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Spam in the Buy, Sell, Trade Forum?
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 10:24 PM UTC
Does anyone else see an on-line hobby shop posting ad after ad in the Buy, Sell, Trade Forum as a form of spam?

I thought the forum was for individuals to list items for sale or trade and items they are looking for.

An on-line hobby shop listing ads there seems like free advertising to me. If they want to advertise here, they should buy a sidebar add just like the other companies and hobby shops do.

It is pretty bad when posts by individuals are moved off the front page because this hobby shop posts 3 to 4 ads or more a day.

jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / Espaņa
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 10:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

An on-line hobby shop listing ads there seems like free advertising to me. If they want to advertise here, they should buy a sidebar add just like the other companies and hobby shops do.


I couldn't agree more. Considering that our advertising rates are very economical and added to that, the VERY high Site-Traffic we have, there's little excuse for this

However, look on the bright side - at least it's not an advert for ugly sports shoes!
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 12:14 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Does anyone else see an on-line hobby shop posting ad after ad in the Buy, Sell, Trade Forum as a form of spam?

I thought the forum was for individuals to list items for sale or trade and items they are looking for.

An on-line hobby shop listing ads there seems like free advertising to me. If they want to advertise here, they should buy a sidebar add just like the other companies and hobby shops do.

It is pretty bad when posts by individuals are moved off the front page because this hobby shop posts 3 to 4 ads or more a day.



I couldn't agree more with Gino. One of them doesn't even participate in discussions or campaigns but only posts in the buy or sell thread.
Tarok
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: July 28, 2004
KitMaker: 10,889 posts
Armorama: 3,245 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 12:59 AM UTC
There are unfortunately even more individuals that visit Kitmaker only to post their sale items, and are thus (arguably) not contributing members of this community. Personally I believe that the BST should only be available to members with a membership of at least 6 months and a post count of at least 150.
calvin2000
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Colorado, United States
Joined: July 25, 2007
KitMaker: 886 posts
Armorama: 120 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 02:06 AM UTC
I think tarok may have something on that. I don't even read them anymore just very annoying to me and I don't like that they think Im an easy target because im here.-Kelly
CMOT
Staff MemberEditor-in-Chief
ARMORAMA
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 02:56 AM UTC
Rudi I could not agree more with your post here and would add that posts in that section are not added to your post total, also that any posts by stores will be removed. A thought that occurs to me would be that a new topic area is also created for stores to advertise special offers they are running, and stores that dont want to pay, or can't afford to pay for a full advert can make posts at a cost per post for listed items for sale. No it should not allow out and out adverts for their business just items for sale.
calvin2000
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Colorado, United States
Joined: July 25, 2007
KitMaker: 886 posts
Armorama: 120 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 03:27 AM UTC
CMOT I could go for that idea and would support them I like buying from the little guy they have some of the most unique stuff at times. I bought a Skink conversion off this sites ad's a while back have not built it yet but very nice kit at least I think so.
Kelly
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 03:29 AM UTC
Some of these threads are not even items for sale or trade, but just outright advertising. A lot of forums do not allow this and only if the member upgrades (pays) their account to sell their product or advertise it.

Other wise, the way it is set up now I can advertise (for free) my side adventures here amongst the individuals who are just trying to pass along a deal they no longer want to another modeler in need.

This might need to be reviewed soon for it was originally never intended to go this route.
staff_Jim
Staff MemberPublisher
KITMAKER NETWORK
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New Hampshire, United States
Joined: December 15, 2001
KitMaker: 12,571 posts
Armorama: 6,599 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 03:46 AM UTC
As a matter of policy the type of spam being posted by CyberHobby is NOT allowed in BST. Those posts (the more recent ones) have been removed. So that any vendor reading this understands the policy, if you want to post news about a 'special' sale or event you can do that, however please use this ability with discretion as even posting a topic weekly would likely be considered spamming the forum. The moderators ultimately have to use their judgement to determine if a vendor topic is really sharing information or purely advertisement.

Thanks,
Jim
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 04:14 AM UTC
Thanks Jim. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who saw the activity as spammimg. Hopefully other stores will not attempt to do the same.
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 05:11 AM UTC
YES! Thanks Jim!
DT61
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 18, 2005
KitMaker: 1,226 posts
Armorama: 819 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 07:19 AM UTC
I agree, to me the buy, sell or trade forum should be for individuals and not for companies using it as free advertising. I have dealt with a number of great people, buying and trading kits here on the big A and will continue to do so.

Darryl
nitrocomplex
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APO, United States
Joined: December 06, 2007
KitMaker: 349 posts
Armorama: 202 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 05:34 PM UTC

Quoted Text

As a matter of policy the type of spam being posted by CyberHobby is NOT allowed in BST. Those posts (the more recent ones) have been removed. So that any vendor reading this understands the policy, if you want to post news about a 'special' sale or event you can do that, however please use this ability with discretion as even posting a topic weekly would likely be considered spamming the forum. The moderators ultimately have to use their judgement to determine if a vendor topic is really sharing information or purely advertisement.

Thanks,
Jim



cyberhobby has three post in the b/s/t forum right now. If a major retailor is going to post ads they should atleast offer some sort of discount for the members of the forum.
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