Planet 9

**K-Man S** · #1 10-20-2008, 11:07 AM

October 20, 2008 - We are pleased to announce the opening of the Cayman Club Insider (CCI) program here at planet-9.com. The new CCI program is our attempt to respond to requests for additional capabilities, services, and information driven from this website. If you'd like to become a Cayman Club Insider simply Click Here: CCI Enrollment Form

What does the new Insider program provide? Here's a brief list and explanation:

Item #1 - Cayman Buying Assistance - If someone is interested in a Cayman they can pick up the phone and call a bunch of dealers themselves or they can use our NEW service that would automatically collect information from them and automatically send it to our sponsor dealers who in turn would respond with their best deals. We take some/all of the legwork out of the equation for the member. This service is provide via custom forms in a private forum accessible to Insiders only.

Item #2 - Special Discounts or Items from Sponsors - Today let's say a sponsor run a 10% off sale on car care products. That same sponsor might be offering 15% off for subscribing members only. As an alternative that same sponsor might be offering 10% off on all waxes but not polishes or orbital buffers, but the sponsor might offer those products at a discount as well for subscribers only. This was the "Sams Club" model that was recommended by our members. This might also involve group buys, and special features for those as well, the site would do some of the work of pre-negotiating with the sponsors to try to get extra savings, etc.

We are happy to announce that there are current special discounts being offered from Guard Transmission on their LSD units that exceed the cost of an annual Insider membership.

Item #3 - Premier Auctions - Similar to #2 above, but again, offering items to Insider subscribers first, etc. Today we auction off some sponsor items to the general populace and we'll continue to do that, but some items will be auctioned to subscribers first. Additionally, Escort has authorized a special Insider only auction on one of their top products which you will also find in our Insiders only section of the Classifieds.

Item #4 - Insider Discussions & Privileges - Some items we simply can't post publicly, for example the sale price for Escort products. However, in a PRIVATE forum sometimes those rules change and we can post information that we cannot otherwise post publicly. These items are NOT posted today in the forums and won't be in the future, but some of them may be able to be posted in subscriber private forums. Want to help develop a new set of sway bars from a leading manufacturer? Right now one of our Insider members is being offered this chance!

Item #5 - Priority Assistance from Mods and Admin - Today you get the response level that moderators or admins have time to respond equally across the board. We are not talking about decreasing the level of overall service we are talking about giving priority to subscribers. Their inquiries, etc. will be handled first, again, not something that anyone is receiving today. This may expand as well to specific Q&A items as requested previously by our members.

We hope you enjoy these new services and capabilities and we've provided a number of ways to sign up for the Cayman Club Insider program. Currently our only payment processor is PayPal, but we anticipate having general credit card acceptance online very shortly. As with anything, if you have any questions please ask!

CJP80 · #2 10-21-2008, 07:36 AM

Superb ideas, well executed. Thumbs Up!

peter f cummiskey · #3 10-21-2008, 07:50 AM

Excellent added service...Look forward to it...

**K-Man S** · #4 10-21-2008, 08:47 AM

Thanks! If you join you'll notice a little somthing special under your username now...

watrousmark · #5 10-21-2008, 01:22 PM

I think that by creating an elite(ist) class you will alienate your rank and file members (that would be me). While you may reap a financial reward in the short term I have seen this move hurt other forums in the long run. V-twin.com comes to mind, once the largest Harley-Davidson forum on the web, now a ghost town.

iremembercliford · #6 10-21-2008, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by watrousmark

I think that by creating an elite(ist) class you will alienate your rank and file members (that would be me). While you may reap a financial reward in the short term I have seen this move hurt other forums in the long run. V-twin.com comes to mind, once the largest Harley-Davidson forum on the web, now a ghost town.

I have to agree. Though I may end up joining - it doesn't seem necessary to create a pay version of this site. If you needed money, it would be easier to just have a fundraiser and give away t-shirts and random stuff to donors. I would certainly be more likely to give you $40 to just have a "Donor" tag on my name and get a Cayman Club t-shirt or hat. However, I do see the advantage of offering larger discounts to a smaller, more private subset of people. Sponsors would likely be more willing to give larger discounts knowing ahead of time the maximum number of people that qualify.

