NON 4x4 Vendor Section?

[Big Dave]

Many of us here on the list own our own businesses or are in a business where self-promotion and networking are huge. The Wheeler's Network has helped us out a little bit, but I would like something more. It would work in the same fashion as the 4x4 Vendor Section, but for non-4x4 businesses. Thoughts?

[fatwreck]

I think that's a good idea. I'd like to know what these people have to offer....and if it's in its own section then people can check it out if they want....but they aren't forced to. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[Stretch]

Sounds like a great plan to me.

-Stretch

[Camp]

That is up to Eric. I am sure he will stop by here soon enough to read these. He is a busy guy and gets to them when he can so, just be patient. ;)

[firegod33]

I like it. Good idea. :cool:

[Big Dave]

Eric?

[OutJeepin]

Sounds like a great idea to me as well.

[HillBillyMan]

It would be nice to have available.

[Eric]

I don't currently provide this type of section for two reasons:
</font> CO4x4 is a non-commercial site and I would like to keep it that way. Yes we have the Vendor section, but this was added only after much deliberation. The Vendor section promotes interaction between "local" businesses which share our common interests. Thus the vendor section is restricted to only "local" 4x4-related businesses. So, while it is an "exception to the rule", it is a highly focuses exception which makes sense. In general you'll find that I don't support commercialization of CO4x4.org. This leads into concern #2...</font> The proposed section appears highly succeptible to spam. While the intention is good, wheelers supporting fellow wheelers, I see no way to enforce this. With the vendor section I can verify that the business exists, is local, and that they participate on CO4x4. With the proposed non-4x4 business section I see no way to filter the participants to those who actually wheel. Anybody with a local business would be free to spam that section and you wouldn't know if they're a wheeler or not. "Free advertising" can be quite an effective lure, and without controls such a lure will draw in far more than just your fellow wheelers. I could charge a fee to advertise in that section but then we go against the intent (wheelers helping fellow wheelers) and still have no way to know if anybody at those businesses actually shares our interests.</font>
The "wheeler's network" is acceptable to me (see initial concern above) because it's provided and supported by Big Dave as a fellow wheeler and thus the spam filtering effort falls upon his shoulders instead of mine. Also it's simply a directory and not an effective method for aggressive advertising (it's a low-impact approach that works as intended). So long as someone is willing to maintain such a list I support it, however at this time the full-on non-4x4 vendor commercial forum is not something I am in favor of.

I have an open mind, if you can provide further details and show me how such a forum could exist while addressing my concerns I'll be happy to reconsider. Any questions, comments, etc. and if I misunderstood the suggestion please let me know.

graemlins/beer.gif

[Big Dave]

Eric,
You provide some very valid points as to why NOT to do it, and I do agree that avoiding spam would be difficult to do, but certainly not impossible. In my thinking for this, we would set it up very similar to the 4x4 Vendor section, where only certain people are allowed to post within that section. Deciding who gets to post is the tricky part though. While it would be pretty arbitrary, we could have a 6 month "waiting period" before a user can become eligible to post in this section. After their 6 months is up, they can apply for the ability to post, and then their history over the last 6 months can be reviewed. If the person hasn't made any posts at all, don't let them in. I understand this would be additional work for you, but I would more than happy to take on the role of "moderator" for this forum to minimize any additional time you would have to invest in this. As I'm sure you've noticed, I am highly active on this board and a few extra minutes here and there maintaining that section won't kill me. I don't know if the software would allow for me to have a role such as this, but if it can, I would really like to look into this more.

Let me know what you think, and thanks for your reply. Hopefully we can get something like this rocking and I have no problem at all handling the brunt of the work to get this thing running.

[Big Dave]

Eric,
Just kinda curious as to your response to my response to your response, lol.

[Eric]

I have given more thought to this and my primary concern isn't how to manage it (non-4x4 commercial forum), but whether it belongs here at all. I appreciate your willingness to assume the management responsibility, thus addressing most of issue #2, however issue #1 remains. You are welcome to continue maintaining the Wheeler's Network directory, but that's as far as I'm willing to go.