Trusted dealer list and ratings system

[robw]

I noticed a majority of newbs here find this site after getting stiffed by a bad dealer. Stiffed in so far as either paying 4 times the going rate, or by buying obsolete or inferior products.

We should add a trusted dealer list as a sticky or even up in the header next to the suppliers list.

Determination of the trusted dealers should be done by ratings and by general consensus. I think we all know that dealers like puresmoker, litecigusa, Janty, johnsoncreek, Trog, pillbox are the most talked about dealers here, and probably deserve a trusted listing.

There are some other dealers that deserve a trusted rating, but should also be pointed out that the prices they charge are higher.

Im sure this is something that will help people decide where to go for good service, quality product and fair prices.

 

[Tetsab]

I agree - that is a good idea. Perhaps Kate could start one of her famous polls and then that could get stickied up in the new members area?

Despite my own new-ness, I've already transacted with three (all 3 fine, thankyou) and communicated with another two (Both very friendly & helpful, thanks again)

 

[Fedor]

i agree with the idea but don't know if a poll is the answer to this issue...

i would love a reliable ranking for suppliers but it just seems difficult to implement a system for this. Every way will seem flawed and bound to receive complaints.

How do we define general consensus? I see a topic with many members praising a supplier but then notice that majority of these praises are from members who joined at the same months and from the same region. Coincidence? Some praises are even slightly overboard and makes it a little difficult to believe at times, much as i would like to.

I don't know. I may lack the brainpower to do this and hope someone smarter comes out with something. I'm sure we will all benefit from it! Great idea!

 

[Kate]

Ha, I'm famous, thanks Tetsab.

To be fair to suppliers and consumers I never did try this as a poll but did consider it. Once someone has voted they cannot change their vote and many people make up their minds about a supplier within a day or two of receiving goods from them. Aftersales service would be hard to gauge and further experiences with other sellers would not be recorded if someone had already voted. Plus there can only be fifteen options for poll votes.

Some kind of feedback system would be good, like the methods ebay and Amazon use but I don't know how that could be implemented on a forum.

Is there any way to do this on a forum?

 

[Keef]

The sellers list on here does need a clean out as some of the links no longer work.

No seller will ever give 100% service to every customer all the time, sooner or later you will see complaints about all sellers no matter how good they are.
You have to remember some customers are really hard work and no matter how far you bend they will find something to complain about.

For what its worth I would vote for smokester! simon e-cigs.co.uk

So far I cannot fault him on anything.
Exceptional service .
Very good communication - Mega fast dispatch - A1 aftersales service when the odd problem crops up.

+ He had a link to this forum on his site, for a newbie this place is a gold mine of info.
If it was not for that link my first purchased would have been a super mini instead of a 901.
So he saved me ££ from making the wrong decision on my 1st purchase.
I would also never have found out about the screwdriver.

 

[TropicalBob]

The trouble with "voting" is that we beg to be used. This is already a problem, and, as Trog accurately pointed out not long ago, will only get worse. We get trolls registering here as "members" with the express purpose of bashing a competitor and boosting their own selfish interest. It's a sorry fact of life. It's also a fact that I look only to veteran posters for valid appraisals. Trust must be earned. And only experience begets wisdom to be trusted.

 

[robw]

It seems that I made my vendor choices based on the number of times I saw people talk about them here on the forums.

Perhaps the solution is to nominate a vendor as a "trusted dealer" then the forum admin can review if indeed they are actually trusted.

The person who would know who is the most trusted would be the person who maintains the forum and has seen the total topics made referencing the nominated dealers.

The suppliers list is great, maybe a Star next to their names based on the interactivity they have here in the forums as well as the general comments made by others about them would be the way to go. This way someone cant just spam them selves into being trusted.

 

[Keef]

Bob that is sad .

Do they not check isp addies here when new members join ?.

 

[Kate]

Perhaps the solution is to nominate a vendor as a "trusted dealer" then the forum admin can review if indeed they are actually trusted.

The person who would know who is the most trusted would be the person who maintains the forum and has seen the total topics made referencing the nominated dealers.

Unfortunately that would leave the admins open to allegations of corruption.

 

[robw]

LOL, if you cant trust the admin who can you?
It is your website

 

[Di]

what about a system of feedback
positive or negative like ebay has,

and you must identify yourself with your forum name when leaving feedback.

that way people can see the suppliers good and bad feedback,
and suppliers will be rated by the best positive feedback.

Di .....

 

[phylo]

I think thats a great idea!

Phil

 

[Keef]

Ebay one liner feedback & DSR`s 8-o

Would much prefer something where people could write a more comprehensive review .

 

[rustylug]

I dont think this would make any diffrance because as far as i konw, no one from this forum has bought anything from me yet any way lol lol .... In a good way this means that i have had no BAD comments agenst me ... lol lol lol.

maybe a Star next to their names based on the interactivity they have here in the forums as well as the general comments made by others about them would be the way to go. This way someone cant just spam them selves into being trusted.

 

[rustylug]

And ..... PS .... KATE .... Dont you dare phone me wanting anything just so you can take the piss ....lol lol lol ....Will i have a customer?

 

[Kate]

I'd never take the piss out of you Rusty

 

[rustylug]

Lol ..I know .........lol......I feel love is in the air ...hahahahahah

I'd never take the piss out of you Rusty

 

[ApOsTle51]

the forum does have a 'rep' facility.

It's much like ebay's feedback system where you can add a rep or minus a rep and add comments about a specific thread or post. and each users 'rep' is displayed under their avatar.

I think SJ has to activate it by default tho. Maybe he could activate it for suppliers only. I don't really know the technicalities behind it.

for reference , this forum uses it for their clasifieds section.:

http://www.airsoftcommunity.co.uk/forums/forums.html

 

[TheEmperorOfIceCream]

I don't think this would work. Good idea in principle, but too open to abuse. There really is no substitute for copious reading of the forum. I tend to grade opinions by who offers them (everbody does, I reckon). A testimonial by a forum member who I've been reading for months carries weight with me. Same thing with a bad review. I wouldn't have the same confidence in a rating system.

Just my pound sterling (i.e. two cents)

Emp

 

[trog100]

Just my pound sterling (i.e. two cents)

give it time dude and it might well be.. he he he

trog