Forum:Uncyclopedia Store: A referendum

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Note: This topic has been unedited for 6190 days. It is considered archived - the discussion is over.


This is an attempt to foster creative and productive debate (stop laughing) regarding the possibility of there being an official Uncyclopedia Store. Since I've been lecturing NXWave on the need for community input, I feel I should instigate that input. So here goes.

I like the idea of Uncyclopedia merchandise, and I'd almost certainly have a mug and a t-shirt straight away. That said, the issues that strike me are:

  • Licensing - Our license is linked at the bottom of every page, and clearly states "Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes". As far as I understand, users could relicense certain work, but this is probably something that it would be useful to ask Wikia staff about.
  • Disbursement - How is the money collected and distributed? Should we administer a central pot that can be used as a prize fund for competitions? Do potential contributors feel they should be paid for the use of their images? Or should we siphon it off into a secret admin hush-fund in a Zurich bank?
  • Wikia's input - Hate them or loathe them[1], they're our overlords. They've held true to their promise of leaving us autonomous, but they still own the site, and thus have a say in the use of the "Uncyclopedia brand". They might even have done this kind of thing before, and could assist with the process. Maybe.

For reference, previous meaningless banter about this idea can be found here, here, here and here (kind of). In fact, you can see from this one, the idea even got as far as a cafepress store before (which I've just noticed is still up!). So, uh, yeah. Discuss. -- Sir Codeine K·H·P·B·M·N·C·U·Bu. · (Harangue) 20:46, 14 November 2007 (UTC)



  1. ^  Just kidding, Wikia. <3

Serious Discussion

Serious Stuffes only here kplzthxbai

  • IMO, The store should be non-profit(ie, no markups of any kind) to us. This eliminates any problems arising from improper use of monies generated by the store, because there won't be any. As for the management, I strongly suggest that a sysop or trusted regular take the responsibility of managing the store, under the general direction of the community. As for licensing, ask the individual contributors of images nicely, and they will probably say yes. If they don't, we just don't use that source art. IANAL, but I'd bet that Wikia has no problems with a community setting up a community-run non-profitable store for the community and using their own community name in it. So I can't see any problems there with this method, either.     EugeneKay wuz here (whine thank)   21:26, 14 November 2007 (UTC)  
  • I like the idea of a store, as long as its aim is to provide people with wearable in-jokes and promote the site, not to make money. I think most authors/picture-makers (those who are still around anyway) would be happy for their stuff to be used in such a manner. We'd might need high-quality versions made up so they don't look like crap. If a small markup can't be avoided, or there are costs at our end to cover, the money should not only be handled by a trusted user/group of users, but it should also be publicly accountable, if possible. I also like the idea of a store.uncyclopedia.org, which I know is possible to do with custom dropshipper, and costs could be covered by the sales, but wikia might want to avoid that. Then again, they may want to do their own store too, and reffer the option for other wikis and freinds to do the same. I imagine if it's something that could potentially benefit all wikis (but mostly the big ones), then there'd be even more incentive for them to get in on it. As for actual merchandise, we should probably get past this first discussion stage first. Spang talk 21:46, 14 Nov 2007
  • I would love to go around town wearing a NRV t-shirt. People would look at me funny, and that would please me. I think that a trusted admin should run the site. I personally think that all profits go to site upkeep (ie, Wikia), and a prize pot, so we can have PLS more often. I won't get involved in the legal ramifications of it, but to say this. We can use Uncyclopedia Images if they are original. If the uploader of the image objects, remove all items, and give them some of the profit. I'll let other people bicker about it, but in the mean time, I say the store is gud. --Capercorn FLAME! what? UNATO OWS 23:12, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
  • I have asked Angela for Wikia's input on this. As I already said, they leave us to our own devices almost completely (which I'm appreciative of), but this strikes me as the kind of situation in which the knowledge and backing of a larger, experienced organisation would be highly advantageous. -- Sir Codeine K·H·P·B·M·N·C·U·Bu. · (Harangue) 09:43, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
  • For non profit and/or for promoting internal projects (Poo Lit etc) I'm for it. But we need to find someone we trust impeccably to run this operation. ~Jewriken.GIF 11:10, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
  • Agree with all the points above. I've love to see a store, from promoting the site to getting to wear a Dead Snigger Tshirt its a great idea. As has already been discussed a fully accountable user group, if we intend to add markup to the price, would be the way to go. -- Sir Mhaille Icons-flag-gb.png (talk to me)
  • Store? Hurrah! Profit? *Shrug* No profit? Sounds awfully commie-slash-pinko to me. On the other hand, that's the only way to avoid gold fever (as well as the relative compatibility with our licenses). Sir Modusoperandi Boinc! 19:39, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
  • I want a Hate Hate Hat t-shirt, or a Euroipods mug; I'd buy anything with that stuff on it. I remember when Keitei was talking about actually promoting this stuff and there probably weren't enough users interested. But, just from the interest this topic has generated I'd say we'd probably have enough interest to pull it off this time. I'd also like to say the store page is looking great, good job to the people involved. -- Hindleyite Converse 20:51, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
  • Yes, an official Benson shirt, The problem is that free sites wouldn't let us do anything that Uncyclopedia provides, I'm suggesting an internal store solution. But yeah, The items would be funny. --NXWave 23:29, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
  • The solution for the internal store problem is the current uncyclopedia store layout implemented in beta form, Here's what it can offer.


