The Future of Brickset Forums

Switchfoot55

In an effort to get the conversation moving sooner than later, I wanted to solidify a committee of sorts among the forum users who would work in conjunction with Huw to narrow down options, determine new minimum operating standards, and test options in order to have a seamless transition once the current subscription closes out. 

A few have already expressed interest in the Forum Closure 2023 thread. I'll ask that if you've already done so there, that you again indicate your interest here. 

I'll keep this initial phase open for at least a couple of weeks so we don't miss anyone. From there, the group as a whole can determine the most ideal way to communicate and pass along ideas, thoughts, and questions. 

Although I may be the one starting this thread, I am by no means taking the controls over. I'm not "in charge," but simply a member of the community that is committed to seeing it stick around for as long as possible. If necessary, we can elect a main point person, though it may not be necessary in the long run. 

I'm looking forward to getting some options nailed down and helping bridge the gap between what is and what will be! Thank you for your interest, whether you decide to join or not!

lowlead

From my perspective, this topic warrants its own thread.

Did a crash course on Discord.  It sounds like a very intuitive and hassle-free platform, I'm wondering if it's compatible with desktop computer use, as I loathe using a phone app for discussions.

Either way, I believe the best option is to keep this forum alive.  I hope to have more insight on that matter soon....

lowlead

Also, here's Huw's Announcement for your convenience.

bpk2300

This is my only online home for Lego. I have a Eurobricks account, but have logged on there maybe a handful of times. This Forum fits me perfectly, and by that I mean the forum UI, the people here and the types of discussions here fit me. The pace of discussion is ideal, too (i.e. its not too fast, and I can generally keep up). 

I don't have Facebook. I've never used Discord but I suppose I'd try it if this community decides to move there. I'm just already assuming it won't have the same "feel" and I may abandon it after a short time :(

MaffyD

lowlead said:

From my perspective, this topic warrants its own thread.

Did a crash course on Discord.  It sounds like a very intuitive and hassle-free platform, I'm wondering if it's compatible with desktop computer use, as I loathe using a phone app for discussions.

Either way, I believe the best option is to keep this forum alive.  I hope to have more insight on that matter soon....

I use Discord extensively on desktop - it's just as easy as mobile. In fact, even easier with a proper keyboard :)

lowlead

^^Good to know!

I'm certainly open to new platforms, at the same time I fear we might lose something in the transition - the 'feel' of the forum, as @bpk2300 put it.

pxchris

I use Discord on my desktop at work and occasionally laptop at home, as well as the app on my phone. It's very easy to use via a desktop browser.

While most certainly a viable option... there are caveats.
Forums are much better for highly focused and "topic-ed" discussions. Discord servers can have a variety of channels set up for different topics, but then all of the various discussions under that topic will inevitably mesh into each other. You loose a lot of that granularity.
You also loose the history. In virtually no circumstance will you have the easy ability to browse through large volume of discussion on any given topic like you can in a forum setting.
An excellent point was also made about the pace of discussion, it can be extremely easy in busy servers to loose track of what has been discussed and when since it's just a constantly scrolling chat. This makes it very hard for the casual engager.

It's also I think important to discuss the fact that much of the Brickset forum regular demographic is of the older age set. I'm 43 and I'm very technology adept, but I still love the comfort and familiarity of web-based forums. For many of us, jumping over to a whole new platform will be just a step too far and we'll sadly loose many of our beloved members. We may gain new fresh faces, but the community would inevitably go through a major paradigm shift.

I'm trying to look at this from both the positive and negative sides. There are certainly points to both.

Huw

I should add that I am going to keep making an effort to make it pay for itself over the year, and get better figures to support any action taken next year. 

It might involve showing ads to logged-in users but without bombarding them.

I don't want to see it go either but when it costs as much to run as the main site but contributes almost nothing it doesn't make financial sense to keep it going, particualrly when so few people use it. 

