NEW questions concerning the Membership options

5 Jan 2015

Quote by Dani

Can they be revisited? Certainly.

When and how remains to be seen. If you don't mind sitting tight for a while, I'll pass this along to Nicola.

Great, so I can still post pics to my friends' profiles. I enjoy doing that.

Fair enough. I don't mind sitting tight at all.

When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. Socrates

5 Jan 2015

Quote by lafayettemister

Great, so I can still post pics to my friends' profiles. I enjoy doing that.

Fair enough. I don't mind sitting tight at all.

Your opinion, as always, is most welcome. I don't believe I've ever been dismissive of anyone's opinions here. I constantly ask questions to our community / for feedback, about almost all facets of the site, and changes we are looking to make.

I think you must have missed the final line in my very first post in this thread, where I mention that all authors registered prior to 1 Jan 2015, will be grandfathered in with a Bronze Membership, as a thank you for contributing to the site. If you look at your profile, there's already a Bronze badge on it.

Effectively, nothing whatsoever will change for you.

You might have misunderstood about the advertising. The main reason people will pay for Silver instead of Bronze, is so they don't have to view the banner ads anywhere on the site. This has proven to be a big reason for most people, and many sites offer this option these days.

Why? Depending on the sponsor / adverts, they may have parts which are flashing gifs, or perhaps images that are too hardcore / not to everyone's tastes. I prefer reading content with no distractions, as do a lot of people.

5 Jan 2015

Quote by nicola

Your opinion, as always, is most welcome. I don't believe I've ever been dismissive of anyone's opinions here. I constantly ask questions to our community / for feedback, about almost all facets of the site, and changes we are looking to make.

I think you must have missed the final line in my very first post in this thread, where I mention that all authors registered prior to 1 Jan 2015, will be grandfathered in with a Bronze Membership, as a thank you for contributing to the site. If you look at your profile, there's already a Bronze badge on it.

Effectively, nothing whatsoever will change for you.

You might have misunderstood about the advertising. The main reason people will pay for Silver instead of Bronze, is so they don't have to view the banner ads anywhere on the site. This has proven to be a big reason for most people, and many sites offer this option these days.

Why? Depending on the sponsor / adverts, they may have parts which are flashing gifs, or perhaps images that are too hardcore / not to everyone's tastes. I prefer reading content with no distractions, as do a lot of people.

Hi Nic. Thanks for replying. I know you weren't dismissive of me or anyone, I'm sorry if I gave that impression. My thoughts on that were from some members of Lush that seemed to be dismissive of the well meaning concerns of other members.

I saw that I've been grandfathered with a Bronze membership and I'm very thankful for it.

I understand about the advertising, when the banner ads were first put into place, I think I even commented in forum about that it was a necessity to keep funding Lush. You have to do what you have to do to keep the doors open. My question about it was, since advertising is already down, I wondered if the extra fee to have ad free viewing would be worth it. Maybe it is. I misunderstood when you said advertising was down, I took that to mean that less ads were being placed/paid for. For those who don't like the gifs and flashing images, it will be worth it.

Thanks for chiming in, Nic. Good consumers make a business better, we all watch how and where we spend. When I raise my prices at work, I often have to talk to my customers about why I'm doing so. I mean no disrespect to you and I appreciate this site very much.

When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. Socrates

5 Jan 2015

I would like to apologise to the site owner(s) and all Lush members for the comments I made on this thread yesterday. It was sheer impertinence on my part and I feel deeply ashamed and embarrassed.

In the short time I've been here, I've met kind and wonderful people; it was wrong of me to suggest the site was facing imminent closure.

I don't expect forgiveness but I would like to explain myself nonetheless.

I had a friend stay over at the weekend and drank lots of wine. When I drink alcohol I don't take my medication through fear of bad reaction. This can have a profound effect on my temperament. Basically my mood was up and down like a whore's draws all day yesterday.

I am quickly and hopelessly falling in love with this site. It is giving me an outlet for the creative side of my personality and my pent-up sexual angst.

I would, at some point in the future, like to buy a membership and play my part in the financial upkeep of the site. However, I do not have access to back account, credit card, bank card etc, and therefore have no means in which to make a payment.

Is there an alternate method of payment? For example, an address to which to send money via post?

6 Jan 2015

Quote by Mysteria27

How can you say that $10.00 is a lot of money. This thread is just maddening to read. The owner has given members a bronze membership until July. You have six months to save your pennies.

Maybe don't have lunch at Burger King or McDonalds. Don't buy doughnuts at Dunkin Doughnuts. Pass on the Grande coffee at Starbucks.

Hell if you can't afford $10.00 you should get a real job.

This is the craziest thread ever. The owner has decided to make this a paid site. The server costs a month must be very expensive.

As I have said before you either PAY OR STAY.

