Something funny happened on the way to the AVS forum

[craigsub]

Hi guys ... about 3 weeks ago, I was asked this question (about the WAF-1's) on AVS in the "Waf-1's" thread.

The question was ... "Are these still being made?"

I answered "Yes, we have about 100 pairs in stock".

This post was deleted, and I was given an infraction for marketing.

I talked to one of the owners, who said that yes, it is considered marketing. He further went on to explain that he did not think I deserved an infraction.

Here is where this REALLY gets fun ... he also informed me that my post was reported by one of my competitors.

He suggested that I do the same thing as well ... report competitors who have "marketing posts" in various threads.

I suppose it should not be a surprise that "competitors" would be reporting my posts as marketing. This has happened several times in threads on AVS. On another occasion, someone asked what we charged for shipping, and I answered that shipping on WAF-1's was included in the MSRP. This post was deleted and I was given an infraction for "marketing" for answering this question, too.

For the record, I don't blame the mods there. They already have told me that I can report any "marketing posts" that I see there.

The problem is, that just isn't my style. I am 99 percent sure which company it is who has been following me around and reporting posts as marketing.

I am going to bet a few of you know who it is as well.

That being said, I am just not going to start trying for revenge on AVS. I just cannot see sending a bunch of reports to the mods there just so I can "get even" with this competitor.

Over time, I will figure out a way to answer questions on AVS in a manner in which this "competitor" won't be able to report as "marketing".

For now, thanks for letting me vent a bit.

[Jason]

jeez.....

[ben9732]

AVS is such a friggin' weird site with their policies.

I guess my only recommendation from this weary brain tonight would just to answer by saying the truth: "I cannot answer those types of questions here on AVS due to the site policy that it would fall under "marketing" by a vendor. Please feel free to come to the TCA site to get an answer to your question."

Not sure what else to do with those idiots.

[myaudiocd]

Answer them with a different username, or have someone answer for you. This sounds personal.

[Mep]

Why have a thread for any specific speaker or even allow people recommend speakers then? It is all "marketing" via shill or otherwise. Now if a vendor was just spaming the forum with announcements of a big sale, I say the should shut that down. Answering a question in the specific thread for such speaker is fine.

They need to redefine what marketing is.

[blackzarg]

Well, it just means that TCA Product owners have to work harder ;-)

Sorry to hear about that, Craig.

[craigsub]

Guys ... I don't think AVS is the problem here. The problem lies with this competitor who will report anything he can to a moderator.

There are countless threads on AVS which are used partially as marketing tools.

The thing is ... no one minds it, and no one reports it.

This is nothing more than petty behaviour on behalf of a couple of forum members who will do anything to "win".

[Sandbagger]

The mods need to think for themselves, but they like their advertising dollars too much.

You could quietly hire seth to answer threads for you over there, NO ONE would ever figure that out :SSH:

[quadman]

The mods need to think for themselves, but they like their advertising dollars too much.

You could quietly hire seth to answer threads for you over there, NO ONE would ever figure that out :SSH:

LMAO Kevin.... that was funny.

[phipp01]

The mods need to think for themselves, but they like their advertising dollars too much.

You could quietly hire seth to answer threads for you over there, NO ONE would ever figure that out :SSH:

:rlmfao: While there are a few who do that over there, there are a few with their own personal agenda's. Thats why I received the perma ban from there for calling 2 of them out on it. I just signed back up with a new SN (im2sexy) LOL.

[phipp01]

Oh and which competitor is it so I can keep an eye out. I love causing the mods over there work. PM if you dont want it publicly known "thumbsup:

[tthurman]

How lame!

hmmm reviewing and selling isn't a conflict of interest, er marketing.......cough cough...bbbull****!

[EddieHorton]

I don't really see a problem with someone having a policy on their own site.....wait for it, wait for it......as long as it's consistent. You can go over there any day of the week and see company owners and employees from ED, Danley, Seaton Sound, JTR, TC Sounds, Swan Diva, etc., etc. posting about all sorts of things from product announcements to delivery timelines to whatever. If it's marketing from AVS's perspective, then shut it down. If it's not, then mods should ignore anything someone reports except blatant spamming about sales, or the like. Not calling out the aforementioned companies. They were just the ones off the top of my long haired head.

[Mep]

Depends, if those companies are already paying to have ads on their site and they start deleting post from paying customers, they won't have paying customers for too long. They may consistently treat paying customers one way, freeloaders another way.

I don't think it matters who reports, it is the mod who decides to act or not. Of course people are never bored enough to report such things unless they stand to gain something from it.

[EddieHorton]

Yeah, forgot about the ad paying folks.