Goosemoose Pet Portal

There are two ways you can help defray the costs of running this forum. One is to do a direct paypal donation as listed below. The second is to purchase products by using the links in the Pet Stores section of the site.  We get a small commission from each purchase made and you pay nothing more than you usually would, in fact most of the time you will be clicking on a link that will SAVE YOU 10% or more!

I have set up a PayPal donation page for those of you willing to make a donation to the forum. The money goes to offsetting the costs of the forum itself. Current the forum costs $75 a month but if we can raise enough we will be getting the $175 a month dedicated server, and eventually a $1000 a month dedicated T1 line (I know, very hopefull).

To get more extra space in the Photo Albums you must donate at least $3 a month, as they are bandwith intensive. More areas of the site for donators only is coming soon. Please choose one of the options below and then email me to let me know your screen name so I can upgrade your account.
There are more donation options on the HOME page of the site (other dollar amounts, $3,$10,etc).

The link below is for an automatic subscription donation preset for $5 a month.
$5 a month Donation (https://www.paypal.com/subscriptions/business=dcmeagle%40goosemoose.com&item_name=RFC+Forum+Subscription&a3=5.00&p3=1&t3=M&src=1&sra=1)

The last link is for a one time donation amount of any amount. 
One time Donation (https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=dcmeagle%40goosemoose.com&item_name=RFC+Forum)

Or you can mail donations to:

Dominic Maricic
8826 Bayberry Dr.
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca, 91730
The whole club thanks you!    ;D


If you even want to cancel your monthly donation you can click here (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_subscr-find&alias=dcmeagle%40goosemoose.com)

The following people have donated to help run the forum:

Annette
Niki
Doxie (in memory of Drew)
Angela (RatAdoptions)
Louise
Anmllvr731
Snobunny
Victoria - Monthly Subscription !
Jodi
Ensie
Tabbyrat
Elegy (in memory of Moose)
Dorothy
Teresa Caudle/Furry Friends Rattery
Dearpie
Ratfriend
Ashley and Ace (Ratinterrupted)
Nelly
Drusilla (in memory of Remus)
Teresa Caudle/Furry Friends Rattery (In Memory of ALL the special rats that have gone to the Bridge)
Drusilla (in memory of Daniel, the special boy I found on the forum adoption section)
luvmyrats
tabbyrat
Joanne
BooDiddle2004
BuddhaRat
Furry Friends (In Memory of Jack)
Rat Head

If you should be on this list please email me. We lost quite a few names when the forum crashed.

How much does it cost to run this forum each month, averaging in "really expensive" months?

The first full month of it being open (last month) ran about $45 although I expect that to slowly grow a few dollars a month as traffic grows. The thing is that there are quite a few features that I would like to add to the forum and that would also increase traffic a bit.

I'll add in my donation as soon as my funds get transferred to my paypal account.  :)

I woud also like to donate...could someone tell me how toget a pay pal account.

Just click on the link in the first post and it will walk you through the steps! PayPal is a great company, they have been around for a few years and are used #1 on ebay for buying goods. Thanks again guys!

I <3 PayPal. It's an AMAZING service. I've been using it for my business and other activities, and it's been a life saver. You can attach it to a credit card or a checking account (or both!), and it makes international commerce SO much easier. My husband has used it to make eBay transactions with people in England and Canada, and it's been flawless!

When I get back from Toronto this weekend, I am going to start working on a CafePress.com store to help support the forum, as well. They do custom t-shirts and other items. My plan is to start out with a few designs, and then add items, hopefully with designs from forum members. I know we have a lot of talented people here, and I hope to tap into that, changing designs every three months.

I have a few stores already, not related to rats, but other topics, if you want to get an idea of what's possible.

http://www.cafepress.com/suebee/

Edit:

Here is their current complete product line, including standard and limirted edition items:

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/products/index.aspx

Paypal is the best and fastest way around to send money! I hate writing checks, so this way, I don't have to. Paypal takes the money either right out of my bank account or puts it on a credit card, my choice!

Speaking of eBay, maybe, if everyone auctioned off one thing for the group, that could help. Doesn't everyone have extra rat stuff sitting around? Stuff YOUR rats hated, but someone else's rats might adore?

I added a few more options and moved everything to the top post.

I'd just like to say that this forum is very worthy of a donation ;D
You have the paypal thing set up really well, I had no problems going throught the process .... I think!

Yup you got it through lousie, thanks for helping support the forums!

I will NOT use Paypal.  Someone I know on a fish forum is having MAJOR problems with them right now, and it's very serious.  I'll spare you the details.

