Author Topic: Site may soon shut down guys (Read 2783 times)

Graybeard · « **on:** June 21, 2024, 12:38:49 PM »

Matt has been funding this site out of his pocket since he set it up in 2019. Currently it is costing him $57 a month and paying him nothing.

Their primary source of income is their store on the Etsy network. For some reason Etsy just shut them down and there is no way for Matt and Becky to contact them about it. They just have to wait until Etsy contacts them.

Yeah think of it as ya have a job and one day the boss tells you sorry you no longer have a job or income. Unless it is resolved and income flowing again SOON, he will likely not be able to afford to keep this site running. I can't afford to take on the payment at this time either.

Just a heads up so you will understand what happened if it goes down. I don't know for sure if he will get it back up and running again if it shuts down or not. I've asked him to make a post about it, perhaps he will. IF not at least you'll know why if it is no longer here for you.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2024, 01:01:05 PM »

Ok- thanks for the heads up

I sure appreciate everything that
yall have done having this forum
and all.
I can understand that it's getting
tough with the PTB dancing on
everyone's head covertly, overtly
or otherwise A local one shut down
a while back because IMO we
posted too much about shooting
criminals and self defense, etc.

Hopefully it won't disappear

Tommyt · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2024, 01:55:50 PM »

Truly, sorry to hear of this thanks GrayBeard and Matt along with everyone else that attributed to this for all the years. I’ve been online with you guys. I enjoyed a lot of it even a few ups and down but page is always been positive. I note the changes lately how things have been going and how slow and dragged out it’s been.
But I appreciate all the good times, I want to thank all of you even the ones I bumped heads with!

Bill you and Matt deserve a lot of credit. I hope it comes back someday but I honestly understand if it doesn’t,
I wouldn’t put the money in for nothing myself. God bless you all it’s been nice all things must come to an end , you guys take care Tommy T

gene_225 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2024, 02:47:33 PM »

Hope things improve for all of you.

wtxbadger · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2024, 03:41:15 PM »

Fingers crossed the site doesn't shut down but if it does I sure do appreciate everything you and Matt providing a place where we could all converse and debate and share experiences.

wtxbadger

ironglow · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2024, 03:47:51 PM »

Sure hope it doesn't shut dow., but things will work out for you guys.

In any case, I am grateful for so many years, being able to connect with like minds from so many places. THANK YOU ALL !

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2024, 11:40:10 PM »

if it does its been a great long run my friend and i thank you and matt for allowing me the privilege of coming here every day for almost 25 years.

DDZ · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2024, 01:43:43 AM »

Thank you GB and Matt for making this site possible, and running it. I never realized it cost that much each month to run it. Thank you! If it does go down it will be missed.

Casull · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2024, 08:15:22 AM »

Spent some good time here over the years. Thank you.

Dixie-Dude · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2024, 11:59:02 AM »

Sad to hear that. Hope things work out. This website once had a lot more people on here. I've been around for about 15 or more years.

Bob Riebe · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2024, 01:03:49 PM »

Sad, very sad news.
This is one of three forums I still visit, and the one I have been on the longest.
If it goes down, Godspeed for a wonderful place to visit.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #11 on:** June 22, 2024, 01:22:17 PM »

Bill, it's been one hell of a run for many years, and I thank you and Matt for giving us this place to meet over all those years!

DM

Land_Owner · « **Reply #12 on:** June 22, 2024, 01:23:39 PM »

Open up to advertising? Generate income. We can ignore it!

wtxbadger · « **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2024, 01:59:46 PM »

Thinking on it, would it be possible to keep the site up and running with some donations month to month from the members of the site? I'm willing to help if others are.

Graybeard · « **Reply #14 on:** June 22, 2024, 05:07:49 PM »

Yes it would be possible for some donations to keep it afloat. I don't know about ads tho. Matt has said he doesn't want to have them here. Trouble with ads which is what caused us to sell the other site is someone has to make contact and talk folks into buying that advertisement.

That was getting really difficult on the other side and it had perhaps a thousand times the activity this place gets. I don't know if we could get ads to sell.

I'll talk to Matt about your ideas and see what he says.

