How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post links?

[BlueToBits]

Moderators, Please. It's really not helping people to have a suggested link starred out. Why do you do this?

 

[IQ Electrical]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

Absolutely, the 'behind the scenes' work that goes on here is second to none, trolls and spammers are removed very quickly and posts seem to be moderated in a very fair manner.

On a well-run, subscription-free forum, you don't really have any right to criticise sponsor policy other than to 'let your fingers do the talking' and find another forum.

If you do that over such an insignificant point of principle then it really will be your loss.

 

[Phil]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

I have been fortunate to see what goes on both sides of the forum and all I can say is a big thanks to Dan for keeping it free for us to use. Jason and Lenny did a fantastic job on their own with Dan and Dave before me Sintra and the other mods, and I also have to abide by the same rules as do the rest of the mods.
we don`t always like rules in life but usually they are there for the greater good. I don`t see a problem tbh with any of the rules on here.

if we look at the screwfix side of things as our trade, would we be happy to hand out a plumbers card who refused to hand out ours??

 

[BlueToBits]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

My 10p worth:
This site is successful not only because it is well run and maintained, but mainly because it has a large contingent of knowledgeable contributors who offer their professional help and advice to others, completely free of charge and often in risk of damaging their own businesses in assisting their competitors and unwittingly exposing their own weaknesses. This is the nature of the forum and everone who contributes, including the sponsors, risk this to some degree. Of course there are costs that need to be met to facilitate the forum, but to restrict the content this way is essentially gagging those contributors who are largely responsible for the site's content and success. If I were a sponsor I would not want to do this, I would not want my potential customers to think we were either being churlish or naive to pretend that the likes of Kingfisher and Rexel don't exist. I would, however like to have a bit more exposure, and as a site user, I would rather sponsors were granted this, rather than material restrictions on what we can post.
I would also add that the restriction is very minor, and certainly not a reason to cancel my subscription, but it does make it harder for members to do the things that make the site successful, and therefore must 'de-value' the forum to some extent.

 

[High Tower]

Well constructed and very valid argument!! But there is no such thing as a ideal world, it's all about compromise and I'm afraid that's what this is a compromise.

 

[SMB]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

I think its about time some people stopped just thinking about their wallets.


money, money, money.

pathetic.

 

[mogga]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

Absolutely, the 'behind the scenes' work that goes on here is second to none, trolls and spammers are removed very quickly and posts seem to be moderated in a very fair manner.

On a well-run, subscription-free forum, you don't really have any right to criticise sponsor policy other than to 'let your fingers do the talking' and find another forum.

If you do that over such an insignificant point of principle then it really will be your loss.

On Subject of trolls( what ever they are) Spammers Abuse ect any time I have felt the need to report it it has been dealt with swiftly by Admin If YOU see spam ect REPORT it via the wee button triangle with ! The Mods ect do a great job but I dont expect they sit here 24/7 and like everyone they need a wee hand now n then

 

[malcolmsanford]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

Most forums that are not aimed at small defined subjects are FOC as what would be the point of them, if a one time user wanted to ask a question, had to pay for the privilige, we would all be on here talking to each other and not what I really joined for, and that was to perhaps help others and pass on my limited knowledge and experience in the hope it helps.

So yes I do agree that sponsorship is vital in keeping this forum alive and progressing. But I would like to just cite a situation.

We had several threads lately asking about clamp meters that can detect High protective currents. I think most of us on here agree that before it had apparently become unavailalbe the Alphatex 633 was a good budget priced meter. Now I have recommended these to several other sparks, becasue we use them out here, but when I tried to link to them from our sponsor, they did not seem to do them, so was forced to link to another meter test site.

I think Test meter will attest that I always try to link to them, when they were doing an offer on Metrel MFT, and also providing a voltage indicator FOC. I pointed several posters to this.

It is a fine line between censorship and free speech, there in the above scenario is a case where we could not link to a sponsor becasue they don't supply the item, what are we to do then.

Often we ask posters to "post a pic" as it helps to identify problems, we mostly link to something becasue it shows the poster what you are talking about. I don't think any respected member would not try to promote the sponsers as it helps the forum, it's just somestimes you can't.

