Proposed changes to mechanics directory

Dartman

Dartman

Well-known member
Silver Member
I have 2 concerns with the directory -

1. There are some people listed that I have yet to see make a contribution to the forum in any way except to ask to be
added to the directory. IMO these folks are getting free advertising without any proof of their expertise and I question
whether they should remain listed. I can post a list of the names in question for further discussion. It might also be a good
idea that before anyone new is added in the future that they get an endorsement from an active member.

2. In light of a recent thread about bad work it seems a second section could be added to the directory listing mechanics
who have received complaints on the forum. We try to list the good so it might be a service to members to also list the bad.

Responses to both issues appreciated.
 
As a non-mechanic I appreciate any ideas you have to police the mechanics directory. It could spare someone a bad experience.

Dartman said:
I have 2 concerns with the directory -

1. There are some people listed that I have yet to see make a contribution to the forum in any way except to ask to be
added to the directory. IMO these folks are getting free advertising without any proof of their expertise and I question
whether they should remain listed. I can post a list of the names in question for further discussion. It might also be a good
idea that before anyone new is added in the future that they get an endorsement from an active member.

2. In light of a recent thread about bad work it seems a second section could be added to the directory listing mechanics
who have received complaints on the forum. We try to list the good so it might be a service to members to also list the bad.

Responses to both issues appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
Dartman said:
I have 2 concerns with the directory -

1. There are some people listed that I have yet to see make a contribution to the forum in any way except to ask to be
added to the directory. IMO these folks are getting free advertising without any proof of their expertise and I question
whether they should remain listed. I can post a list of the names in question for further discussion. It might also be a good
idea that before anyone new is added in the future that they get an endorsement from an active member.

2. In light of a recent thread about bad work it seems a second section could be added to the directory listing mechanics
who have received complaints on the forum. We try to list the good so it might be a service to members to also list the bad.

Responses to both issues appreciated.
Click to expand...

Rick, then your going to police the complaints to make sure their creditable. I'm sure we have all ran into a customer that just can't be pleased. instead of negative marks, give positive marks for creditable mechanics.
 
Dartman said:
I have 2 concerns with the directory -

1. There are some people listed that I have yet to see make a contribution to the forum in any way except to ask to be
added to the directory. IMO these folks are getting free advertising without any proof of their expertise and I question
whether they should remain listed. I can post a list of the names in question for further discussion. It might also be a good
idea that before anyone new is added in the future that they get an endorsement from an active member.

2. In light of a recent thread about bad work it seems a second section could be added to the directory listing mechanics
who have received complaints on the forum. We try to list the good so it might be a service to members to also list the bad.

Responses to both issues appreciated.
Click to expand...

Rick,

Is this the first incident of a listed mechanic doing a sub par job? If so, I think the referral section has been working amazingly well. If a customer has a problem with work preformed they can certainly post the details of their issues with that mechanic.

Most customers would be better served with a mechanic from the referral list than just calling a company from the yellow pages, at least they have a public forum to alert others to their experience positive or negative.

As far as two lists or limiting the list to people contributing to the forum I don't see this as a necessary step after just one complaint. The disclaimer at the top of the mechanics list "not an endorsement" let's people know to check for local references before hiring any company or mechanic.

JMO
Jay
 
I do still like the idea obe1 had in the other thread about Avatar tags for approved mechanics. You could also tag someone's listing in the directory if they are a confirmed/approved/certified mechanic, or however you want to put it. Could be as easy as putting a :thumbup: or a *next to the names of the confirmed mechanics. LOL Once they are up and running, we could also list "ABIA Certified Mechanic" or "RKC Certification Graduate" or whatever in the listing of those who have been certified. Just a thought.

I agree that it's not fair to knock a guy off the list after one bad experience, but there should be a way for someone using that list for its intended purpose to see who's who.
 
To be listed...

To be listed one requirement should be pictures of your work for review by the established mechanics on this site. You know who you are.
 
sdbilliards said:
Rick, then your going to police the complaints to make sure their creditable. I'm sure we have all ran into a customer that just can't be pleased. instead of negative marks, give positive marks for creditable mechanics.
Click to expand...

When you think about it have we actually had anyone post a complaint and name names about unacceptable work?

I'm not the police. In the case of the recent bad work thread I had suggested to the OP to bring it to the public forum to give the person an opportunity to respond. When looking into this further I didn't find where this person had ever been listed in the directory unless he is there under a different name. I'll leave it at that but it did ring a bell as to just who are some of the people listed in the directory that we know nothing about or the quality of their work.

It's not just AZB members that browse the mechanics list. Plenty of guests in the real world have found and called people from the list which is easy to find with a simple google search for pool table mechanic

Nobody has been delisted nor will they unless there are complaintS and the consensus of the known mechanics is in favor of removing someone from the list.

Consider this thread just shaking the tree a bit to see what comes up that could help improve the directory. Your "positive marks" suggestion is a good one in line with what some others have said (kinda like that :thumbup: suggestion).
 
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I'm sure there's plenty of mechanics that choose not to post.Now I do think those that choose to use the directory should respond if that had troubles.If you look at the Ga directory my name as listed as billiards specialist.I'm not the billiards specialist.I did a ride along to a well know pro's home here in Atl and told the guy about this site and posted for him.He has never posted but maintains a table for a top 5 player in the states.
 
