Feral Feline
Well-known member
Third time's the CHARM!
What's your current headache?
- Thread starter Pauleo1214
- Start date
jimilee
Well-known member
Been 10 years, it may be the one.
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
New headache today!
The only other forum I regularly spend time on has started flagging and removing my posts. There's a thread dedicated to Sushi Box FX, so I've been using it to talk freely about my pedals for literally the last 5 years with zero issues, and it's been really cool to interact with people interested in my pedals. Well last week I got a warning for talking about business things without being asked. As a commercial user I am apparently only allowed to answer direct questions when they are asked, and am not supposed to give any other information outside of that. I thought it was weird that my posting has not changed at all in 5 years, and this was the first time I was flagged for it.
Last night I made another innocent post giving information in response to a question, figuring that was fine, and this morning I received another warning that I gave business-related information that wasn't asked about, and was told if I got another warning then I would get a temporary ban. Half an hour later I received a message from another staff member explaining that I could post whatever I wanted if only I signed up for the new sponsored forum option.
Now it makes sense.
The only other forum I regularly spend time on has started flagging and removing my posts. There's a thread dedicated to Sushi Box FX, so I've been using it to talk freely about my pedals for literally the last 5 years with zero issues, and it's been really cool to interact with people interested in my pedals. Well last week I got a warning for talking about business things without being asked. As a commercial user I am apparently only allowed to answer direct questions when they are asked, and am not supposed to give any other information outside of that. I thought it was weird that my posting has not changed at all in 5 years, and this was the first time I was flagged for it.
Last night I made another innocent post giving information in response to a question, figuring that was fine, and this morning I received another warning that I gave business-related information that wasn't asked about, and was told if I got another warning then I would get a temporary ban. Half an hour later I received a message from another staff member explaining that I could post whatever I wanted if only I signed up for the new sponsored forum option.
Now it makes sense.
dan.schumaker
Well-known member
I'm sure I know what forum you are talking about... I've been hit with that too. Its almost like they don't like you discussing THE GEAR on their PAGE...
We should work out an agreement where we both ask specific questions about each others pedals to avoid the hammer
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
Actually it's not that one, but that doesn't surprise me there. This is a forum where they TALK specifically about BASS.I'm sure I know what forum you are talking about... I've been hit with that too. Its almost like they don't like you discussing THE GEAR on their PAGE...
We should work out an agreement where we both ask specific questions about each others pedals to avoid the hammer
jessenator
Well-known member
my TuBerculosis experience: "hey, does anyone have the schematics so I can fix this amp head that's been out of production for nigh twenty years?" "No, but you should feel bad for asking, and if you pay freight both ways and my standard bench fee, I'll do it." "Buy a new one, the one you have sucks." "the only thing good about that amp was the speaker that came with the combo version. Why didn't you buy that one, dumbass?"
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
I'm guessing I know exactly who posted that, as I see it from time to time.
jessenator
Well-known member
And boy it chapped their backside when I suggested cap cancer as a culprit.
Fama
Well-known member
What if I get the "Sponsored Forums" membership, can I talk shit about other forums then?
jessenator
Well-known member
I think we're incredibly spoiled fortunate. Robert's hosting this (most likely?) purely from ppcb revenue. Other places need income from the outside, be it doubleclick or other advertising, "premium" membership PayPal or elsewhere subs, so vendors also need help foot the bill. Encountered it elsewhere, and some of those sites aren't even owned by folks "running" the site. One of the Jeep forums I frequented was that way; they were beholden to the equivalent of shareholders. much more strict.
nooneknows
Member
I am old, I am authorized to say 'where have all the good times gone?'
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
I got a lot of business as a result of interactions on that forum so I actually signed up to be a "supporting member" and gave them some money, because it felt like a good thing to do. The figure they gave me for the sponsored forum was about $500 a month. Hard pass.
jjjimi84
Well-known member
Get the fudge out of here! Are you serious? You are on a whole different level of scale but I don't think I have ever made 500 dollars from pedals.
Let me check me, nope. Total money pit. The most amazing, beautiful
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
I make pretty good money from pedals, but definitely not enough to justify spending $500 a month just to talk to my customers and potential customers. Especially when other social media options exist.
Feral Feline
Well-known member
Total Bullshit!
That $500/month would be 'ard to justify even for those that can afford it, the likes of Wampowler, JayAitchArse, EQ-Duh, TizzSeeElectronick or EHaXe...
JohnnyCreepy
Well-known member
I’m not your customer, let’s not talk. This costs nothing.
I liked your preamp tutorial!
ragamuffin
Well-known member
I was putting together a basic pedal tester/Beavis board-type thing when I realized that I had bought a pack of 2.5mm DC jacks instead of 2.1mm 
Are 2.5mm sockets useful for anything pedal related?
Are 2.5mm sockets useful for anything pedal related?
Robert
Reverse Engineer
I had a similar issue on a forum about my les pauls years ago, I was just building as a hobby for friends at that point but they insisted I needed a commercial membership to discuss my builds since I had traded a few in the classifieds over the years.
At least in that case, there were some not so boldly advertised restrictions that came along with that "upgrade" ... Your account essentially became an advertiser account and was mostly limited to posting advertisements in a specific area of the forum.
Posting in the members classifieds would become a no-go, and that's kinda all I did since I wasn't a commercial builder.
Robert
Reverse Engineer
I've been thinking about this a lot lately... I have zero interest in this forum generating revenue directly. Not a penny. I don't even want it to pay for itself. At the end of the day it's a component of the shop site. It's an expense, just like tape and labels.
You'll never see an advertisement for a Keurig or male enhancement pills in the sidebar... I'd shut the place down before I'd let it turn into that.
Paid advertisements aren't happening, and the site is not for sale.
Recently though, I'm questioning if all advertising is bad.
I had an inquiry from PCBway recently about allowing them to advertise on the site. My initial response was "Thanks but no thanks", but then it hit me.. What if they offered a discount? I don't want a kickback or commission, but if it could save the members here some cash?
Similarly, we're set up as an affiliate for Brian Wampler's new pedal building course, and I'm wondering it it would be possible to pass my commission on as a further discount to the person buying the course.
Would it really be spam to know if StompBoxParts was running a sale this week?
Or that @bean is now offering Madbean stuff through Smallbear? (I mean how cool is that? Although I'm sure he'd prefer you to buy direct)
Again, I wouldn't want to be compensated for these "ads".... They feel more like DIY-scene essential PSAs to me.
I don't know, just random thoughts. Maybe this should be it's own thread.