  1. Simple, Sleek, and Elegant.
  2. A stylized front page.
  3. Seperate Subpages for Seperate Products
  4. Brands help align the product as one and helps get more recognition
  5. <overflow: scroll> is used on every page where there is a product, Therefore allowing for a nearly infinate ammount of products to be displayed without horrid page stretching.
  6. All pages share a simple and layed out design.
  7. iPhone/iPod touch friendly!
  8. Design has major expandibility possibilities.


That's just 8 of the points. and the layout can be implemented as a forefront to the internal solution, (The Cart, Cart Indicator and Buy It Now Buttons being examples.) and the logo has the unique feel of the Main Uncyclopedia Logo and the history is somewhat one-of-a-kind. It's kinda like a twisted version of The Discovery Store. --NXWave 07:08, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

  • I don't mind if NXWave or whoever manages the store makes money out of it as long as he:
  1. Gets permission from the image authors for any image he uses.
  2. Gets permission from wikia to use the uncyclopedia.org trademark.
  3. Gives a considerable slice of the profit away for Poo Lit prizes, sending Codeine to Alexandria to represent us in the next wikimania or feeding Chronarion's monkeys.

---Asteroid B612B612.jpg (aka Rataube) - Ñ 15:18, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

  • I would be all for an Uncyclopedia store except for one problem: customer base. According to Wikia, there are 644 active users on Uncyclopedia, more than other wiki they own. But six-hundred forty-four is not a lot. Generally, things like t-shirts are prohibitively expensive when not made in large numbers. In other words, even selling not-for-profit, expect to pay fifty dollars for a t-shirt. Furthermore, not every active user will buy them. I'd say *pulls number out of hat* two-thirds, tops, will buy merchandise. On a final note, for the first month or so of the store, there will be a rush to buy stuff, because all the active users will go "Cool! Uncyclopedia merchandise!" After we've burned through all 644 current active users, sales will slow to a trickle, with only the occasional new user (and new users won't be likely to buy anything for the site until they're well established) stumbling upon the store and buying something. Hans Johnson as in "keep ya hans off my" (cover your eyes!) 17:01, 16 November 2007 (UTC)
  • It's better to burn out than fade away. That's our motto. Well, not really, but it would be if we were cool. Sir Modusoperandi Boinc! 22:34, 16 November 2007 (UTC)
    It's Def Leppard's motto, though. They're cool. Their drummer has one arm. How cool is that? - P.M., WotM, & GUN, Sir Led Balloon Baloon.gif(Tick Tock) (Contribs) 22:39, Nov 16
    Yeah, he doesn't finish anything. (Hmmm, suddenly I feel a little dirty) Sir Modusoperandi Boinc! 22:43, 16 November 2007 (UTC)
    Heh, it's funny 'cause it's sad... - P.M., WotM, & GUN, Sir Led Balloon Baloon.gif(Tick Tock) (Contribs) 22:46, Nov 16
    I think merch would also appeal to the readers who don't edit. People often misunderestimate how many "just readers" uncyc has based on the active users. A couple of traffic estimate sites reckon we get around 900,000 visits a month. Which is plenty. And the issue with the pricing, it's easily solved if you use something like custom dropshipper. They take all the orders and have them made up, and then send it to the buyer, and send you the difference between the base price and what you sold it for. The base price for a t-shirt is $12 (with free shipping), so we could sell it at that and make no profit, or mark up as we like. And there's loads of different things, mugs, hats, pretty much anything you an put a picture on. They also do a VIP store which allows you to run your own store on a subdomain of your own website, with no evidence that it's run by a third party, which would be all kinds of good (but would definitely need wikia to set up for us). And that only costs $10 a month or $100 a year, which we could easily make that back if we marked up $1 or even less on each order. In other words, it could definitely work, and work well. Spang talk 00:08, 17 Nov 2007
    I agree very much with Spang; I was even referred to uncyc by someone I know who "just reads". Plus, all those IPs with only one or two edits is more proof of the "just-read-ers". I don't think it'd be too hard to find suckers customers to sell to. - P.M., WotM, & GUN, Sir Led Balloon Baloon.gif(Tick Tock) (Contribs) 01:05, Nov 17
    I had a look at that website and immediately I spotted something you might have to worry about. This page mentions that there is what they call a "bulk order form" that you have to sign. What's worse is that despite all the pages I have read though, including those telling you all the marketing gimmicks, none of them actually gives you a proper picture of their pricing structure. OK, they claim there is no minimum order amount, but for what items? I suppose they are not the ones producing all those items on their own. Even if so, there has to be some kind of minimum purchase amounts at least for customised items, otherwise the operating costs would be hideously expensive. Tell me if I'm wrong, but with your business model (whether it's for-profit or not since you are trying to make money here anyway), your supplier is everything. If they fail to deliver the product, or if they all of the sudden run out of business (which is typical among this sort of Web 2.0 companies), and all the while you have got stacks of orders waiting in line, what are you going to do then? You just have to be a bit more conservative and careful when you run a business, whether you're after the profit or otherwise.
