Ladies, I don't post here often but this is one of the best sub-forums on PBS. I'll still lurk as an a al carte member for a while but I'll really miss the reading challenges. I've gotten some great reading suggestions by being here, ie SKP, and I thank you all for making the historical fiction experience all the better. Maybe down the line, I'll buy a membership but until then 

Oh Bruce, You will be missed! Are you sure you don't want to re-think this decision? Please continue lurking and if you want to send an e-mail along, I know that some of us have ours listed in our profiles! ;)

I'm sure that most of you are aware of what has caused this action on Bruce's part. Have you all seen your e-mail about the new fees to sign up at PBS? Alice has a lot of information about it in her swaps.....

Personally, I've had Gold Key membership for a couple of years. Without checking I signed up for the standard membership and then discovered that I had just paid for GK in October. I sent an e-mail to TPTB and was told that I would continue to be a paid member until October 2016, so I'm okay with that.

Bruce, my first reaction was, "what is he talking about"?  Somehow I missed the email yesterday from PBS.  So, I asked on the other board I follow-the romance board.  

Knee jerk reaction was the same.  "I'm outta here".  I especially don't like that we have been left with less than 2 weeks to make a decision.  

After thinking a bit, I believe I'm staying-with the full $20 membership.  Mainly BECAUSE of this board.  I find out about books I would never consider, never know about, interesting tidbits, history and more because of those in the HF forum.  

In the end, I figure I'm worth the extra money.  I'll probably cut back on a magazine subscription or a latte or two-and never miss it.  But I WOULD miss this board.  

My $.02....

Jan

I'm a little confused about these fees.... Will we have NO access whatsoever unless we pay a fee, or can we still use the boards but not be able to swap?

Bruce, are you on Goodreads? If so, can I add you as a friend? 

Here is the info that Alice put in her Downton Abbey swap:

For me, the fact that I play in the swaps and take part in at least 2 forums provides me with lots of entertainment, company and information. I think it's worth it. Running a site like this takes lots of time, money and effort and I think we have been fortunate to not pay for it before this. This cost IMO is so minimal when I look at what I pay for other entertainment, Amazon Prime, etc. that there is no question in my mind but to continue with being a member.

Thanks, Jeanne!!

I agree with you. The fee is modest for all that we get out of it. I check this site multiple times a day.

I'm staying, but this is certainly going to be a game-changer!  I have a Goodreads account too, but I don't really interact with anyone there.  I still trade some here, and I would miss everyone here, so...I'm staying.  Maybe in another year, if I don't have enough trades to make a full membership worth it, I'll re-evaluate. 

Bruce, we will miss you!  Jeanne, Carolyn, Jan, I'm glad you will all be here still!  I love our discussions.

I'm just concerned that this may be a prelude to a sale of this site and then I'm afraid the cost could escalate and another good thing goes down the tubes. Only time will tell I guess...

Hmmmm.... I'm wondering if there's a way to post the challenges on Goodreads so that we can all stay connected and involved...

Carolyn - DH and I were discussing how our seniors group has a web page that could be used that way. Maybe if push came to shove, I could put him to work to devise one! Let's see how this goes though....

Here's a group of current/former PBS members. Maybe it could work here:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/156293-pbs-ex-pats

Thanks Bruce - that's something to really look into!

So, I created a discussion group called PBS- Historical Fiction Divas and Dudes on Goodreads.com as an outlet for those who may/will depart PBS.  I'm going to add our current challenges over there, as well.  Please feel free to join, even if you are going to stay on PBS, that way we can all stay connected!!

This is the link to site:   https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/156416-pbs---historical-fiction-divas-and-dudes

And here is the link to my profile   https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1211609-carolyn

Thanks, Carolyn, for starting the GR group. Have been a member of GR for awhile, but have not been active. Maybe with the changes coming to PBS, I'll start spending more time there. Haven't figured out yet what I'm going to do about PBS membership. I rarely swap books anymore, given the gazillion books so fashionably decorating my floors and tables -- so I mostly just hang out in the forums, particularly this one. I don't mind PBS charging fees and I'm able to pay for a membership, but I have to say that the process and tiered memberships trouble me and make me question my level of support. So, I'm in a wait-and-see mode. I'm just afraid that if I'm not here to watch you, y'all will get completely out of control! Or worse, y'all will consume massive quantities of wine and chocolate without me.

I received the email and glanced through it, but I haven't been listing or requesting books for some time - I donate all my read books to the thrift shop/library - they were taking up too much room waiting for someone to request them.

Do I understand it correctly that if I don't sign onto some paid membership tier I will be able to access the forums? I'm outta here, off to join the GR group.

A membership is definitely worth it for me. Having said that, I will join the GR group as well...

Cathy -- You can access the forums as an a la carte member (i.e., pay-by-swap member), you just can't post!

(There will also be two private forums that a la carte members can't access -- one exclusive to standard members and one for standard and limited members. I'm quite curious as to what these forums will be like -- what do they need to talk about that a la carte members can't be privy to? I may have to join just to find out!)

@Deb, just think. I won't be here to post about freebies or thrift store finds. Your TBR pile will shrink and shrink and shrink.

Plan to stay another year but will miss those of you who leave so much.  I do participate in GR but have loved the challenges here more.  I have made some GR friends.  Sometimes we even swap books back and forth.  At the moment I am sending a book to a friend in NY.  (She sent me one a month ago.)   And, I joined the group Mimi but you and I are GR friends so I've been able to keep in touch with you there.

I have been a member of GR for some time now but I rarely use it. I did sign up for Carolyn's group though. This may come in real handy. I don't know whether I should switch the mystery challenge over there too - what do  y'all think? Such a shame since we all met over here but I'm sure that when it comes to what we do in this forum, it can be done elsewhere as well. "Sob" I love this place and putting our challenges here makes it so convenient and easy to see. In the past I've been involved with one or two discussion forums in other places - never as easy or clear as it is here.

Hey Bruce! Are you the Bruce in that list of PBS'rs who are listed there? I too  will miss those who leave us. Cathy - leaving the sinking ship!!!!  We will need help with the Kindle/ Nook freebies and cheapies thread folks!!!!

Oh! I saw something really strange over there at GR and I don't know if any of you noticed it as well, but Valli's name is there and it shows that she was last active in January 2015!!!! I sent her a message because I couldn't find anything from her more recent than 2011. I will pray that I get a response!

Deb, you better cough up the dough for the membership. Remember the Secret Santa role you play here...... How else am I gonna know what books to send you?????

Okay, I'm done for now!

I will stay another year, too, with the limited membership, but I'm also joining the GR group.

We can have a kindle freebies and deals thread at the GR group, and I suspect challenges wouldn't be that hard to do. The mod(s) can set up folders and then have sub-threads. So you can have a general book discussion folder, a challenge 2015 folder, etc. And mods have pretty much complete control of their own groups, so there's no waiting for PBS to get something stickied.