best of ECF not so best

[rebgold]

So as far as this contest, best of ECF goes, a vendor can do this-
Nicoticket sends out emails to all his customers/newsletter subscribers asking for them to vote and provides a link. No other vendor does that! Almost stuffing the ballot box, or making a campaign out of it. When he wins all categories, which he will, he'll then post a big "Voted number one on ECF" on his website. Maybe it's a smart business move, but kinda slimy IMO. He even goes so far to "like" all the posts that vote for him. In that type of instance, the ECF rules for vendors have grey areas

But they can't participate in discussions? I don't get it. They can abuse being a vendor when it matters, like a contest which by nature should be fair, but they are mistrusted that they will abuse being a vendor when it comes to a regular thread where people are just discussing juices?

 

[doots]

I like your thinking Re! Get ready for the Fanboys and girls. They are a coming// lol

 

[FearTX]

There are other vendors that will email when there are best of votes going on. ECF is not the only place that holds them.

Best of, "community choice" is always a guessing game. The winners are the ones with the most loyal fanbase, or that sent out the most reminders, etc, etc.

I basically do not pay attention to those, the hype is rarely what it is hyped to be. Taste being subjective and all.

just my pennies.

Goose juice is the best Custard on the planet, I bet it will not even register on the scale

 

[cupAsoup]

And what, exactly, is stopping other vendors from doing the same thing? If people did not like their juice, they wouldn't vote.

Also, sounds like someone has never owned a business.

 

[FearTX]

oh wait,

Obligatory "ERMAGERD HOW DARE YOU"

 

[a wandering soul]

hmm i didnt get any email and im on their mailing list... odd... i remember the group conversation in their subforum where they wanted to organize and kent pretty much said.. just do what you wanna do...

Just like last year, I will encourage people to vote for the liquid they feel is best in the respective category... I won't take offense if you vote for someone else in a specific category, etc... what ever you deem to be tops in a specific category is what you should vote for... no strategy needed really. It's one of those things you either win, or you don't... from a sheer numbers perspective we're going to come in strong in 2014. This year, we've touched over 20,000 people. Last year, we touched 4000 and we won by a landslide - like - no contest... the encouraging part (for me) is that despite the increased volume, the quality of the interactions overall has been positive, we've made every reasonable effort to "surprise and delight" with every transaction, and the overall quality of the experience hasn't been significantly diminished. We're a MUCH stronger competitor this year as compared to last. We'll mobilize people to get out and vote, but (just like last year)... there's really no need to "sweat" - working toward the Best of ECF 2014 has been a process of building relationships one-at-a-time and continuing to earn that business... truthfully, after the kind of year we've had - I think we're in a good position to do as good as we did last year (not sure it's possible to do better, every liquid we had to offer, won)

from kent...

 

[nyiddle]

Yeah, I got the e-mail, but I'm not gonna vote.

Juice is personal preference. What is the "best" to me might be terrible to you.

Also in regards to the obvious direction that this thread will devolve (ie: IT'S UNFAIR/IT'S FAIR)..

 

[rebgold]

I don't know, do you want to be solicited for votes, for anything?
I have not owned a business, but I am a voter, lol.

 

[Flavored]

I don't know, do you want to be solicited for votes, for anything?
I have not owned a business, but I am a voter, lol.

Stuffing the ballot box would be submitting or soliciting false votes, not asking your customers to vote their consciences. I expect that every vote for NT or any other vendor will be legitimate.

They've taken no advantage nor done anything any other vendor can also do.

 

[jaba62]

Well, I really like their juice so I don't really care. That's the business world, if you think you have a good product, then you try to get customers. Many people do like their juice, some not. The service is part of the equation, they follow up and ask about the product. I would not have known about them had they not been promoted by others on ECF, just as many other companies are, there are now hundreds of juice companies on the market. You wouldn't have the time or lungs to test them all.If a company can provide me a good product, with good service, at a reasonable price.... guess what? I am going to give it a shot. Believe me, I have been burned by some of the leading, most talked about juice companies on the market. Gourmet this, gourmet that, special, reserve. All the bells and whistles, nice bottles, fancy packaging, cool designs. Some I liked, some I didn't. If I didn't like the juice, he could tell me it would it was voted the best in the world and I still wouldn't buy it.

