Subscribers, non subscribers or registered?

I've noticed some DGrs are noted as a "subscriber", others "not a subscriber" and still others are marked "registered: " I know the forums that can or can not be accessed by subscribers and by non subscribers.

What does registered mean and what forums can one access when registered please?

Registered means that they signed up for a username and they can access any forums not marked with a red asterisk here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/

Subscriber means that they have subscribed to the site and pay the yearly fee, and they can access all forums.

Does this help?

I should have also noted that subscribers have unlimited search capabilities in PlantFiles, and non-subscribers are limited to 10 searches a day.

Actually, I've noted over the years that someone can be listed as a "subscriber" one minute and then "registered" the next. My name and those of others I know are subscribers have shown up as "registered". Early in my membership I asked several posters who showed up as "registered" if they were new only to learn they were cornerstones here at DG. I wish I could give specific examples. If you do not agree I will redress this when it happens again.
Laurel

Registered just refers to the date you first signed up for your DG username. It is applied equally to subscribers and non-subscribers.

Your subscription status can change, depending on if you subscribe (and/or) renew or not.

But can you please explain why a member shows up as a subscriber one minute and registered the next? It seems there is no logic to it. The registered designation, when it appears, does not indicate the date of sign up whereas the subscription designation does.

Joan ~ thanks for your response. I did understand there were certain forums that could not be accessed by nonsubscribers and that is what prompted this specific question.

Then, MaypopLaurel brought up the second part of the conundrum... When I was approached for a trade by an unfamiliar name, I went to the members name. It was marked

only.

When I went to the member page, one was a non subscriber. Another was a subscriber. Why would it not show when hovering over the member name?

And offering a second why to MaypopLaurels' final question

And, why could the nonsubscriber access a forum that is available to subscribing members only? Not that I have a problem sharing plants but this is one of those things that baffles me? So, I am guessing there is a certain time frame during which the newly registered person can tour all the forums?

If I'm not mistaken, where you are seeing

"Registered:"

is when you are in dmail and you hover over the other person's name, correct? Why Dave made that different than what you see when you hover over someone's name in a forum post (where it reads:

"Joined on [x date]; [membername] is (or is not) a subscriber"

is a mystery.

The short answer to this question is, they can't. Non-subscribers cannot access a subscribers-only forum. They can read the first post in some forums, but they cannot post to them, unless they subscribe. If you can give me an example (links are helpful) where you believe any anomaly has occurred, I will be happy to take a peek.)

Terry and Joan, thanks from me as well for your speedy responses. Actually I think the "registered' designation vs. "subscriber" seems arbitrary from moment to moment. "Registered" often appears over names on posts of those who are subscribers including my own. I don't DM many people but I do peek while folks are posting and see that they may be listed as subscribers and then as registered. I'll try to point it out when it happens again.

Likely the first thread key is the clue.

The forum is Cacti & Succulents, the thread... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1137436/
but there was no post in that thread. Only contact thru dmail. And, like I said, I don't mind sharing the plants, just really curious.

And, that would explain why the Registered: The great Dmail mystery. LOL

Thanks from the Pita pod.