Nonsubscriber Able to Send Email?

I was just going through some of my threads, and it turns out that I have a few threads in which nonsubscribers asked me growing questions and/or plant questions on my PlantFiles threads. I had no idea that these were nonsubscribers. Here's one for example: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/452479/

I would certainly think that this forum alone would give nonsubscribers a sample of what Dave's is all about. This particular nonsubscriber is still a nonsubscriber perhaps because he was able to get the answers out of me without joining. I would think that, allowing nonsubscriber's access to these forums, is in fact defeating the purpose of membership and that not allowing access would give one an incentive to join. I'm pretty sure that, when I joined, I would see all the wonderful pictures posted at PlantFiles, but I could not read anything past the initial post, much less be able to discuss the plant in question. I wanted to read the discussions about the plant in question, and that is why I joined.

Just my two cents here-

I joined Daves because every single time I "googled" something plant or garden related, the first "hit" was something on Dave's Garden 99% of the time. Then I would go to the site and could find bits of what I was looking for, but was denied access to the rest of it, or "the answer" as Clare said. Then I found Watchdog and saw how helpful that was (and free to members). So I really went into it thinking I WOULD find a subscription to be a worth while invesment. If not, well, I have spent $15 in worse ways. :) But had I been able to read the responses I may not have joined. I'm just not sure. I mean reading the responses and seeing that Dave's DOES have a good tone may have made me want to join so that I could participate instead of just "lurk"!

As for privacy, I know it isn't really "private." I mean we feel like we know each other, but how many subscribers are out there who just read but don't post? I'd think quite a few! But knowing it's a free for all and anyone can read the forums would make me a bit more hesitant. Especially about things like posting pictures of myself, my family or my home and discussing where I live, etc.

Jamie

The PF Pictures forum has always been available to all members. The reason is that if you submit a photo to PlantFiles, you shouldn't have to pay to read the responses to your own photo. (And we do have a fair number of non-subscribers who generously contribute photos and information.)

I remember past threads regarding why people joined DG, and the PlantFiles was one of the biggies. People found PF links up in the top search results, read about the plant, then started exploring more from there.

Ah, Terry, that makes sense. I'm glad to know which forums can be seen by unsubscribers. I wasn't aware of this before.

I had never gotten an email from a non subscriber until yesterday. She or her was wanting seeds from Rainbow Christy Tropical Hibiscus. I plan on ignoring the email. However, I do like the idea of being able to contact through the site. I had a members email and lost my hard drive and all the addresses. The person let her subscription expire and I was reading through some old posting one night and decided to see if the email would go through and it did. I emailed her and told her how much I missed her posting and how much she added to the site and she emailed me back and said she had just resubscribed. She calls me about once a week now to check up on Bobbie and myself. If Dave didn't have the email in place that wouldn't have happened.

I have made the decision to not trade or do SASE with non-subscribers. It seems the only time they email me is when they want something - and usually for free, me paying the postage even.

When I get an email from someone I don't know, I click on their info and see if they are a subscriber or not. If they are not, I simply have decided not to respond.

Do I feel mean? Not really. Got tired of the solicitation.

Karrie, I feel the same way that you do and have come to the same decision. I don't feel mean either. I gladly give away plants all the time to my friends, family, and neighbors -- even strangers when they drive up and inquire about something that I have planted in the yard. I am happy to give. But offering to give is a choice that I want to make, and I don't want to be asked for handouts. A good trader is someone who offers a trade of equal or greater value, but too often, the p.m.'s just ask for my plant for postage.

Well, as I said earlier, it just takes too much time and energy, and it is stressful for me, and I hate standing in line at the Post Office. It hurts my back to stand in one place for 30 minutes or more. Anyway, I am probably repeating myself, and I am sorry about that, but some of us did not join Dave's to trade plants, and we should be able to be free of solicitation.