This all points back to the business plan thing. A business plan is not just about money-making and all that stuff. It is a plan for a business, whether you like it or not, and without it, there is a good chance you'll still manage to make a few bobs, and there is a better chance, like many, many other small-to-medium businesses, you will end up losing more than just a few bobs. Call me a pessimist if you want - for some reason Murphy tells me that something bad is bound to happen, and I am just not exactly sure what it is going to be. -- The Colonel (talk) 07:36, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
That bulk order thing is for reselling for the likes of an ebay store, which is different from the VIP store thing is. The way the method I'm favouring here works is that the company buys the t-shirts etc and from wholesalers and customises them for a base price. You find the customers and get them to buy it at whatever price you want, as long as it's at or above the base price. The order goes through the dropshipper, not us so we don't have to handle any of that, they take the base price out as their profit, make up each order individually, ship it to the customer under our name, and send us the markup difference. This is similar to Cafepress and the like, but is way cheaper, has free shipping (that we can markup and take the profit from if we like), and lets you run it from your own website. If the company dies, which is unlikely, the orders just won't go through and we stop selling, close up the shop, and it will be just as before. As far as I can see, there is minimal cost involved in setting this up, and no cost involved in stopping it, even at short notice. Most of the actual business side of things is handled through an already-existing and already successful company. As said before though, there's quite a few different options and ways of doing things here, and that's what we're trying to work out now. Spang talk 17:49, 20 Nov 2007
  • I would be all for a non-profit store. I can just imagine walking around Los Angeles and seeing "I maed a yuky doody" shirts, Hate Hate Hats and I HOPE YOU GET SOME SICK bumper stickers. Things are a little stickier when it comes to making a profit, even to fund PLSes or pay for hosting costs. If we're going to go that route there needs to be someone well-trusted by the community to handle the money aspect. And someone who won't abandon things two months down the road. —rc (t) 01:02, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
    Well, I don't think abandonment will be much of a problem. When a project first starts out those in charge will be as exited as the users to have a store open. Certainly happened to me when I started PEEING. For about two weeks I was constantly thinking about ways to use it to improve Pee Reviews. Later, after things calm down, the store will pretty much be able to run by itself and we won't need as much active effort keeping it up. As long as we pick good, trusted users it should run fine. Sig pic.PNG Unsolicited conversation Extravagant beauty PEEING 16:30, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
  • I agree with Hans Johnson here. This is not about who is going to take charge of the issue or how to relicense the images or any kind of that stuff. It is about the starting cost, the books that a decent business has to balance and the associated risks that someone out there must manage. Furthermore, where is the business plan? And where is all that brain-storming process that one, as an entrepreneur, must go through? Unless you guys are following the Web 2.0 bubble model that everyone out there fools venture capitalists with, I'd suggest you to just forget that idea already. -- The Colonel (talk) 13:13, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
    • Ooo, well lookie here... Store stuff... Uhm.. Yeah... NXWave, you jerk... Itta my NRV!! :D Anyways, uhm... Yeah... Personally, I'd like to see a wee bit of money made off of the items, but only to be put back into to site. In fact, my first love for a store was to sponsor the PLS... But of course, if this is not possible, I'd be willing to change my mind...
As for the licensing... I leave 'em in the default Non-Commercial one 'til there's a clear... uhm... consensus? Is that the word I'm looking for? Stance, maybe? Nah... Consessus sounds better... Anyways... Yeah... I do still have all original images suchlike, so if there's going to be a need for higher resolution images (I'm primarily thinking the UnNews logo here), be sure to let me know.
Last and very much least: Have good ones! ~fades away~Sir Mon€¥$ignSTFU F@H|VFP|+S 00:04, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Non-Serious Discussion

