OF Ad-Free Subscriptions Available Now

Maskelyne · Feb 9, 2021

STANDY
Well in full transparency @Maskelyne how much did you make ?

We know how much you saved for free here.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/opinions-about-this-constellation.116629/

That terrible watch was sold by Scanvas. I would never ever sell a watch like that. Timepieces have been my interest since the 80's. Mostly marine chronometers.

I never ever ask for a valuation on OF, posting is for sharing knowledge and publish my photographs.

donkii · Feb 9, 2021

Syrte
Hi @donkii,
This is for sure a good intent but I believe it would be a great mistake for the forum to depend on money from the watch industry. The next thing happening is what people have complained about on forums like WUS and other major commercial forums, people can no longer speak freely about problems related to a particular watch or brand, because the forum is dependent on their money.

That would spell the end of the independent expertise which makes this forum so great and so powerful (and causes so many people to be upset), would destroy quality of content, and that is exactly why Hodinkee is sycophantic and cannot be relled upon to tell the truth when it comes to bad news.

That's not what I was saying. As a forum owner you can choose to milk or to add some finesse. WUS is milking and I don't think that's what OF wants.

What I meant is that instead of having random ads from ebay regarding slow cookers and razorblades they have the platform for having Phillips auctions placing ads like we want your watch to the omega exclusive auction in April.

The subscription thing could still be available so I don't meant that there should be one thing or another, just ads that mirrors what this forum is all about.

I'm not overly positive to the placement of the ads, it makes the site look messy. Just ad a top banner with conentent that matthers 😀

Examples.

Syrte · Feb 9, 2021

@donkii I understand your point and I think it’s a fair point-
But what happens when Phillips sells a watch whose dial has been both swapped and tampered with?
The case below has become a cautionary tale, and it’s also happened when Jeff Stein on Chronotrader shamed Christies for doctoring a Heuer Skipper dial.
What headaches for forum owners does that create if and when they become forum sponsors?

https://omegaforums.net/threads/longines-13zn-auctions-originality-authority.40453/#post-472546

The idea of finessing the ads so they can be targetted is a good one, but I think it might be a better idea to proceed like Instagram does, and given the fact this is a largely male and affluent audience place relevant ads for the garment industry, publications, cars, tools, travel, interests often associated with the type of niche audience that we are.
As a minority I will accept I cannot have the female equivalent... although one might get ads about presents for female partners or spouses 😉

STANDY · Feb 9, 2021

@donkii so Phillips Auction places a advertisement and next Auction there is 3 threads slaying their pieces at said auction for authenticity issues.........

or

Bremont pays for a ad and uncovers the pasting I have given them over the years for their dodgy story about their plane landing and hiding in a barn in France to hide from ummm...... who were they hiding from 😕

donkii · Feb 9, 2021

STANDY
@donkii so Phillips Auction places a advertisement and next Auction there is 3 threads slaying their pieces at said auction for authenticity issues.........

or

Bremont pays for a ad and uncovers the pasting I have given them over the years for their dodgy story about their plane landing and hiding in a barn in France to hide from ummm...... who were they hiding from 😕

It was just examples none the less that's just my take on it. That valuebased advertising will add value instead of how it looks now. Phillips might not have been the best example but you understand what I meant. As a forum owner there's always a choice to be made. You've choosed this path now and time will tell 😀

The forum in Sweden has a subscription thing as well in that case you'd get a magazine four times a year, better deals with some of the company's they collaborates with and a forum section that's a little more private, but, there's still ads. Im more into that type of thing compared to a solution where I have to pay to have an ad free experience of random ads, but hey, that's just my two cents and I'm still gonna be here since I value this forum highly.

😀

cristos71 · Feb 9, 2021

Well I'm a big believer in Ad blockers, and I detest adverts generally. But for the sites where I really value the content ( two news sites and now here ) I'm prepared to pay a subscription fee. Here, more than the two news sites where I'm paying only for content, I feel I'm contributing for both the forum founders time, effort and financial outlay as well as towards an Ad free experience. Of course I could use an Ad Blocker but giving a little back is more what it's about.

lillatroll · Feb 9, 2021

I would like to subscribe but my paypal account was blocked a long time ago and I never really bothered getting it sorted the last time I was home. I don't know when I will get home next due to covid restrictions. Is there an alternative way to pay?
This forum has given so much to so many including myself so it would nice to be able to give a little back.

kov · Feb 9, 2021

lillatroll
Is there an alternative way to pay?