Anyway, if someone wanted to donate, but did not want to use Paypal, is there some other way to make the donation?

Are you sure the problem is paypal not someone on the other end of the transaction? I have been dealing with them for years on ebay and they are great! I have never had anyone else have problems either. If you want you can always mail the donation to me:

Dominic Maricic
8826 Bayberry Dr.
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca, 91730

Paypal does have a history on Planetfeedback.com but I've never seen anything about transactions not going through.

Well, this friend of mine uses Ebay herself for buying AND selling, and she's been charged all KINDS of things.  The most recent unauthorized charge was a $500 X-Box she did NOT buy!!!  Paypal has been "connected" to her bank account for a long, long time, and she's never had any problems until recently.  She's had to send affadavits to Paypal and her bank, and she's got the police involved & in the meantime her Paypal account has been suspended and she's being punished by them.

It's a whole huge mess with MUCH more detail than I'm willing to divulge here.

I'm sending you my donation by cheque today!  Very glad to help out. This forum is wonderful and it's worth it!  Keep up the great work and the excellent ideas ;D

Sheryl and a very appreciative Mr. Jingles

PayPal works good for most people, but if you've ever have a problem forget it.   :(   PayPal can not only freeze the money you have with them, they can also put a hold on money in your checking account.   They can do it wheverever they please if per the terms of their account.    They get away with all this since they're not classified as a bank; they're also not FDIC insured nor do they have to follow the same laws banks do.

It got so bad the BBB and the Attorney General of the state they're in were really after them.  They have since improved in order to remain in business, but my advice is to use paypal cautiously.

Personally I've had dumb things happen to my account which caused me to have my whole account wiped and restarted twice in about 18 months' time.   I still can't make my business paypal account work right either, and they know about it but can't fix it.  ::: sigh :::

Sorry to complain.    Some people just don't realise PayPal isn't perfect.

What is the alternate was to donate for people not using PayPal?

Hi Calico,
 If you don't feel comfortable using paypal I totally understand. If you look higher on the page I posted my address. Thanks!

After reading this thread i think i will just be sending a money order on the first...im strapped until then.

I hear ya, ckhs!  We're broke right now, too.  When things pick up again, I'll be glad to send a money order or a check or something.

I will send you a check on Monday.  Great site!

I want to challange myself and others to step up and make more donation.  So what are the average opperationg expenses per month now???

Jennifer

Or encourage people to buy from the forum store! :D

I've had the monthly subscription for AGES, but my name is never in the list of contributors.  My PayPal account is a business account, though, and the name of my business is Gorblimey Trousers--I'm thinking maybe you couldn't figure out who was sending that money, or something?

Hi guys,
 I have updated the list. I am still missing quite a few names from when the forum crashed. If you should be on the list please IM or email me so I can put your name back up!

Thanks

I want to thank the administrators and mods for keeping this forum so friendly, informative and fun

I will be making a donation soon

 8)

 :hyper: Goose, my aunt just made a payment to you thru paypal, from Ace's tu-tu sale  :cheeky: Wh00t!

I just got the notice. I wish I could have seen the picture of the tu-tu though!

My paypal payment for my first monthly donation went thru on my credit card this month - has it got to you?  It probably shows me as Nicola or Nicky Ellis? ???

I haven't gotten an email regarding it. I'll check it out with paypal and get back to you! Thanks for donating  :BlueDumboSmile:

As you wish......here is the tu-tu  :BlueDumboSmile:
(http://www.ratinterrupted.goosemoose.com/images/balace.jpg)

 :yelcutelaugh: :yelcutelaugh: Now that's funny!

Goosemoose...

should the checks be made out to you if we are more comfortable sending a check?

Yup, the info is on the first page, just make it out to Dominic Maricic. Thanks for helping!

Hi, I think this forum is just wonderful. I am strapped till the end of the month do to a wedding coming up  but I will definitely donate what I can in the beginning of September. I'll send a money order if that's ok. I've learned so much here and think everybody is so nice. It's definitely worth supporting.

I'll definitely donate as soon as I can afford it.

Zora's illness and vet bills have me $400 in the hole.  :BlueDumboBigEyes:

I would be happy to make a donation, even after only such a short time l have received such great help and advice. However with the conversion from Aussie dollars ect monthly would be alot of messing about so could l just post a money order for say 3months.
Is paypal international?

I believe paypal is international. Try it out and let us know!

