Based on member feedback from this thread and other means, along with continued discussion by the management team, the guidelines for the new classifieds forums, the IAP Department of Commerce (DoC), have been tweaked. The rules are posted here, and below is a summary of the major changes.
Feel free to ask questions in this thread. So that the discussion does not go off into the weeds, I'm asking that members do not reply to other members questions. I am monitoring this thread and I'll respond directly. May I also please ask that we don't rehash the entire philosophy of charging for ads. If you really need to vent about that, send me a PM.
As we get used to the new forums, we may make additional adjustments to the rules based on comments and observations about how things are going. If you have a concern or suggestion, send me a PM.
Changes to General Rules:
I know there was some confusion and consternation over these rules. There were a lot of questions about complicated relationships, who could review whom, etc. I got a little confused myself when trying to answer some what-if questions. A couple people pointed out that taken literally, this would prevent a significant number of people from reviewing vendors.
So, I simplified the rules significantly. We're going to depend on good behavior, honesty, and ethics in the C&J forum. The disclaimers should allow the reader to decide whether or not the review is helpful.
The essence of the replacement rules is:
Originally, the rule regarding SOYP read thusly:
"If you are a vendor, and you make your own pens from your own product, feel free to post your work in our Show Off Your Pens forum. You may identify the materials, but you may not mention that you sell them. The same rules apply; no links, no product numbers, no prices. If someone asks where to get the materials, again the same rules apply. Let your signature and your fans and customers do the talking."
This has changed to:
If you are a vendor, and you make your own pens from your own product, feel free to post your work in our Show Off Your Pens forum. You may tastefully identify your materials and indicate that you sell them, but you may not direct people to your web site or IAP ad, or post links, catalog numbers, or prices. (A tasteful reference would be: "Made using my Sweet Sparkles Blank.") The idea is simple; we want to see your nice pens, we want to know you sell the stuff so we can make similarly nice pens, but SOYP is not your product catalog. Leave a week between posting a pen in SOYP and offering the same thing in the classifieds or vice versa.
Feel free to ask questions in this thread. So that the discussion does not go off into the weeds, I'm asking that members do not reply to other members questions. I am monitoring this thread and I'll respond directly. May I also please ask that we don't rehash the entire philosophy of charging for ads. If you really need to vent about that, send me a PM.
As we get used to the new forums, we may make additional adjustments to the rules based on comments and observations about how things are going. If you have a concern or suggestion, send me a PM.
Changes to General Rules:
- Editing: The thread edit time changed from the site-wide default of 48 hours, to two weeks in the DOC forums. This will allow editing of your ad to update quantities remaining and "X" photos for the entire duration of the ad.
- Photos: The original rule about not editing photos was to prevent any sort of switcheroo on what was being sold. Editing of photos WILL be allowed to "X" items which are sold. (Useful mostly for blank sales.)
- ADDED: "Your ad may remain open as long as you wish. Close it when the items are gone."
- ADDED: "You may include up to 5 photos with your ad."
- CHANGED: "All items must be somehow related to penmaking." TO "All items must be somehow related to workshop activities."
- REMOVED: "You may post a trade or giveaway once every 7 days at most."
I know there was some confusion and consternation over these rules. There were a lot of questions about complicated relationships, who could review whom, etc. I got a little confused myself when trying to answer some what-if questions. A couple people pointed out that taken literally, this would prevent a significant number of people from reviewing vendors.
So, I simplified the rules significantly. We're going to depend on good behavior, honesty, and ethics in the C&J forum. The disclaimers should allow the reader to decide whether or not the review is helpful.
The essence of the replacement rules is:
- Review recent experiences; within 30 days.
- Focus! Do not mention competing vendors in any thread.
- Threads are subject to closure after one week.
- Be ethical and honest. Add a disclaimer if you know you should. (Disclaimers might include: "My son owns the company.", "I sell blanks to the company.", etc.)
Originally, the rule regarding SOYP read thusly:
"If you are a vendor, and you make your own pens from your own product, feel free to post your work in our Show Off Your Pens forum. You may identify the materials, but you may not mention that you sell them. The same rules apply; no links, no product numbers, no prices. If someone asks where to get the materials, again the same rules apply. Let your signature and your fans and customers do the talking."
This has changed to:
If you are a vendor, and you make your own pens from your own product, feel free to post your work in our Show Off Your Pens forum. You may tastefully identify your materials and indicate that you sell them, but you may not direct people to your web site or IAP ad, or post links, catalog numbers, or prices. (A tasteful reference would be: "Made using my Sweet Sparkles Blank.") The idea is simple; we want to see your nice pens, we want to know you sell the stuff so we can make similarly nice pens, but SOYP is not your product catalog. Leave a week between posting a pen in SOYP and offering the same thing in the classifieds or vice versa.
