What's going on, ECF? We need lots of suppliers

[v1John]

ECF, I have heard from suppliers that there is a one year waiting list for suppliers to become ECF registered, why is this?

Can you please fix whatever needs to be fixed? I would hate to have to surf other forums, but the suppliers that I'm aware of have had to register at other forums besides ECF.

I love ECF, and I like lots and lots of ECF registered suppliers, please help.


thanks.

 

[mini_art]

I think ecf does a good job with the suppliers here. The one year wait may be to protect members from fly by night operations too. Just a thought.

 

[v1John]

I do think they do a good job, but I don't understand when I heard suppliers say that they've been trying for so many months. I just don't know how that works.

...one year waiting for what and from when, from the time the business opened up initially?

What if there is a subforum specifically for non ECF registered suppliers who have indeed applied and whose ECF registration is expected to be finalized within the next 90 days? That would help ECF users try out, while allowing potentially good suppliers to interact with ECF user purchases? Is this a good suggestion of some sort?

Otherwise, and what worries me too, is that people looking for other suppliers end up going to other e cig forums, and not posting on ECF... It's like ECF is getting competition almost.

 

[v1John]

I mean what if ECF would have a sufborum section for diamond level suppliers (for example), and a section for bronze level suppliers perhaps?

The bronze ones could be those who in the next 90 days are expected to move up?

ECF does list some 37,000+ members, however, some 30,000 are not rated active at the present time. You see what I'm trying to say? And ECF competitors are sprouting up, and I really like ECF and hope for the best.

 

[5cardstud]

Ecf works very well and their suppliers list is great. They don't put these rules in place just to be mean but to protect us that use this forum. I for one am glad and because of their rules I have never had a scam run on me like other forums have. Thank you ECF and keep up the good work.

 

[jj2]

Just my thoughts, not 100% positive about anything but I think there is certain criteria’s that a supplier’s website has to meet. And other rules too but some have already been mentioned.

 

[DC2]

Simple question for you before I weigh in... why do they need more suppliers?

 

[Elendil]

Let's clarify.

There is a long wait (9-12 months) for a Registered Supplier to get their own forum(Thus becoming a Forum Supplier). We currently limit the number of Forum Suppliers.

To register with the site as a supplier(Thus becoming a Registered Supplier) takes 3-4 weeks(maximum-if we get snowed under with many applicants at the same time), certainly not a year. Unless the supplier takes a year to get us back the form(some have)

Hope this clarifies the situation.

 

[skinny]

Elendil,
Could you clarify that a little more please?

 

[Houdini]

I don't think there is a shortage of suppliers here. When I started here there were about 20 or so. Now there are 72 and list is growing.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Let's clarify.

There is a long wait (9-12 months) for a Registered Supplier to get their own forum(Thus becoming a Forum Supplier). We currently limit the number of Forum Suppliers.

Well, JMHO, and your site, your rules, but ...

Coupled with the 2 active thread limit in the general suppliers' forum, this puts newer suppliers at big disadvantage in visibility. Maybe that's by design, and maybe even warranted sometimes. But it sounds as if new suppliers are going to have to wait for some other vendor to drop out before getting a forum. Am I reading that right?

 

[Elendil]

Well, JMHO, and your site, your rules, but ...

Coupled with the 2 active thread limit in the general suppliers' forum, this puts newer suppliers at big disadvantage in visibility. Maybe that's by design, and maybe even warranted sometimes. But it sounds as if new suppliers are going to have to wait for some other vendor to drop out before getting a forum. Am I reading that right?

Actually SJ's site, SJ's rules but yes that is correct. We limit the number of Forum Suppliers because this is first and foremost and ecig resource and information site as opposed to a vendor site...........

Keep in mind we have no limit to the number of Registered Suppliers.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Keep in mind we have no limit to the number of Registered Suppliers.

Is there a way to see the whole list? Maybe that'd be to long to wade through?

 

[pm2006]

user cp. scroll through and you will see a list of suppliers.

 

[sanfordf]

Here is a partial list of e-cig vendors and some aging discount codes.

E-Cigarette Code Mastery - Google Docs

 

[v1John]

user cp. scroll through and you will see a list of suppliers.

No, actually that is only a supplier subforum area, I think Elandil clarified it now.
You see, registered suppliers are not forbidden here, and it can take up to 3 or 4 weeks to register a supplier--not bad, that is very reasonable.

What I (and possibly many others) were confused about, is what pm2006 just posted about. I thought that if a supplier did not appear in the subforum part, that essentially ECF was letting us know that the supplier is not ECF-registered. THIS IS NOT SO, he just pointed out.

An ECF registered supplier can still join ECF, the only thing is that ECF cannot possibly provide them with their own subforum...not to every single one.

 

[v1John]

Here is a partial list of e-cig vendors and some aging discount codes.

E-Cigarette Code Mastery - Google Docs

...but not everyone in that^ list is ECF registered, are they?

I think that is what we want here at ECF. We want ECF registered suppliers, now we know that the supplier subforums may be all occupied, but suppliers can still become ECF-registered.


...


So what can they do, the ECF-registered suppliers who did not find a vacant supplier subforum yet, can they still post just like vapers and everyone does, here in the non-supplier parts?

 

[v1John]

Is there a way to see the whole list? Maybe that'd be to long to wade through?

Exactly. It would be helpful and beneficial to at least have a prominent sticky thread or location where posters can see the ECF-registered suppliers.

Some ask 'why?'.
Why? Well because we all win. ECF can get more supporting memebers, posters can catch more sales, less out-of-stocks, and suppliers can get more exposure. The ecig petition may have even got more signatures.

In case someone thinks we have too many already...I disagree. Many of them are in other countries, and the ones in the subforums who are in the U.S., barely number a sufficient amount for New York alone. New York is in jeopardy, and if good suppliers there do not get the exposure and business they deserve, how can anyone expect them to sign the petition?
If my suppliers here at the subforums have been out of stock of something, but an ECF registered supplier in New York had it all along, why do some people not see how listing them here somewhere would help?

 

[Elendil]

So what can they do, the ECF-registered suppliers who did not find a vacant supplier subforum yet, can they still post just like vapers and everyone does, here in the non-supplier parts?

Yes they can, with a couple of caveats.

No registered supplier can post in the new members forum--ever.
They can post almost anywhere else in the forum but they cannot discuss their products, except in certain areas.

The intent is not to have members hit in the face with supplier ads, or suppliers discussing their products in every corner of the forum. The information is readily available for those members who are seeking it, but should not be something you have to make a conscious effort and work hard to avoid.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

I understand all the thinking there. Had I not had other things on my mind, I might have thought of reading the Suppliers' Information too.