Should pros be allowed to sell products on the main forum?

[CreeDo]

I really wish they could come up with a way to rate threads based on the people that are participating in them. I don't think they currently use the "rep" system at all, but wouldn't it be cool if you could sort the current threads by some score that was based off of the rep system? So when people that have high rep post to a thread, it scores it. Then you could have half of the threads on the first page based on their scores and the other half would just be new threads.

I think a lot of interesting topics are being lost in the shuffle lately, but maybe it's just me.

Unfortunately as you seem to know already, rep's kind of broken. It's easy to max out, and if you just post a ton you'll eventually get the same great rep as someone who's only posted 10 times but every post was solid gold. It's also kind of a popularity contest, you can get it just for stating obvious stuff that a lot of people agree with. Or for posting a funny pic in the gif thread.

Really there's no way to predict when a thread will be gold, or will start out bad and then turn into gold.

There are a couple of ways you can follow good threads before they get buried though.
One way is to use ignore on guys you feel start junk threads that you never need to see. Another is to use the subscribe feature. I think subscribe is a little clunky though. I think you should be able to simply click a single button at the top of bottom of the page to subscribe to it, and then the next time you're in the main forum... all subscribed threads will appear at the top of the list right after the sticky threads.

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Anything for sale should be posted in the For Sale area. That's why we have one and that's what it's there for. And any member's personal issue with having to wade through all the sales pitches in the main forum is not even the main reason. It quite simply is rude and unfair to other vendors who do play by the rules. Max Eberle has been a valuable member here who both contributes through his posts and has put numerous free video instruction out there. But he plays by the rules and pitches his material that is for sale in the proper place. It's simply not fair to these guys.

It seems that some think that as long as you're not selling lumber or slate then you can pitch it wherever you please. But unless I'm mistaken that's not the rule. The way I understand it, the rule is if it's for sale it should be in the for sale forum.

And what I really don't get is why some vendors think the main forum is a better area to pitch anyway. Just about anytime you look to see where the viewers are on this forum there are usually close to the same number or more in the for sale area than are in the main forum. And those in the for sale area are more than likely actually on the hunt to buy something. Judging by how this subject comes up regularly, they probably alienate more people than they attract with this practice of pitching in the main forum.

What's fair is fair. And for this reason I personally will not buy anything pitched in the main forum. I also won't buy anything from a mass vendor who doesn't have the decency to spring for a Club Membership. By mass vendor I'm referring to those who are obviously engaging in commerce as opposed to the member who is simply trying to sell his cue.

Somehow I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way.

 

[mohrt]

Some people are missing part of the original question: Should pros be allowed to sell products on the main forum?

Being a pro isn't really the point of the question. Of course products can be promoted on AZB, but IMHO the only thing that should go in the main forum are topics that do not specifically fit into another forum. That said, I don't think these threads always fit into "For Sale", as they may be reviews, questions, help, etc. about a product or specific topic, and that is why they land in the general forum.

Maybe there should be a forum specifically for reviews/testimonials/help/etc on commercial products?

 

[Renegade_56]

I think that if "anyone" has a product for sale and comes to this or any other forum to present it to the membership for sale, then definetly yes, post it in the W/FS section. That is why it is there. On the other hand, if you have a "line of Products' then buy advertising from this site, that ultimately, is what keeps this site available to all of the people you are trying to sell your products to! Members, pro or not, with an individual item for sale should post it in W/FS, then if you want more exposure accross the forum, add the link in your signature, which gets you WAY more exposure than posting in multiple sections, then go about the forum in various sections and post usefull, helpful, constructive comments and replies to other's threads,,,,,the kind of replies that people will actually read from start to finish before they back out or red rep you. I don't feel ANYONE should be allowed to post the same item for sale in multiple sections, so I understand the frustration by some of voicing opinions on their existance, though it's very easy to move on and let Mike and company handle it.

The forum has rules, and over the life of this forum, Mike has proven to be very capable of managing them. Perhaps,,,,,if there were less threads with pissing contests about how the rules should be upheld, which inevitably requires monitoring to maintain civility,,,,,,maybe Mike and crew would have more free time to keep the policeing of multiple posting and innacurate thread placement in order.

As far as Pro's on the forum,,,,,,,I say the more the merrier, we can all learn from them,,but if they want to sell instructional material I think they too should post in W/FS, and then use signature links to gain exposure if they wish.