NoBull9 said:
I'm sure there's plenty of mechanics that choose not to post.Now I do think those that choose to use the directory should respond if that had troubles.If you look at the Ga directory my name as listed as billiards specialist.I'm not the billiards specialist.I did a ride along to a well know pro's home here in Atl and told the guy about this site and posted for him.He has never posted but maintains a table for a top 5 player in the states.
Click to expand...

You posted this on 9/11/2008
NoBull9 said:
Georgia
Billiard Specialist.
Terry Sammons Direct Cell 404-784-7407
Click to expand...

FTR there are names posted that are not members of the forum but were included by request and people attesting to their qualifications.

Are you Terry Sammons yes or no?
 
Dartman said:
I have 2 concerns with the directory -

1. There are some people listed that I have yet to see make a contribution to the forum in any way except to ask to be
added to the directory. IMO these folks are getting free advertising without any proof of their expertise and I question
whether they should remain listed. I can post a list of the names in question for further discussion. It might also be a good
idea that before anyone new is added in the future that they get an endorsement from an active member.

2. In light of a recent thread about bad work it seems a second section could be added to the directory listing mechanics
who have received complaints on the forum. We try to list the good so it might be a service to members to also list the bad.

Responses to both issues appreciated.
Click to expand...

Rick, I wish you luck with this task. I'm more than sure all the top mechanics that are truly mechanics will help.

Now all we have to do is find out who's who on this forum.

Just seems to me that anyone that can put cloth on the table without wrinkles, thinks he's a mechanic.

Tons of hacks charging $80 or $100 for recovery jobs.

Starting a new list is about all you can do, and have someone monitor the list before posting.

Good Luck.....I'll help in any way I can.

Mark Gregory
 
perfectpocketz said:
Rick, I wish you luck with this task. I'm more than sure all the top mechanics that are truly mechanics will help.

Now all we have to do is find out who's who on this forum.

Just seems to me that anyone that can put cloth on the table without wrinkles, thinks he's a mechanic.

Tons of hacks charging $80 or $100 for recovery jobs.

Starting a new list is about all you can do, and have someone monitor the list before posting.

Good Luck.....I'll help in any way I can.

Mark Gregory
Click to expand...

A new list with Jay, Pat, Glen, Mark, and other top mechanics approving the new listing. The mechanic in question could go with the "top dog" and could be evaluated. Something of this sort could work if everyone likes the idea.

Mort Walston
Josh Walston
Slate Billiards Service
 
Slate Billiards said:
A new list with Jay, Pat, Glen, Mark, and other top mechanics approving the new listing. The mechanic in question could go with the "top dog" and could be evaluated. Something of this sort could work if everyone likes the idea.

Mort Walston
Josh Walston
Slate Billiards Service
Click to expand...
Thanks for the mention Mort..But those guys are way above my pay grade, They are who I call with questions.
 
I think we should tread lightly on the issue of "certifying" mechanics via this forum. I think a note on the directory should instruct users to ask other mechanics in the forum if they are familiar with the work of the mechanic they're thinking of contacting.

Any "badge" indicating that someone is "certified" may be misconstrued as an endorsement by AZ Billiards and could potentially create controversy. I think endorsing mechanics should be done at the individual discretion of other mechanics on the forum.
 
I am not Terry nor did I ever say I was Terry.I simply posted his information being that he asked nicely.You are welcome to remove his listing being that I do not care.Now if you are going insist that you must contribute to be a part of this public forum then post the rules.Now for myself I have worked in the industry for the better part of 20 years as a tech,retail and manufacturing.I now work for my self but not as a tech.Setting up a table is a hobby.I refer what I can to Mark Gregory.
 
For what it's worth-

I like most of the suggestions on here.
Reputation is the first step to establishing credibility, posting pics of your work in progress should help somewhat. Maybe something better than those aweful YouTube videos we were watching last week....
Being vouched for by other members who are not in question, and putting something up to signify who is proven from who is not, may help a bit as well. ABIA tags, certified, tags, RKC whatever.... time to stand out from the masses for those that earn the right of passage.
Since I believe this to be an unprecedented (to my knowledge) event, I think it came a good time to be addressed, considering what we are all trying to pull together to accomplish.
As far as making the list, maybe we should make a new one...when put to the test, if they don't pass, then they don't pass.
Just my .02 worth, but it is a good question being brought up-
Glad to see you're on patrol Rick, you do as much or more for this forum as anyone-
 
Anyone want to take credit for this?

99%20Homemade%20Pool%20Table.jpg
 
QuickEdward said:
Anyone want to take credit for this?

99%20Homemade%20Pool%20Table.jpg
Click to expand...

As i sat there watching the frozen turkey i just threw in my turkey deep fryer as it rained. i said to myself ,boy i sure am glad i saved those paint cans after painting this old wooden deck.I wonder if this picture will fit on my new business card???
 
QuickEdward said:
Anyone want to take credit for this?

99%20Homemade%20Pool%20Table.jpg
Click to expand...

What a riot......that's some great "yard art"!!!!


Interesting thread. I'm not sure how to contribute to this one. As I'm sure many of my fellow mechanics do, I count on my reputation. Without it, I'm dead! I've never been certified but, am "authorized" by some manufacturers as an installer, stemming from that reputation. If by chance I have a customer not happy with my performance, I will do everything in my power to make it right. The lead subtitle on my website for the last 5 years has been, "a service is not complete until it's right".

As I said, I'm not sure how to contribute to this dilemma. Rick, I'll do what I can for ya!!

Robin
 
Outdoor table

Just commenting on Table, real funny thing if you look at all the bare dirt around that thing it has a lot of play on it. From KY. originally and seen a lot but this takes the cake.
 
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