Try finding another site like this on the internet. You will never find a gem like this.

The moderators are all volunteer and to police this thread must be exhausting for them.

You all have 6 months to figure out a way to come up with the $10.00.

OMG, I am just sick by reading all of these posts.

Have a nice day,
xoxoox

6 Jan 2015

I'm wondering when after this 6 months is up and the inbox pm's will be stopped for the free members, I saw in another thread a man mention he had all his email, , etc ID's posted on his profile page. I'm wondering if like several dating sites I can think of where they do not allow that info on the profile page to force members to pay up. Since if their ID's are on the page, obviously they can be contacted offsite.

Many disguise their ID's in various ways to get around it, but once it's seen it's removed. One site is crafty, they have it appear to you, but to other members it's blocked, so people don't know unless another member tells them. I'm wondering if posting our contact info on our profile pages will even be allowed at all. If using the inbox system is taking up bandwith, server space what have you, I understand them cutting it, but if not allowing ID's on the pages, then no way to contact people other than to pay up.

6 Jan 2015

NEW question ....

EDIT .... my question is now dumb as it probably just needed a log out log in answer .... it's all fixed. Embarassed

Van

6 Jan 2015

Look I'm as cheap as they come and this isn't THAT big of a deal to me.

6 Jan 2015

EDITED BY ADMIN: Misinformation.

I support paid memberships, in order to make this even a better place. What bothers me most, is the amount of privacy I have to give up to stay. I suggest the administration give serious thought to accepting prepaid credit cards. I also want reassurances my private information is really secure, What sort of security arrangement is in place to assure that?
LM touched on this, you’re no longer a casual visitor with a paid membership.

6 Jan 2015

In view of the bashing that's been going on, I'd like to thank the Lush owners for the "Published Author's Membership" gift 'til 2034 they've awarded me. I'm sure it will outlive me. Thanks.

Alden Bradley

The zenith of sensuality occurs in sensitivity.
Caring matters more than achieving gratification.

6 Jan 2015

I hope no one construed my post as bashing or being negative. I support the fee system. My intent, was to point out the leap of faith in privacy required

6 Jan 2015

Quote by tiddlywink
I would like to apologise to the site owner(s) and all Lush members for the comments I made on this thread yesterday. It was sheer impertinence on my part and I feel deeply ashamed and embarrassed.

In the short time I've been here, I've met kind and wonderful people; it was wrong of me to suggest the site was facing imminent closure.

I don't expect forgiveness but I would like to explain myself nonetheless.

I had a friend stay over at the weekend and drank lots of wine. When I drink alcohol I don't take my medication through fear of bad reaction. This can have a profound effect on my temperament. Basically my mood was up and down like a whore's draws all day yesterday.

I am quickly and hopelessly falling in love with this site. It is giving me an outlet for the creative side of my personality and my pent-up sexual angst.

I would, at some point in the future, like to buy a membership and play my part in the financial upkeep of the site. However, I do not have access to back account, credit card, bank card etc, and therefore have no means in which to make a payment.

Is there an alternate method of payment? For example, an address to which to send money via post?

This has already been asked and I am sorry the answer is no.

6 Jan 2015

Quote by tiddlywink
I would like to apologise to the site owner(s) and all Lush members for the comments I made on this thread yesterday. It was sheer impertinence on my part and I feel deeply ashamed and embarrassed.

In the short time I've been here, I've met kind and wonderful people; it was wrong of me to suggest the site was facing imminent closure.

I don't expect forgiveness but I would like to explain myself nonetheless.

I had a friend stay over at the weekend and drank lots of wine. When I drink alcohol I don't take my medication through fear of bad reaction. This can have a profound effect on my temperament. Basically my mood was up and down like a whore's draws all day yesterday.

I am quickly and hopelessly falling in love with this site. It is giving me an outlet for the creative side of my personality and my pent-up sexual angst.

I would, at some point in the future, like to buy a membership and play my part in the financial upkeep of the site. However, I do not have access to back account, credit card, bank card etc, and therefore have no means in which to make a payment.

Is there an alternate method of payment? For example, an address to which to send money via post?

Quote by simplyjohn

This has already been asked and I am sorry the answer is no.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought it was mentioned that a gift card could be used, and possibly even to load the money to a paypal acct, which she would only need access to a computer to set up.

6 Jan 2015

Quote by adele

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought it was mentioned that a gift card could be used, and possibly even to load the money to a paypal acct, which she would only need access to a computer to set up.

A pre-paid card through the paypal payment system yes .. I was responding to the idea of posting payment; say a postal order or cheque.

Gift card?

6 Jan 2015

I've not investigated but maybe there's an option for payment using app stores.

That way membership could be bought as an in-app purchase and any payments would go through via iTunes or Google Play. If there was a problem with Lush being an adult site, it could be covered by making premium accounts on blue site that work here as well.