Laughs, etc goes here

  • Can I pre-order a t-shirt with Famine's ban log printed on the front? ~Jewriken.GIF 12:16, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
Extra large? -- Sir Mhaille Icons-flag-gb.png (talk to me)
  • A store giving away free patato thongs in exchange for:
a) completing offers
b) reffering freinds to do the same.
-- Kip > Talk Works Sophia Commander of the Order USA! 12:21, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
  • I seriousy think that Benson should be on the commitee, He has the greatest ideas and the most aim. Besides, I would love to see a BENSON WAS HERE!!! sign. --NXWave 00:49, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Nominations for the Formation of a Janitorial Group

$randomNick

  • N&F Since these committee nominations are still growing at an exponential rate courtesy of NXWave. -- Sir Codeine K·H·P·B·M·N·C·U·Bu. · (Harangue) 12:03, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

127.0.0.1

  • N&F Clearly more qualified for a position than any of the clowns above. -- Sir Codeine K·H·P·B·M·N·C·U·Bu. · (Harangue) 12:03, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

4.252.99.182

  • N&F The author of our greatest article so far; invaluable if we want to produce a range of "go eat shit fuckers" kitchenware. -- Sir Codeine K·H·P·B·M·N·C·U·Bu. · (Harangue) 12:03, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Drama

  • N&F Could then smash all the above mentioned plates on the floor. Also, I might not be taking this lengthy nomination list very seriously. -- Sir Codeine K·H·P·B·M·N·C·U·Bu. · (Harangue) 12:03, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Bill Gates

  • N&F Could easily propel this business into the stratosphere. --NXWave 00:38, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Grue

  • N&F Could easily eat up anything --NXWave 00:38, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

EugeneKay

  • SN&F Usually just sits around and does nothing, but occasionally gets really active and does a project that needs doing. Can't write a funny article if his life depended on it, though.     EugeneKay wuz here (whine thank)   02:58, 19 November 2007 (UTC)  

AAAAAAAA!

