Commercial Interests

[Richard]

Can I ask members to vote in a simple Yes/No poll on the question of whether members with commercial interests in audio should declare them in a signature at the bottom of their posts.

Members may only vote once and no names are shown.

Thanks
Rich

[BOONDI]

Excellent topic Richard, and about time......

[Shane]

Yes. Not because I feel strongly about the principle, but because the information will be useful to me. Knowing that Darren runs Slatedeck tells me a lot about both. I know from Darren's posts that he knows what he's talking about, and this tells me that his products are likely to be good. That's good for him and good for me.

Conversely, it also prevents manufacturers trying to promote their products by recommendations from apparently disinterested cutomers.

[Clive]

On balance I think no.

Well known BB members do not use the board to advertise their products. There has been the occasional new member who has tried selling to us. As there can't easily be any way to really know who a new member is, this is area that can only be controlled by tight moderation.

What do we define as commercial? Someone who makes their living out of selling hifi. What about people who do a fair amount of buying and selling that might supplement their income? It's hard to know if this is commercial or just a way to play with lots of kit.

The outcome from declaring interests is to inconvenience the scrupulous and maybe drive away some individuals because they just want "normal" conversations and not be viewed as having their own agenda. The unscrupulous will carry on as they always have.

By having commercial interests declared we may satisfy personal curiosity but I'm not convinced we achieve any more than that.

[Darren D]

Then may I ask you start the ball rolling Richard?

Please declare your own intersts before putting pressure on others.

[Global]

I believe such declaration to be unnecessary.

Firstly, because it is pointless in that anyone intending to act unscrupulously is unlikely to make such a declaration. It therefore becomes a pointless exercise in the honest advertising their integrity.

Secondly, I believe it is wrong to legislate retrospectively and require honest and valued members of this forum to do something they have never done before and which was not in any stated rules when they signed up.

Thirdly, "If it ain't broke don't fix it". Moderators have provided quick rectification of occasional improper selling attempts in the past. Let it continue thus!

Mark

[Clive]

Originally Posted by Darren D

Then may I ask you start the ball rolling Richard?

Please declare your own intersts before putting pressure on others.

In case anyone is wondering, Darren seems to have replied to a posting that has vanished. It's in my email but not on the BB.

[Darren D]

I thought I was going mad, where did it go?

Richard?

[steve s]

I'm all for it being declared.. maybe next to the name or in the location..
....but does that then amount nearly to a free advert on another (this ) commercial site...

i find it quite interesting to see other forums where this happens..

you can sometimes see the angle of some of the posts on this forum, some have a comercial slant... ..nothing wrong with that... when you understand that... (and providing peter does not mind)

i have i large collection of valves and vintage gear. I'm not a dealer.(but i have sold some). just got a bit carried away.. i'm sure that puts quite a slant on some of my posts

... as all of our posts have a slant towards what we know about

but thats what this forum so good at.. sharing information and opinions..
the hard bit sometimes, is to recognise the difference



cheers steve

[Richard]

Clive, Darren,

Sorry, not got that post, it was along the lines of Joe selling beans in the real world and I hit submit rather than preview. Feel free to post it if you like Clive but it wasn't anything much other than a view on how/why interests should be declared. I felt it was too obvious for most folk so deleted it rather than leaving it. Darren's post reads the same without mine and my reply would be the same,

Darren,

I have no commercial interests in audio.

Clive,

You make a good case for folk who wish to remain anonymous. In the case of a reviewer I'd expect an independant reviewer to suit himself but if he was commercially connected to declare it.

Mark,

It isn't retrospective as it wouldn't affect ordinary members. Default setting is no signature. What's suggested is to consider if commercial interests should be noted so members - all - not just regulars - are aware of who is posting a view or opinion.

Steve,

I think it's fair to say no-one's bothered about private sellers. Most are one-offs and there's a Sales/Wants section. I agree it can be interesting and helpful if others can help out with valves and parts and this has always been a part of the chat here.

Rich