Options to use Donation Credits to purchase stuff

[Veign]

Not sure if I am the only one that collects DC's and doesn't use them because of a strange feeling of using something that is truly not mine and belongs to DonationCoder more than to myself (feels like DC and mouser deserves them more for all the hardwork).

What I thought may be a cool idea is to have DC offer swag that can be purchased at costs that would include all shipping (both to DC and to you) so the net cost to DC is zero.  The swag could range from DC swag to general computer stuff to audio things or books or such.  Like you can purchase an Amazon Gift Cert or USB Thumbdrives or MP3 players.

Not sure the amount of work.  I wouldn't think much since it would just be a small offering - maybe 10-20 active products at a time.

Thoughts?

[TucknDar]

Yeah, some DC-things would be cool. I'd like something simple, such as a keyring, a coaster or something like that. Oh, and since I can't see myself winning a DC coffee mug anytime soon, I'd gladly spend my DC credits on that

Good idea, IMO.

[mouser]

Anyone can request to cash out their donationcredits in the form of an amazon gift certificate or paypal, and no one should feel bad about it at all.  In the larger scheme of things, no one here is getting rewarded sufficiently for their contributions, so any amount you cash out is a small fraction of what you've added to the site.

Now, as far as letting people use their donationcredits to buy DonationCoder swag.. I have some mixed thoughts on that..

Here's the problem as I see it.  No one participating and improving DC can ever be paid sufficiently for their contributions.  People who contribute to the site are doing so because of good will, because they enjoy it, because they are helping others, and because it's a fun community to participate in. The one thing I can do occasionally, which gives me real pleasure and satisfaction, is to send one of our mugs to someone as a reward.  Nudone did such a good job illustrating our mascot Cody, that I always feel a sense of pride in sending them.  To me, these trinkets have a real sentimental value.  I fear that letting people "buy" these things would diminish their significance as a gift.

ps.
Veign and TucknDar, you are long time active charter members in the site.. If you want a DC mug or something else like that, you'll end up with one sooner or later -- I think all long time participants who want one will get one eventually (we should have a big DC gathering in a year or two and there will have to be a mug for everyone who attends .

[mouser]

Also, don't forget the member kit available for free to all supporting/honorary members:
http://www.donationcoder.com/Scripts/MemberKit/index.html

I was thinking of having some nice quality thing that would be cheap to include in the mail that might be nice to add to the member kits, like a high quality plastic bookmark.  That might be a fun trinket..

And of course I've said before that anyone who wants a bumper sticker can have one..

[Veign]

Now that you put it like that I understand about the swag stuff.  My NaNy 2006 is my favorite mug for coffee.

I never knew about the Amazon cash out option.

Still may be cool to offer additional purchase options for use with Donation Credits.

[app103]

Mouser will work with you to see to it that you can get whatever you want/need with your credits.

He is very flexible with cashout options, and has helped me in situations where I couldn't use my paypal account to purchase something I needed, because the site wouldn't accept paypal or they wouldn't accept my paypal.

On more than one occasion he has ordered what I needed and had it shipped to me and I gave him enough credits to cover it.

For example, about 2 months ago I cashed out enough credits to buy a new cpu cooler to try to get my other pc working again (this was before I killed the motherboard). When I tried to purchase it from newegg.com, with my paypal account, which they do accept paypal, they wouldn't accept mine because my address was "unconfirmed". They needed me to confirm my address with a credit card, which I don't have. (if I had a credit card I wouldn't have been trying to use paypal, now would I?)

Mouser let me send him enough credits to cover the cost and he ordered it for me.

I wouldn't have been able to get what I needed if he didn't help me out like that, and I am very thankful to him for that.

So if there is something you want or need and you need some special arrangement for a cash out of your DC credits, talk to him about it. Don't be afraid. He is really a great guy and he doesn't bite. 

Still may be cool to offer additional purchase options for use with Donation Credits.

