The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Jim Zim · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:59 pm

Operating the forum consumes a lot of computing resources, and this costs money. Because the forum is so active, we can't host it on an inexpensive shared server. Less active forums can go this route, but this forum has just got so many members and has such constant activity that we would literally crash a cheap shared server. (In fact, we did it just a few years ago.) So we have to rent what's known as a Virtual Private Server... to the tune of about $600 a year.

That's a lot of money, but it's not a problem because of our affiliate relationship with Amazon.com, Petco, Pet Food Direct, OfficeMax and Best Bully Sticks. The money from our affiliate relationship with these merchants totally pays our forum server costs. People have been really good about making purchases from our partner merchants via the links on our web site, and the commissions from this relationship have been all we've needed to keep the forum running.

So, if you'd like to help us cover our $600 annual web server costs... all you have to do is click on one of these banner ads the next time you want to do some online shopping with any of these merchants. Clicking on the banner will take you to their site, and anything you buy there will generate a small commission to us.

Thank you for your help in keeping this forum online!

TinaP · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:21 pm **Posts:** 3008

Thanks, Jim! We'll all help as much as we can. We don't want to lose the forum ever again.

kandiceb · **Joined:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:44 am **Posts:** 2

Since I view this site almost daily under the guise of "guest" I certainly want to add my support. Don't forget, there is an area to donate via PayPal directly for those of you who can't get your Amazon fix here.

kozfam · Austin Red/Buff October 21, 2009 -

thanks for all your hard work Jim to keep all of us with our daily Zim fix

Phil · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2011 10:36 am

Hi Jim,

Have you ever considered taking paypal donations in form of a gift? I can speak for myself but I woudln't donating $20-$30 per year to help with forum costs. This forum has been such a reliable information source for our little boy Louis. I'm sure others would gladly do the same.

Just my 2 cents :)

Lee · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:57 pm

8" braided bully sticks for my crew of four will help the effort :wnk

!

Marianne · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:23 pm

What are the chances you can get a Canadian pet supply store? Oddly, I need to start ordering everything for our guinea pigs as we lost our pet store than sells the good stuff.

Jim Zim · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:34 am

We are an Amazon associate in Canada as well as in the USA. Amazon.ca and Amazon.com are two completely different companies, so if you'd like to make a purchase from Amazon.ca and want the forum to get a small commission from it, just use this link to get there:

Link to Amazon.ca

Jim Zim · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:38 am

Phil wrote:

Have you ever considered taking paypal donations in form of a gift? I can speak for myself but I woudln't donating $20-$30 per year to help with forum costs. This forum has been such a reliable information source for our little boy Louis. I'm sure others would gladly do the same.

Actually, this is something that's been going on for quite a long time, but I guess I have not publicized it very well. There is a very small link down in the lower right corner of the page for donations. Or click on this link:

Forum Donations

Marian · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:34 am

Ok, the office copier needed toner, so I used the Office Max link above to place a $111.40 order (including tax.) See if it worked! :sml

Jim Zim · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:19 am

Thanks, Marian! :wv

I'll check that tomorrow. I don't get a report for today's stuff until tomorrow.

debbiefive · **Joined:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:10 pm **Posts:** 5341

It would not take much at all from any of us that use the forum alot if we donated thru the link.

We have a local Petco but some things can only be purchased online...so that works as well. Plus even with shipping, I can often times beat store prices on some items. Rarely do I need anything, RIGHT NOW

Jim Zim · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:13 pm

Oh, I found out that I can see today's transactions today. And yes, Marian, we did indeed get the commission on your purchase. So, thank you for the purchase, and thanks for letting me confirm that the new system is working as it should. :wv

Marian · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:02 am

Jim Zim wrote:

Oh, I found out that I can see today's transactions today. And yes, Marian, we did indeed get the commission on your purchase. So, thank you for the purchase, and thanks for letting me confirm that the new system is working as it should. :wv

And thank you for the forum!

Mary in Hampton · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:34 pm

Thanks.
I do all the ordering for my office so we will order through the forum from now on

Marian · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:55 am

If I have a choice between Office Max and Amazon.com, which one gives the forum a bigger commission?

JuanitaD · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 4:23 am **Posts:** 1503

Could someone please direct me to the link for Amazon purchases?

I see all the pet-related links at the bottom of the pages, but not the one for Amazon. HELP!!!

JuanitaD · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 4:23 am **Posts:** 1503

I'm assuming that the link for Amazon purchases is at:
http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&t ... ive=390957

But, I don't see the banner anywhere on the pages where the pet supplies are shown.

Sylvia M C · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:47 am

How did I miss this post? I'm thrilled that it is back on because I shop through Amazon more than anywhere else.

MissBeth · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:37 pm

Just now noticed this update about Amazon being back in the loop. :joy

YEA! I never order from those other sites, but Amazon, you BET!
Thanks, Jim, for all your work.

redhighlander · **Joined:** Sun Aug 14, 2011 11:25 am **Posts:** 52

Good to know! I will definitely do it.

Jim Zim · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:24 pm

Juanita...

This was big news about getting back together with Amazon, and I kind of rushed it out there before I had the chance to put Amazon links all over the forum and web site. My Mondays through Thursdays are kind of crazy, with little time to devote to big forum issues like this. This weekend I'll have the free time I need to be able to really put all the links and banners out there for Amazon.com

For now, though, I have been able to add an Amazon link up at the top right of all forum pages, and also a banner down in the lower left. There is also a banner for all of our forum partners, including Amazon, in the first post in this thread.

And if you want to add it to your bookmarks, the URL that will take you to Amazon and designate the commissions to come to the forum is:

http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=zimfamilysupe-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

JuanitaD · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 4:23 am **Posts:** 1503

Thanks so much, Jim, as I totally missed that Amazon was back as one of "our" merchants.

Amazon is also one that I frequently purchase from, especially since Christmas is just around the corner.

Naomi · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:19 pm **Posts:** 917

Oh good! Saw this just in time for my holiday shopping! Yes, I start in October. :tg

Alycia J · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:57 am **Posts:** 120

Perfect timing I was just about to make some purchases from Amazon now I'll do it through this link :bg

The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Forum rules

How you can help us cover our server costs

Who is online