Forum Search for members only?

[Kilian]

Is this new, and is this wise?

[rbminis]

This is abnormal, and it needs to be fixed.
I have seen some of the Techs on line recently, possibly they have been doing some work, and something went awry.
Ralph.

[Dimas]

The GoogleAPI search which is installed on the forum is no more free, and to be paid on the search requests basis. We met some problems, in the past, when the search limit this functions with first 5 result pages. We choose paid search, which returns to us with a monthly bill which will not be covered with current forums income. We have an option to install original forum search which is awful. For using a free search you can follow google and add a search phrase: example site:warrelics.eu

[Reibert]

Hi,

I think that the expanded forum search will only be reserved for paying members is not a good thing.

Would it really and truly drive the WRF into financial ruin if this search were made possible again for all members?

I've been a member of the forum for almost 15 years now and am quite active with more than 3,100 posts and very often I have used the Advanced Search for my postings here in the forum, to quickly find old and older reference posts here in the forum for research purposes as a comparison to my own threads.

Subject-related threads also live and become more interesting because older threads can be quickly found and linked in current threads, and this is exactly what all members of the forum should continue to be able to do.

A lot of members here in the forum, like me, have been active through many posts here and in the Google search, entering a specific search term will often provide a cross-reference to the War Relics Forum.
In a certain way, all active users here in the forum also do a kind of advertising for our forum on the www.
This should not be punished by the fact that especially the active users here in the WRF, like me, are no longer allowed to use the Advanced Search, which is important for our work here in the WRF.

I have already been active in several forums and some forums have deprived themselves of many, previously very active, members because certain functions were only possible against payment over and over again and more and more often.
In the end, these forums have only damaged themselves and the quality has also dropped significantly.

For me, the WRF has always been a commendable alternative in the forum world, but I don't think it's appropriate to make an advanced search function chargeable, which affects future specialist articles/threads here in the forum.

I hereby request that the forum management carefully reconsider this step and carefully weigh up the pros and cons.

A forum search, especially in a forum like the WRF, should be made possible for every active member, otherwise participation here will only become more difficult and, over time, more than just tedious!

Best regards,
R.

[Austrian]

I completely agree with Reibert!

What changes for me as a result:
I collect and study military shovels from all over the world and from all time periods.
This is a topic that hardly anyone, or practically no one, deals with in detail.
Since shovels are only occasionally posted here, I used the search function about once a month to help with identification ec. everyone as good as I can.
These times are now over with the change.

The question I ask myself then is, do I still want to start threads at all?
I'm not sure at the moment.

Best regards,
Austrian

[Brett]

I will sometimes refer to earlier threads and supply links when I reply to certain posts. There's really no point in trying if the information that I wish to pass on is now inaccessible.

Regards
Brett

[BlackCat1982]

I have always tried in the past to post in the correct area or to update earlier posts with fresh information in order to enhance the interest in these threads for everyone. Sadly I have to agree that restricting the search tool to Gold members only does take some of the enjoyment away from partaking in friendly discussion with fellow collectors and enthusiasts. I think that the forum may also suffer as posts begin to appear outside areas that they should be in, something that my own OCD would find extremely annoying.
I hope that some sort of middle ground can be found as I would miss being part of this great place.

[JesperS]

While I fully understand the economic aspect of this, I am also worried that it will seriously impact the attractiveness of this forum.
This doesn't *just* impact advanced search but simple search as well thus rendering the forum as a reference database more or less useless to non-paying members.
I am now debating with myself whether I should become a paying member or not - It's not as much the €30 a year, it's more the sum of all the things that I have to pay for ... and it is also the fear that too many valuable members will be leaving the forum to the point of it no longer being the same essential landing point for my hobby.

I also hope that the people behind will seriously reconsider this decision for the good of all of us.

[Larry C]

A Sign of the times Gents as prices on everything everywhere have risen.. to a point what used to be free has its challenges now.

What is currently happening now is the conditions of use by Google services has changed and now we ourselves are forced to pay for Google API for user requests for searches on the site. Recently the WRF has paid for this at our own expense for the last 3 months, but since the project is non-profit and we are trying to fit our expenses into income, we were forced to take this step.

Google API is not free anymore and only 100 requests are free. We have received a bill for last months usage which was higher than our currently paid members which numbers to about 200 members ...compared to what can be seen in the community listing of non paid members.

We have installed Google API.

For example, WAF search uses a vBulletin search engine, which we also have as well, yet its performance is lacking and it shows only 10% of the results.. and in most cases its irrelevant. Why I suggest using Google Search. However in the past Google made most of their services not free. Most of the forums work by paid memberships only. We have tried to keep it free and as long as possible but it takes a lot of expense with technical support, and other services etc.

So now that the reality of current events has people scrambling in their own lives to make ends meet ..I can only encourage to the members who are new and also those who have been with the WRF for many long years of dedication....that times have changed and the survival of this community and forum needs your help in giving back what the services here has been provided to the members at an innumerable measure.

I have said this in the past many times for the where else can you go for the price of a tinnie and absorb combined centuries of knowledge from many long standing members worth hundreds of thousands of dollars seen in many collections. The amounts of money we spend can not be compared to a Gold Members club fee.

We have a great community here with many cultural and personality types that has made this website a success

Currently the Administration is working on other options onto what we currently have expanding the choices for membership and access to the services offered here.
An Announcement will be made soon in the Technical forum and also working some advanced membership options as well.

Thankyou Gents again for your devotion and time spent on this website.

Regards Larry

[Dimas]

Additionally, I can upgrade your account for free if you are not able to pay this amount. And you have spent a lot of time as a forum participant. Just let me know