How Do You Like This?

[MXFastGuy]

Just curious what you think about the following policy another board has adopted...

Recently, there have been a few members that apparently felt that they received poor product performance or had an unpleasant experience, doing business with a number of well known manufacturers and parts retailers. Although it is totally appropriate to post questions about the experiences of other members (good or bad) or how to deal with a difficult situation, it is NOT appropriate to blast the discussion forums with derogatory and defamatory comments, specifically for the purposes getting revenge, smearing a company's name and extracting pain in the form of lost sales from other potential customers.

ThumperTalk prides itself on maintaining a high-level of business ethics and will continue to play a responsible role in the powersports industry. Offending member posts will be deleted and they will be given a first and last warning.

 

[truespode]

I support the spirit of what they are saying but it will depend on how it is carried out. Customers need an outlet and a way to express their dissatisfaction.

Many software companies employ an "ombudsman" to work as an agent on the customers behalf. Sometimes these are glorified snow job type of positions but at times those positions can be very beneficial to the consumer and the company.

Companies need a way to field complaints. Most companies get a ton of complaints sent to a few individuals in the company while the owner or most responsible party in the company are unaware of the service issues. They only get to see the sales figures.

Boards like DRN, XDB, Thumpertalk and many many more allow the customer a way to express their dissatisfaction in a fair way. Sometimes the customer goes overboard but so has a few of the companies.

Usually in the instances of a responsible company you see more happy customers flaming the flamer than you see piling on. When there are a lot of customers all in agreement of the poor service they have received then the company needs to take a look at their practices.

Without a board on the Internet some companies will always remain in the dark. However, the expression has to be responsible and not just some kid wanting to exact revenge b/c they didn't get their way.

It is a tough road and the easy way is to not allow any flaming of companies but that isn't going to be the best way in all situations.

My humble .02

Ivan

 

[Rich Rohrich]

Given how many times people have gone off half-cocked and blasted some company out here only to have us find out the real story later, I can see their point. It's tough to police these types of things, and certain members seem to have no capacity for discretion, so I can see the value in stopping it up front.

 

[biglou]

I'm with Rich on this one. I saw the most recent "flame" over on TT, and it seemed like the customer (in this instance) didn't have much of a case to present for himself. The signal to noise ratio over there has plummeted as of late, sad to say. It's getting tough to filter through anymore...

 

[bsmith]

Like Lou said, it's tuff to weed through the propaganda/spam to find the right information, but the Canondale forum is great, and has a lot of folks from the northwest :)
I still see HR pop in out once and awhile ;)
I expect we will continue to see TT getting flamed for trying to do the right thing, just like DRN has done from day one :thumb:

 

[WoWman]

I expect we will continue to see TT getting flamed for trying to do the right thing, just like DRN has done from day one :thumb:

I don't think TT is getting flamed for 'trying to do the right thing" :think:

Mabye I just don't get what you are saying (more than likely) but I think ThumperTalk is the best bulletin board site for thumpers. DRN has it covered with 2smokes though. One of the only reasons I cam here was the KDX forum, which I have gained so much out of. :)

 

[BSWIFT]

I guess I see both sides of this issue but would understand that the site has a financial stake with the advertisers. If stopping the flames prevents appropriate feedback then it is bad. However, if it is just someone PO'd then nuke it. I've had my share of supplier/distributor problems but I attempt to be constructive without being to condecending. Unfortunately, I don't always come across the way I want to. Oh, well, shrugs.

 

[truespode]

Originally posted by BSWIFT
Unfortunately, I don't always come across the way I want to. Oh, well, shrugs.

Not many of us do :(

Ivan

 

[motometal]

not much stopping "joe's motoparts" from posting a bash against the competition "bill's motoparts", just to try to hurt their competitor. That's why I don't pay much attention unless the opinion is coming from a member I am familiar with.