Switchfoot55

pxchris, thank you for your thoughts. I too agree that, although Discord has many great qualities, it would bring additional challenges and would certainly alter at least part of the feel of the community. Something I very much would hope to retain. 

I need to go back and find the discussion on this topic from the last time it came up, but I swear there were several members who proposed viable options that maintained a forum feel and also were able to transfer over the forum history to a new platform. Maybe I'm misremembering, but it has always stuck in my mind since reading it. 

I'll do some digging. 

Briking

Sad news

Bumblepants

Would these forums cost less if we dumped a lot of the old derelict threads? I'm sure we could get a few volunteers to comb thru and trash stuff that is irrelevant now.

arathemis

How much are we talking about here? What is the damage? I would be wiling to donate a few bucks (and I imagine others too) to keep this alive. 

lowlead

arathemis said:

How much are we talking about here? What is the damage? I would be wiling to donate a few bucks (and I imagine others too) to keep this alive. 

After asking @Huw the same question in a PM, his reply was eye-watering.  I had no idea the cost!  I'll let him decide if we want to break into public discussion about donations.  I'm certainly on board for a hefty sum, but I can't swing all of it. 

Modeltrainman

Discord has a threads feature, now, could we dump the threads there as a backup, and 'in case'?

560Heliport

Considering the pleasure this forum brings me, I'd certainly be willing to pay to keep it going!

Lo1sJess

Willing to pay fee or subscription to keep the mostly relaxed, comfortable feel of this forum.  Like several others this is my main Lego interaction.  I am also not opposed to a few ads maybe scrolling at bottom or sides to help just not the unsigned experience where you have to move quickly or go out and in to get to click sign in.  

560Heliport

I don't need both kidneys, right?

madforLEGO

It would be disappointing to lose the forum. I loath Facebook, and we try to help each other out here in finding deals or when there is something at one location that is not in another.

MaffyD

I know the ins and outs of Discord might seem a bit unwieldy, but honestly this forum is quite unwieldy itself! There are about 10 main threads that people contribute to every day. Then there's the random threads that start up, get a reply or 3 and then are done. And there's very few in between. I think most of these can be dealt with via channels and threads. Of course there's the benefit of decent search. My god, search. On here. It's horrific.

Russell844

I'm totally down for a pay by the month or annual subscription. This forum is my second home.

PDelahanty

I'm curious as for the reason for the apparent high cost of the forum.  It's apparently not due to high traffic.  Is it because of the size?  Would it be less expensive if some old posts or perhaps entire sections were culled?  (For example, the sub-forum "Brickset.com articles" seems redundant with the comment section.  ...and the "News" sub-forum hasn't had a post since 2016.)

Huw

The amount of traffic or size of forum has no bearing on the cost. 

PJ76uk

Is it not feasible to integrate the forum more into the main site so theres no need to pay for two hosting packages? I would be sad to see the forum go as it's my only source of Lego news but understand How's reasons for being unable to keep subsidising the forum. 

Phoenixio

I'm quite surprised to hear the cost is so high.  I was on other community-driven forums before and a few donations would cover the costs.  And since Brickset is so big now, I'd assume that to be much more expensive.

I'm also curious about the ability to move the forum to Bricket itself.  Have it more integrated.  Same user accounts, possibility to cross reference comments and forum posts, etc.  And it doesn't have to be as "big" as the current one, since clearly there are categories of discussions that are much more useful, namely the daily discussions about Lego, and the marketplace, if I can judge by number of posts.  I assume it'd be a considerable amount of work, but Brickset is THE reference in term of Lego and for its database.

klinton

The entire appeal of this forum is it's relatively quiet pace. It's not overcrowded with the whiny rabble that plague literally every other forum, including Brickset's main page. It's intolerable. There's a solid group of mature individuals here who's opinions and insights I respect and appreciate. 

I know I don't post here so often anymore, but I will be gutted when this forum disappears. It's an old school oasis in an otherwise increasingly insufferable online landscape.

