Hi Todd, let's take a pause and look at the whole forest instead of just the few trees right in front of you. These forums are first and foremost discussion forums, NOT a marketplace. For the convenience of our members committed to discussion, over the years we have included a marketplace forum so they can buy and sell bike stuff. Next thing you know some strangers get an account for the sole purpose of buying and selling stuff and with no intention of contributing to the rich discussion culture that flourishes here. Dozens of people with just 2 or 3 posts course through here weekly looking for a good deal, and that's all they're interested in. Once they've found what they want they're gone. We don't want this forum becoming overrun with strangers and mercenaries only here for a quick buck because at some point they will become a nuisance and hinderance to the main purpose of Bike Forums.

So as to discourage the mayhem we ask that these strangers make a $12 commitment to the forum, at which point they can buy and sell in our marketplace at will. It's a steal at $1 per month when you consider the vast knowledge resources available here. You can't even get a cup of coffee for $1 anymore, anywhere. Compare that fee to eBay or Craigslist or any of the others where no priceless information is available.

Finally, subscriptions are not these forums' business model, advertising is. These forums could not survive on membership subscriptions. Essentially, the committed members here contribute $12 a year to help keep the riffraff out. With 19 posts to date you seem like your intentions are honorable and that you are here are to contribute to the knowledgebase here and not just to buy and sell, so your $12 will help keep the riffraff from overrunning you, too.