 

[Quesports]

I think every item from every member that is for sale should be in the WFS section. Actually we do not have to worry about the "pros" selling here at all as most get driven off by the nonsense eventually anyway. Just look at the section for pros and see when the last comments were made for proof of that.

 

[lfigueroa]

I think that if "anyone" has a product for sale and comes to this or any other forum to present it to the membership for sale, then definetly yes, post it in the W/FS section. That is why it is there. On the other hand, if you have a "line of Products' then buy advertising from this site, that ultimately, is what keeps this site available to all of the people you are trying to sell your products to! Members, pro or not, with an individual item for sale should post it in W/FS, then if you want more exposure accross the forum, add the link in your signature, which gets you WAY more exposure than posting in multiple sections, then go about the forum in various sections and post usefull, helpful, constructive comments and replies to other's threads,,,,,the kind of replies that people will actually read from start to finish before they back out or red rep you. I don't feel ANYONE should be allowed to post the same item for sale in multiple sections, so I understand the frustration by some of voicing opinions on their existance, though it's very easy to move on and let Mike and company handle it.

The forum has rules, and over the life of this forum, Mike has proven to be very capable of managing them. Perhaps,,,,,if there were less threads with pissing contests about how the rules should be upheld, which inevitably requires monitoring to maintain civility,,,,,,maybe Mike and crew would have more free time to keep the policeing of multiple posting and innacurate thread placement in order.

As far as Pro's on the forum,,,,,,,I say the more the merrier, we can all learn from them,,but if they want to sell instructional material I think they too should post in W/FS, and then use signature links to gain exposure if they wish.

Well said.

But looking at the front page right now, an easier solution might be to create a CJ Wiley sub forum. That way CJ could have multiple threads on the same DVD, threads highlighting his past matches, threads offering lessons, threads about his techniques, threads on how he aims, and threads on whatever else he has in store. I think it'd be great for everyone.

Lou Figueroa

 

[sfleinen]

Some people are missing part of the original question: Should pros be allowed to sell products on the main forum?

Being a pro isn't really the point of the question. Of course products can be promoted on AZB, but IMHO the only thing that should go in the main forum are topics that do not specifically fit into another forum. That said, I don't think these threads always fit into "For Sale", as they may be reviews, questions, help, etc. about a product or specific topic, and that is why they land in the general forum.

Maybe there should be a forum specifically for reviews/testimonials/help/etc on commercial products?

Monte:

The problem is that the ad's original purpose is quickly blurred when folks respond to the ad, posting questions, and then the "advertisement thread" now turns into a product Q&A thread -- with the original poster hiding behind the excuse that it is now a product Q&A thread, "not an advertisement."

I don't think anyone -- pro or not -- should get a free ride to post advertisements on the Main forum. There is a dedicated Wanted/For Sale subforum for that -- that's its intended purpose.

But then again, the product "fans" will congeal and clot together like blood platelets, holding up the banner that "it's pool-related, damn it, why can't it be posted to the Main forum when it is designed to 'improve one's pool game' -- and it's from a 'pro' to boot!"

::sigh::

-Sean

 

[CJ Wiley]

You guys could make videos on how you aim, how you stroke, and how you calculate

Well said.

But looking at the front page right now, an easier solution might be to create a CJ Wiley sub forum. That way CJ could have multiple threads on the same DVD, threads highlighting his past matches, threads offering lessons, threads about his techniques, threads on how he aims, and threads on whatever else he has in store. I think it'd be great for everyone.

Lou Figueroa

How about if you, neal, duckie and pj start your own section? What would we call it?.....hmmm, anyone have any ideas?

You guys could make videos on how you ghost ball aim, how you pendulum stroke, and how you calculate your spin ratios to induce position margins. That would be more exciting than.....hmmm, well, it would be "interesting" no doubt.

 

[mohrt]

Monte:

The problem is that the ad's original purpose is quickly blurred when folks respond to the ad, posting questions, and then the "advertisement thread" now turns into a product Q&A thread -- with the original poster hiding behind the excuse that it is now a product Q&A thread, "not an advertisement."

I don't think anyone -- pro or not -- should get a free ride to post advertisements on the Main forum. There is a dedicated Wanted/For Sale subforum for that -- that's its intended purpose.

But then again, the product "fans" will congeal and clot together like blood platelets, holding up the banner that "it's pool-related, damn it, why can't it be posted to the Main forum when it is designed to 'improve one's pool game' -- and it's from a 'pro' to boot!"