Warning: The opinions above are those of an anonymous individual on the internet. They are opinions, unless they're facts. They may be ill-informed, out of touch with reality or just plain stupid. They may contain traces of irony. If reading these opinions causes you to be become outraged or you start displaying the symptoms of outrage, stop reading them immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a psychiatrist.

Why not read some stories instead

NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber

6 Jan 2015

Quote by SensualSharon
I'm wondering when after this 6 months is up and the inbox pm's will be stopped for the free members, I saw in another thread a man mention he had all his email, , etc ID's posted on his profile page. I'm wondering if like several dating sites I can think of where they do not allow that info on the profile page to force members to pay up. Since if their ID's are on the page, obviously they can be contacted offsite.

Many disguise their ID's in various ways to get around it, but once it's seen it's removed. One site is crafty, they have it appear to you, but to other members it's blocked, so people don't know unless another member tells them. I'm wondering if posting our contact info on our profile pages will even be allowed at all. If using the inbox system is taking up bandwith, server space what have you, I understand them cutting it, but if not allowing ID's on the pages, then no way to contact people other than to pay up.

The model you've described is that of dating/hook-up website - one specifically set up to profit from inter-user communication. Lush has always been primarily a publishing website - though I'll admit I, like many others here, first came here through the chat rooms. I may be proved wrong but this new system seems to be designed to pay for resource heavy services not to cash in on them.

Given the high percentage of women on here who are either invisible or "away" I can't see many of them publicly listing their off-lush contact details - most steadfastly refuse any communications off-lush. If a new guy joins up and puts his contact details up waiting for hot women to bite, he really shouldn't hold his breath.

Warning: The opinions above are those of an anonymous individual on the internet. They are opinions, unless they're facts. They may be ill-informed, out of touch with reality or just plain stupid. They may contain traces of irony. If reading these opinions causes you to be become outraged or you start displaying the symptoms of outrage, stop reading them immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a psychiatrist.

Why not read some stories instead

NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber

6 Jan 2015

Quote by vivien
I support paid memberships, in order to make this even a better place. What bothers me most, is the amount of privacy I have to give up to stay. I suggest the administration give serious thought to accepting prepaid credit cards. I also want reassurances my private information is really secure, What sort of security arrangement is in place to assure that?
LM touched on this, you’re no longer a casual visitor with a paid membership.

The amount of privacy you have to give up to stay? Please read our privacy policy.

All we collect is your email address for verification purposes, and your gender. That helps cut down the number of fake accounts set up by troublemakers.

We do not store any financial information. Memberships are processed by the second largest payment processor in the world.

6 Jan 2015

Quote by overmykneenow
I've not investigated but maybe there's an option for payment using app stores.

That way membership could be bought as an in-app purchase and any payments would go through via iTunes or Google Play. If there was a problem with Lush being an adult site, it could be covered by making premium accounts on blue site that work here as well.

I highly doubt it. Apple are anti all things adult.

Google copied their policy and after they bought Android (now Google Play), removed all adult apps from their store.

The free android app we paid thousands of dollars for, was pretty much rendered worthless overnight, having no audience. 588-rolleyes

6 Jan 2015

I would like to apologise to the site owner(s) and all Lush members for the comments I made on this thread yesterday. It was sheer impertinence on my part and I feel deeply ashamed and embarrassed.

In the short time I've been here, I've met kind and wonderful people; it was wrong of me to suggest the site was facing imminent closure.

I don't expect forgiveness but I would like to explain myself nonetheless.

I had a friend stay over at the weekend and drank lots of wine. When I drink alcohol I don't take my medication through fear of bad reaction. This can have a profound effect on my temperament. Basically my mood was up and down like a whore's draws all day yesterday.

I am quickly and hopelessly falling in love with this site. It is giving me an outlet for the creative side of my personality and my pent-up sexual angst.

I would, at some point in the future, like to buy a membership and play my part in the financial upkeep of the site. However, I do not have access to back account, credit card, bank card etc, and therefore have no means in which to make a payment.

Is there an alternate method of payment? For example, an address to which to send money via post?

6 Jan 2015

Somebody mentioned a gift card option.

In which shops can I purchase your gift cards? dontknow

I would like to buy the silver membership. £13 I do believe.

6 Jan 2015

tiddlywink - I've deleted your post twice now, I'd hoped you'd have got the hint the first time, that this thread is for questions relating to the new membership, not apologies for drunken postings.

There are no gift cards. Members can gift others a premium membership.

Your post that you have no bank accounts, credit cards, or such like - I've known only one adult in the last 30 years, who was in that situation. How old are you? How do you function in society without one?

Please reply via pm (if you want to), I don't wish to have this thread clogged up with personal discussions and comments. Thank you!