BooTheMightyHamster

I'd be gutted to lose the forum, and I'm happy to make a donation.  How much are we talking about, per year?  £1,000?  £5,000? £10,000?

BooTheMightyHamster

@Huw  If the worst comes to the worst, would you consider an Official Brickset Facebook Group?

If not, then I'll be setting up an 'Unofficial' Brickset Facebook Group!  :o)

SumoLego

I think there is a Brickset Facebook Group already?

SumoLego

Given the costs and the relative lack of monetary benefit of the Forum, I definitely saw this coming.  I am definitely sad that we now have a hard-date on migrating elsewhere.

pxchris

There is a FB group already, called Brickset Members.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Brickset/

It's absolutely nothing anywhere close to a replacement for our forums.

madforLEGO

I will never join Facebook, I have plenty of other online entities likely selling my info.

bandit778

I must admit, due to my change in circumstances reducing my LEGO life considerably, I haven't been as active on here as I used to be.
I still read a lot of the threads that interest me but commenting on no new Lego or my opinions on prices that I'm not paying isn't exactly what keeps the conversation moving.
To be honest though , I'm surprised that it's lasted as long as it has considering that the loss of revenue from the forum isn't a new thing as it's been an issue for a number of years but I'll definitely be sad to see it go when it finally stops (especially the members only benefits that have come as a perk of the site).
I've had a blast on here over the years and have made some real life friends and had some interesting conversations and trades with some great digital acquaintances in the seven years I've been a member. 
Here's to the next 12 months, hope they are good ones. 

P.S. For a finale, perhaps we could do the Brickset Halloween Santa in September/October next year to go out with a bang.

andhe

BooTheMightyHamster said:

I'd be gutted to lose the forum, and I'm happy to make a donation.  How much are we talking about, per year?  £1,000?  £5,000? £10,000?

Each?

Kidding. Also would be sad to see it go. I'd have to start doing my actual work. 

lowlead

BooTheMightyHamster said:

I'd be gutted to lose the forum, and I'm happy to make a donation.  How much are we talking about, per year?  £1,000?  £5,000? £10,000?

...the middle one.

I've been debating on whether or not it's appropriate to publicly discuss these financial issues, but what the hell.  I'm in for a £1,000 donation.  It's not a flex, others have expressed interest in donating even more!

My motivations are transparent and one-dimensional: I wish to preserve the discourse here, as it's very unique as @klinton said so eloquently.

Phoenixio

But that's weirdly expensive for this type of barebone forum...  Unless I'm missing something in the backend?

PDelahanty

Phoenixio said:

But that's weirdly expensive for this type of barebone forum...  Unless I'm missing something in the backend?

Agreed.  I've hosted forums for my sites before...but eventually killed them off as social media drew everyone away from the forums and it was no longer worth it for me to bother with software updates and anti-spam moderation.  They were hosted on DreamHost's shared hosting and it was really reasonably priced at just over $100/year.  I really can't fathom why this forum is THAT expensive.  (I mean, there must be a reason, but if it's not due to the size or traffic then I'm at a loss as to what it could be.)

Not trying to poke my head into finances or make assumptions, but I'd love to see the forum continue...and it seems to me like whatever hosting company is responsible for this forum, they're pricing things quite unfairly.

Brickchap

This news is really sad. Some facebook groups like a Lego aviation one I'm in have been great, really helpful and supportive people. Unfortunately most other groups (lego or otherwise) are filled with either toxic horrid people who enjoy verbally abusing people to justify their existence, or lots of normal, interesting posts that get a few likes but no comments.

I also hate the amount of facebook groups full of spam (and yet strangely enough will remove posts that are actually relevant to Lego and dont break any group rules, meanwhile I have to scroll through Chinese seafood markets and even Lepin posts to see anything Lego related.)

