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?

 

[Former Sponsor TM]

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

Wow!
That took me a while to get through, I can see both sides of the story. BUT I'd just like to point out that we have had no influence in Dans decision to block either of the sites. I don't see either of them as competitors anyway. There's place in the market for everyone, and we welcome competition. The main reason we sponsored the forum was to gain a little extra exposure, and to present new products as and when they became avaliable. We don't list everything on our website, we list the most popular items. We could quite easily list 30,000 items and dilute the quality of our website but choose not to. If there is a product or accessory your looking for give us a call, send an email, PM us.... whichever you prefer. More than likely we will be able to get it, if not we can tell you where's best to try even if it is one of our competitors.

 

[Dan]

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

So why are there so many more links made to screwfix and TLC as apposed to meteor?. Not trying to tread on toes.

I never actually said that there were more links to TLC than meteor. Screwfix have had very few links from here even when we didn't block their URL. TLC had quite a bit, but not more than meteor. I just said 'than even some sponsors'.

 

[Dan]

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

Just to thank all contributors to this thread, whatever your view is. As it's discussion that keeps the forum going.

A couple of facts for you, I've manually blocked about 4 URL's out of more than 40,000 outgoing links we have here. A pretty small number really and only temporarily.

We'd have no sponsors if we were to allow all firms to gain business from this forum free of charge.

It is highly likely that TLC have made much more money out of this forum than myself. How's that fair if they're not contributing to the extremely high bandwidth costs, like I am and did out of my own pocket even before the sponsors?

If TLC are sound, use 'em, I'm pleased you found a decent supplier. If you speak to a guy on the forum and think TLC are their perfect supplier, say, 'Checkout TLC mate' and all's well. But linking to them heavily on such time-stamped posts that will be there forever is just giving the newer members a bit too many chances to leave our website and end up on theirs and not one of our sponsors.

Pretty sure TLC won't loose any business. And I'm pretty sure any of their customers will continue to be so. But this is just about the forum, its stats, its traffic, and its sponsors who foot the bills for all of that. That's all.

 

[malcolmsanford]

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

Just to thank all contributors to this thread, whatever your view is. As it's discussion that keeps the forum going.

A couple of facts for you, I've manually blocked about 4 URL's out of more than 40,000 outgoing links we have here. A pretty small number really and only temporarily.

We'd have no sponsors if we were to allow all firms to gain business from this forum free of charge.

It is highly likely that TLC have made much more money out of this forum than myself. How's that fair if they're not contributing to the extremely high bandwidth costs, like I am and did out of my own pocket even before the sponsors?

If TLC are sound, use 'em, I'm pleased you found a decent supplier. If you speak to a guy on the forum and think TLC are their perfect supplier, say, 'Checkout TLC mate' and all's well. But linking to them heavily on such time-stamped posts that will be there forever is just giving the newer members a bit too many chances to leave our website and end up on theirs and not one of our sponsors.

Pretty sure TLC won't loose any business. And I'm pretty sure any of their customers will continue to be so. But this is just about the forum, its stats, its traffic, and its sponsors who foot the bills for all of that. That's all.

That is quite a distrubing thought .................that some of Telectrix posts are here for eternity ...............shudder

 

[telectrix]

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

might give the young'uns some food for thought when i'm pushing up the daisies. was thinking at one time of being buried at sea, but the thought of durham's periscope up my jacksie put me off the idea.

 

[High Tower]

Begs a question, why don't TLC get their wallet out and become a sponsor, and support the sparks that use them, people like meteor and test meter support our precious forum, offer members a small preferential discount and contribute to the forum, isn't about time that The likes of TLC contributed to our loyalty ??

Just a thought

 

[High Tower]

might give the young'uns some food for thought when i'm pushing up the daisies. was thinking at one time of being buried at sea, but the thought of durham's periscope up my jacksie put me off the idea.

I've just spat my Ribena thro laughing at that

 

[pennywise]

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

I never actually said that there were more links to TLC than meteor. Screwfix have had very few links from here even when we didn't block their URL. TLC had quite a bit, but not more than meteor. I just said 'than even some sponsors'.

Sorry Dan wasn't directing the question at your previous posts, just a general question why people would rather link to TLC screwfix etc rather than the sponsors. Thanks

 

[Dan]

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

Begs a question, why don't TLC get their wallet out and become a sponsor, and support the sparks that use them, people like meteor and test meter support our precious forum, offer members a small preferential discount and contribute to the forum, isn't about time that The likes of TLC contributed to our loyalty ??

Just a thought

They have enquired and I have them on file. The sponsorship it conflicts with directly is the Meteor Electrical who have supported the forum for more than 12 months. The whole forum would feel very 'salesy' if we had more than one sponsor from each sector and it's apparent on vehicle-related forums where they have 10 tyre companies, 10 garage companies, 10 tuning companies etc etc. They have a forum category each (why?! it doesnt work!) and the sponsors make nothing as they're competing heavily. So they come and go. And long-term, not many stick it out.

The way we do it, is respect the one firm, they respect the members over time, and eventually end up giving you deals you can't get elsewhere. Now THAT is REAL sponsorship.

I have TLC on file but Meteor have recently renewed, and they get first dibs every time.