 

[Gauntlgrym]

i think the point is this:
people are not going to vote for a vendor that has juice they don't like, just because the vendor sends them a link and asks them to.

do you really think that the people on this forum are such "sheep", that they simply do whatever they are told or asked?
you think people are like "man, nicoticket liquid sucks, buuuuuut.........he sent me a link and asked me to vote. so, nicoticket is #1 in my book now."

 

[Davey59]

It is kind of stacking the deck BUT this option or flaw in the system is open for all to utilize.

I pay almost zero attention to these awards or reviews. he says writing this post about it

"My hypocrisy knows no bounds" Doc Holiday

 

[rebgold]

It's just not a very good contest if only one vendor is campaigning for it.
I think most people won't even notice it or vote in it, so it seems like if one vendor sends out links and reminders, it's just a club page for that vendor.
Did any other vendors even get any votes? It's not exactly a tight race if only one vendor gets the votes because on one vendor is campaining.

 

[Clark Kent]

I voted for my favorite juices. Not all were Nicoticket. I have tried many juice companies, they all have the right to send emails too. Did I get any from anybody else? No. Would I have voted different if I did. No. I also think Kent works very hard to keep his customers. The only thing I think might be better than their juice is their customer service, Is there anything wrong with that?

 

[TraceyS]

I couldn't wait for the best of ECF 2014 to come live! Why? Because after over two years of vaping I tried Nicoticket this past June because of all of the posts about it........I've vaped nothing else since! But I did vote my ex-menthol vendor as best in menthol. So yeah....K&K can send out anything they want....as for me....I'm never gonna stop vaping doodle, ACB, Wakonda, Virus, or any of the others that I vape exclusively now! EXCELLENT personal customer service....this shop goes above and beyond and each customer knows it from the beginning. I love Nicoticket!! Just my opinion of course.......but it's his business he built and he can announce anything he wants to on his forum / website.....that simple..he's the boss.

Tracey

 

[spartanstew]

i think the point is this:
people are not going to vote for a vendor that has juice they don't like, just because the vendor sends them a link and asks them to.

do you really think that the people on this forum are such "sheep", that they simply do whatever they are told or asked?
you think people are like "man, nicoticket liquid sucks, buuuuuut.........he sent me a link and asked me to vote. so, nicoticket is #1 in my book now."

Actually, that's not the point.

 

[5spike]

Nicoticket fan, heck yea. But they earned it. You can have the best customer service in the world but if your product is not to my liking, I won't buy it.

 

[KurrptSenate]

I can't imagine being on the fence about purchasing a specific juice and then seeing

"#1 on ECF!!"

and this pushing me over the edge

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

So now promoting yourself/business for a technically unofficial forum contest is shady?

You do realize that basically any vendor can do the exact same thing, sad fact is few vendors are actually active/engaged with the community here, Nicoticket has learned that being active here can have a great positive effect on business/word of mouth. They've earned their ECF following thru a lot of community engagement and generosity.

They are probably one of the most, if not the most, active vendor community wise.

I just don't see the point of this thread (or your last e-liquid one for that matter), life is too short to be mad all time.

 

[Bored2Tears]

I've never tried Nicoticket but I'd say it's a smart business move on their part. Clearly he has a loyal customer base, so must be doing something right. I am pretty much on a Mt Baker Vapor budget, and they solicit a review from me with every single order I make. Not sure this is a great parallel but both are putting forth effort to engage with their customers and build loyalty.

Politicians behave in the same manner. No doubt they do phone and mail campaigns heavily before election day. Any campaign manager will tell you that GOTV is a huge part of any campaign.