::sigh::

-Sean

Direct product promotion should go in For Sale. Product review/testimonial/help should go in "Product Discussion" or whatever (what currently slips into main forum.) Neither should go in the main forum. If "Product Discussion" existed, it would be a no-brainer where to move this stuff.

 

[Donkey Bruce]

How about if you, neal, duckie and pj start your own section? What would we call it?.....hmmm, anyone have any ideas?

You guys could make videos on how you ghost ball aim, how you pendulum stroke, and how you calculate your spin ratios to induce position margins. That would be more exciting than.....hmmm, well, it would be "interesting" no doubt.

Good idea, cj. It could be called "technique".

Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

There is an entire area for product reviews and discussion, with separate forums for:

Tables and accessories
Cases
Cues and shafts
Instructional materials
Instructors
Cue accessories
Other items

It can be found right on the home page of the forum, but here's a direct link:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=80

 

[Donkey Bruce]

There is something going on with this forum that may or may not have anything to do with pros selling products on here. What it seems like to me is this forum is getting a lot more new threads. Am I wrong about this? I'll find a thread that interests me and in just a couple of hours it's long gone, only to be found somewhere on page 3.

I really wish they could come up with a way to rate threads based on the people that are participating in them. I don't think they currently use the "rep" system at all, but wouldn't it be cool if you could sort the current threads by some score that was based off of the rep system? So when people that have high rep post to a thread, it scores it. Then you could have half of the threads on the first page based on their scores and the other half would just be new threads.

I think a lot of interesting topics are being lost in the shuffle lately, but maybe it's just me.

Agreed. Your thread on how difficult it is to continue improving was shamefully ignored.

It should have been a great discussion, yet only attracted a few pages of responses. This site needs to define itself again.

Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk

 

[Maxx]

I would much rather look at an infomercial type thread started by a pro than see more drivel from ChrisBanks.

Most pros didn't get that good by being a moron, they can add something to AZ even if they are looking for a couple of bucks.

 

[Majic]

Well?

Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk

Isn't that up to the owners and moderators of this forum to decide?

 

[mohrt]

There is an entire area for product reviews and discussion, with separate forums for:

Tables and accessories
Cases
Cues and shafts
Instructional materials
Instructors
Cue accessories
Other items

It can be found right on the home page of the forum, but here's a direct link:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=80

Well there you go, I didn't go up a high enough level to see the main categories. So why not move any and all discussion about products to there? There will always be topics misplaced to the main forum, this will require some moderation.

 

[CJ Wiley]

"Great Technique, or the Greatest Technique"

Good idea, cj. It could be called "technique".

Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk

I like the name "Great Technique, or the Greatest Technique"

 

[KRJ]

How about if you, neal, duckie and pj start your own section? What would we call it?.....hmmm, anyone have any ideas?

You guys could make videos on how you ghost ball aim, how you pendulum stroke, and how you calculate your spin ratios to induce position margins. That would be more exciting than.....hmmm, well, it would be "interesting" no doubt.

LOL. Which one is PJ ???

 

[The Renfro]

Good idea, cj. It could be called "technique".

Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk

I was leaning towards "useless drivel" or maybe "waste of oxygen".....

:nanner::nanner::nanner:

 

[CJ Wiley]

This is the Cue Ball they are planning on making us use in the near future.

LOL. Which one is PJ ???

I"m not sure, this picture was taken with a hidden camera at one of their top secret "FBI" (Forum Billiard Instructors) meetings. You can't imagine how tough it was to have access to this. We had to have "Illuminati" clearance. This is the Cue Ball they are planning on making us use in the near future. You can see the TOI on the bottom points of the pyramid if you look closely.

 

[KRJ]

I"m not sure, this picture was taken with a hidden camera at one of their top secret "FBI" (Forum Billiard Instructors) meetings. You can't imagine how tough it was to have access to this. We had to have "Illuminati" clearance. This is the Cue Ball they are planning on making us use in the near future.

LMAO.. I could only imagine the "secret lab"... white lab jackets, protractors, calculators, high tech computers, microscopes, magnifying glasses, photos from the "secret instructors from the Eastern European underground, and every article that was ever posted by Stan, you and others stacked to the ceiling.

The funny thing is, the only thing they did not have in the "lab" was a pool cue, balls, or a table