6 Jan 2015

Quote by Liz

Only if the authors you follow decide they want to submit their stories to the premium library and not the main site.

Ok thanks for clearing that up...fingers crossed haha

6 Jan 2015

Quote by laurawantsome

Will your site accept pre paid credit cards like am, or visa.like gift cards? Also how long is the paid membership good for? A month, a year, forever? Didn't see that anywhere.

Paypal accept pre paid credit cards, but I believe you need to register with them first.

All memberships are for 12 months. We will make that clearer on the signup page.

7 Jan 2015

In a chat room someone just stated that they joined Jan 2nd, and was not told about the membership levels. Can I suggest that somewhere on the join page this is mentioned? Just trying to keep the drama down in the chat rooms, the moaning and groaning is crazy.

Just my My 2 cents

Thanks,

TxPrincess

PS....thanks for all the hard work on keeping this site up and running....i know it is difficult and comes at a cost (both in time and money)

7 Jan 2015

Quote by TxPrincess
In a chat room someone just stated that they joined Jan 2nd, and was not told about the membership levels. Can I suggest that somewhere on the join page this is mentioned? Just trying to keep the drama down in the chat rooms, the moaning and groaning is crazy.

Just my

Thanks,

TxPrincess

PS....thanks for all the hard work on keeping this site up and running....i know it is difficult and comes at a cost (both in time and money)

We will be adding something to the welcome PM most likely, so people are aware of the various membership levels from the off.

New members have a 3 month free trial, so it shouldn't affect them. What are they moaning about? dontknow

7 Jan 2015

Quote by Liz
Anyone who knows anything about electronic payment processing knows that it is only the processor, in this case Paypal, who has any kind of access to private financial information. It is just as secure paying for a Lush membership as it is buying anything anywhere else using the same method. Even your connection to Lush is now TLS encrypted thanks to Gav (That padlock symbol in your browser).

I am not authorised to speak on behalf of the site regarding privacy concerns, but if anyone has any generic queries they would like to discuss I would be happy to oblige either on-forum or in private.

Liz

Whew...that's a big relief. I'd been holding off on purchasing those iridescent, microwaveable butt plugs and the pump action, 9-volt penis enlarger at the Lush toy store for fear that you and the rest of the mods could see my purchases.

Now, I am relieved.

The same GQP demanding we move on from January 6th, 2021 is still doing audits of the November 3rd, 2020 election.

7 Jan 2015

Quote by nicola

We will be adding something to the welcome PM most likely, so people are aware of the various membership levels from the off.

New members have a 3 month free trial, so it shouldn't affect them. What are they moaning about?

Just the same stuff as here, no one reads the actual forum post. They claim they were hit by a train (no notice), that the charge should be per story submitted and not chat (cause this is what the site was originally for). Really really crazy stuff. It is honestly amazing that people come here only for chat and some didn't even know that stories were on the site.

TxPrincess

7 Jan 2015

Quote by TxPrincess

Just the same stuff as here, no one reads the actual forum post. They claim they were hit by a train (no notice), that the charge should be per story submitted and not chat (cause this is what the site was originally for). Really really crazy stuff. It is honestly amazing that people come here only for chat and some didn't even know that stories were on the site.

TxPrincess

Hmm...makes me wonder what they thought lushSTORIES.com meant. book

"What is the quality of your intent?" - Thurgood Marshall

7 Jan 2015

Quote by Dani

Hmm...makes me wonder what they thought lushSTORIES.com meant.

that does make one wonder?

but as far as i could read...only to page 3, the whining killed me at that point. there are plenty of prepaid cards made just for online purchases that would work...if you dont want to use paypal. also like many have said before 10 USD wow....really that is like a few coffees? this is a wonderful site, ran by volunteers and they are just trying to keep it going! thanks to all of you here in wonderful lushy land.

for the gifting of bronze to prior published authors i think that is extremely generous of the site and owner.

i forgot my question, so i shall go now smile

my newest :)

7 Jan 2015

Quote by BabydollSlave

that does make one wonder?

but as far as i could read...only to page 3, the whining killed me at that point. there are plenty of prepaid cards made just for online purchases that would work...if you dont want to use paypal. also like many have said before 10 USD wow....really that is like a few coffees? this is a wonderful site, ran by volunteers and they are just trying to keep it going! thanks to all of you here in wonderful lushy land.

for the gifting of bronze to prior published authors i think that is extremely generous of the site and owner.

i forgot my question, so i shall go now

Well, no matter the amount, people have their reasons for not purchasing.

As far as workarounds go, we've got those sorted the best we can at the moment.

In regards to the prepaid cards made just for online purchases, how do those work? I don't think I've heard of those made specifically for online purchases.

"What is the quality of your intent?" - Thurgood Marshall