Dan and I are really tight with money. But next month I'll be able to send you out a check.
If it wasn't for this forum, I woudln't have fully known what was wrong w/ Bella, I would never had found out about the little ratties that need homes in Main that I will soon be adopting one from *crosses fingers* and I never would have made the choice to stop buying pets and start adopting.
Thank you,
~Lisa

Hi Guys,
  The donations have really died down (although the calendars Suebee made have been doing really well) lately so I thought of a new way that might interest more people. If you are going to buy a DirecTV system purchase it through the link below and use the referral code I listed if you call. They are including 2-5 free rooms + the dish + 3 months of HBO and a free DVD player if you sign up soon, plus they give a commission to us to help run the forum.

Referral code is: ref773209
CLICK HERE (http://www.expertsatellite.com/catalog/default.php?exp_affil=ref773209")


Also, if your name is not on the first page for donating PLEASE email me. I have been having problems with my email and I want to make sure I haven't missed anyone.

Ok I read and read.....how do I donate other than paypal?
Last I saw I could send a check to someone.  Please instruct me again and forgive my ignorance for not knowing the proper steps to take to donate to this great forum.  You all have helped me in so many ways and I want to help support this board the best of my ability.


Sandy

I just posted my address in the first post, you can send a check to that address. Thanks in advance!

Hi there.  I attempted to send a donation over via the Paypal link (i'm in the UK) and the transaction seemed to go thru ok! ;D

It was only a wee one-off donation, and of no great amount, but every little helps and I will make some more in the future - this site is fab  8)

Pardon my ignorance - but where is the 'forum store'?

I stumbled across this forum via a direct link, and I don't see a forum store on the boards - is it a different internet addy?

Hi JoAnne,
 If you look at the news box in the upper right one of the messages is a link to the forum store. Theres only 3 or 4 messages so you will see it rather quickly.

I would be more than happy to send a donation. This site has helped me in many ways. And would like it to be here for many many more years to come. But do you except  money orders?

Sherri

That won't be a problem. Just send it to the address in the first post. Thanks!

Goosemoose,


Do I make the money order out to this name " Dominic Maricic? just to double check

Yup, that's perfect.

I sent out a donation Monday 5-3-04 . Let me know when and if you have recieved it?


Sherri

Thanks for helping keep the costs of the forum down! I'll let you know when I get it.

 Goosemoose

Goosemoose,

This is Sherri again ( BooDiddle2004) I was wondering if you recieved the money order from me I would think you would get it by now but maybe you get alot of mail and havent seen it yet.

Let me know

Sherri

Hi BooDiddle2004,
 Thanks for sending the money order. I got it on Friday but I had friends over last week and didn't go through my mail for a few days. Thanks for helping support the forum!

Oh good glad you got it..PHEW...No problem supporting the forum. THIS FORUM IS GREAT.. its helped me so much you have no idea.  Your welcome :)

Sherri

Donated via Paypal- thanks so much for this forum :)

Goosemoose,

I was wondering how often to donate? I donated back in March, or April but was wondering how often would you like a donation. I absolutly LOVE this forum and would like it to be here for many many for rats years. It has helped me with so many questions. I have had rats for 4 years and STILL learning from this forum

THANKS A BUNCH!!! TWO THUMBS UP ;D

Sherri

Hi Boodiddle20042,
  Donations are always appreciated. If you would like there is a link in the first post on how to do a subscription through paypal where you can donate $5 every month. Otherwise donate whenever you feel like it. Forum costs can get quite expensive and right now we cover about 20-30% of it through donations each month.

Hi Boodiddle20042,
  Donations are always appreciated. If you would like there is a link in the first post on how to do a subscription through paypal where you can donate $5 every month. Otherwise donate whenever you feel like it. Forum costs can get quite expensive and right now we cover about 20-30% of it through donations each month.

I sent a $10.00 donation the other day. . .just wanted to verify that it was received.   :BlueDumboSmile:

Hi BuddhaRat,
 It was received and greatly appreciated. There have not been many donations lately. I hadn't had time to put the email address together with a username but now that I have yours I will add it to the list of donors. Thanks again  ;D

Goosemoose,

I sent a $15 dollar money order donation for the forum  on Mon 1-31-05 let me know if and when ou receive it. Thanks.

Sherri-Boodiddle20042

Hi Sherri, great!  ;D I'll definately let you know when I get it. Thanks for helping keep the costs of running the forum down.

I updated the first post in this thread to reflect the new methods of donations, especially those that won't cost you anything extra like buying from the Pet Stores link. Please read it if you have a minute!