Steve Ballmer

Francis Winkler

  • N&F He's gay and he gave me an F on my assignment. --NXWave 07:46, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Nominations for the Formation of a Committee to deal with this matter

Spang

Codeine

Mhaille

Modusoperandi

  • N&F --NXWave 04:34, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
  • Yer -- Hindleyite Converse 10:42, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
  • Mmmhmmm --Littleboyonly.jpg TKFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK Oldmanonly.jpg 18:05, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
  • F -- Sir Mhaille Icons-flag-gb.png (talk to me)
  • Ditto - P.M., WotM, & GUN, Sir Led Balloon Baloon.gif(Tick Tock) (Contribs) 18:50, Nov 17
  • Trustworthy     EugeneKay wuz here (whine thank)   19:12, 17 November 2007 (UTC)  
  • I've spent several days thinking about it, and I have no interest in anything to do with setting up or the running this store (I will contribute art, if anyone wants it, though). I love Uncyclopedia, I really do, but handling other peoples' money is an area of responsibility in which I do not want to tread. I am, however, giddy at the possibility of owning a Danish cartoon "incident" mousemat, if only to buoy my beleaguered spirits when I'm writing or 'chopping something that will, inevitably, piss someone off (as the last comment on its talkpage can attest). Sir Modusoperandi Boinc! 18:22, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

TheLedBalloon

Ljlego

Thekillerfroggy

Insineratehymn

  • N&F --NXWave 07:45, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Also Comments, but higher up on the page

Wow..., Most of the Nominees I picked are necessary, trustworthy and dedicated. Here are some of the reasons.
  • Zim ulator: With UnNews
  • Jocke Pirat: Runs Unsoc.
  • WillMcC: Created Templates and made it easier to edit The Uncyclopedia Store
Those are the reasons, They aren't random. Besides, We need members with ties to other sections of the site don't we? --NXWave 00:32, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
  • They may not be random, but they don't make sense. I haven't seen Zim or Jocke show any interest in helping run this. Granted, they are trusted users, but I doubt they want to be pulled into this project just because they run a completely different program on Uncyc, which, I might add, they would then have to do in addition to running the store, giving them more work they never wanted. And on WillMcC, I'm not sure if I'm just oblivious here and not seeing his contributions somewhere else, but as far as I've seen of him (nothing) he's hardly a trusted user. The users that have been nominated are all trusted. They've been a part of major decisions on the site, they've shown active effort toward making the site the best it can be, and none of them have showed any personal gain from doing this. No offense to you, but that's exactly why you haven't been nominated. I don't want to be mean here, I'm just stating a fact. You set up an illegal store without discussing it with the community and didn't show any indication that any profits would actually go toward Uncyclopedia. Those nominated have been actively trying to organize this, and the thing that got them started in this discussion was trying to get you to take down the store, which you didn't do for days. My opinion is stated. I shall now cover my ears and "lalala" out any arguments. Sig pic.PNG Unsolicited conversation Extravagant beauty PEEING 03:12, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
We know but if you check on Uncyclopedia_talk:Store, You can see that he's made templates for easier editing. And the illegal store is down, Besides, We need support from other projects. Gives us an easier time to make merchendising. --64.183.61.209

Since there is money involved, profit or no, and therefore a measure of actual responsibility, shouldn't the above be users volunteering rather than volunteered users? Sir Modusoperandi Boinc! 12:12, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

