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Commercial/Business poster on MSE Forums
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Alan_M_2
Posts: 2,752 Forumite
After a few recent PM exchanged with administration of MSE (a few weeks ago) it appears I'm being reported for abusing the forum simply becasue I am open about who I am and what I do.
In so much as I declare I have a business interest in the subject on which I'm posting, I would do It's why I have the knowledge of the subject.
It seems there are a group of people populating MSE that find this deeply offensive, but MSE has grown to such an extent it is now a commercial enterprise and it's size is only going to attract more posters with vested interests in self promotion...it's not going to go away, so do you ignore it or do you try and address the problem?
Currently the MO, is to open an account, pretend to be a delighted customer of your own company whilst slagging off the opposition...it occurs daily, we all know it, and mostly the administrators leave it or simply ignore it.
I tried to start a debate on this questions on a thread here:-
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2164847
but all I succeeded in doing was uniting three posters who were not interested in a discussion just wanted to trawl my entire post history and find reasons to report me further to MSE.
So lets start from fresh....
The fundamental questions are based on the fact that business/commercial posters will post here, like it or not.
1/ It's fine as it is, just leave it. Business posters posing as customers is fine.
2/ We'd prefer business posters declare who they are in a way to be defined by MSE and made people aware they had an interest in any subject on which they post.
3/ MSE need to address this and consider a "Business registration" as they do for other sections of this forum for the big utility and phone companies.
4/ Go away! We'd just prefer you didn't post at all and we don't want/need professional advice.
In so much as I declare I have a business interest in the subject on which I'm posting, I would do It's why I have the knowledge of the subject.
It seems there are a group of people populating MSE that find this deeply offensive, but MSE has grown to such an extent it is now a commercial enterprise and it's size is only going to attract more posters with vested interests in self promotion...it's not going to go away, so do you ignore it or do you try and address the problem?
Currently the MO, is to open an account, pretend to be a delighted customer of your own company whilst slagging off the opposition...it occurs daily, we all know it, and mostly the administrators leave it or simply ignore it.
I tried to start a debate on this questions on a thread here:-
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2164847
but all I succeeded in doing was uniting three posters who were not interested in a discussion just wanted to trawl my entire post history and find reasons to report me further to MSE.
So lets start from fresh....
The fundamental questions are based on the fact that business/commercial posters will post here, like it or not.
1/ It's fine as it is, just leave it. Business posters posing as customers is fine.
2/ We'd prefer business posters declare who they are in a way to be defined by MSE and made people aware they had an interest in any subject on which they post.
3/ MSE need to address this and consider a "Business registration" as they do for other sections of this forum for the big utility and phone companies.
4/ Go away! We'd just prefer you didn't post at all and we don't want/need professional advice.
Should business/commercial posters be open or conceal their identity? 34 votes
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Comments
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MSE should address this by offering a "Business account" so other posters are at least informed.As you say there are plenty on here that flirt with the rules - I can think of at least one that uses their corporate website name as their user name and there are certainly plenty of one post wonders who pop up like mushrooms when a company name is being mentioned in order to offer support.
There are also inconsistencies - utility company reps, financial advisers etc being allowed to make it clear that they are in business, and as its possible to contact people from the site, its a fairly short hop to them generating trade by email.
However it is also clear that there are people giving very good technical advice on here which is invaluable and helping people understand complex products, and it would be very sad if that expertise was lost. I'm not going to draw attention to those I mean for fear of them being lost as well! There are some fields where it is very easy to get ripped off simply because having enough knowledge of the product/service to avoid being conned by cowboys is a full time professional job.
That said I think a practice of making recommendations by PM opens up the question as to what is going on so any comment should be on the face of the forum.
I would therefore suggest a category of membership for business people who must register their interests, who don't have a PM facility and maybe don't have a contact by email or "my website" part in their profile. That would enable people with real expertise to pass that on, through the face of the forum where anything they say can be checked and challenged by other users (acting as a safeguard) with a very minimal risk that they are feathering their own nests from being on here.Adventure before Dementia!0 -
you can spot most of the tosspots within a mile.
i just report em for spam.
you need to treat all new members/posters with suspicion. and any older members with a low post count, treat much the same.Get some gorm.0 -
Business poster should declare who they areWell number 2 had my vote.