**K-Man S** · #7 10-21-2008, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by watrousmark

I think that by creating an elite(ist) class you will alienate your rank and file members (that would be me). While you may reap a financial reward in the short term I have seen this move hurt other forums in the long run. V-twin.com comes to mind, once the largest Harley-Davidson forum on the web, now a ghost town.

I don't see anyone acting "elitist", these services and technology to carry out expanded services cost us money. Rather than charge everyone for services they may not want or need we've made it voluntary for people to sign up and pay for them if they want to, or bypass them and continue to use the site as they've always done if they prefer. If you dont join the Insider program then nothing changes for you, you continue to use the website as you always have. Would you prefer that we force all of these new services on everyone and make everyone pay? I assume the answer to that question would be "No".

Originally Posted by iremembercliford

I have to agree. Though I may end up joining - it doesn't seem necessary to create a pay version of this site. If you needed money, it would be easier to just have a fundraiser and give away t-shirts and random stuff to donors. I would certainly be more likely to give you $40 to just have a "Donor" tag on my name and get a Cayman Club t-shirt or hat. However, I do see the advantage of offering larger discounts to a smaller, more private subset of people. Sponsors would likely be more willing to give larger discounts knowing ahead of time the maximum number of people that qualify.

We have accepted donations since day 1 and those who donate are added to the Club Donors group and that appears next to their name. Those who donate larger amounts get extra awards which also show up next to their name. I don't know if sponsors are so much concerned with raw numbers as they are with upsetting resellers by selling direct. Escort is one example. All Escort resellers have to advertise the same price on the web, even if the ultimately sell for less like we've been able to do with our Escort program for members that intially started with PCA members only then was broadened to all members of the website. I'm sure sponsors like to know where buyers are coming from and where their ad dollars are best spent so it is their interest and our interest to facilitate that. Someone who just browses by this site and then buys a sponsor product doesn't inform the sponsor as to where they are coming from, for all the sponsor knows it could have been some other site or the phone book.

The buying service is also designed to help members get the best deal on a Cayman by pitting our sponsor dealerships against each other on a level playing field to the benefit of the buyer and the sponsor. Sponsors know it is a verified interested party, and buyers know that they don't have to do the leg work to get dealership prices from multiple dealers.

Again, if someone doesn't want any of the services or features of the Insider program then they don't have to join the program. We've also instituted a variety of program lengths, want to join for just a month? You can. Want to save more and join for a year? You can do that too.

Although some state "I would have just donated if you had asked" I find that the prevailing sentiment is more along the lines of "I'm not donating unless I am getting something for it" otherwise many people don't donate and that's OK, that is their choice to do it or not.

Furthermore, if this program is successful it will lead to further expansion and improvements on this and likely other related sites in the future, from which all site members both Insiders and non-Insiders will benefit.

I feel like I am a politician having to "sell" a financial bail out package in an election year...

I think if you really put up all the pros and cons and variations and premutations of this plan and look them over in detail you'll realize this is a "good" thing and some will join and some will not and that's "OK".

iremembercliford · #8 10-21-2008, 02:56 PM

You make some fine points. As you can see, I joined.

**K-Man S** · #9 10-21-2008, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by iremembercliford

You make some fine points. As you can see, I joined.

Good, now don't be elitist!

ARCuhTEK · #10 10-21-2008, 03:36 PM

This website has helped me so many times over I am sick of counting. And, unlike other forums which I visit, I have found some true friends here. Having said that, I have donated so many times Ken told me he had no other awards to give me......next thing I know, I meet my (now ) wife. I think Ken had something to do with that too......

So being a frequent donor did not stop me from joining. Member on board. Call me elitist if you want, I just believe that any good service deserves its true value, even if that means it was free in the beginning and I decide to be generous and float it a little (necessary or not.....required or not).

Anyone who spends much time here should be a donor and additional extras should not be part of the deal. The forum ISSSSSS the product. GB's, raffle shirts, red tail lights, clear engine covers, catback systems, discounted products or even just a fellow member leading me to a supplier of a new rear deck lid emblem.......ALL that is the extra. If you dont believe me....ask anyone who won NICE raffle prizes at Croctoberfest.

But I concur with Ken.....if you have neither the desire, the means nor the belief that this forum deserves a few dollars from you.....yet you are a signed on member, then you are STILL one of us.

Just do what moves you...