Send me a wire and I "gift" you the subscription you want. 😉

Maskelyne · Feb 9, 2021

Syrte
Dear @Maskelyne, just curious, are you a commercial market actor for having just sold yesterday, at a nice profit no doubt, the black dialed Longines watch you recently posted on OF?

Is there any chance you were asking for the forum’s validation to boost your sale ?
Just asking for transparency of course.

So maybe the platform does have some value, after all, other than the free validation that the forum members provided of course?

This thread clearly needs more pictures, reposting for clarification,
https://omegaforums.net/threads/lon...-glossy-gilt-dial-delivered-to-sweden.125521/
(The last three pictures were not on OF, they are from the published sales ad).
Of course it’s all perfectly okay, and I commend you for passing watches down to the next generations as you have stated.

Best regards

Yes it was obvious sold by me. (If not, the pictures were stolen.) No valuation was asked for, my research posted including extract from the archives. No promoting at all was done. Bying, sometimes selling, researching, sharing with others on OF, taking detailed high quality photographs in a professional standard. I really enjoy that - as an amateur.

If you need help taking pictures I am glad to assist 😀

lillatroll · Feb 9, 2021

kov
Send me a wire and I "gift" you the subscription you want. 😉

Well I have a revolut card that is quite straightforward so it could work if no other option is available. If you don't gift it though, you will burn in watch collectors hell, you will only be allowed to wear invicta watches for the rest of your life 😁 😜😁

kov · Feb 9, 2021

lillatroll
Well I have a revolut card that is quite straightforward so it could work if no other option is available.

Revolut user here as well so we can solve this issue quite quickly. 👍

Isn’t it funny, preparing to scam a user with troll in his nickname 😁

Redwes25 · Feb 9, 2021

Thanks for adding the option of no ads and to support the forum. Happy I can do a little something to help this forum run.

JwRosenthal · Feb 9, 2021

I was actually enjoying the ads. My phone automatically has a VPN (it’s a work phone), so I was getting ads but it wasn’t targeted as they couldn’t see my browsing history. What is was seeing was wording from the threads- like when someone mentioned Castro and all of a sudden I was getting biographic books on him- very clever actually. Still not sure about the diapers.

Maganator · Feb 9, 2021

vbrad26
Congrats!
On the child....not the accusations lol.

Thanks 😀

She's a wee cutie 🥰

Shabbaz · Feb 9, 2021

JwRosenthal
I was actually enjoying the ads.

I must say I did'nt see the ads after a couple of days. It's a new world out there. We need to adjust. 😁

Trev · Feb 9, 2021

JwRosenthal
...Still not sure about the diapers.

Astronaut diapers? It's ok, we won't judge 😉

LesXL · Feb 9, 2021

Tony C.
I'm curious: why would Paypal force the payer to use a credit card when purchasing a membership? Why would a bank transfer (which is typically, if not always backed-up by a CC) not be an option?

64Wing
My PayPal options were also limited to cards only. I do have my bank account mated up to it for other recurring payments.

Not sure why it wasn't an option, but figured it would be relatively easy to switch payment method if necessary

Worked for me PayPal linked to my bank account

Omega-Q · Feb 9, 2021

$$$ Sent. This has been one of the most informative and fun enthusiast forums I have been a part of. Happy to contribute to the well-being of the site! I am definitely an Omega watch fan for life! 😀

Larry S · Feb 9, 2021

Tony C.
We'll have to chalk it up to being an odd anomaly. Soon after, I bought a couple of CDs, and Paypal was back to my default bank payment.

I had the same issue. Also realized I had to update my card.

CdnWatchDoc · Feb 9, 2021

Just wanted to thank the kind soul who anonymously upgraded me to Omega 2...I am always heartened to see the goodness in our members that comes out in situations like this!
And a big THANK YOU to the mods for bringing this to reality!!