Rewarding the faithful - an idea

frank
January 25, 2008, 04:38 PM posted in General Discussion
It occurred to me this morning that we have members in this community that are almost as much a part of the ChinesePod experience as any of the folks who are officially on the payroll. We come to expect them to be here -- to educate, to entertain, to share the journey -- and we notice when they're not here doing their thing.

Why not reward folks who are in it for the long haul? To borrow a term from the MMORPG, City of Heroes, why not institute a policy of Veteran Rewards? To whit: after a member has passed a certain length of time as a Premium subscriber, the member would automatically receive certain benefits, or gifts, as a thank you.

Here's an example:

After 6 months of Premium Membership: A free Practice Plan session.

After 12 months of Premium Membership: An nice cap or hooded sweatshirt with the CPod logo embroidered on it.

After 18 months of Premium Membership: A gift certificate for a free month of Premium membership that you can either use to extend your own time, or gift to someone else. (All about viral marketing.)

After 24 months of Premium Membership: You get recognized on a "Hall of Fame" page on the website and a free week of Practice Plan sessions.

After 36 months of Premium Membership: A full-sized autographed color calendar of "The Girls of ChinesePod -- The Swimsuit Edition."

And so on. What do you think?
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tvan
January 25, 2008, 05:03 PM

I have to wait 2 years for a calendar?

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RJ
January 25, 2008, 10:58 PM

lordstanley, we get a mug????? News to me. Was the thong an alternate choice? Im sure there is a big demand for cpod thongs. What were they thinking?

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sparechange
January 25, 2008, 05:19 PM

Dinner with Jenny should be in there somewhere.

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frank
January 25, 2008, 06:09 PM

Well, as someone who's had the pleasure of her company at dinner, I'd have to put that reward at someone near the 60 month mark, so great was the experience.

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goulnik
January 25, 2008, 06:19 PM

ok, so what would you get after 8 months of Practice Plan?

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sparechange
January 25, 2008, 06:19 PM

Only 53 months to go... ;-)

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RJ
January 25, 2008, 06:32 PM

I think you guys are dreaming but you can buy a nice coffee cup (or thong) here: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/chinesepod/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_18268894/opt_/fpt_/c_666/

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sparechange
January 25, 2008, 06:33 PM

I'd be interested to know how many thongs they have sold.

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bazza
January 25, 2008, 06:44 PM

About 27 months for me I think. ;)

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RJ
January 25, 2008, 06:45 PM

Lets ask. Has anybody bought one? Im almost afraid of the answer.

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frank
January 25, 2008, 05:07 PM

Well, it IS the Swimsuit Edition. :-)

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lordstanley
January 25, 2008, 07:19 PM

Or alternatively, ChinesePod could scare and threaten the disloyal: "if you don't renew your subscription, you will leave us no choice but to send you an unsolicited copy of a full-sized autographed color calendar of 'Lordstanley -- The Swimsuit Edition'. Incidentally, with respect to Cafepress, I'm still waiting for my ChinesePod coffee mug for my Premium subscription, 10 months later.

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calkins
January 25, 2008, 07:29 PM

lordstanley, you know what you really want is the thong! :)

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frank
January 25, 2008, 07:34 PM

goulniky, I'm afraid that at 8 months you only qualify for the Limited Edition "Promise of a Better Prize in 4 Months" prize. :-)

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lustchina
January 25, 2008, 09:09 PM

How many months before dinner with Jenny. Many years of subscribing I'd expect at which point a quick revision of.. Elementary - Your turn to pay! Just kidding, gentleman should gladly pay for such a priceless experience, right Bazza?

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dave
January 25, 2008, 09:16 PM

A free thong would be perfect for launching the ball bearings in my home-made slingshot. I'll credit C-Pod (free of charge) for all the great headshots, too. TIMMEH! ARGARGGAH!!

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bazza
January 25, 2008, 09:28 PM

I've already had dinner with Jenny, she bought me a pizza. ;)

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henning
January 25, 2008, 09:55 PM

frank, goulniky wrote: 8 month of *practice* plan (additionaly to probably 14 months of premium). That is roughly the equivalent to 8 years premium.

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bingge
January 25, 2008, 10:49 PM

Hey, what do the females get for the 36 month mark?? :)

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frank
January 25, 2008, 07:09 PM

Well, my point wasn't to actually create the rewards themselves. LOL I just wanted to suggest the idea so that the folks in charge could maybe implement the program if there was enough user support. I do think that free Practice Plan sessions and such are good incentives to pony up the cash and stick around. But, NO, I would not advocate any of the gifts coming from CafePress. They're not terrible, but they wouldn't classify as a "Reward" in my mind.