This skirts all of my points though. I get all of that. Why was the APUG (brand) name and concept kicked to the curb? That could have been retained while everything else about the new site moved forward.
Hi Wayne, I did link to several posts discussing why we had to make this move and I understand it's hard to see the brand change for some. How would you feel pointing people to APUG and the site no longer exists? Or it's a site with 25 guys arguing about dilutions, while the analog crowd moved on to sites/social media that also support hybrid and digital? This was the reality. I wasn't prepared to let something we've built on for 15yrs evaporate or go out of business. We did what we had to do. So far, the new stats are exceeding my expectations and I am becoming hopeful we can keep this ship afloat. And we have not even been indexed by google or promoted the new site in any way. Today we are currently averaging a user registration 4x that of APUG, I haven't seen numbers like that in 10yrs. I keep getting private messages and emails from people saying they have come back now that they can talk film AND hybrid or digital. That's a good thing imo.
I addressed that in the other thread you posted in if you want to check there. ThanksThis skirts all of my points though. I get all of that. Why was the APUG (brand) name and concept kicked to the curb? That could have been retained while everything else about the new site moved forward.
I'd pay 25 bucks for one, for what it's worth! Are there places that let you sell shirts 'print on demand' these days, to save you needing to deal with stock or shipping?@Theo Sulphate @winger @Sirius Glass Just added a "Shop" link to the menu. That should be going in a few days and will have branded clothing, accessories of all kinds, stickers, etc. Can I ask what you guys think a reasonable price for a t-shirt is? The margins are pretty low so to make the Shop actually contribute to revenue a shirt might need to be around $20-24. Or maybe I sell them at cost and consider it free advertising?
....
If all members want, is to see analog uncheck the boxes at the top that say "hybrid" & "digital" - APUG is still there, it has just been rebranded to make it more welcoming to those people who aren't quite so enlightened to where photography came from, and that it's more than a selfie with an iPhone. If the name change is the *only* thing that is bugging members - might I suggest you all take a step back from the computer screen and have a look at what's happening in the world right now, to regain some perspective.
In the grand scheme of things, renaming a website, a brand, or a 5* hotel group is so low on the "world problems scale", they don't even rate a mention.
Been setting one up already, got a bit tedious so put it off a few days until more bugs are squashed..I'd pay 25 bucks for one, for what it's worth! Are there places that let you sell shirts 'print on demand' these days, to save you needing to deal with stock or shipping?
(Ideally one which was worldwide & could print and dispatch from somewhere on the same continent at least as the purchaser, to keep shipping costs reasonable.) I'm gonna assume such businesses must exist and I'm feeling dumb for not knowing who they are...
@Theo Sulphate @winger @Sirius Glass Just added a "Shop" link to the menu. That should be going in a few days and will have branded clothing, accessories of all kinds, stickers, etc. Can I ask what you guys think a reasonable price for a t-shirt is? The margins are pretty low so to make the Shop actually contribute to revenue a shirt might need to be around $20-24. Or maybe I sell them at cost and consider it free advertising?
Hi Wayne, I did link to several posts discussing why we had to make this move and I understand it's hard to see the brand change for some. How would you feel pointing people to APUG and the site no longer exists? Or it's a site with 25 guys arguing about dilutions, while the analog crowd moved on to sites/social media that also support hybrid and digital? This was the reality. I wasn't prepared to let something we've built on for 15yrs evaporate or go out of business. We did what we had to do. So far, the new stats are exceeding my expectations and I am becoming hopeful we can keep this ship afloat. And we have not even been indexed by google or promoted the new site in any way. Today we are currently averaging a user registration 4x that of APUG, I haven't seen numbers like that in 10yrs. I keep getting private messages and emails from people saying they have come back now that they can talk film AND hybrid or digital. That's a good thing imo.
I think this ship has sailed, Wayne.
I think this ship has sailed, Wayne.
I am NOT a "wealthy" person.....i was a painter. But my experience.?......People are CHEAP...!!@Theo Sulphate @winger @Sirius Glass Just added a "Shop" link to the menu. That should be going in a few days and will have branded clothing, accessories of all kinds, stickers, etc. Can I ask what you guys think a reasonable price for a t-shirt is? The margins are pretty low so to make the Shop actually contribute to revenue a shirt might need to be around $20-24. Or maybe I sell them at cost and consider it free advertising?
I think this ship has sailed, Wayne.
I come across about 5 film photographers a year (many other here do even less). So who to advertise on?Or maybe I sell [the printed T-shirts] at cost and consider it free advertising?
First, The new site is exactly as Sean said it would be, so no deception there. Second, on my screen, it says APUG right there in the upper left corner. Third, If you select the Analog box only, the website will deliver you all the same content in the same format as before. Fourth, no one is forcing you to come here if you don't like it. Fifth, grow up.I don't see how retaining the APUG identity for the analog-only section could possibly detract from or interfere with the overall success of the new site. I think you are wrong about that. It feels like a betrayal and abaondonment of the (hard)core group and core values that started it all, especially because it seems so unnecessary and especially because its NOT the way you described it was going to be. Not at all.
Waking up here and going through the thread, as always you are all amazing! In just a day it's looking like enough donations have come in to cover what I see as 60-70% of what the final rollout will likely cost. WOW. Also, the support and positive comments have reduced my stress levels about 95% heh.
@MattKing @winger I was thinking similar. What about a sort of APUG Social group area, that allows for the original crew to keep in touch. We could even have an "APUG" tag option under members avatar in that area (the tag could also link to the APUG social group)? Open to additional suggestions.
Obviously that is part of an announcement, and likely all three designations are intended to vanish.Second, on my screen, it says APUG right there in the upper left corner.
. . .I'd suggest something like "Built on the strong analogue foundation of APUG.ORG - but now much more!"
I agree. I call it film photography (or just photography - using film), and have always disliked the "analog" moniker in general terms.No, I do not like the term analog very much, but I do not find the alternatives better in practice. I sometime use the term chemical photography.
But APUG has become a landmark. And I think I can speak for the diehard Apuggers, who at least want to see APUG back on the site once one disabled hybrid and digital modes on the site.
Also even then there still be some forums that will be shared in all modes. We shall see how this evolves if pure digital photographers should join DPUG.
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