I assumed that would be the next stage. I haven't "accepted" my nomination yet, mainly because I don't actually know if I do want to be involved with this committee. I'm more of a Cabal kind of guy. -- Sir Codeine K·H·P·B·M·N·C·U·Bu. · (Harangue) 12:23, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
Well I wouldn't mind. Depending on what it's supposed to do. Work on a proposal that might work, that people can vote on? Or go about actually setting it up? Either way, it definitely needs a cooler name than "Uncyclopedia shop committee". Perhaps we should get a focus group to solve that issue first. Spang talk 21:00, 18 Nov 2007
How about the "Uncyclopedia NGO" (UNGO)? Hans Johnson as in "keep ya hans off my" (cover your eyes!) 21:32, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Comments

I wouldn't object to any of those guys being admitted to the UnShop committee. -- Hindleyite Converse 10:42, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, me neither. except that "LedBalloon" guy. Who does he think he is, anyway? LEAD BALLOONS CAN'T FLY!!! --Someone far cooler than TheLedBalloon, which really isn't that difficult a status to attain
All of those nominated thus far are trustworthy, IMO.     EugeneKay wuz here (whine thank)     

What sort of committee will it be? Because if it's a committee to just discuss the discuss the idea of a store in general, then I have no problems with any of the nominees. However, if this committee will be delving into the drier stuff such as the exact mechanics of the finances, then I have a number of problems with some of the nominees. (Specifically LedBalloon, who doesn't strike me as mature enough to either be willing to sit through such an unentertaining discussion or be able to contribute anything to it.) Could we at least clarify what the specific goals of the committee will be, so we can nominate people based on whether they will do a good job, instead of nominating random people deemed "trustworthy"? Hans Johnson as in "keep ya hans off my" (cover your eyes!) 20:40, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

NO YOU'RE IMMATURE!! *Sticks out tongue, and proceeds to pout* - P.M., WotM, & GUN, Sir Led Balloon Baloon.gif(Tick Tock) (Contribs) 21:31, Nov 17
YA U! Led is not immature, or at least not any more than the rest of us. You can't judge us by how we act on the forums, because often on the forums we feel that people need to lighten up. So we help them. And who "we" is also changes. Sometimes the users who normally seem to take nothing seriously (looking at you, Modus) find a subject that needs to be taken seriously, so they do so. However sometimes they still can't take it fully seriously (still looking at you, Modus) and newbies like j00 label them as immature idiots. If it's important, Led will one of the most helpful people there as long as no work needs to be done. Therefore, I do hereby agree with Led's statement. NO YOU'RE IMMATURE!! Sig pic.PNG Unsolicited conversation Extravagant beauty PEEING 22:47, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
Is good question, comrade. Primary goal of kommittee is being to determine time for planting in Ukraine of grains. Also, if time is permit, kommittee has on table plan for pogrom of national scale on month of январь, in celebrating of successful meeting. If you are happen to be of Jewish type, please be adding of name on list at entrance to door in front of back of police building. Is not for me, you are understanding. Is for good of State. сэр принцип работы W-U-P-FP-A-AN VFH VFP 20:55, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
Every time I think you've maxed out on the silliness, comrade, you just go one better... :-) --Strange.PNG (but) Untrue  Whhhy?Whut?How? *Back from the dead* 23:47, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
Nonetheless, all of you have failed to answer my central question: what are the precise goals of this committee? Hans Johnson as in "keep ya hans off my" (cover your eyes!) 03:07, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
By the way, I have seen LedBalloon off-forum, and he apparently cannot understand when and where he can and can't be serious, as he has demonstrated twice, an offense he was subsequently banned for. Keep in mind, I actually like LedBalloon—he is funny and a good editor. I merely question whether he's cut out for this sort of work. Hans Johnson as in "keep ya hans off my" (cover your eyes!) 03:07, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
Doesn't. Make. Sense.
For the record, I was also unblocked shortly afterward. Also, let me defend myself. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Chewbacca. Now, Chewbacca was a wookie, from the planet Kashyyk. But he lives on the planet Endor. Why would a wookie, a 10-foot-tall wookie, live on Endor, with a bunch of 2-foot-tall Ewoks? Doesn't make sense. Now, you may be asking yourself, what does that have to do with this forum topic? Where am I going with this? Why does it make sense? Here I am, on the forums on uncyclopedia, talking about Chewbacca. Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense. None of this makes sense. So, you have to remember, when you're sittin' there at your computer, deciding things about stuff and pondering the questions of life, you have to ask yourself: Does it make sense? Sir, it does not make sense. If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit. The defense rests. *gavel, end south park ripoff* - P.M., WotM, & GUN, Sir Led Balloon Baloon.gif(Tick Tock) (Contribs) 04:55, Nov 18
I... I don't know who I am anymore... Sig pic.PNG Unsolicited conversation Extravagant beauty PEEING 05:07, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