Brickset Forum is a great place and I like how discussions are categorised. I'm currently using Discord for Lego World Builder and it is very difficult to use. I was mentioned in a really nice comment months ago but didn't see until now because Discord has all these different pages and no inbox of any sort.

Discord could be an option, although I feel like comments would get lost even easier. I also was open to subscription fees although I'm curious why this forum is so expensive?? Not blaming Huw or anything I am just wondering what makes it so pricey.

Is there any way we could attract new members in order to increase the site traffic and justify the expense of the forum?

Bumblepants

Even if we got enough people to try and pitch in it would just prolong the inevitable. I've noticed a lot of old timers have dropped off the last few years and a paywall would only speed that process. I think we pretty much have to find a more affordable option if we want to continue.

Brickchap

I'm not up in these things but is there a Facebook option for a forum type chatroom or something?? Commenting on posts would never work.

Bumblepants

Brickchap said:

I'm not up in these things but is there a Facebook option for a forum type chatroom or something?? Commenting on posts would never work.

The current Facebook group is a quagmire of nonsense. Usually it's someone posting a set from some random blog to announce it exists meanwhile Brickset main page announced it 3 weeks earlier and we were talking about it here in the leaks thread a month before that.

lowlead

Phoenixio said:

But that's weirdly expensive...

My thoughts as well!  If I misinterpreted @Huw's reply then I'm sure he'll correct me, but it was pretty clear.

I also agree that we would be holding off the inevitable, but not until November of 2024. 

Lo1sJess

Another year or so might also bring more options if it comes down to it.  

Brickfan50

In order to generate more income for Brickset we are encouraged to use the links on the top of each page. But how does this work technically? When I click the LEGO link and go to LEGO Shop I can see a referral ID in the URL, obviously linking back to Brickset? But when I then go to a product page I see no referral.

I have to admit that I (think) never used the link before and will promise to do better in the future. It would help if I could make a short cut in my browser or on the desktop to always use that instead of typing lego.com in the browser. Would that work?

Lo1sJess

@Brickfan50 I also have been forgetful in using the links but will be more diligent.  Don’t know what is received by brickset but with all of the holiday and January release purchases for shop at home and Amazon could be a smidge forward if we all made a point of using the link.

if I use the Amazon link will all purchases count or only Lego?

SprinkleOtter

May I propose one thing?

If the custom forums are to be shut down, run a poll of where the majority of members would prefer to move. Discord/Facebook/etc. Then when the shutdown happens, direct the traffic to that one new home. That will help prevent fracturing of the community, as there is one endorsed replacement.

Brickfan50

Lo1sJess said:

if I use the Amazon link will all purchases count or only Lego?

I looked this up. Yes, all purchases count. The commission Brickset gets varies: from 10% for let's say perfumes (that why they are so expensive LOL) to 3% on LEGO.

Brickfan50

I'm trying to help @huw to generate more income from the forum. With regard to using the affiliate link for amazon: Brickset only gets money when you add something to your basket within 24 hours after you clicked the link. After that you have 89 days to check out and everything in your shopping cart is eligible for commission.

Perhaps Huw could point this out in an article on the front page :-)

Lo1sJess

@Brickfan50 we do a decent volume of purchases on Amazon with 3 generations in the house.  

Is the percentage from Lego any good - I mean every bit helps but would hope it would be a full percent or two versus a fraction?

Bumblepants

I'm clicking thru to Amazon on the main site and not the forums though. It's easier with the deal listings to see what I want and act on it that way.

Lo1sJess

@Brickfan50 @Huw I placed 2 Amazon orders starting from the link at the top of the forum page totaling $1818.20 (1516.00 and 302.20) but they show under orders as 4 orders (1491.42, 24.58, 8.31 and 293.89).  Only one of the two had a Lego item.  Is there a way to check and see if the orders did link up and something credited to Brickset - I don’t need to know what just want to know it’s working?

thanks

red237

If there is any type of donation possibility I would be willing to contribute. I also have no idea how much it costs to keep this running. So sorry but I get it.