I didn't mean to post this in the discussion forum--I thought I was just searching, but here goes:

My dad asked me how the site pays its expenses, and I had to say that I didn't know.  There's no advertising, and (so far) no membership dues . . . how does the site generate money?

 I have to admit wondering the same thing. The site is so well done, someone obviously spends lots of time with it.

 But there is a line somewhere on the site that explains it is free now to build up a lot of members, and they may start charging maybe a yearly fee, later in the future. That makes sense froma business standpoint---but I still can;t see how R&R can put so much time in it for free!!!!

Well they get money from the items sold at the kiosk, they also get money from the PBS DC and the credits people buy. For a while there were google ads that would generate money for the site but I havent seen them in about a week.

I also wonder if R&R haven't built on what they've learned here at PBS and done things a little different at Swap-a-CD - not that its a bad thing, but maybe PBS is the experimental version and Swap-a-CD is more of a moneymaker.

At least, that's what I hope. This is a phenomenal site & I hope the guys are being rewarded somehow!

I worry that they will start to charge a membership fee and then a lot of people will drop out.

 I want to think there was a possible membership charge mentioned as a future possibility, listed in the $20 range. That's still a really good deal, especially considering all the expertise it takes to maintain this site. They could well "grandfather" existing members in, but even that is not much, considering what we get out of it.

Carolyn, your dad probably wonders if you are going to get "stuck" with some kind of fees you don't expect. That is not the case; it's just hard to believe something this good really is free!!

They have said more than once that if a fee is instated there will be plenty of warning so you wouldnt get stuck with one even if they decided to charge one.

The site also gets a percentage from Amazon when people click on *Buy It New* in the Wish List.

I actually will be glad if they decide to charge a membership fee, as long as it is not TOO expensive.  I think it will help weed out the people who aren't serious about swapping and who just come for their three free credits and then become inactive.

I would much have a smaller community with people who interested in participating. 

They also get money for boxers.

Oh and book journal too.