Manufacturers / Local Distributors Threads

[Schalk]

Also true. We can talk about the transport costs and we will worry about our injured backs later Wait, I still have the mini scateboard the Maestro travelled on

My amps are quite capable of levitation, just plug 'em in and crank up the juice. Then lead it like a good dog by its leash ...err  ...interlink   
I still remember though that I offered to send some down on another thread some time ago. This will happen as soon as my demo stuff is "free" again.

[Blues]

And just "hoo" would pay for all this freight and possible damage? Heavy stuff equals heavy freight bills equals heavy transport damage equals who pays the bills

while I never had an issue with anything on loan, of course there's a risk of damage, and this should be clarified beforehand. how do you handle this with a regular potential customer ?
as for shipping, this could easily be divided through the participating members in a certain aera, and then one guy brings it to the next. if we plan this a bit, there might even be someone from the forum travelling in the right direction, which would be safer and cheaper...

maybe we should give this a try with something easier to handle than your impressive amps as well. how about a cable for starters...

anyway, I'd rather see this as an opportunity than a problem, for both sides. but then again, it's only a suggestion...

[chipwelder]

Let's get back to topic, shall we?
If the commercial section is a no-comments thread, why have a thread? To save on development costs? To make it look like a normal topic not an ad? I kinda feel happier if it is a clear advertisement, not a topic to not comment on.

A discussion would be far more informative in general if one could actually look at the technology presented in the ad and discuss that...  i know a previous attempt at this went awry a bit... but we can probably work out the details. Practically though there are some people who would prolly have difficulty not taking the mickey out of an ad-thread.

I also have heard that the general public does not like to hear any counter arguments to the latest and greatest, but are we the general public then? Will such an ad then be aimed at the "correct" audience if placed here? I'm assuming not all AV shoppers in the country post and read here, so what point would advertising that does not aim at the participants have. In fact if one could have these discussions and not become an ad space, I am sure a lot of people would actually care more for this type of interactive advertisement, as interaction is the nature of a forum, not just an ad-space. It would probably lead to many more people browsing the forum as it offers something different to run of the mill. 

Looked to the PMF site and in the first few trade discussion threads I read, I came up against what I'm hoping us sefricans can avoid... And for the rest the trade forums a bit quiet...

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=62579

So jaaaa.... like the concept, can we make it work?

[Hi-Phibian]

I think it is real simple, announcements in a trade section are to be seen as adverts with all the buyer beware that goes with that. Some financial commitment is only fair if this is going to be one of your sounding boards. So for trade members to be allowed to start topics about their product that gives them exposure, they cough up. This keeps the opportunists out, who only wish to participate when they need some free exposure but gives an outlet to regulars, without hiding the intention.

Trade members however are not to start (controversial) topics outside of trade forums about items in which they have a financial interest, this imo is trolling for exposure and was exactly what happened before in the incident that cost us some regulars.

If another member wishes to comment on one of the items offered or advertised, he or she can start a new thread about it under the correct forums section and all members, trade and private, can reply.

[Timber_MG]

My opinion is quite simply that trade members are a good addition to the forum. I also don't have a problem with audio related advertising. We are surrounded by the media and all should be able to take that whence it comes from.

What I lean against strongly is shilling or undue influence, as it makes the genuine contribution by the forum community loose value and gives the forum a flavour of cheap subversive marketing, the like of which one finds on music radio stations having some one praise another über-pancake mastered record to kingdom come.

I think there is rich interaction possible in both directions, but it would warrant a space for the commercial aspect and some rules. Adding portal content is awesome, but also a lot of work, especially if it is to be kept balanced as some might want to use it as a platform whcih would reflect a one-sided view of the community unnecessarily.

On the portal, I would love it as a structured approach to articles, projects, etc. It would make it much more accessible to forum members as well as the viewing public (which in turn might also spur on some new developments or better presented projects for others to learn from)

Edit: Grammar

[Ampdog]

I also saw it (or would like to see it) as per Hi-Phibian's post #33 above.

[chipwelder]

Seems fair enough - personally would be happy with an ad-forum, not sure it shouldn't be responded to in the same forum, but I guess that way avoids a lot of unpleasantness. Then again no system is abuse proof, and those that do will probably be isolated / flamed soon enough...