Hey Goosemoose,

Havent heard if you got my dontaion I sent out on 1-31-05. Gosh I sure hope you did. Let me know would ya. Thanks.

Hi Boodiddle!
 Sorry about that! I did recieve it a few days ago and it was greatly appreciated! Thanks for helping to support the forum.

I don't use paypal, so I set up a monthly check sent for five dollars every month.  I am using my bank's on-line paying thing, which I have only used for my utilities and rent, so please let me know if it comes cause I am paranoid about it messing up since to an individual.  I am sending it to the address for Dominic.  Also if a $5 dollar check is annoying since such small amounts each month, let me know and I will send a check for the whole years donation instead.

Hi Elaken,
  That shouldn't be a problem at all! I will definately let you know when I get it. Sending $5 is no problem either, I go the bank a few times a month when my work writes me a reimbursment check for supplies I buy. Thanks again for helping out with the forum costs!

hi elaken, I got the check in the mail yestersday from your bank. Thanks again!

Thanks!  That is good to know.   ;D

Hey Goose, I was trying to use the links to donate from the "donations" page I got to by clicking the donations button at the top of the page and kept getting this error.

Wow, thanks for pointing that out. I'll fix it right now. Go ahead and use the menu on the Home page , http://www.goosemoose.com where you just select the amount with a drop down menu. I tested that and it works. I'll get the other stuff working right now.

Okay, it's all fixed :)

Just to let you guys know. Now that we have the badges under people's names that show who has donated or not, I am not going to be updating the list at the top of this thread anymore. It's much easier to see who is donating by just posting on the forum!

Okay I went back to the beginning of the year and added everyone who had made a one time donation to the donors group which you will be in for 6 months from the time you donated. The monthly donators obviously are in the Forum Enablers group.

I have not had any problems with paypal in the couple of years I have been dealing with them.. And this is a great site I love it.. and with all the posting and replying I have done as a newbie I find it only fitting I make a donation monthly lol... heres hoping we all work to keep this place up and running  ;D

Thanks Michelle. I look foward to your help :) Every little bit helps keep down my out of pocket expenses!

I just donated!!!! I'm donating the min a month right now until I finish rebuilding my savings and then Ill start doing more

Thanks Fish Frosting, it's definately appreciated. Right now I'm still paying over $120 a month out of pocket, which is hard to do at times.

No prob, Ill try to help out with more after July. Just keep the site running for us and doing a great job at it!

I am making a monthly donation through pay pal! I love this place! I set the donation up last week I think (wow time flies when you are trying to get ready for new ratties :rattysmiley:) Hope it helps!

I did the monthly donation too! Anything to keep the board going. This is my favorite site  ;D

It looks like I haven't been getting paypal notifications for new account creation. Stacey, I just upgraded your account to Forum Enablers. Thanks for helping support the forum!

hey are you still takin donations??

As long as the site exists, we're taking donations :) The site doesn't charge to use it so we have to cover the server costs somehow!

well i just donated 5$. i feel glad to help a little

Thanks, much appreciated! Every bit helps.

I made a mistake (put 5 instead of 10), so I donated twice. Hope that worked out okay. :)

Thanks Kimmie, I notated your account :)

I plan on donating on Tuesday when my funds go through my paypal account. I've wanted to for a long time but I have just gotten around to being able to make purchases online.

Sounds good. All donations are greatly appreciated to keep our out of pocket expenses down when running the forum!

*squee*  When I donate to a forum or a user-based website, I always feel a little fuzzy inside.  :BlueDumboSmile:
Also, is there a means to donate specifically for the Product Review fees? I believe the review feature is currently down due to a cost issue, or am I wrong?  :-\

Hi Fourthwand,

Yes, it is down because the old version that we had of the product was the free version, and now they only have a paid version. If you specify that's what you want it to go towards, that's what it will go to. It's also a matter of finding the time to put it together. I'm planning a complete site reconstruction soon.

Dominic

I just made a lump sum donation but hope to make a revolving donation soon :)

I just signed up for the $5.00 a month donation, thanks Goosemoose! You've helped me spend way more money on my rats than I thought I ever would when I first got Eva, so I thought I'd pay you in thanks! :yelcutelaugh:

Hmmm, I made a small donation back in March via paypal, when I first joined. I will do so again when I have a lil extra. I guess it all helps.

How do you get the donation icon next to your name?  I think it serves as a great reminder to everyone that the forum costs money and they should donate, but it looks like a lot of people who have donated (including me :BlueDumboSmile: ) don't have that next to their name. 

I don't have the icon :'( I want to show off too!!! lol