Nicole Stewart, the wonderful talent responsible for the graphic design of my website, has come up with some (IMHO) magnificent T-shirts which we hope will appeal. We are selling them through mysoti.com and if you have any issues regarding pricing, ordering and delivery you can be in touch with them direct via ask@mysoti.com or tweet @mysoti where Steve will be happy to help you out. Prices are determined automatically by location and currency. Plenty of t-shirts on the market are cheaper than ours, but plenty are more expensive too. We think, given the work behind the design, that the price we’ve settled on for our shirts is fair and reasonable. I trust you’ll agree. If not, don’t worry. The option not to buy is also available (while stocks last).
I Tweeted @stephenfry T-Shirt © Samfry Ltd 2009
This is certainly not about me profiting from my net presence. The volume of traffic that my website receives costs me a great deal. The more who visit, the more I pay for hosting: this is an ineluctable law that many may not be aware of yet which, on further thought, is inevitable. The running costs are rising monthly. I don’t complain, but I would like my site to come reasonably close to paying for itself. I should hate to have to close it down simply because so many people visited it. I have too a matchless team of designers who need to be paid a proper reward for their creativity, industry and commitment.
I hope you will find the opportunity proudly to own and wear one of these t-shirts a merry part of the ceaselessly splendid pleasures that the Worldwide Web, Twitter and the digital age has brought us. Pleasures we continue to share with such never ending wonder and surprise.
x Stephen
© Stephen Fry 2009
If anyone’s ever bought a t-shirt at a musical concert, this isn’t THAT bad, honestly. I’ll be happy to get one.
I know you don’t want to go around with the begging bowl but how about a PayPal type “Donate” icon where all proceeds go towards the running of the site? Maybe the surplus (if there is any) can go to a charity of the month?
I can’t get on the site at the moment as there seems to be a rush…. I will look later Mr Fry.
Can’t get into your shop…I think it might be full.
I hope that the sales cover the costs of your site.
My boyfriend dedicated a tee shirt, about you, to me …
http://tinyurl.com/au5ck7
*blush*
Hell, I didn’t know you had to pay depending on the volume of traffic on your site! Would love a t-shirt.
Love it! I hope I get one since the site is currently unavailable but when it lets me in (and if there are any left) I’m buying! xx
Why would you have to pay more for getting more traffic?! That is nuts. I agree with JOLIET, you should have a “donate” button on the site. If you received too much money from all your followers (sounds like a cult!), you could donate any extra to a charity of your choice. Those lovely spectacle bears that you did a programm on (or something like that).
Completely understand. If it helps you out I shall buy ’till my heart is content. : ] x
Set my heart on two of them…they’re gonna be bought as soon as I finally get my money. xxx (now that came out a little…)
I’m with pippajo – I didn’t realize that you were charged based on the number of visitors to your site. A “Donate” button does sound like a good idea.
Still can’t get into the store, but once it comes back up I’d love to buy one. Assuming there’s some left.
You have so many that adore you, we’ve broken the t-shirt site.
Absolutely love the shirt – I’ll check back later when things have slowed down a bit.
Certianly will be getting myself one when the poor old servers have cooled down a bit! :0)
Oh Stephen…. You forgot to put one of my QRMe codes on your T-shirt to let people scan it with their mobiles to allow them to follow you on Twitter.
Oh Stephen.
Not only will these shirts make you look cool and attractive, they’ll also lower your car insurance, increase your height, and improve your vocabulary.
Before frytees: My face are gooder to looking at than yours.
After frytees: My pulchritudinous visage renders yours grotesque, unprepossessing, and noxiously pestiferous.
I love the shirt as well!!!
Doesn’t look like your site’s working, Mr. Fry. Crikes. It’s a cool shirt.
If I ever do get my hands on one, I’ll take a picture of it and post it on Twitter!
Yeah, unfortunately providers are charging for almost everything, web space, traffic, and all sorts of other stuff. A site of this size and popularity should cost quite a bit, I guess. And I’d love to have your staff – not the cost for it, though. The site is just lovely; beautiful layout, straight forward colour scheme and well monitored. And the images are great!!!
So fair enough to ask for support. And although I generally don’t mind to make someone rich who deserves it – and you do – I nevertheless quite like the idea of charity should there be some surplus. Or you invite us all to a big party ;o)
xx
I managed to get into the site and I have got myself a SF T-Shirt. This is madness, the man has more potential for raising monies for charities than the whole of the cast for Band Aid, past, present and future!
All he has to say is jump!
Here is my money Stephen…
Well if this is how you’ll finance your traffic than I must say: Please DO more! Just bought 3 right away.
Do you plan different designed T-shirts as well?
Heh, you killed their site Stephen.
I’m not sure why you’re declaring that you won’t make a profit from the site, when are your business. I’d prefer to see my money going directly to you rather than via an opaque system I don’t (and probably don’t want to) understand. I hope you sell tons of them, and well done if you do.
You won’t see one to me though, unless you produce one with “Twitter Sucks The Sweat Off A Dead Man’s Balls”. Because it does. You brought the collective IQ up by a few points, but it remains in single digits…
adam
half of £50 is quite a bit for a family of 5 Stephen! I wish I could afford a T shirt, then I would customise it and start a Flickr group…maybe someone should do that anyhow…to show their support. I really DO wish I could have one. By the way I am sorry you have to pay in such a way for your popularity, it seems in more ways than the obvious. That really sucks. I hope you are OK at the moment by the way. Good luck with the T Shirts.
