SCF Upgrades Coming - Need Your Support!

[mikesilvia]

Due to the explosive growth since 2007 we have had to upgrade SCF several times. Some of you may have noticed that we have crashed a few times over the past few weeks due to the limitations on our server.

On the hardware front, we've upgraded from 1 GB of RAM, to 4 GB and the current 12 GB. We also upgraded from a single processor to a dual-quad core (equivalent to 8 processors). While our processor is fine, we are in need of 24 GB of RAM! This is due to our growth and our upcoming release of the SCF storefronts and eventual OPG. Expect this upgrade sometime this week with a 30-60 minute downtime. This will bring out costs to $600 a month!

On the software side we need to upgrade to the newest stable version. First we will be upgrading from 3.7 to 3.8. Eventually (once stable) we will be upgrading to the newest 4.0 version of the software. While each upgrade is a one time fee, they are not cheap!

While we have experienced explosive growth, our increased costs have far out-weighed the increase in income due to a terrible economy and an ever-shrinking sports card market. Affiliates have reduced their pay outs and advertisers are not numerous!

If you have ever considered purchasing a VIP Membership ($20 a year) or Premium Membership ($12 a year) now is the time! Your support will go a long way in paying our hardware/software upgrades and future forum features. Not only will you be supporting SCF, you will also receive lots of extras on the site like exclusive VIP contests, Card Cash Store Discounts, Card Cash pack sales, exclusive BlowOutCards.com discounts, an exclusive forum and dozens of forum extras.

Here are some of the prizes we have given away to our VIP members over the past year:

• 2009 Press Pass Legends Autographed Printing Plate Paul Hornung 1/1
• 2009 Finest Rookie Jersey Autograph Gold Refractor #100 Matthew Stafford/25
• 2005 UD Hall Worthy Mike Schmidt patch/auto /5
• ITG 1972 The Year Forever Linked Phil Esposito/Alexander Yakushev
• 2009-10 UD Basektball VS materials Larry Byrd/Julius Erving /600

Here are some pack sales we have done in the past year:

• New Packs for Card Cash Ordered!
• More Packs for Card Cash Coming!
• Huge CC Pack Sales! Spx Hockey/basketball, Artifacts, etc!
• Huge CC Pack Sale! SP Authentic, SPx, Allen & Ginter, etc!

Here are the details on the VIP and Premium Memberships compared to the basic SCF membership!

Basic Membership - FREE (standard membership when you sign up)

• PM Space: 150
• Custom title: no
• Signature: 300 x 100 (45k Size)
• Gallery images: 20
• Avatar: 80 x 80
• Can Create Slide Shows in gallery: No
• Can Create Albums in gallery: No
• Can Upload Signature banner to SCF Server: no
• 10 Card Cash per arcade game
• 800 Card Cash for a 30 Day Card Cash Auction Pass

VIP Membership - $20 a Year (Sign me up!)
Same as Premium Membership plus:

• PM Space: 500
• Gallery images: 100
• 1,000 characters in signature (vice 650 for regular members)
• Can Upload Signature banner to SCF Server: Yes, no need to host your banner on Photobucket or somewhere else!
• Most ads removed (ads after first post, in PM, side column and footer)
• Can set self "invisible" and not be seen by other members
• Receives an extra 50 Card Cash for referrals (100 normally, 150 for VIP Members)
• Receives extra 200 Card Cash on birthday
• VIP Member badge
• Name change once a year
• FREE Card Cash Auction Pass (Save 800 Card Cash a month!)
• Given priority when SCF offers packs for Card Cash! (48 hours or more)
• Given priority when cards from sponsored breaks are placed into the CC store.
• Can post your eBay Store or link to your auctions in your signature
• 10% discount on all Card Cash Store purchases
• 10% discount on all Card Cash Auctions. If you win the auction we will remove 10% of the final bid!
• Access to our VIP Member Forum where we hold tons of contests exclusively for our VIP Members!
• Exclusive BlowOutCards weekly box discounts! Each week BlowOutCards offers small to large discounts on boxes. Check out our announcement forum for details. On average this discount is $5-20 off a box!

Premium Membership - $12 a Year (Sign me up!)
This membership costs $12 a year ($1 a month!).

• PM Space: 250
• Custom Title: Yes
• Signature: 500 x 100 (75k Size)
• Can Upload Signature banner to SCF Server: no
• Gallery images: 50
• Can Create Slide Shows in gallery: Yes
• Can Create Albums in gallery: Yes
• Motion and larger avatar (150 x 150)
• Premium membership Badge (see above)
• Exclusive Premium Membership Contests
• Arcade Pass Costs 1 CC per month
• 30 Day Card Cash Auction Pass for 100 Card Cash a month (700 Card Cash savings!)
• Your very own forum on SCF!
• 100 Card Cash for a Card Cash Auction Pass (Save 700 Card Cash a month)
• Permitted to place link for eBay in signature.

If you are already a VIP or Premium member thanks for your support!

[BillyHo2008]

Upgrading to VIP membership in May once im done with classes. Just in time to make the money at the summer job lol. Good luck!

[meuandthelot]

Signed up again for this worthwhile cause.

Thanks