Statement Regarding The Preferred Merchant Program

[Steven Benner]

Celica-GTS.com official statement on vendors participating in the preferred merchants program:

They are "Preferred Merchants" because they have sent me money!

Last year, when I was looking for ways to off-set the costs of keeping this site up, I came up with several possibilities. In the end I decided to add paid membership enhancements and a way for businesses to sponsor the site. Regular members can make a one-time donation and receive an enhanced account. Preferred merchants on the other hand, have to make a monthly payment and receive a top level forum for their business.

My understanding is that a couple members are upset because by giving them a forum under the title "Preferred Merchants", I am suggesting to the world that Celica-GTS.com and its members believe that these are the best businesses to work with. Indeed, this might not be the message I should be sending.

[doHTML]<del>I am hereby ending the preferred merchants program. All vendor accounts will be terminated at the end of the month. Vendors, I thank you for supporting Celica-GTS.com, and I hope we can work together again in the future.</del>[/doHTML]

I will be slightly reorganizing the vendors program.

[OldMage]

Can't the section be renamed rather than terminating the program?  I don't quite understand the hasty-feeling decision to dump the section based on the extreme feather-ruffling of an uninformed tiny minority of this site's membership.

Personally, I'm thrilled that the proprietors of such places as EngnBldr, SteedSpeed and RaptorRacing take the time to be involved in our community.

What about "Supporting Merchants"?

..chime in here, folks!

[Steven Benner]

Well we only have two vendors atm, one of them is getting canceled anyway. And no one else has expressed interest. If there was more interest in it I would probably make some minor changes to the wording and/or placement to keep it going. But, as it is now, the program will simply promote one person and be a source for further arguments.

From my point of view it will be simpler in the long run to just end it.

But, please let me know what you guys think. I'd love to hear more thoughts and opinions. I'll be checking in on this thread.

[a2ndopinion]

Can't the section be renamed rather than terminating the program?  I don't quite understand the hasty-feeling decision to dump the section based on the extreme feather-ruffling of an uninformed tiny minority of this site's membership.

Personally, I'm thrilled that the proprietors of such places as EngnBldr, SteedSpeed and RaptorRacing take the time to be involved in our community.

What about "Supporting Merchants"?

..chime in here, folks!

I'm with OldMage! I think "Supporting Merchants" is a better term. Until reading this thread, I had no idea that "Preferred Merchants" "donated" funds to the forum to receive "top level forum for their business." Is this explained anywhere in the forums? Does engnbldr or any of the other vendors who are spoken of highly and recommended here realize this? Of course, LC (let me be careful how I word this) is not very highly recommended here, so they may not care to participate, but there are many others in the "Ultimate Retailer" thread that may be interested.
I doubt Culpeper realized this when he made the comments he did, and may choose to revise his tirade now as well. I know it changes my thoughts.
Of course, each merchant still needs to prove their worth by providing a quality product in a timely manner when a fellow member pays for it, but that is another story.

[topless1]

Of course, each merchant still needs to prove their worth by providing a quality product in a timely manner when a fellow member pays for it, but that is another story.

2ndO =    I totally agree!!!  

Since I am not far from doing a total rebuild/or swap, DOA, Engbldr, LCeng, Steed, Fullboogie, TRD or any other celica parts supplier visting frequently to answer questions and offer specials or group purchases would be a nice touch to the forum.

 I've purchased from several members with no problems til recently(and it was minor) and I am still in support. [/color][/b]

[skycam_313]

i kinda like the supporting merchants idea....

the more merchants... the less you'd have to charge, right?

maybe we could get whoever is interested started on it...

maybe billym and the like


...just throwin it out there


SPEAK UP PEOPLE!

[shonuff]

i thought the "preferred merchants" was fine albet incorrectly worded.

i personally plan to enroll as soon as i have my products up and running (end of summer) im still just getting my business off the ground right now.


i think just a name change may be in order to silence some critics, tho i dont really see why.  supporting partners, recommended vendors, people who sell stuff for our cars, its just a name for a list that contains the very few businesses that make parts for our cars and are interested in the community enuff to support this board.


i think EVERY effort possible should be made to get merchants to buyers in this lil niche of a market, if it can benefit and improve this site all the better. the last thing we want to do is make a big drama fest for a merchants to advertise to his customer base. that will result in less business for them, less parts for us, and higher price's for hard to find parts that may or may not continue to be produced.

/rant


the bottom line in my eyes is this:

this is Stevens site period.  we really have no say in how he operates or funds this site. we are lucky he will even listen to our opinions let alone host this site.  we should not allow 1 thats one ignorant person affect the possible growth of this site and or community, i am so sick of people who are afraid to think things through for them selfs and expect the governing party to protect them and wipe their ass.

ok, im really spent this time

[85GTS]

Can't the section be renamed rather than terminating the program?  I don't quite understand the hasty-feeling decision to dump the section based on the extreme feather-ruffling of an uninformed tiny minority of this site's membership.

Personally, I'm thrilled that the proprietors of such places as EngnBldr, SteedSpeed and RaptorRacing take the time to be involved in our community.

What about "Supporting Merchants"?

..chime in here, folks!

I agree with Oldmage, and like A20 I did not realize that the "preferred merchants" were paying for said status.



 

[Nypher]

Man I didn't know they were paying, cause I was expecting ad banners.  Like over at northwestnissan.  

[danf]

I'd say changing the forum group to "Supporting Merchants" is better... at least that way it implies that they are paying to be there.

[SilverCelicaGT-S]

I think the whole supporting merchants sounds good, I wouldnt even mind if there were banner ads at the top of the page.

[OldMage]

*I* didn't even realize they were paying, but I knew some "arrangements" were made for them being listed separately.

'Nuff - you're absolutely right that Steven doesn't have to listen to anything we say, and we're lucky he puts up w/ us here  But he DID as us for our input, so he really DOES want to hear from us...

[93cc]

I think it is a good idea also... You should just make sure the members understand the the Merchants are just sponsors and not that that are recommended in anyway because of that.  There should be a forum where the members can provide feedback on our experience with the sponsors.  

[celica83_gts]

I think if merchants are paying for a spot in a forum group, it should be made known to all. This way, if a vendor has a forum, then by definition they are a paying supporter. If this option is available to any and all vendors willing to walk the walk, there should be no room for complaints. As for the argument that other vendors are not represented here, I disagree. There are plenty of discussions regarding part sources for our cars, one need only search.

[zipty842]

Much like others, I think a simple rewording could have prevented the whole situation.

A lot of people don't realize that a website/forum is basically a business, and you should do what ever you need to run your business successfully.