15 $20 to share. for one time don't go out to eat and make yourself a grilled cheese. Use the difference to give back to something you benefit from.
I actually just saw one of my co-workers on it and checked it out myself around super bowl time and signed up a few months later
Again, would have been more money, but I said no way.
Sample of their premium/free web boards - ( New Window )
KTHANXBYE