Hi BCA mods,
I wonder whether you would consider adding a new guideline to the forum rules? I think that it would be a good idea to suggest that this public forum is not a place for customers to work out their complaints against a sponsor with respect to particular orders.
It's one thing for forum users to ask a sponsor whether he or she has something in stock, or even to make suggestions to a sponsor.
But to have an extended public discussion between a customer and a sponsor about a particular order that's gone wrong in some way, is uncomfortable for many of us. These discussions could be handled privately, and the sponsors can be reached by PM if customers want to discuss their concerns.
Sponsors support our forum financially and also often contribute their time to answer questions, give information and so on. Some probably hope that publicity here will help their business but some of them buy sponsorships without even expecting to benefit financially. They do it to benefit the community.
But sponsors are also uniquely vulnerable to negative publicity in a forum like this. A lengthy thread started by one person complaining about a particular deal could put other BCA members off of ever dealing with that sponsor, no matter how it works out in the end. And, in the process, the rest of us who aren't even involved in the discussion unwittingly become part of it because what's at stake is the sponsor's reputation.
It's just a thought. I don't mean to refer to one thread in particular. It's just something that's been on my mind for a long time.
I wonder whether you would consider adding a new guideline to the forum rules? I think that it would be a good idea to suggest that this public forum is not a place for customers to work out their complaints against a sponsor with respect to particular orders.
It's one thing for forum users to ask a sponsor whether he or she has something in stock, or even to make suggestions to a sponsor.
But to have an extended public discussion between a customer and a sponsor about a particular order that's gone wrong in some way, is uncomfortable for many of us. These discussions could be handled privately, and the sponsors can be reached by PM if customers want to discuss their concerns.
Sponsors support our forum financially and also often contribute their time to answer questions, give information and so on. Some probably hope that publicity here will help their business but some of them buy sponsorships without even expecting to benefit financially. They do it to benefit the community.
But sponsors are also uniquely vulnerable to negative publicity in a forum like this. A lengthy thread started by one person complaining about a particular deal could put other BCA members off of ever dealing with that sponsor, no matter how it works out in the end. And, in the process, the rest of us who aren't even involved in the discussion unwittingly become part of it because what's at stake is the sponsor's reputation.
It's just a thought. I don't mean to refer to one thread in particular. It's just something that's been on my mind for a long time.
