Ridiculous bashing at suppliers.

[Kate]

One of the things I've noticed here is that the folk in charge seem to bend over backwards to avoid upsetting traders.

There's one particular trader for example who was caught using deception of multiple accounts to bash other suppliers and to spam. He admitted to sabotage of a community project and tried to bully me into editing an old post where I said I thought he was unethical. He threatened me with legal action but wouldn't tell me in what way what I'd said was false. I've just noticed that he's been removed from the forum blacklist of members to watch out for.

He's a nasty piece of work and very aggressive, I'd have banned him long ago to protect the members here from further abuse. That's not likely to happen because he's so forceful about protecting himself. It's a classic case of an abuser blaming the abused for their continued abuse and the authorities allowing it to happen.

 

[Elendil]

The problem is that when accusations of being a liar or thief are thrown out here, no proof is required and you can hide behind some anonymous avatar and user name. It is not Joe Smith saying XYZ Company is a liar, it is Elendil (or whoever) saying that without proof (except the customer's one sided version).

Here is a real life example from my area: Out local newspaper also maintains a website where you can read and comment on all the same stories that are in the printed paper. Last year there was an article about a couple that received a zoning variance to open a B&B in their large Victorian home. There was a couple of comments posted online in response to the article that implied that the couple "paid off" someone at city hall in order to be granted the variance. The couple took exception to the comments and took the newspaper to court to try and force them to reveal the identity of the parties that posted the comments. Ultimately the court ruled that the newspaper did NOT have to reveal the identity of those that post the inflammatory comments. The couple eventually decided against opening the B&B even though they would have been allowed to per the variance.

I have no idea if there was any basis for the accusations. I do not know the couple involved, but it is a pretty sad commentary that people could post comments like that without any proof and have there be no consequences for doing so.

Reasonable complaints or reviews expressed in factual non emotional terms can be a useful tool for others to make informed buying decisions. Unfortunately people often take it too far.

 

[puff-puff-pass]

Can we use the names ar$e-hole, dik-wad, and spum-chugger without being libelous?

 

[Kendra]

Can we use the names ar$e-hole, dik-wad, and spum-chugger without being libelous?

lol My guess is if you preface the comment with, "you are LIKE a _________" or, "You are acting LIKE a __________" it wouldn't be libelous.

I agree with most of those comments, btw. . . but some of these things are actually played out publicly. For instance, my seller said he pm'd me. I'm sure the forum could tell that he did not. He finally did ONCE, but he said he pm'd me several times. Also, Lu saw I was looking for this specific seller and hadn't heard a thing. Then, he said he would send my items and asked for my address. This was public. Then he said he'd never send my items and never refund my money. This was public, too. So, I can't see how I'm hiding behind anything at all. That's my real name and real picture and real story.

 

[Nuck]

I have a personal list of suppliers I would never buy from based on reports from other users. Single reports you can ignore but if it's a steady stream of poor communications, hard or impossible to get exchanges, etc, then I think it's important that forum customers are made aware of it.

There are a lot of good suppliers, but also quite a few bad ones. Some bigger companies have quite horrible records.

As long as people are honest about their experience, it is quite valuable.

 

[kylewinther]

I have a personal list of suppliers I would never buy from based on reports from other users. Single reports you can ignore but if it's a steady stream of poor communications, hard or impossible to get exchanges, etc, then I think it's important that forum customers are made aware of it.

There are a lot of good suppliers, but also quite a few bad ones. Some bigger companies have quite horrible records.

As long as people are honest about their experience, it is quite valuable.

Very true, I would have to agree with you 100%. The bigger companies are money driven and lose the customer service part of the business because they are to focused on the next big level and not the little things that make life long customers happy!

Customer service will always be a priority for me!

 

[verhoeven]

Why not just post a supplier list and let the members vote on them. No negitive comments, just votes. Kinda like ebay's feedback system with out the comments.

Jim

 

[Vapor Pete]

Well it cost me $27.00 to send something back to Canada, I would imagine $30.00 to China isnt out of the realm of possibilities???
My best,
-VP

 

[esmok-e]

Why not just post a supplier list and let the members vote on them. No negitive comments, just votes. Kinda like ebay's feedback system with out the comments.

Jim

Ebay feedback requires an actual transaction before feedback can be left.
How will we know if the ECF member/voter really was an actual customer of the supplier?

 

[bizzyb0t]

One of the things I've noticed here is that the folk in charge seem to bend over backwards to avoid upsetting traders.

There's one particular trader for example who was caught using deception of multiple accounts to bash other suppliers and to spam. He admitted to sabotage of a community project and tried to bully me into editing an old post where I said I thought he was unethical. He threatened me with legal action but wouldn't tell me in what way what I'd said was false. I've just noticed that he's been removed from the forum blacklist of members to watch out for.

He's a nasty piece of work and very aggressive, I'd have banned him long ago to protect the members here from further abuse. That's not likely to happen because he's so forceful about protecting himself. It's a classic case of an abuser blaming the abused for their continued abuse and the authorities allowing it to happen.

I am glad that you are here and are ever vigilant. Don't take this the wrong way but I see you as a watchdog on this forum, helping protect other members from harm. Other members help in the same sort of way but I see you as a sort of ethics watchdog, always willing to point out the obvious.

After your banning, I was afraid it'd have an effect of making people reluctant to complain but you came back and we're safe under your watchful eye again.

 

[Lorddrek]

So when I see gold chains and pinky rings I head the other way. Things like pictures of expensive cars and toys only say one thing to me: It's all about the benjamins.

 

[seededcrown]

So when I see gold chains and pinky rings I head the other way. Things like pictures of expensive cars and toys only say one thing to me: It's all about the benjamins.

haha....gotta love it!

 

[Kate]

I am glad that you are here and are ever vigilant. Don't take this the wrong way but I see you as a watchdog on this forum, helping protect other members from harm. Other members help in the same sort of way but I see you as a sort of ethics watchdog, always willing to point out the obvious.

After your banning, I was afraid it'd have an effect of making people reluctant to complain but you came back and we're safe under your watchful eye again.

Thanks Bizzy

The forum is maturing and SmokeyJoe is a good bloke. He tries to do the right thing for us when we let him know what we think is right.

 

[verhoeven]

Ebay feedback requires an actual transaction before feedback can be left.
How will we know if the ECF member/voter really was an actual customer of the supplier?

I guess you wouldn't know. But why would an ECF member vote for a supplier that they had no dealings with? If we can't trust ourself then who
can we trust.

 

[Lorddrek]

I used a forum called RCGroup.com at least a few years ago and they had just started a ratings system in the for sale section that worked really good. It really exposed the deadbeats.

But the real question would be why? A fairly quick search brings back info on all the big players. Yeah you gotta sift thru the crybabies but it's easy to get a feel for who your dealing with and what to expect.

I personally would not think it would even work here because so many expect far too much from this new tech and are quick to pull out the internet bullhorn.

Lorddrek

 

[verhoeven]

That may be true. Just brainstorming a little to let members
vent their buying experiences without all the name-calling.

I’m sure the big players like PS would be at the top of the
list (positive). Maybe you’re right about not having a rating system. If someone doesn’t have the same good experience as I did with a supplier, they will complain.

Guess it’s up to the buyer who he or she picks. I try different suppliers and stick with the ones that treat me right and dump the other guys.