I am wondering if maybe mouser would like to take the idea that Veign had, and give it a bit of a unique twist:

How about a featured "mouser's reward of the month" in which members can have the option to use their credits to obtain? Maybe it could be a package of mouser's favorite candy, or tea, or a particular book...something that mouser really likes, personally? I think that could be fun and interesting. 

[Veign]

App103:  I know how helpful mouser is but my idea is for the individuals who may not be as comfortable asking for such assistance. 

I gotta feel that there are many users on this forum who have either never cashed any credits or have cashed very little credits.  Having a DC store of sorts would be encourage individuals to use their credits in trade for stuff.

Maybe I should turn this post into a poll just to get an idea of the numbers - not sure if I can make an existing post a poll.

(I know mouser will bend over backwards for someone who *asks* for assistance in anyway)

[mouser]

I welcome the suggestions.. App's twist on the idea is also interesting, the idea of having something special that occasionally came up that the credits could be used for, something that would be sentimentally worth more than the actual monetary cost -- i think that is key. For $100 in donationcredits we will send a life sized Cody to your door so you can get a singing telegram from the DonationCoder mascot.

[mouser]

We didn't have a fundraiser last year, but we are DEFINITELY going to have one this year.. So maybe we can think of something related to that?

[Veign]

The fund raiser could tie nicely into the idea.

[cranioscopical]

For $100 in donationcredits we will send a life sized Cody to your door so you can get a singing telegram from the DonationCoder mascot.

And, just as a follow-up, for $200 in donationcredits we won't 


Here's a thought for readers of this thread,

I think the ideas expressed above are good ones.  DonationCoder trinkets are fun to have.

In addition, I'd like to offer an alternative thought.
DonationCoder is a valuable source of interesting material for me as it almost certainly is for you if you're reading this.

For those of us with unused credits, how about donating 30% of them to the site.... right now, while you think of it?
Keeping DonationCoder in good shape is the best value I can get from my credits.

I'm off to do this immediately and hope that, perhaps, others will follow suit.

[mouser]

I think the poll needs more choices.

[Veign]

What would you like added?

My only thought was to see if a DC store was a good option but would be willing to widen the scope of the poll.

[mouser]

Veign, maybe the question should be more general like:  What else would you like to be able to do with your donationcredits:
1) donate to special event funds set up by DC
2) buy shareware
3) gamble it away in a new DC Cody Casino
4) have funner ways to give it to the site
5) use it to purchase dc swag
6) other -- specify in thread

And in general one more think i want to add to this thread is that it would be really nice to find a way to encourage people to participate more in giving out their donationcredits to others on the site that contribute stuff to the site.  like the plugin writers, mini-review writers, general helper-outers, etc.

[mouser]

Note that the first and main decision i make when evaluating any new idea is: "how much time is this going to take away from me coding?" so with any new plan we have to consider that, or consider whether any new work can be done by a volunteer.

[Veign]

Note that the first and main decision i make when evaluating any new idea is: "how much time is this going to take away from me coding?" so with any new plan we have to consider that, or consider whether any new work can be done by a volunteer.

True.  You need another DC specific coder - can handle DC upgrades.

[TucknDar]

I fear that letting people "buy" these things would diminish their significance as a gift.

That's a fair point, which I agree with. Maybe I should just remember to send some credits to members writing helpful, fun or interesting posts. I rarely do that, but it's certainly a nice way to spend the credits.

[wreckedcarzz]

I definately go for the "DC swag" option, but something like a mousepad or stickers - not anything fancy enough that it would normally be thought of as a "reward", but not too dull either. I wouldn't mind paying for a Cody shirt, or even like a little model to sit on the desk (or for kids, a little doll thing with a coin that you could stick into his mouth...). Just ideas.

we should have a big DC gathering in a year or two and there will have to be a mug for everyone who attends .

I might be able to join if it happens in a year or so...