Barrier to entry

[Boston George]

Having just been slapped on the wrist for making a mistake. Which I fully deserved. I am thankful I only got a warning.

I started thinking about the suppliers section of this forum. Mainly, the number of supplier sub forums seems to be rather self-defeating, unless you already know which supplier you are looking for. Moreover, the long list of suppliers pushes this forum way down and out of the public eye.

Clearly, anyone attempting to start a new e-cig store has a fair number of hurdles to jump. Establishing him or herself on this forum being one of them.

I understand the need to keep spam out of the general forums. However, I would argue informing customers of new options is a worth while service.

I would purpose the creation of a single thread in one of the more heavily trafficked areas of the site. This would not be a discussion thread. Rather each supplier could make one post announcing their existence. That way, whenever a new supplier started people would see an update to the 'suppliers thread' and it would briefly highly them as they started business.


Again I am not complaining about what happened, I broke the rules. Nor am I soliciting anything. I feel that this would really be a service to the community and new suppliers.

 

[Skad]

I think that depends on how most people actually read the forum. If they browse from the front page, then yes, it makes it difficult for them to see posts in all the various supplier sub-forums. But I don't think most people read the forum like that.
This may just be narcissism on my part, but I tend to think most people browse this forum like I do, by running the new posts search and subscribing to threads I have real interest in.

 

[ZambucaLu]

I think you make a good point George as far as new suppliers links getting buried in the forum. Actually, I am in charge of updating this list: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-suppliers-forum/531-general-list-suppliers.html but I have fallen short with this due to other issues here that need tending to....and just overall time.

On the other hand, it almost seems this list has become obsolete because I really don't think most members look at it anymore. I mean, there was a time when I could go through each and every one of the suppliers there to see what they offered but now, that would be just too much. I think members rely more on supplier advertisements when they need something now.

I think another problem is I don't always know right away when SJ approves a new supplier so I can change their title to such. Then I have to end up writing to each potential supplier and asking.

I wonder if a new sticky titled "new supplier links here" (or something like that) would help? Right, it wouldn't be for discussion....just links and it could be edited as suppliers became established. I think this is something I can take up with SJ...but no promises of when I'll get a response

I might just be able to do it and if SJ doesn't approve, it can be removed. Hmmm....I'll think about it today.

In any event, I hope you get a reply from SJ soon so you can start your advertising.

Good luck!

Lu