We're spending money to do a lot more than just make the web site "cosmetically" better. Joel -----Original Message----- From: Richard J. Norton [mailto:richardjnorton@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 8:17 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:16678] Re: Radios On Line I make the following observations: 1) Neither the sitting ARRL Southwestern Division Director, the sitting Southwestern Division Vice Director, nor the previous Southwestern Division Director were aware of the "Radios On Line" program. This might say something about how well it was publicized. 2) There were 390 classified ads on the ARRL site as I composed this, and 4238 ads on KA9FOX's QTH.COM site, with 318 ads added to the QTH.COM site that day alone. I'm working on deciding who has done a better job with this task, the paid League staff or KA9FOX.. 3) The other web-sites make money on these classified ad sites, and the ARRL is shutting its site down? Note that the way they make the money is twofold, from paid ads and by asking for donations or memberships. Because hams perceive that the sites are delivering value, they respond. Incidentally, the reward for membership on one of the successful sites is that members get to view the ads a day or two ahead of every one else, not that ads are restricted to members. The number of ads remains high and the advance viewing concept obviously works . 4) The comment, "only to find the ad back two days later, placed in every category," clearly shouts out that the ad placement mechanism is inadequate. 5) People visit web-sites because they deliver something of value. I probably visit QRZ.COM more than 10 times as often as I visit ARRL.ORG. Other than to check on the membership status of a callsign, there isn't much I use on the ARRL site. I do suspect that a vibrant classified ad section could indeed be a RECURRING draw for many. 6) A classified ad site, hosted by a volunteer or off-site person is a natural. Links from ARRL.ORG could go to something like ARRLclassifieds.ORG, which could be maintained off site with no risk to the League's in-house computers. 7) Given that the League's technical information service assists vastly fewer people than the classified ads, I assume it will be shut down as well. Then we can get rid of a couple of employees. 8) I seem to remember that we're spending money to make the web-site cosmetically better? 73, Dick Norton N6AA On Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 10:52 AM, Kramer, Harold, WJ1B <wj1b@arrl.org> wrote:

Effective April 30, 2008, the Radios On-Line website will close. We discussed this with the A & F Committee at our meeting here last Saturday. This action was previously recommended in my Program Review document that was presented to the A & F Committee in 2006. For various reasons, we postponed taking any action at that time. If you are interested, I have enclosed my 2006 report.

We are taking this action for the following reasons:

1. During the past year, we have experienced an increased number of complaints by members and users regarding postings and practices that do not conform to the Radios On-Line website's original intent. Despite our efforts to monitor the site regularly, these problems persist. These have included postings for guns and "personal" ads. Deb Jahnke and her staff administer this service and they have deleted items and notified the "poster", only to find the ad back two days later, placed in every category.

2. Since my 2006 report, we've seen increased instances of members accusing of us giving out their email addresses as well as asking us to intercede when a business arrangement does not turn out as planned. Obviously, anyone can harvest an email address from the on-line or printed column but, since it appears on our website, complainants think we are responsible for all related problems.

3. EBay, in particular, and, to a lesser extent, other Web sites such as QRZ.com, have taken over the majority of on-line sales of used amateur products and gear.

4. We are tying up skilled Advertising Sales staff by having them spend a disproportionate amount of time dealing with a very small number of users (600 -700 per month) less than .4% of our members).

5. Also, since these on-line ads are free, some there are no budgetary implications.