We have an issue on the Product Support forum that I was hoping would resolve itself over time. After reading the below I welcome your comments.

The Product Support forum was created mainly for our members to get help and support for products they use. With the one-on-one contact with customers my hope that was at some point these manufacturers would see it was a valuable resource for them and would step up to the plate and offer support to HobbyTalk.

What is so important about them supporting HobbyTalk? It shows that not only do they want you to buy their products but that they also are willing to put forth a little extra to help keep your forum up and running. If they feel it is valuable enough for them to offer support for their customers here, I would think that it is valuable enough for them to want to kick in and help keep this valuable resource on-line.

Keeping a forum such as this on-line is not an inexpensive or easy project to do. Having just gone through my tax papers it has cost me over 6 grand to keep the forum running. This does not include the over 1000 hours that I have also racked up. In addition to this HobbyTalk will be investing over 2 grand in race Sponsorships this year as we feel that our members deserve our support too. Would you spend 8 grand and 1K hours to help some company sell their product with nothing in return?

As you can see by looking at the Sponsors list on the right side of the page, some of them have stepped up to the plate. They should be commended and should be the first companies that you consider when you make a purchase. Each of these Sponsors offer support in different ways.

As one example is Todd from Putnam that answers questions. Even though he is a Sponsor has never once said come to my site to buy product. He feels that just being on HobbyTalk to answer questions is value enough for his sponsorship.

A second is Rob from Murdock who actively announces new products and lets you know they are available on his web site in addition to answering questions about those products. He feels that announcing new products is a great way to use his Sponsorship to reach his customers.

Neither of the two examples above is right or wrong in the way to do things. What is right with the above two examples is that they are willing to support the resource (HobbyTalk) that they feel is valuable to their business.

The secondary effect we have here is that it discourages those that do support HobbyTalk. Why should they continue support us when they see others are on here doing it for free?

I would also like to commend each of our members that have stepped up and offered their support of HobbyTalk by becoming a HobbyTalk Supporter!!! It makes me feel good every time I come on here and see all of your names in "gold". That means I am doing my job in providing a place you enjoy and that you enjoy it enough to volunteer to become a Supporter. That says volumes about your willingness to help out and I do thank you for it.

In the end it is all about you, the racer. You are the customer of these manufacturers/shops and of HobbyTalk. We all have a stake in this and without each part of the whole there is nothing. Each of us have to support each other or we all lose.
So the question is, what should be done to encourage those companies that use HobbyTalk to sell their products to become a HobbyTalk Sponsor? Or should nothing be done? Or maybe I’m just overreacting and should be happy to spend my money to help them grow their business?

Couldnt agree with you more Hank. Nuf said

Rob @ Windtunnel Racing Products-Murdock R/C

I agree with Rob, I myself like the fact that companies like Murdock and Putnam involve themselves here, and should WANT to "donate" alittle to help you help them...HMMM...My 2 cents worth. Jeff Carapellatti

Hank do you have a donation type box? I wouldnt mind kicking in some?

Hank,

I'd say you have every right to ask for support.

HobbyTalk is the most viewed r/c forum available!! That's why they should support it.

Couldn't agree more Hank. Should be a two way street.

Absolutley!!
In my opinion, if a business person can communicate directly to the customer base like they can here, that is the best advertising you can buy! Also, if they are gonna actively promote a product they sell, then they should do the right thing and support HT.
When I am looking for parts/equipment I click on the Sponsors of HobbyTalk FIRST. From the HobbyTalk website! Because they support the forum.
I have learned so much from this forum that I could not begin to measure it. I also hope I have helped a little too.

regards,
Scott

This was not meant as a "plea" to members to get them to become a Supporter. No member should feel they HAVE to make a donation or support. Other then when we first started the HobbyTalk Supporter program I don't think I have ever posted asking members to become Supporters. If someone does ask, I direct them to the Donation/HobbyTalk Supporter link at the top of every page. You donation does help greatly and you do get a few extra bennies such as able to use a sig file, can upload a custom avatar, more PMs, more and larger files in the photo album, etc. It is not a big thing for your great support but it does take up more server space and uses a few extra CPU cycles which the donation covers.

Members should never have to pay to use HobbyTalk. I also think that tracks should not have to pay to have a thread that provides info about the track... most tracks, at best, are lucky to break even (yes, some tracks do have hobby shops). We need to actively support both racers and tracks for our sport to survive and grow. As we can see, a number of both that volunteered to support HobbyTalk and I thank them for that support!

No one asked me to be a supporter,but when i think about the time i spend on here and all the great information i read from the diffrent threads I just felt it was right to donate to keep this site up. Some people dont realize the expense and time involved. This is great site and i hope more people step up and support.For what it cost to be a supporter youd spend more just one night of racing at your local track. Keep up the good work Hank.

I guess my question is. How many of the threads on here do the companies that are named actually know about or is it just guys sharing their views with each other about the companies products? I mean, does Jeff at Pro-Match even know his company is being talked about here? From the sounds of it the "reps" that discuss things are more or less just loyal customers or sponsored drivers? (Btw this is just an example) If the companies knew how much of a valuable resource they have here, would they then be willing to support it? Just a thought........