Been Twittering at you but I think the voddies in the bath got in the way, Mr Fry
Love the T(witter)-shirt idea, tres clever and will improve many wardrobes
Okay, sorry to sort of commandeer this thread with other considerations, but I’m translating Making History into French — which is a job and a half, let me tell you — and I’ve been trying to get in touch with Mr Fry to get a few precisions about a couple of points. If you get a few spare moments, thanks for contacting me! Best — Patrick
Hey I love the T-shirt with the banner, but could these be made available in V-neck. Round necks give me the feeling I have a noose around my neck.
I’ve order the orchid and rabbit on black. And thank you to whoever had the sense to offer women’s sizes. Much appreciated.
Much as I love you, my message would be to pay for you site yourself with the revenue from all of your irritating advertising work.
I agree with @Dahamsta. You broke it!
I keep trying the website but its well and truly dead for the time being – it just links back to you.
I love the T-shirt and am very tempted to get one for my birthday – Do you think the site will be up and running in April?
Don’t you like the T..T…T..Tea…? ;o) The man gotta live… Didn’t get my shirt yet, though. Gotta make a living myself first – will try later today again!
BTW: What clock are you guys running on? Here in England it’s 10:40 – jeee and Yeiks, only realised now: It’s Friday 13th….
Bought two of these loverly tees. It’s a great idea!
Any chance for a baby tee too? My niece just has to be the coolest baby around!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mr. Fry wear a t-shirt. Perhaps a monogrammed button down would be more appropriate.
More than happy to have bought a couple of shirts to help cover your hosting costs. I appreciate good writing on the web and your site exemplifies it – thank you. Congratulations to Nicole on some very enticing designs.
So, the two Ts are now bought just as promised. x
You should change your net supplier. Paying based on visitor numbers? Hey man, this is 2009. There are a lot of broadband suppliers.
Anyway, the shirt is nice.
Just been persuaded by my pal Louise Macdonald to join Twitter and follow you – hence my visit to your website! Love the T-shirt. Would love to talk to you sometime about mental health care in this country. Having just lost my Dad who was bi-polar and coping with a sister who has the same condition, I am disgusted at the care she has/is receiving. You have done so much to contribute to the debate, thanks. Love you to bits! Linda x
Woops…my ‘nonoyesyes’ nickname is gone for good…and my real name replaced it! (was that wise, I wonder?!) Anyhoo…
I have missed visiting my most favoured spot on the planet; club Fry and his blogs… just not quite the same if I’m not making a bee-line to your fab page, Stephen!
How are you?! The trip going well I hope?! I must re-join with Twitter tooo… I’ve missed all the comin’s and goin’s….
nahatsu is gone but I must bring her back!
Meanwhile; love the classy cool T-shirt.. seems you have a lot of devoted folk dying to get one… I myself well, I can’t wear Tshirts they just DON’T suit me…. haha!
However, I see you have a few suggestions re ‘donate’ button well who knows ~ it might come to pass…..
I have to admit I cannot get my head around the fact that YOU have to pay for us to visit…???? Seems a bit weird to me!
Now, I’m off to join Twitter….
Love `n stuff…
Tasha
((^_^))
I just left a reply but it got gobbled up by a mysterious word deleter…?
Here’s a suggestion for another t-shirt. Pity I can’t display it with a good layout of the size and positioning of the words.
an ineluctable law of stephenfry.com
the more people who visit the site, the more he pays for hosting
and that is why I bought this t-shirt
(oh and of course to ensure designers are properly rewarded for their creativity, industry and commitment)
Well, I’ll buy one if you request to follow me on Twitter
That’s the only way you’ll be able to see my fabulous, brilliant, profound updates and replies to you. (Ahem. I’m kidding about all of those adjectives.)
Seriously, pretty funny T-shirt.
Love the shirt. I would proudly wear one! Unfortunately I can not follow you on Twitter since you are now blocking me
I’ve been trying to find someone to tweet at you with me info but so far no luck.
If you get a chance I tweet as I am @ninadelamorte
Good luck with the site seems a shame that the more popular you are the more it cost you.
Stephen, my darling my hamburger, as a man of redoubtable size,
might one suggest that making [your] designs available only on T-shirts, the largest of which is a size xl is, perhaps, a tad discriminatory wot?
Any chance you might make them available for those of us with more statutory physiques, a heftier dose of avoirdupois? Take care you otherwise-genius-you, ChetaMorton
Yes, it is a lovely t-shirt.
I am going to order as soon as possible.
If only I had the shape to wear t-shirts, then I’d buy one. Unfortunately they make me look like Joan Ferguson – Prison Cell Block H warden
Perhaps I could buy one for someone else …
I was so sad to see you’ve blocked me on Twitter – not being followed was heartache enough, but then to be blocked!
Oh, the rejection!
Hey put google add ons to support your lovely site
The t-shirts are gorgeous! Great work.
Is there any way to offer them in other sizes? Like 2xl, 3xl?
Not that I don’t think you should sell T-shirt’s or even make money from this site, but I’m having a hard time understanding the reasoning you’ve put forward. What exactly is costing so much to run the site? Perhaps you kept it brief on purpose, but us techies would like to know the details!
- How much traffic?
- What server do you use – specs, etc.
If we are talking strictly hosting, then i fail to see how a site like this (unless this site gets a lot more traffic than i think it does) can cost more than £250 a month, which let’s face it, isn’t much for someone like yourself.
Or do you run this all with a Mac hosting company that costs considerably more?
Though i do understand you may possibly be referring more to the contributors (designers and so forth) more than hosting costs. But some posts above seem to think it is for hosting costs, which i find hard to believe.
Some clarity here would be most appreciated.
Oh dear, I would love to buy one of those t-shirts. Curse the recession! Curse it to Valhalla!
That cable one is so my shirt. I think anyone who has any multitude of electrical devices can understand that mass of cables.