Free Back Door advertising on DG ?

Do you think subscribers posting links to plants they are are selling on Ebay is breaking the 'no advertising' peramiters ?


but totally disagree with someone coming on here and saying something like " let the bidding begin "

I have never agreed with eBay auctions being advertised at Daves.


I just don't think Daves should be used as a list for personal Ebay ads.

This message was edited Mar 27, 2005 6:37 PM

I agree, most of the time. If you see such an instance, use the "contact us" link and let the admins know the URL where you saw it. If it's against the AUP, they'll address it with the subscriber.

Thanks Kim .

But if someone is looking for plant 'x', and another person posts that they saw one on ebay at (xxxxx).... that's no different than saying, I found the plant you're looking for in xxxxxx catalog.

The AUP is pretty clear:

Don't toot your own horn! in other words...

Sheila

Now that you mention it, Terry, where do you find the 'AUP'? Thanks. t.

There's a handy link at the bottom of each page of the site ;o)

if someone asks for help finding a plant, seeds or nursery supplies

can we still give them a link to direct them to a source ?

What about if someone wants info on starting cuttings or growing seeds ? Is a link permitted to be posted then as an answer only ?

understand that I mean only ...............linking to a source without adding 'yea I belong to this w.ww.bla bla bla Assn.
and they are the best or they are better than w.ww. xbla xbla xbla

What about our members that have genuine businesses and also sell on ebay? Link only to the business ?

I think what DG is doing is a good thing , I just need to clarify on a few questions I have.

'brain exercise' ... lol
and I posted all this without my morning cup of java

You can always link to your own business from your member page.

dave

So, is it still okay to answer with a link or mention a company name if someone wants to know where to buy fertilizer, rockwool, insect control, etc? I sure hope so because these are the main problems with growing some plants. Scooterbug asked above, but I didn't see a reply. Thanks.

Yeah, that's fine. I'm mostly concerned about promoting companies that sell brugmansias. Maybe I need to clarify on the forum.

dave

I don't sell, when I can I do give away. BUT that is off-topic.

I have gotten some truly kewl plants from ebay, and am always looking there to see what I might find.

Could you have a forum just for peeps selling plants, so that only those who WISH to look at them, shall?

You could possibly put a limit on any given number of posts by any one member to keep the noise down.

Just a suggestion.

Along the same line...Could members who sell specific at eBay be included in the GWD? That would allow people to search for eBay sellers offering desired plants, and would also provide an addition to eBay's feedback area for buyers to check. The lines would be a bit grey between power sellers with stores and the average Joe's who offer the occasional hoya or something.

Not to beat a dead horse.........

What about someone coming on a forum and saying, "I've updated my website (or my catalog)" and give a link to their business? I'm guessing that is not allowed as it is promoting one's own business. However, if another member posts, "So-and-so has updated their website (catalog)" ; then I'm guessing that is ok as they are not promoting themselves. N'est ce pas?

Maybe encourage Ebay sellers to consider opening a SCIFstore... I noticed that one such person is now in the GardenWatchDog top 30...

Sheila

Yes, but even ScifStore owners are under the same rules as anyone else. They are also prohibited from promoting themselves.

dave

When I was new on here, I found it to be a fine line to walk, especially if someone posted "Do you know where I can find plant "X", and it happened to be a plant we offer. It's tough not to jump up and down, and say look at me, I have it. Not just on the business side of it, but also on the community side of it. Here you have a fellow member looking for something specific, and you know exactly where they can go to get it, but have to bite your tongue. Don't get me wrong. I agree 100% with the User Agreement, but can also understand how someone can inadvertantly cross the line.

With all of the new outlets currently available to promote your company, on the DG pages, it makes it a lot easier to leave it out of the forums. Now and then a direct question is asked about the company or products, and I answer those, but outside of that, I leave my promoting to the banners, plant scout, and garden watchdog.


Chris

Those people who sell plants can use PlantScout to market their goods. Starting at $100 per year is extremely cheap for such a good marketing opportunity. Most any business can afford this, even the very smallest ones.

dave

Ohh now I see- thanks Dave!
Didnt realise it would be cutting into the DG profits. We need that money to keep this place going. :-O

It's not so much a matter of cutting into DG profits (although revenue is good - it allows Dave to create new features for us ;o)

The important thing to me is that we don't have to wade through a ton of advertisements (whether subtle or blatant) in the forums in order to converse. Banner ads and PlantScout are great tools for businesses to advertise. The forums should remain a place we can share ideas without wondering if there's a profit motive behind someone's post.

I uderstand that Terry.
I guess if we had a forum strictly for ads it might eventually flow over into the other forums. Less clutter is good. Give an inch, so ta say. :-O

I was just wondering, and this might be a dumb question, it it's ok to give a link to an online picture album. I'm not a business, and I have nothing to sell, but I have an online picture album that I could give the link to instead of posting one picure per post. Is that something that's acceptable?

I'm so glad that Daves has alot of sharing opportunities and less or no selling. However, it would be nice to do what some do on the AWGS forum: on their exchange page you can list a trade or sell:
For instance:

I have a blahblahblah hardy water lily, I would like to trade for ______ or if no one has anything to trade - I will sell for $10.

Wouldnt hurt my feelings at all as long as it was for members only and restricted to one forum.

Would some sort of Bulletin Board be practical?

My opinion would be that if Dave started a forum for selling or even a bulletin board type thing it would open the door to a host of other possible problems.... what if member XYZ posts that they have a $200.00 plant for 50.00 bucks.... users ABC, DEF, GHI, JKL all order one. User XYZ has made a nifty little profit, unfotunately what folks paid 50.00 for was a plant normally sold for 5.00.

Dave now has some really mad people on his hands, and has a user who has used the site to rip people off..... My personal opinion, is to leave the selling of plants where it is, in the SCIF stores and Plant Scout.... and leave it out of the forums.

You can always trade for other things, as we've seen in Daylilies... "will bake cookies or breads for daylilies" instead of doing the will trade for XYZ or 10 bucks, think of something you need/want that is the approximate value.... will trade for XYZ or this that or the other non plant item.

Melissa I agree.

I believe that trying to add someway to sell within the Forums would definatly ruin the whole Spirit of Dave's Garden.

I agree, that is certainly a valid point and maybe not worth the hassle it might cause. However, even with the member feedback thing (that I am thankful for) even in trading you can not guarantee that no one will get ripped off. It happens.

I dont think it would ruin anything at Daves if it was kept to one area- but since things are so good now-maybe its better not to rock the boat :)