~Avon Hints & Tips (Part 7) ~

Aesop

What's the difference between the Forum Team and Board Guides?
FORUM TEAM

The Forum Team is employed by the site and paid to read and deal with reports sent to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.

They don't moderate the site and they don't read the several thousand posts on this forum every day. Instead they rely on users to report posts under the "report a post system". If users don't report, the Forum Team remains unaware.

None of the Forum Team post with any identity other than Forum Team 1, 2, 3 etc on the forum; it's in their employment contract.

BOARD GUIDES

The Board Guides are volunteer users who help to keep the forum running smoothly. They do not deal with reports made - and are totally separate to the Forum Team.

Brief Role Description

They focus on a few boards - not the whole forum
Keep threads on topic and boards running smoothly (including moving non-MoneySaving related discussions to Discussion Time/MoneySaversArms where appropriate)
Delete spam and report the poster to the Forum Team
Help newbies find their way around
Point site users to relevant main site guides/news stories/blogs
Merge/link together duplicate threads
Sticky the best threads to the top of the board
Lock contentious threads and report to the Forum Team.
Detailed Role Description

The aim is to help newbies, guide people in the right direction and cut the number of different posts on the same topic. That means when someone says "I've searched everywhere and can't find the information", they post links to the relevant guides/news stories/blogs on the main site or point them to the article links at the top of individual boards.

When identical topics have been duplicated, they merge the threads to help forum users find the info.

If you think a thread should be removed, would get a better response on a different board or should be merged because it's been duplicated, send a private message to the relevant Board Guide. Remember, there's no such thing as a 'wrong board' though.

Board Guides are listed at the bottom right of their boards and on the Board Guide list. Board Guides can only take action on their own patches.

Threads are only moved if they're obviously not MoneySaving or the Board Guide feels the person asking the question would get a better response on a different board.

If a Board Guide spots a contentious thread, they should report it to the Forum Team, just like any other user would.

What a Board Guide isn't/can't do

Board Guides are not moderators. They don't deal with contentious posts; that's the Forum Team's job.
Board Guides are not experts. On some boards a specialist knowledge is useful. Usually, just being interested in the subject is enough, although it's not a pre-requisite.
Board Guides are not techies, although being happy to play with technology helps.
Board Guides cannot see reports to the Forum Team (only the Forum Team and some MSE Team members can see those).
BOARD GUIDE SIGNATURES
Board Guides have been asked to mention their status in their signatures, so folks understand they are not moderators and don't read every post on their board:

Hi. Martin has asked me to tell you I'm the Board Guide on the X (and Y) board(s). I'm a volunteer to help the board(s) run smoothly, and I can move and merge posts on there. Board guides are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an inappropriate or illegal post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.

IF YOU'RE UNHAPPY WITH SOMETHING A BOARD GUIDE'S DONE
Please remember the Board Guides are just ordinary forum users who've volunteered to help out the site and are doing what the MSE Team has asked them to do. They do an excellent job of keeping the forum wheels turning, but are not paid. They are not responsible for the site and have no say in policy decisions.

If you've a question about a Board Guide's choices, first read the site's Terms and Conditions and these Forum Rule FAQs. If you're still unsure why they did something or you feel the Forum Team should be aware, please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. Don't question a Board Guide on the forum or it will be removed.

HOW DO YOU BECOME A BOARD GUIDE?

Board Guides are dedicated users who want to give something back to the site.

Now and then we post on the Site Feedback board or individual boards asking for volunteers. Generally, the Board Guide picked would be someone who uses a particular board and already understands how it works. An enthusiasm for keeping that board running smoothly and helping newbies find the information they need quickly and easily is the key.

For obvious reasons, if the Forum Team has received reports about a particular poster that person won't normally be considered for a Board Guide position.

Aesop

MarsdenCuckoo wrote: »

Actually not totally sure now, but it's usually some high end clearance item. A member on my team recently got a U by Ungaro make-up bag and a lippy with a ribbon attached to the top of the cap. Can't remember ever seeing the lippy in a book so probably goes waaaaayyy back. Still, nice to be appreciated!

:rotfl:, my DH got that!

MarsdenCuckoo

ceejaydee23 wrote: »

bloomin heck I received that bubble bath in the post this morning! along with a letter from the hospital, to say my biopsie results ment i gotta go back to the hospital, to have abnormal cells removed under local anesthetic after all! Not looking forward to it at all, the original appointment was bad enough

Good luck, CJD, at least you are in the system and being looked after and that's far better than just ignoring something that could prove to turn out much worse.... Think of it like the dentist - in an hour/day/week (or so) it will all be over - and you just focus on that rather than what you have to go through in the interim. (Empathise with you because I've got two hospital appointments coming up - neither very nice exams - and different departments. Oh how I am now focusing on 16 March when they're over and all I have to do is sort my Avon delivery due 17th before having a 'bit of a change of scenery'.)

Deep breath, CJD, and count your blessings that we have the NHS. :T Good luck again.

MrsTinks

I see Aesop beat me to it lol - been digging out baby stuff from the loft, shed, spare room etc... Friend of mine is 18 weeks now so starting to nest LOL
Think she just saved about £400 dropping here... £200 car seat and base and loads of odds and sods!
Anyway - yes there is a huge difference between moderators (who can "moderate") and BGs who actually can't And contrary to popular belief we don't tend to remove posts either - even when people ask us to... We CAN contact the forum team though and sometimes get things removed quickly if there is a big issue...
As for MSE responding - it's always been clear to everyone that they cannot and will not respond to all requests for information about why something has been removed, moved, whatever... BGs obviously have a little more time so when we move a post usually the BG will PM the user to let them know - but we don't HAVE to...

Aesop

how is everyone managing to sell car seat and base? I can't shift mine, they all want it cheap. sorry off topic, goes off to hide.

MarsdenCuckoo

Aesop wrote: »

no you won't. Even if you did an additional order back ordering, it will cost you an additional £2.50.

But..... surely it's still worth doing i.e. certainly if ordering more than one. Even without discount and a £2.50 delivery charge it will still be cheaper. Bit of a faff, certainly, but worth thinking about.

Aesop

MC :rotfl:

you are too funny.

ceejaydee23

I got one of those as a successfully completeing 10 campaigns

MarsdenCuckoo wrote: »

Actually not totally sure now, but it's usually some high end clearance item. A member on my team recently got a U by Ungaro make-up bag and a lippy with a ribbon attached to the top of the cap. Can't remember ever seeing the lippy in a book so probably goes waaaaayyy back. Still, nice to be appreciated!

Money_maker

MarsdenCuckoo wrote: »

Didn't you even get an Anniversary gift? (Shame on you Avon, 5 years is no mean feat.) Having said that, my last one was a pair of cufflinks....:( Being cheeky as ever I rang to thank them but did point out that they weren't much use to me - they agreed and sent me something else (and told me to keep the links anyway)! :T

Ooohh - maybe there'll be a surprise :rotfl:in my delivery on monday. Will let you know but better not be cufflinks - don't know any blokes who use them...

ceejaydee23

Thanks to those that have offered hugs, and yes i know, thats what i'm trying to focus on too (sorry cant remember exactly whom it was that made the comment re dentist!) Just hope i can arrange someone to have my little man and be there with me, maybe other half might be able to get the day off!