Author Topic: Statement Regarding The Preferred Merchant Program (Read 11996 times)

Culpeper · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 05:03:36 am »

It was the title of the forum that irked me. Okay, the moderators were unaware that these were paying merchants for their own forum. This is what I argued about to begin with. They should be paying was the premise of my argument. Enough said. Supporting or Sponsor Merchants are appropriate titles. I also suggest that there should also be some sort of feedback for these vendors in case they stray. An opportunity cost for providing poor service or products.

Bottom line is there was miscommunication based on a lack of knowledge on both sides of the argument that was going on. No big deal. As a group we should contact our favorite vendors and sell some space on the site with a title that matches what they are. Sponsoring vendors.

Perhaps come up with a list of vendors we all have had good experience with or have heard only positive customer service and then send them a sales pitch. The owner and the moderators can be the committee and ask members for assistance. We may actually come up with more than the single vendor with a good reputation. I still think there is some life in the concept left to explore. Everyone has ideas that are contributing.

The only other suggestion I have is that we make a habit of advising newcomers to search the forums first when necessary. We keep reinventing the wheel by answering redundant problems/questions, and so forth that just clutter up the database. If a problem is solved than post it as being solved. People that bring a problem or question and leave their own thread hanging should be discouraged from such practice. There are so many threads started by people with no conclusion on whether or not the author of the thread found a solution or not. If that means closing a thread with a statement that some deadbeat dropped his own ball and doesn't want to share whether a problem was solved or not than that's fine. One thing I hate is a dead end thread.

a2ndopinion · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 05:52:51 am »

To run with what Culpeper said, we have the Ultimate Retailer Thread (that is now spelled correctly). We (someone - Steven? - I'll go sell to engnbldr) need to contact all of them with the "Supporting Merchant" section idea. When I first read this thread, I searched the site looking for info on the "Preferred Merchant" program, and thought it odd that there wasn't any.
I will not mention any names, but I was trying to figure out why, although he had been a very active member, after starting his "business", he about disappeared from the forum, and wasn't delivering his (low quality) pieces to those who had paid for them, but was considered a "Preferred Merchant." Had I realized that he was paying for the space, I would have understood, especially after seeing a few posts from members trying to find out where the parts they had ordered were, and his consistent excuses for not producing.

As for Culpeper's comment

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[size=8]The only other suggestion I have is that we make a habit of advising newcomers to search the forums first when necessary. We keep reinventing the wheel by answering redundant problems/questions, and so forth that just clutter up the database. If a problem is solved than post it as being solved. People that bring a problem or question and leave their own thread hanging should be discouraged from such practice. There are so many threads started by people with no conclusion on whether or not the author of the thread found a solution or not. If that means closing a thread with a statement that some deadbeat dropped his own ball and doesn't want to share whether a problem was solved or not than that's fine. One thing I hate is a dead end thread.[/size]

about having noob's search the forum, I think most of us do for the most part. Everyone needs to remember though [size=8](not that many paid any attention when they first signed on anyway)[/size] that the following is written into the "by-laws":

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"Search" is not an acceptable reply.
It is not okay to reply to a topic/post with the phrase "use the search" or anything like it, unless you have already searched the answer and provide a link to a relevant thread.

That is part of the reason why I said what I did in Gizmo's "Help" thread, and was happy that others backed me up in my comments.

zipty842 · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 06:07:15 am »

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When I first read this thread, I searched the site looking for info on the "Preferred Merchant" program, and thought it odd that there wasn't any.

oddly enough, i remember one for some reason.

a2ndopinion · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 06:17:43 am »

Where is/was it?

zipty842 · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 08:15:33 pm »

good question, i couldn't find it.

OldMage · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 08:23:11 pm »

This thread barely touches on it at the bottom, where it says

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Paid member accounts, including supporting members and vendors, ...

a2ndopinion · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 08:31:51 pm »

That's really vague!

OldMage · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 09:07:41 pm »

I've been searching too. Limiting to posts by Steven including the keyword "vendor".

zoomy · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 09:40:13 pm »

IMO it is beating a dead horse...

OldMage · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 11:46:30 pm »

Which part? Searching for past postings? Yes, probably.

Talking about vendors paying for their own forums here? I don't think so. The fact that there was such uproar about whether vendors had paid for their "preferred" listing is rather incredible to me. But I don't want to see the opportunity for vendor sponsorship to go away due to a misunderstanding. I'd rather it were clarified and expanded (vendors willing) to include more places that we can find parts & support from.

I consider this to be just another "growning pain" for our community.

hooper62 · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 16, 2008, 06:54:26 am »

I would agree that we should make it "Sponsoring Merchants" or somthing of that nature. I agree that we should email places (esp. engnbldr) about comming on here and becoming a "Sponsoring Merchant". It is a good way for them to get business and for us to easily contact the merchants with questions or atleast find their websites.

wyoming9 · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 16, 2008, 10:59:26 am »

I don`t no where but when I sent Steven a little money, He was going over all the levels like gold silver etc.

I saw and knew about the preferred merchants being more or less a paid advertisment I guess lots of others never knew that.

Now if I was paying as a supporting Merchant, I would want a small banner at least on the main page, that stands out to direct you to the supporting merchant page. Where it is now you might not see it all.

How much does it cost Steven out of his pocket to fund this site every month,I know I would be lost without it.

I also realize a lot of you don`t have the extra money to help fund the site.

Perhaps we need to set something up, Like Steven said as long as the money is there till the accout goes empty.

Perhaps to fund the site for 2 months to see , if the members can keep it going. We all know by now unexcepted things happen at the worse time.

Steven Benner · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 17, 2008, 08:33:19 am »

Thanks for all of the great feedback guys. It's really helpful to hear your thoughts on this. Since so many people seem to be in favor of this program (with minor revisions to the wording and such) I wont be ending it. Original post edited to reflect that.

I'm going to just rename the forum for now.

a2ndopinion · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 17, 2008, 05:39:52 pm »

:clap:

85GTS · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 17, 2008, 05:51:29 pm »

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:clap:

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