Frustrations: Retail Threads

[sps4mytank]

Alright guys...lately on this forum I have come across atleast 10 threads dedicated solely to retailers and their products. I find it quite frustrating knowing that this site is to be used for hobbyists and such. WE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SALES...but there is no need to create threads or bump threads saying you got new boxes of X things. Why is there a need to advertise on this forum as much as you do. I just want to rant how unattractive this site is slowly becoming, its becoming flooded with advertisements of products and live goods than it is about the hobby itself. However I do appreciate some threads on various subjects, but majority is just outright wrong. I think we should focus on more of the hobby rather than a LEEDS Furniture store ad.

MODs: By no means am I trying to offend anybody.

 

[wishntoboutside]

jay you are so right.. i have makeing fun of this for weeks if not months now. i even mentioned it to one of the mods. well there stance is they are a paid vendor here and they can use the space the way the want. and it is there choice if they want to drive there busniess by us cheap reefers on line and not regular walk ins and such.
all i can say is jay we all need to be more active on threads and less on chat. this way there will be more threads about various things. why dont you sell some more of the frags you were selling with bold print and all. =).
one thing is that this forum has really become a selling forum. maybee we can get a few reeefers to start some dyi stuff or .....
what kills me is stuff like.. wanna buy a jet ski.? example not reef related keep it on craigslist=).

 

[TheMysticReef]

I see your frustrations jay, but frankly thats all anyone uses these boards for anymore, thats the beauty of the net.
But if weren't for these threads, you would never have been lucky enough to see photos of that favia you want so much.

 

[Puffalicious]

I agree that this forum is becoming unattractive to people. Especially to new comers trying to find info on their new project because there aren't that much info in this site, instead they'll just find ads everywhere. But then again the retailers aren't making any mistakes because there are no rules against it.

I agree with Richard, maybe if we have a problem, we should make a thread where everyone can see instead of asking it in the chat box. I'm gonna start doing that today.

 

[socaltropicalfish]

No offend taking on my part, however if I paid/sponsored socalireefs.com, which I did and I am thinking about doing it for a few more years. I might as well use it to advertise my store. what else am I going to use it for ?

Beside most of my threads/listings are listed inside my sponsor forum area. This was designed for me...LOL

Suggestion: only paid sponsors can post sales and advertise post. This force retailer to pay the fee, meaning more revenue to socalireefs.com. I think this way it will cut down 1/2 of the advertise listing. If doing this...this site will be 1/2 slower....LOL

I was about to post a blow out sales during 09/05-09/10....but I don't want to cause any frustration to anyone here...J/K

 

[wishntoboutside]

mystics reef/ so cal tropical... and other vendors
both of your guys are paid sponsers and you should be able to do whatever you want in your sponser forum area.. you did pay for it and hopefully it does drive the business. i think maybe if the layout on the main page was changed it may help kinda like rc and there vendor/sponsor forums..all the forums and then vendors on the bottom. this way the post will not go straight to the top every time someone post something. you see the link you can open it and then read the threads there. this way recent other post can be read without all of the comercialism. i dont know if i am making sense here just tossing around some ideas.
as far privite for sale listing.. these should only be allowed by hmm paid members at maybee a small fee for year like RC 25.00 or less. this way i will not see people with one post selling cars, watchs, vactation time shares, sport tickets etc.
something needs to be done i truley think we need more suggestions and let the mods figure this out to keep everyone happy

 

[sps_addict]

i was thinking the same thing. i don't have too much time to go through the forums like i used to. came by today and notice a bunch of ora this, ora that, specials, etc. i page can get reworked a little so it doesn't look like it this site is all ads and forsale. it isn't the fault of the sponsors since they are posting in their own forum, just the layout of the main page that shows the latest/responded threads throughout the site. brings me back to when this site first launched and it looked like everyone was getting out of the hobby that came here.

 

[pookstreet]

I can see some of the frustrations here and that's perhaps one of the things we'll need to address.

Richard made a couple of very good points. One is a possible redo of the front page layout. But the most important point is, if you would rather see something else, all you have to do is start a thread and post what you want to see. The power is your hands.

 

[zatoichi]

I agree completely; there should be a top 10 for vendors and a top ten for threads with meaningful content. If this board keeps heading the way it is I seriously doubt people will come here to read threads and the vendors don't want that

 

[philv]

I come here for the ads

 

[wishntoboutside]

i like seeing the banner for max .. isnt stil like 8 months away =)

 

[zatoichi]

Come for the ads..stay for the ads? lol:thumpdown:

It's tough but eventually even the more lienent reefsites need to clamp down a bit to control the quality of the content (what people visit for).

 

[pookstreet]

Keep the suggestions coming.......we need all your help to make the site better. Afterall, it's meant for you.

 

[FOSELONE]

why not just add another link up top for vendors next to the forums, user cp, faq...links

 

[Left Coast DJ]

Threads from paid sponsors don't bother me at all. I like supporting local LFS's. The funny threads are the glowing "product reviews" people post when it's obvious the manufacturer has sent a free sample with the intent of getting some free pub! D'OH!

 

[ASommers]

I see no prob with all the retail post, this is a local forum unlike RC so it's great to see whats out there thats local. The one thing thats missing is info from this site there are very few posts other than selling this or that. What I wouldn't mind seeing perhaps is maybe a location for people to post links to sites that have some good info that would help other reefers;articles, DIY, ect...
Don't know if this would work but a special tag or something in chat where someone could post a question in chat and then have those responses posted to a forum, I really believe you get better info chatting live compared to forum posts back and forth.

 

[wishntoboutside]

jazer... you started a monster.. lol suggestions are coming out from all angles . this is truley great to see everyons ideas and such. lets keep the ideas rolling.
thanks everyone for listening and providing input. i feel this site has great potential

 

[cthetoy]

I like the ads here. Saves me $$. Since they are paid sponsors I feel they give better service.

On the hand I understand your point regarding a hobbyist trying to learn or comment post here. I go to RC for that.

 

[pookstreet]

On the hand I understand your point regarding a hobbyist trying to learn or comment post here. I go to RC for that.

But that's just the point. WE can all make this a one stop shop for everything. All it takes is participation from our members. Why go to two different places when you can get it all in one?

 

[SavetheReef]

Dude i come here for the Chat Also for cool threads. Man if it was not for this board i would not have anything to do at work. Shhhhhhh hehehehe
Sometime it lags when someone is uploading stuff but otherwise i really like it on this board. best one so far. And its getting bigger.