Rules about naming websites?

[GMayberry]

I have looked around for rules about this, but can't find an answer. Are there any rules about naming websites in a post or reply?

This comes from a thread I have been responding in today, and someone new to vaping asked how one goes about DIY juices. I offered that there are websites to order nic bases and flavors from. Am I allowed to say "I get my nic base from abc.com and my flavors from xyz.com" as long as I am not affiliated with the sites?

Btw just to be safe, I didn't offer the site names yet, but if allowed to, I would like to offer where I have researched and had good luck from. Also, I haven't found a forum or sub-forum on here for DIY juices. Is there one?

 

[State O' Flux]

DIY E-Liquid

 

[30+Years]

DIY E-Liquid

I don't think that you can link them but I haven't had a issue with naming them.

 

[Completely Average]

There are no hard and fast rules, but generally speaking if you're recommending someplace then posting a link to their site or naming them is accepted. However, if your post reeks of advertisement or if you're in habit of posting the same name/link in a lot of posts then it will probably be cracked down on.

Likewise avoid naming specific names if you have a complaint about them.


I've posted links and named sites before, but I always try to give options to avoid looking like I'm advertising for a single site.

 

[GMayberry]

Thanks for the DIY juice link. I just found it! I had been looking farther down the list in the e-liquid reviews section. And no I wouldn't be advertising. I see MBV talked about all over the place in here, and he is one I would mention for flavors, and Wizard Labs for the nic base.

 

[twgbonehead]

As I understand it, there are a couple of rules about links:

If the link goes to a vendor site, that vendor MUST be an ECF-Registered supplier. (I also think you cannot name non-ecf-registered suppliers in a post)

If a link points to information which is bashing e-cigarettes and distorting the issues, you should "break the link" (by adding spaces in it, i.e.

www. ThisIsABadArticle .com

As far as non-vape related vendors I think links to them are OK (like a company selling nichrome or glassware).

 

[Ryedan]

There are no hard and fast rules, but generally speaking if you're recommending someplace then posting a link to their site or naming them is accepted. However, if your post reeks of advertisement or if you're in habit of posting the same name/link in a lot of posts then it will probably be cracked down on.

Likewise avoid naming specific names if you have a complaint about them.

I've posted links and named sites before, but I always try to give options to avoid looking like I'm advertising for a single site.

This ^^^. Also, make sure the site is legit. If I've used a supplier I say that. If I've just heard a site is good and want to mention them I make sure I say I have not actually used them myself.

 

[Ryedan]

If the link goes to a vendor site, that vendor MUST be an ECF-Registered supplier. (I also think you cannot name non-ecf-registered suppliers in a post).

I don't think either of these points are correct twgbonehead. Someone please confirm or correct me please.

 

[twgbonehead]

I don't think either of these points are correct twgbonehead. Someone please confirm or correct me please.

It is perhaps a matter of interpretation:

15. Advertising/Selling in posts
a. You must not use this forum for advertising. Any post that seems to have been made for advertising will be deleted. Registered Suppliers may advertise subject to compliance with their specific rules. Members wanting to sell, trade and/or buy e-cigs and e-cig related items from other members may only post these items in the Classified section.
b. Shilling (commercial and/or excessive promotion) is not permitted. This includes affiliate codes/links, links to Unregistered or Banned Suppliers, and links to sites of dubious quality/content/reputation in signatures, blogs or forum posts.
c. Employees of a vendor or any person commercially affiliated with a vendor are not permitted to discuss/advertise the business or products of the vendor.
d. Pre-advertising: no business-related posts are allowed anywhere on ECF unless registered as a supplier. Potential suppliers (not yet actualized) cannot post anything business related anywhere on ECF.

But it doesn't actually say you can't name them, my bad.

 

[GMayberry]

I guess it is really ok unless it is obvious advertisement. The more I think about it, this would be a forum of "i found it, now go hunting" if we couldn't name where we have had success from. If we can't share, what's the point?

 

[Ryedan]

It is perhaps a matter of interpretation:

But it doesn't actually say you can't name them, my bad.

Thanks for looking that up twgbonehead. Now we both know for sure