Advertising policy

[networkguy3]

What is the policy here for posting sale information and other references to sites that are not sponsors? Is it permitted? How about hobby businesses posting things for sale?

[Cruiseman]

You can read our complete policies here: http://www.theglforum.com/forum/memb...-and-etiquette

If you post information about a sale from a business that is not competing with a board sponsor, I don't have a problem with it, as long as it does not become a routine for that business getting mentioned. I would prefer that you not post a link to their website, but you can mention the business and most folks can figure out how to find them with Google. Now, here is why. Our sponsors pay for the right to promote their business and their products on here. It is not fair for a business who is not paying to be able to benefit from the site, which is being paid for by the sponsors. Our sponsorship rates are very modest and not beyond the reach of virtually any size business.

We have to protect the paying sponsors because they pay for the costs of the site so that it is remains to everyone. But, we also don't want to deny our members of a great opportunity to save money or enjoy a great product.

As for hobby businesses, I am trying to work on a solution to this issue right now. In fact, we had a meeting about this today. The hard part is determining "what" constitutes a "hobby" business? We are open to any ideas and thoughts anyone has on this.

Now, I don't want to run this site with a 'heavy hand', like some "other" sites. I am hoping that the majority of members here will realize the benefit of our sponsors, encourage businesses to become sponsors, and refrain from over promoting a business who is not participating. I also am hoping that the members will help to "self-police" this website.

If you have any question about a post, feel free to send the post to me as a PM first and I will be glad to edit it for you so that it meets the guidelines.

[networkguy3]

Thank you for your reply.

I understand the dilemma on "hobby" businesses. I also want to protect the sponsors of the board so it can continue to exist. However, it seems to me that most of the things that have been called hobby businesses are people that have made things in their "spare" time and sell them themselves basically to cover costs and to help out their fellow bikers. If I made a steering stem socket for the GL and sold some to board members that would be a hobby. If I developed a line of tools and built those for other riders, then that would be more of a business. How about this one? If a product is sold by the person who makes it and it is not advertised commercially, then it is a hobby. If the person either buys the product from someone else for resale or it is advertised commercially then it is no longer a hobby. Would that work? I realize that it would be somewhat on the honor system, but I really don't think it would be a big problem.

Rest assured, you will not see me selling my new line of tools on your web site. I'm doing well if I can get paper folded without cutting my finger.

[hparsons]

Not a mod or anything, and my opinion may be worth roughly what I'm charging for it, but the condition that it "be made by the person, and not advertised commercially" sounds to me like a very good guideline.

[glarson3]

All good ideas. Especially not moderating with a heavy hand. I think it's very much a thin line the moderators will have to weigh in on, and hopefully we can find a solution. Examples I can think of are the key hangers etc. that KenA had and the Rocky tree. Both are something a sponsor doesn't sell, and are made by the poster, and (to my knowledge) not available in stores.

[hparsons]

I think another example, with a slightly different outcome, was McGyver's belly pans. On ... another site ... he was almost banned because he talked about them; usually in answer to other's questions. That really was not competition to the vendors, because there's no way he could make enough by hand, one at at time, to be any real competition. But he was still shut down.

Eventually, at least one vendor was interested enough though that they began buying them from him. Everybody won on that one! (Except the forum that wouldn't let him talk about them, they sort of got a black eye from it all ... but they're probably getting used to that by now).

[Westdc]

Time will reveal all

[Cruiseman]

Thank you for your reply.

How about this one? If a product is sold by the person who makes it and it is not advertised commercially, then it is a hobby. If the person either buys the product from someone else for resale or it is advertised commercially then it is no longer a hobby. Would that work? I realize that it would be somewhat on the honor system, but I really don't think it would be a big problem.

That is a plausible idea.