On a maybe upscale note, they seem to think they know why Etsy shut them down and they have hope they may soon have their income return. Don't know just yet. Becky had made a lot of changes to key words to help their merchandise get more visibility. They think all those changes in a short period might have triggered some kind of alert that caused their site to be locked down. They aren't sure tho. So for now they are still without an income source.

nw_hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** June 23, 2024, 05:24:29 PM »

Best of luck to Matt and family. I to will be willing to contribute a small amount monthly to keep it going if Matt is still willing to put in the work. Making a living for his family is a priority for sure though.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2024, 10:56:23 PM »

sign me up

DDZ · « **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2024, 01:29:36 AM »

I would also be willing to contribute.

Graybeard · « **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2024, 03:32:05 AM »

Cost to host site is paid up thru end of this month June. I spoke with Matt and told him some would be willing to help out. He said before he has to shut it down he will give folks an opportunity to help keep it open by as I understood it posting something to allow the donation and to let folks know the status and how much more is needed to keep it going.

They still have no idea when or if their primary source of income will again be flowing.

Seems times are tough all around these days. I've been retired for 29 years now and for sure my retirement is not even coming close to keeping up with inflation. Bad thing is I'm just physiically unable to go back to work even if I found a job.

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #19 on:** June 24, 2024, 04:42:29 AM »

Bill if you remember back quite a number of years ago we donated to help out and I would be willing to donate again in order to have a place to at least comment back and forth with each other so few on here I suspect as far as trying to sell things just does not work any more. This has been a great place for us to meet and talk and I do thank both you and Matt for all your effort and time and money you have put into this sight. Everything is very tight when it comes to money and our retirement has not kept up with inflation. Trying to live on SSI just does not even come close to paying the bills these days.
Deaconllb

gypsyman · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2024, 03:03:49 AM »

Any update on how things are going? First of July is tomorrow, hope something has worked out!

Graybeard · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2024, 04:50:15 AM »

Nope, we talked about it during a trip we took on Friday but I don't know anything firm yet. He has promised me before he just shuts it down he will give members a chance to help out. But so far he hasn't made a post to effect that.

So at the moment I'm still waiting on word from him.

I do know the lawyer he spoke with on this lawsuit against them and 60 other Etsy sites is going to be very expensive to fight and if you lose you must pay the guy who is suing them lawyer fees. Some silly NY law apparently.

So I think they are just planning to go along like folks who actually have money do and pay his asking price. How much that is he doesn't know yet but since they are closed he sure doesn't have much to pay.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #22 on:** June 30, 2024, 11:45:30 PM »

give us a way to send money and id be willing to donate a few bucks to help him with his legal fees too

Graybeard · « **Reply #23 on:** July 01, 2024, 03:38:53 AM »

He has promised to put something on here to let folks know where/how to donate before the site shuts down.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #24 on:** July 02, 2024, 10:40:32 PM »

How Bout a rifle donation for bidding charity to the site? I will donate a rifle.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #25 on:** July 03, 2024, 07:31:38 AM »

Quote from: Land_Owner on July 02, 2024, 10:40:32 PM

How Bout a rifle donation for bidding charity to the site? I will donate a rifle.

Make it a raffle and Ill buy tickets.

DM

Graybeard · « **Reply #26 on:** July 03, 2024, 10:52:44 AM »

Yeah that could help. I dunno how the auction process works as I've never bid in an auction ever. Thanks.

GTS225 · « **Reply #27 on:** July 04, 2024, 03:24:25 AM »

Quote from: Drilling Man on July 03, 2024, 07:31:38 AM

Quote from: Land_Owner on July 02, 2024, 10:40:32 PM
How Bout a rifle donation for bidding charity to the site? I will donate a rifle.
Make it a raffle and Ill buy tickets.

DM

Not bad.....not bad at all.
I too, would buy a few tickets.

However, it still hinges on a method to get the funds to the needed party(s).

Roger

Graybeard · « **Reply #28 on:** July 04, 2024, 05:12:34 AM »

Matt runs a business so can take credit or debit cards I believe or you could sent a check to me to get it to him to pay the hosting fee with.

Matt · « **Reply #29 on:** July 06, 2024, 06:58:55 AM »

I added a donate button to the bottem of the page on the defualt theme, for those who do not use that theme here is a link:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2QLD6MPNHP7CW

For those who want a "Subscription" they are still available in you user profile under "Actions -> Paid Subscriptions"

Any funds Donated are greatly appreciated and will go to pay the server fund, The bill is 59.00 a month, I just paid this months payment so we are good till this time next month.

Matt