Why is that, Matt?

I would find supplier X or Y stating a price for a certain product informative. If they post how much their product is all over the place, then that's spamming, but simply stating a price for a product that people from this community would like to buy sounds ok to me.
In addition to that, I am pretty sure that if they state a price, members will go surfing other suppliers web pages and stating their prices.
I fail to see anything else but a benefit to this community from allowing suppliers to post prices.

[Edited by Claudius - 6/3/2003 6:50:02 PM]

 

I have never understood why any commercial enterprise on here cannot respond publicly and openly to a clear request for prices from them by someone.

We all know price is not the only factor when choosing a supplier anyway.

Deano

[Edited by dsmith - 6/4/2003 4:59:00 PM]

 

Hi All (Apologies for the long post, but this is very important)

As the majority are aware, scoobynet is funded through advertising revenue. This means that the advertisers who run banners at the top of each page are the companies that keep this forum going for everyone to enjoy free of charge.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that non-advertisers (often innocently) post commercially on the forums from time to time, we had to take the stand a long time ago that commercial posts of any kind could not be made on the forums.

In order to try to keep the balance right, we allowed a certain amount of flexibility to advertisers so that they could at least enjoy being a part of the community they support. This meant an unwritten rule of something along the lines of "say the odd thing, just don't abuse it, and if the members complain, then we'll have to ask you not to do it any more".

The problem then arose that one company's idea of abuse is different to another, in addition, some companies tend to get complained about more than others, so it all ends up as a decision to either have different rules for everybody, or just ban commercial posts altogether, no matter who they're from.

The big problem with banning all commercial posts, is that almost all of the commercial posts are of potential benefit to the community anyway!

It has always been a really difficult situation.

So.. The result is this.

Advertisers can request an "Authorised Advertiser" tag to be placed on their account. When they post, the above words will appear next to their name so that everyone is aware they are a commercially orientated user, but one which actively and financially supports us all.

In exchange for this, these vendors will be able post commercially *in moderation*. Again, moderation is a subjective thing, but I see it as follows.

An authorised advertiser may reply to threads in a commercial way *without stating prices* but simply making it known that they can provide the service being asked about. If these posts are off-topic, they will be moderated, otherwise I'm sure none of us will have a problem with it.

If however an advertiser wants to actually start a thread on a commercial subject (new product launch, take a look at our new car, who would be interested in this product, etc) they are able to do this, in the Dealer and Third Party forum only.

I hope you will all support us on this, as it creates potential benefits for us, in that the members are able to instantly see if the vendor offering services is simply spaming the board, or is actively support us (so deserves our support in return). The moderators will also be able to see this and be able to act more swiftly on your reports.

If you run a banner advert and would like to have an Authorised Advertiser tag placed on your account please contact me at webmaster@scoobynet.co.uk and copy to shaun@scoobynet.co.uk as I will be out of the country from tomorrow.

All the best

Simon

 

Will they have to pay for this tag?

 

Hi John

There will be no additional charge to have the tag. They will already be paying to advertise, this is just a method of letting you know that the vendor posting is actively supporting the community by running a banner ad.

All the best

Simon

 

Sounds like a good idea.

 

Yep sounds fair to the traders that do finacially support Scoobynet

Gary

 

BTT

I'll leave this open for comments to see if anyone has any objections for a while longer, then make it a sticky.

All the best

Simon

 

Seems a good idea, plus it means that you can decide whether you feel the advice you're being given is impartial or just a sales pitch more easily.

 

I agree people with commercial interests should be identifiable. But I dont see why they wouldnt be allowed to post prices for products? Wouldnt that give the community a benefit if someone stated say, a lower price, in the sense that their competitors would have to bring their prices down a bit as well (if they want to)?

 

OK

What is everyone elses opinion on the prices thing?

The reason behind it was that once you start mentioning prices it becomes more of a direct advert, rather than "we can help the community out with some advice / supply of products". I wouldn't like to see a point where every thread was filled with "ooh.. you mentioned our widget, they are current £23 and we can deliver them next day".

All the best

Simon

 

Agree - prices should be kept to mail or phone.

 

I think that tagging the commercial posters is a good idea.

Assuming that they are paying to support SN through running a banner ad (or ads), personally i can't see that there would be a problem with prices being stated in posts. To avoid the "direct advert" issue, perhaps policy could be that prices can only be metioned once someone has expressed an interest and posted a reply asking for prices and/or delivery details.

Just my 2p's worth.

John.

 

Simon,

I have a question and hope it is not off topic.

Firstly I think the idea of an "Authorised Advertiser" tag is a very good one.

However this really only covers advertisers with Subaru related products and services as in the main that is obviously what the community is after.

However there are often posts, for instance in the Non Scooby Related forum to which I could contribute (mostly health related), which I am reluctant to do so as it could be percieved as advertising and I respect the ethics of the community. However especially as I am at the leading edge of the areas of medicine we are involved in the contributions could be genuinely helpful and be information not available elsewhere. I am also sure members in other non-related industries may be able to help other members in similar ways.

So either you will say it is ok for people like myself to respond to appropiate posts or we need some sort of similar scheme which does not require you to have a banner advert, but so that you and the moderators know that the posters concerned respect the ethics of the community.

What do you think?

Kind regards,

Robin

 

I think that robin is onto something, it sound a good and fair idea.

But can i mention an incident that happened not so long ago......

I advertised my mothers car in for sale section, only to find the topic closed and accused of it being a trade ad? is this because i am associated with T&M Motors? i did say it was my mothers car.

What can we do about this, how do we know that members or newbies arent in a trade and use scoobynet just for there ads in the for sale section?

 

I think this is a good idea

It would clear a grey area up

Whilst I have to say in the defence of those traders who do not pay for a banner advert it is only a FEW people that activly exploit the system.

 

Claudius - I agree with what you say, however if supplier A posts the fact his big bore widget is £299, then supplier B contributes saying he is prepared to do his for £280, at which point supplier A says his is better and so on, I can see the thread degenerating into chaos.

Best keep prices off line, saves lots of hassle for the suppliers.

 

Tag me baby

 

What you say could be true if we're talking different products, but what if we're talking about the same products?

Wouldnt that also be a proper job for the moderators to do rather than telling someone off for using a swearword or showing a nipple? That way they could actually be useful! LOL

 

Allowing posting of prices is in the interests of the user but not the supplier...

As someone who isn't a supplier I'm in favour of posting prices!