It sounds like we are all thinking the same way, for the most part.
I guess my comments were designed (in addition to stirring the pot
) to draw-out from Opus an idea for a solution to what most would agree is a difficult problem, that being: How do we do everything we can to make this site safe for people to do a small amount of business? both for the sellers and the buyers?
It sounds like Opus thinks some people are hiding and need to be identified as vendors. From a usage standpoint, I would agree with that. I think it is fair that if a person is advertising product and / or services that they charge for, then they could offer-up a little extra kick-in at the annual fundraiser.
But where do you draw the line? We have some fantastic vendors that post here, like Allison's, Autoricambi, Miller's mule, and probably others I don't know as well. Should they be considered in the same category as Gritracing, making small items that are a simple extension of what he has done on his own car, being offered to others? Or how about the michigan short-shifter? As far as I know, that's the only product offered by that individual. Or let's say even more down the food-chain, what about a guy like me and many others who occasionally pick up a parts-car and sell items that we don't need for ourselves. Should we be considered vendors?
So when Opus asks for "Vendor Transparency", which type of vendor are we talking about, and how should they identify themselves? I should think that most vendors would WANT to identify themselves, as a simple form of advertising / marketing. But I think that some feel a gentlemanly aversion to "tooting their horn" in this forum. So it may actually be a favor to some if we require some means of identifying the vendors. Let me pick on a couple for a minute: Socal Mark's posts all have "Allison's Automotive" in his signature. Mark occasionally releases new product and starts a thread about it where it is quite clear that he is the vendor, and this is his product. I don't think I've ever seen Mark hijack a thread to say that the only way to do something is to buy his product. I think this is appropriate behavior for a vendor. I've seen Jason Miller occasionally chime-in on a thread (usually to correct technical topics
) and then jump back out of the fray. His posts list "Miller's Mule" in the sig-line. I don't think I've EVER seen Jason pimp his own items for sale on the forum. Yet he is a valuable source of knowledge and aid that I think could benefit from identification on the forum as a vendor.
But ultimately, I don't understand Opus' desire to throw an
unknown individual under the bus. When I felt I'd been wronged by someone on this forum, I railed against them in every thread I could, and called 'em out in plain view. Eventually, I took it too far. Several posters made comments that made me back up and realize I needed to cool my jets, so I removed my posts and offered my apologies to the forum. But then I created another thread where we could talk about the people who had been HELPFUL to members. I still think this is a valuable tool, if used and moderated correctly. For instance, if I wanted to purchase widget from whojamacallit, I could go look at that thread and see if others have had good experience with them. no, bad experience wouldn't be there. But I think if I saw 5 or 6 posters giving good reviews, I could assume there is a good risk I will get treated correctly.
Likewise; If there are NO REVIEWS, I should employ 'caveat emptor' and cover my butt for the possibility that the sale could go wrong.
I think that the pressure we can provide in the Fiat community to always treat others fairly is not insignificant. I've been garage-selling items for a couple of months. On two occasions I've been faced with a moral dilemma, and the pressure on the forum has caused me to address it in a way that none could say I hosed them. Once, a trans I sold "as-is" was determined to be UN-rebuildable once it was open. There was no way I could've known this. But the buyer also felt he'd been sold a paper-weight. so we split it, and I refunded half his money. More recently, an item I sold never arrived to the buyer. I refunded his money (including shipping) as well. I trust that IF it shows someday, he'll pay me for it, or send it back.
We should ALL practice a little "how would I want to be treated" introspection when we engage in buying or selling product here on the forum.
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I'm no Boy-Racer..... but if I can't take every on-ramp at TWICE the posted limit.... I'm a total failure!