OK, I thought about this a little bit, had a look at the brief discussion over here, and here's what I think the committee, whoever winds up in it, would do. One person, not me, would hold the money, in say, a paypal account, or something. The folks in the committee would probably have some sort of userspace area to make decisions about what to sell, when, and for how much(most likely for little to no profit), and what to do with any money we make(ie: PLS and such). Then, I figure somebody from this committee would make a forum topic when a decision has been reached so that the community can validate it. Maybe the committe can come up with a few ideas and post a vote on the whole thing here at the dump for everyone. Anyways, this is just what I was thinking, and everyone else can now feel free to tell me what stupid ideas they are. - P.M., WotM, & GUN, Sir Led Balloon Baloon.gif(Tick Tock) (Contribs) 03:42, Nov 19
Hm. I think the committee should take input/suggestions from the community into consideration, more-so than the other way around. Day-to-day running should be left to the person who holds the PayPal account, though I still maintain that there should be no profit made off of the store. It's just cheaper for all involved. If we need to fundraise for PLS, etc, just sell special "PLS edition" stuffes. I understand the need to spend $10/mo or so to keep the store running in a subdomain, but I honestly don't see why we need that. So what if it doesn't look custom? There is nothing shameful about running it through cafepress, and being blatantly obvious about it. Perhaps I should nominate myself for the committee, just because I'm very vocal about it all(and would buy a good bit of stuff through the store)....     EugeneKay wuz here (whine thank)   06:26, 19 November 2007 (UTC)  
Ideally, we'd have a paypal account that several users could have access to (as opposed to one account a few people know the password for), but that involves getting a business account which costs more money. And the committee would handle the running of the store itself, but anyone could contribute ideas etc. As for the $10/month for the subdomain thing I was talking about, it's not the only benefit. With that comes free shipping (which we could still mark up and get money from) and no minimum order service charge (if we don't sell enough items). But as I was saying, I've only really looked at this one option so far, we need to compile a list of places where we could do this, and their benefits/costs/etc. It might work out easiest to just run as a subpage on another site, but we need to look at all the options. Also, just to be clear, I'm not against the store making money, just against it making profit. I'm not sure how "non-commercial" using the proceeds for competitions etc is, but we could always donate any excess to charity or something. Spang talk 18:39, 20 Nov 2007
OK, with that post I just realized how much work still needs to be done. I think that right now we should focus on making the committee so that they can discuss this amongst themselves. With this in the forums random users will keep giving suggestions of what needs to be done, start another discussion, clog the forums, and keep anybody from being able to focus on any one thing and make a good decision on it. If we're all trying to focus on multiple topics at the same time, we won't be able to give the full attention that each decision needs. However, if we have a committee of level-headed people that care about this, they will be able to much more easily come to a consensus that works for the greatest benefit to the store. The committee should come first anyway because they're supposed to be the ones that present the options to the rest of the site. Otherwise people will just keep posting ideas until someone else figures out a way to combine them in a beneficial manner that we'll all vote for (from what I've seen, it always happens). Sig pic.PNG Unsolicited conversation Extravagant beauty PEEING 22:57, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

We already have a Cafepress store, so if we open a new store, we'll need new items, or else it'll be pointless. The preceding unsigned comment was added by Taco Wiz (talk • contribs) 21:32, 19 November 2007 (UTC)