 

[Dan]

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

Sorry Dan wasn't directing the question at your previous posts, just a general question why people would rather link to TLC screwfix etc rather than the sponsors. Thanks

I like your thinking and I hope it is down to them just being favoured for their particular items for sale. And not somebody is getting a kick-back out of it somehow which seems to happen a lot. Not suggesting anything here, just saying.

But the sponsors are not always perfect for every member, but I hope the members do keep enquiring as eventually they'll get a record of what they need to get in, or where they need to sort out cheaper delivery charges, or whatever the reason might be that they're not being used right now.

 

[Adam W]

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

I appreciate the need to support the sponsors, but I feel the need to discuss electrical issues is greater - after all, that's why we're all here, why new members join, and provides an audience for the sponsors to advertise to.

One of the things which makes this forum stand out above the rest is that members will endeavor to offer as much help as possible - rather than just telling someone to shop around or look something up in the Screwfix catalogue themselves I'd much rather direct them to the exact place with a picture.

Not being able to link anywhere directly can just be annoying. Imagine the situation:

"How can I get cables into conduit more easily?"
"Grease them up with monkey spunk."
"Grease them up with what!?"
"Monkey spunk - www.****blocked.co.uk

[edit] Oh hang on...
This stuff:

What might make things easier is if the sponsors were lurking around ready to jump in when someone asked about buying something to direct them to the preferred site. The only reason I would be more likely to send people to Screwfix or TLC direct is because they've got a comprehensive range of products and a user-friendly website, not because I have any vested interest in them.

I'm unlikely to storm off in a huff because I can't link to products, but at the same time if someone has gone out of their way to stop me recommending something I'd be less likely to try to help at all.

 

[BlueToBits]

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

might give the young'uns some food for thought when i'm pushing up the daisies. was thinking at one time of being buried at sea, but the thought of durham's periscope up my jacksie put me off the idea.

At risk of being blocked , get yourelf one of these.
Tool Time

 

[Dan]

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

I appreciate the need to support the sponsors, but I feel the need to discuss electrical issues is greater - after all, that's why we're all here, why new members join, and provides an audience for the sponsors to advertise to.

One of the things which makes this forum stand out above the rest is that members will endeavor to offer as much help as possible - rather than just telling someone to shop around or look something up in the Screwfix catalogue themselves I'd much rather direct them to the exact place with a picture.

Not being able to link anywhere directly can just be annoying. Imagine the situation:

"How can I get cables into conduit more easily?"
"Grease them up with monkey spunk."
"Grease them up with what!?"
"Monkey spunk - www.****blocked.co.uk

[edit] Oh hang on...
This stuff:
View attachment 5636
What might make things easier is if the sponsors were lurking around ready to jump in when someone asked about buying something to direct them to the preferred site. The only reason I would be more likely to send people to Screwfix or TLC direct is because they've got a comprehensive range of products and a user-friendly website, not because I have any vested interest in them.

I'm unlikely to storm off in a huff because I can't link to products, but at the same time if someone has gone out of their way to stop me recommending something I'd be less likely to try to help at all.

I fully understand your concern and perhaps it's something we can work on another way if it is just images you want to link to. Google Images perhaps in the example you give which would bring up TLC and Screwfix images.

However that questions copyright, we shouldn't really be 'hotlinking' to other peoples images in the first place to be honest although it's something very few companies questions as it will get them indirect business by having their images linked-to from popular websites such as this.

How about if I just say please? And then you guys roll with it for a bit. And we review it in the future as I originally said earlier in the thread?

Pretty please?

 

[Adam W]

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

I fully understand your concern and perhaps it's something we can work on another way if it is just images you want to link to. Google Images perhaps in the example you give which would bring up TLC and Screwfix images.

However that questions copyright, we shouldn't really be 'hotlinking' to other peoples images in the first place to be honest although it's something very few companies questions as it will get them indirect business by having their images linked-to from popular websites such as this.

How about if I just say please? And then you guys roll with it for a bit. And we review it in the future as I originally said earlier in the thread?

Pretty please?

I think the key is making it easy - it's nice and easy to find and link to products on Screwfix/TLC direct which is why we do it; if it were just as easy to find products and link to another site I wouldn't have a problem doing it, but i really don't want to have to try to avoid treading on anyone's toes by drawing the product I'm talking about on the back of an envelope, scanning it in, saving to desktop, linking back to that, then remembering to delete it from my desktop afterwards, which is a right kerfuffle.

I'll certainly give it a go, seeing as you asked so nicely

Do we have a wholesaler sponsor?

 

[Dan]

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

Meteor would cover wholesale I guess but to be honest I'd guess not all buy wholesale volumes. So generally you'll get trade rates with most of our sponsors otherwise.

If you're buying that much though, the manufacturers would be your first point of contact IMO. And then their distributors if you're not buying enough to buy direct.

We don't have any official distributors on board, and that's due to the fact that members would need to be vetted by them and again, not that many would by so much so often so distributors wouldn't even be a wise move sponsorship-wise.

Did you have any product line or whatever in mind when you said that mate?

Just to show you something. If I were looking in the TLC catalogue and wanted to show somebody an image say of their....
Elica Naked Cooker Hood

I'd do a google for it, and find it instantly (Actually quicker than it took me to find something on the TLC site)

Elica Naked Cooker Hood tlc direct - Google Search

So I don't think you need to get those envelopes out just yet.