Always thought Alan M was openly displaying that he had expert/professional
knowledge. I had no problems with that. Hope he continues in offering that.0 -
Business poster should declare who they areWestonDave wrote: »I would therefore suggest a category of membership for business people who must register their interests, who don't have a PM facility and maybe don't have a contact by email or "my website" part in their profile. That would enable people with real expertise to pass that on, through the face of the forum where anything they say can be checked and challenged by other users (acting as a safeguard) with a very minimal risk that they are feathering their own nests from being on here.
Good idea. It's PM issue that's caused problems for me.
I am asked daily for recommendations as a result of my posts on here, there's a very fine line between doing that and it being considered advertising (even advertising on behalf of companies other than my own).
Being straight I generally get 4 to 6 members a day contact me.
When I started posting, it wasn't for any inherent personal gain, I just posted...but it's escalated and I'm flirting with the rules of this site....if it means I stop and go away so be it, but I thought it was a topic that warrants discussion. As I'm sure I'm not the only person in this position as pointed out in the previous reply.
I guess the issue is, MSE has become a victim of it's own success, so where does it go from here?0 -
MSE should address this by offering a "Business account" so other posters are at least informed.Your posts, as well as those of several other business people on here, have been invaluable to me, Alan M. I would hate to lose the excellent advice and help given by those such as yourself.
I definitely believe that registering business status should be mandatory, so we are made aware of possible vested interests, but PMs can be helpful. Perhaps it would be possible to make it a rule that members in business are only allowed to reply to PMs sent to them by other members, rather than instigating them themselves, rather than no PMs at all?0 -
Business poster should declare who they arehold on why would you take away the ability to pm iv got a small painting biz and i help people now and again with questions but i also use the rest of the site particularly the match betting part now if i registered that would mean i would not be able to pm any one there, i went for option 2 . takeing away pm is not the answer.If you want to get with me there's some things you got to know,.
I like my beats fast and my base down low0 -
Business poster should declare who they areTrue,
All I'm trying to do is get a consensus here for what other posters expect and the issues that it raises.
Currently MSE are taking a very ostrich approach to this issue and simply quoting anti advertising rules that existing on the forum and applying these to recomednations...unless of course you're TESCO, Vodafone, Waitrose, Marks & Spencers or a mortgage broker.......In which case it's fine.....0 -
...
All I'm trying to do is get a consensus here for what other posters expect and the issues that it raises.
It is a fine line, I can think of some valuable posters here and elsewhere who have businesses and post on the topic. Their advice is always impartial and you always feel that they are giving far more than they are taking. Long may such posters continue, but may the others perish.Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0 -
MSE should address this by offering a "Business account" so other posters are at least informed.Trouble is Curly - it was as Alan said largely the PM issue which started the problems. If interested parties are forced to post everything in public there can be no suggestion of back door deals, and any advice given can be challenged so that the recipient isn't left thinking they've got good advice when it turns out to be wrong.
Its also worth pointing out that Alan's position is a bit strange in that he is a small business but at the same time a relatively large player in his industry. Many of the professionals who post on here are but one of thousands in the same industry most of whom work within tight territories and the chances of me in the West Country doing a backhand deal with a Scottish painter are pretty remote when there are probably 30 in my own city. I might however directly or indirectly buy granite from Alan.
Maybe the business registration should therefore be something which is done on a case by case basis for people like Alan or the bigger companies where they have significant industry influence, whilst people like Curly who can't really help themselves can be left as normal private accounts. I myself occasionally give generic advice about how to find a good company in the field I work in, but unless someone popped up in the town my employer covers I couldn't give a specific recommendation and wouldn't within that town. (It was rather amusing once to find a response of mine to an enquiry the subject of discussion on here but that's another story! - you won't find it because I never responded to the discussion!)
I should say that I don't personally have any doubts about Alan and a big motive in taking part in this debate is to find a way to keep his contributions and also protect him as much as anything.Adventure before Dementia!0 -
Business poster should declare who they areDVardysShadow wrote: »My general rule of thumb: does your contribution to solving the problem outweigh the personal benefit you derive in terms of promoting your business.
It is a fine line, I can think of some valuable posters here and elsewhere who have businesses and post on the topic. Their advice is always impartial and you always feel that they are giving far more than they are taking. Long may such posters continue, but may the others perish.
Fortunately MSE admin take a similar approach in the main, they weigh up contribution and thanks vs complaints. However they are tied by the remit of the rules of a forum that's now outgrown it's own rules.
Take a look at the Wren kitchens thread on this forum...consider that's what the forum has become....I figured people might want to do something about it for the long term.0
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