**Croc'ed** · #11 10-21-2008, 08:45 PM

I have never donated directly to CC.Net. I have supported the site indirectly by utilizing the site's sponsors to purchase ~$10K worth of parts and services. I have always made a point of referring to CC.Net during these transactions, all of which have been positive experiences.

This optional membership adds a premium level of service to an already exemplary website, and it is completely voluntary. Since I am unlikely to stop purchasing parts and services for my car anytime soon

, I view the cost of this membership as a value proposition. YMMV.

Thanks again to Ken, the moderators, and all of the contributing members of this vibrant and passionate community for continuing to improve an already excellent product!

***PolarPorsche*** · #12 10-21-2008, 09:44 PM

The money I have saved from the DIY articles (oil changes, brake pad replacment and Softronic Race Plenum) along with group buy on my RS98 wheels have more than covered the fee requested for this additional service.
Count me in, this is money well spent IMHO.

ARCuhTEK · #13 10-21-2008, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Croc'ed

I have never donated directly to CC.Net. I have supported the site indirectly by utilizing the site's sponsors to purchase ~$10K worth of parts and services.

Ohhhh, I didnt even think about that....the CC has definitely provided me with leads on thousands of dollars worth of GB's and other purchases. Wheels, electronics, car care products, books, decals, emblems, lights, lenses, tires, floor mats, car stereos, flashlights, mod4cars control unit, hardwire for the radar detector...the CC even helped me (through other members) fight back against a really bad Ebay deal.....on porsche wheels.

And here some people want t-shirts to join the CCI?

Whatevaaaa!! LOL

**K-Man S** · #14 10-21-2008, 11:07 PM

BTW arcuhtek I like that new signature pic, looks like a hoot to drive...

wpmjr · #15 10-22-2008, 05:58 AM

As I remember there was supposed to be some sort of 'insider benefit' to being a PCA member on this forum. I joined PCA but never noticed any benefit.

As for people feeling grateful to the site, it is also the members who have provided nearly all the useful content...

**Tess Tickle** · #16 10-22-2008, 06:58 AM

I'm more than happy to give the site a few $$, As a site Sponsor I've donated cash and products in the past, and on a number of occasions, but in this day and age the site still needs some form or sort of income to survive ....new servers hosting etc and I just think, from my point of view. That it's the right thing to do, I agree that it's the site members that make it what it is, and with a few exceptions it feels like one big happy family with everybody trying to help everybody else…..which we never want to loose.
At the end of the day “This Site” is the only one I even bother with now. And for that matter the only one that I wish to be associated with. So if you feel happy either giving a donation or having a little more commitment by “signing up” to the Insiders DO IT.
The other way I look at it how can I sell to “Insiders” if I’m not one ?? Sponsor or not.

Keep up the good work guys, You all have my vote…..

**K-Man S** · #17 10-22-2008, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by wpmjr

As I remember there was supposed to be some sort of 'insider benefit' to being a PCA member on this forum. I joined PCA but never noticed any benefit.

As for people feeling grateful to the site, it is also the members who have provided nearly all the useful content...

There is a benefit to being a PCA member and that is anything that is purely PCA related is posted in that forum, as well as the Escort discount program was launched with PCA members first. Because we now have some sorting to do with regard to PCA items vs. non-PCA items on this website it did not make sense to try and put more emphasis on PCA-only offerings but rather have a larger/wider array of offerings under the Insider program.

As far as members providing useful content, surely they have, but without this website where would that content have ended up? Possibily nowhere.

jpccarguy · #18 10-22-2008, 04:54 PM

[QUOTE=K-Man S;305381]

Although some state "I would have just donated if you had asked" I find that the prevailing sentiment is more along the lines of "I'm not donating unless I am getting something for it" otherwise many people don't donate and that's OK, that is their choice to do it or not.
QUOTE]

Then is there any consideration for those of us loyal CC'ers who have already made donations? Not that it would keep me from the insiders' club, or whatever it's called. I was about to make another contribution anyway, so I'm happy that there's something extra for the donation.

John

***Greywolf*** · #19 10-22-2008, 05:10 PM

Has there been any consideration to having the same price structure as an option but without automatic renewal?

**K-Man S** · #20 10-22-2008, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by Greywolf

Has there been any consideration to having the same price structure as an option but without automatic renewal?

Yep that is coming along with direct credit card billing as opposed to using PayPal. Our new gateway should be up either Friday or Monday according to the processing service. It just wasn't ready to go by launch time.