 

[High Tower]

Most forums that are not aimed at small defined subjects are FOC as what would be the point of them, if a one time user wanted to ask a question, had to pay for the privilige, we would all be on here talking to each other and not what I really joined for, and that was to perhaps help others and pass on my limited knowledge and experience in the hope it helps.

So yes I do agree that sponsorship is vital in keeping this forum alive and progressing. But I would like to just cite a situation.

We had several threads lately asking about clamp meters that can detect High protective currents. I think most of us on here agree that before it had apparently become unavailalbe the Alphatex 633 was a good budget priced meter. Now I have recommended these to several other sparks, becasue we use them out here, but when I tried to link to them from our sponsor, they did not seem to do them, so was forced to link to another meter test site.

I think Test meter will attest that I always try to link to them, when they were doing an offer on Metrel MFT, and also providing a voltage indicator FOC. I pointed several posters to this.

It is a fine line between censorship and free speech, there in the above scenario is a case where we could not link to a sponsor becasue they don't supply the item, what are we to do then.

Often we ask posters to "post a pic" as it helps to identify problems, we mostly link to something becasue it shows the poster what you are talking about. I don't think any respected member would not try to promote the sponsers as it helps the forum, it's just somestimes you can't.

Just a thought, but has anyone tried to message TM about them stocking this item?? Just a idea because he has always said that he could get me my Fluke fix despite the fact that the don't stock them as a matter of course

 

[malcolmsanford]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

Just a thought, but has anyone tried to message TM about them stocking this item?? Just a idea because he has always said that he could get me my Fluke fix despite the fact that the don't stock them as a matter of course

I did ask on a thread that Test meter was also replying to on why the alphatex 633 was not in their stock, but I have to confess I never actually asked them directly.

 

[High Tower]

May be worth a shot, he is dead good like that!

 

[eskimo39]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

Forget this email malarkey!!!! Just pick up that old fashioned thing called a telephone. I hate emailing companies, if they are a busy company who get lots of messages (including spam due to having their address on the web) it can sometimes get lost, takes weeks to reply etc, I normally just call them. At the end of the day, you are trying to spend your hard earned money with them so they should be happy you have called, even if they have to take 5 minutes of their time to do some research!!

 

[High Tower]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

I was suggesting sending hima PM on here

 

[Cyberprog]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

Forget this email malarkey!!!! Just pick up that old fashioned thing called a telephone. I hate emailing companies, if they are a busy company who get lots of messages (including spam due to having their address on the web) it can sometimes get lost, takes weeks to reply etc, I normally just call them. At the end of the day, you are trying to spend your hard earned money with them so they should be happy you have called, even if they have to take 5 minutes of their time to do some research!!

I'm the exact opposite, I hate using the phone and therefore love eMail! The number of companies I contact, who require a phone number and then ignore my request for a response via email is very high! And what a surprise, I don't end up using them if they can't follow a simple instruction! Gah...

 

[rocker]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

As for my thrupence hapenny's worth, without wishing to make waves, I don't see the point in having an electrical products section if we can't link to, let's be honest, the wholesaler with the widest range of stock on the web.

My use of meteor electrical is well documented on this forum, I think they are a brilliant wholesaler, but in some areas their range is limited. TLCs range is often second to none. If you are looking for it, they will have it.

I simply don't see the benefit in having the products section if all we can do is...

'I'm looking for some overhand thwax handles, anyone any ideas?'
'Yep, if you go round all the wholesalers and do a search for the products you will find it eventually.'
'Oh. Thanks?'

Also we have the situation where someone only knows a product by a 'non-official' name, can't think of a good one off the top of my head but lets say brolly fixings, if you put brolly into a wholesalers website you aren't going to get anything, but if you ask on here, someone who knows their correct name can link to them.... see what I mean?

Anyway, that's what I think.

 

[SMB]

Re: How are we supposed to talk products, tools and help people if we can't post link

Does anyone know where I can buy some Lug-worm for less than 20 quid a hundred?