Lack Of New User Support!!!

[freeskier]

Before my company had its own website (that I could register my email address at), I, like many users only had access to free email. Under your policy you can't register as a user with a free email account (I'm not sure why, but I understand that it?s your policy) before I was registered I wrote many emails to "moderators" and "webmaster(s)" trying to figure out a way to register. I just finished school so my CU email (which would have worked under your guide lines) was no longer valid & all I had was my hotmail account.
The problem isn't that you wouldn't make an exception for me, but rather NEVER ONCE did I receive a response to my MANY attempts to contact colorado4x4.org. I don't know if who ever is in charge felt they were above writing me back or what, but if you're trying to grow as a web site and reach more people (I assume you are or else why would you run the site in the first place) you need to be aware that not everyone who wants to use the site has the $ or any reason to have a "non free" email account. If in fact the site is exclusively for people who pay for their email, than have the courtesy to take 30 seconds and write back those of us who want to participate in the web site, but aren?t eligible (with suggestions perhaps on ways to join, surely I'm not the first person who had free email and showed interest in your site).

[Eric]

First, I don't recall receiving ANY email from someone named "freeskier" nor from your currently registered email address. I receive email from hotmail users all the time and rarely have issues replying, especially now that yahoo and hotmail have upped their storage limits, but I used to encounter a rare occassion where the user's inbox is full. At that point there's nothing I can do and the user is left thinking I ignored them. In addition, there was a brief period where my email filters were screwed up and I likely did not receive several emailed questions. Perhaps you tried contacting me during that time, and if so I apologize for the misunderstanding. I try to answer every question in short order, but sometimes it can take up to a week. If you haven't heard from me after a week then I most likely did not receive your email.


surely I'm not the first person who had free email and showed interest in your siteYou are correct, you are not the first person with a free email account that has shown interest in this site. You are also not the first person who failed to either do a search on the subject or even read the entire error message that was displayed when you tried to register with a free email account. Had you done so, you would realize that there IS a means to register on this site using a free email address. Here is the rest of the error message which you overlooked:

Note: Free email services such as Yahoo, Hotmail, Netzero, Juno, etc. are not permitted for registration of a free account. Please see this post for information on how to register using a free email account: Free Email Servers and Premium Membership Registration (http://colorado4x4.org/vbb/showpost.php?p=129161&postcount=27)Free email servers were banned for a specific reason... abusive users. Banning an abusive user has little impact if the user can simply reregister with an unlimited number of free email addresses. You can read more about this by clicking on the sticky post in the News forum titled "free email services and registration". The link in the error message above points to a specific post in that thread.

I'm sorry I didn't receive your emails or I could have answered this for you offline.

[freeskier]

QUOTE: "First, I don't recall receiving ANY email from someone named "freeskier" nor from your currently registered email address" - Eric

1) That?s because like I stated in my first post, I COULDN'T REGISTER. My registered user name is freeskier, so if I couldn?t register obviously the user name wasn't even created yet. Why would someone with a registered user name contact you about not being able to register?

2) In regards to my currently registered email address, it?s not a free address so it obviously wasn't the one I was writing from when I was trying very hard to join.

It?s great that someone actually took the time to write me back once I posted the problem on a public forum, but like I stated in the first post I received absolutely NO feedback from ANYONE (over the course of several weeks I might add) while I was in the process of trying to become a member! I've observed that the web site is being updated & revamped a lot these days. It is my belief that the new free email registration "Free Email Servers and Premium Membership Registration" came about AFTER I made MANY attempts to contact colorado4x4.org. I could be mistaken, but I never once recall seeing that during the hours I spent combing your website trying to figure out a way to register with out going out and paying for an email address.

Don?t get me wrong, I believe that this is an awesome site, doing great things for four wheeling enthusiasts all across the country, not just Colorado. It?s a kick ass site so keep it up, just be more mindful of newcomers needing a little help who might not be as familiar with the Colorado4x4.org rules and regulations as the people who run and moderate the site. Thanks ? freeskier-

[Eric]

I appreciate your concerns, however if I don't receive an email or can't reply to it (for whatever reason) then the interpretation on behalf of the user is that I'm ignoring them. There is nothing I can do about that.


Why would someone with a registered user name contact you about not being able to register?
...
In regards to my currently registered email address, it?s not a free address so it obviously wasn't the one I was writing from when I was trying very hard to join
You didn't provide your name or the email address that you used previously in either of your posts above, so the only info I have available to search for the missing emails is your username (who knows, if it's your nickname them maybe you used freeskier@hotmail.com? It was worth a shot anyway). You obviously registered with your current email address so of course I searched to see if you had contacted me recently using that address. I came up empty on both accounts. Don't be pissed that I can't guess your old hotmail account name, I'm trying to help. :rolleyes:


It?s great that someone actually took the time to write me back once I posted the problem on a public forum, but like I stated in the first post I received absolutely NO feedback from ANYONE (over the course of several weeks I might add) while I was in the process of trying to become a member!
You received a reply because this is the first I've heard from you. I'm not saying you didn't try to contact me via email, but that I never received it or I wasn't able to reply for some reason. Throughout the years I've encountered full inboxes as well as being rejected by an email server that didn't like my own email address. Shit happens, I'm sorry you had difficulty in getting registered but thankfully you managed.


It is my belief that the new free email registration "Free Email Servers and Premium Membership Registration" came about AFTER I made MANY attempts to contact colorado4x4.org. I could be mistaken, but I never once recall seeing that during the hours I spent combing your website trying to figure out a way to register with out going out and paying for an email address.
The initial post explaining the ban has been in place for over a year and a half (March of 2003). The most recent addition which provides the registration option using a free email server has been in place for just over 3 weeks (Sept. 9th). I'm sorry, but I doubt I'll be able to resolve an incident that took place more than three weeks ago.

Your concerns are noted and I'll try to make the free email issue more visible. As you no-doubt have noticed the front page is still in development, but when it's finished I'll be sure to include it in the new Announcements section. The last thing I want to do is discourage new members, and your experience indicates there is definitely room for improvement. Thanks for bringing it to my attention and I'll try to address it. Suggestions are always welcome!

Fwiw, welcome aboard :beer:

[xoc]

Eric, are abusive users really a problem here ? My site is about 3 times the size of CO4x4, and I do get the occasional punk who wants to create chaos, but I simply lock their account, ban their IP and contact them with a legal warning. So far, out of about 20 bannings in 4+ years, only a couple people have tried to return to the site.

Considering this is a local community, I'm suprised it's such a problem here. Being local I would think people would be a bit nicer since someone they piss off on this board may actually find them in person.

[boardmike]

Freeskier,
Drop the $20, get a star, problem resolved.

[hert@Patriot4x4]

Freeskier,
Drop the $20, get a star, problem resolved.

hmmm.... didnt realize co4x4 started doing that... Ill diffinately donate... after payday :D