Can a business owner share the name if asked?

Occasionally I will see a post where a person will indicate that they have some kind of business or it is mentioned that so-and-so has a business. Is it ok for them to respond to a direct question about it in the thread or in a d-mail without crossing that self-promotion line and causing a problem? I have often wanted to know what a lot of these folks do and if it is something I am interested in to send it their way but did not want to cause problems for anyone. What is the best way to go about this? Thanks for you input on this! :^)

I think you should d-mail Admin and ask about that.

It could cause a problem if people began doing business with folks they met on DG and something happened and they had trouble of some sort with the business dealings and began discussing it with others here on the forums/threads ... it could get out of hand and cause problems. So, I have a feeling it will not be permitted. I don't see why you couldn't chat with someone through d-mail but I don't think it will be allowed on the threads.

Thanks, I think what I will do is copy and paste and just send as a general question. :^)

Many people who own businesses will list their website on their member page. Or if they represent a company that's in the Garden Watchdog, you'll see a line on their member page that says "so and so is our representative for company x".

Tetley, it's a good question. I'm selling out all my stuff - giant online garage sale, more or less - so I can move. I have cool stuff and would rather my friends gave it a good home than a stranger, so I've been sharing...any actual transactions (when someone sees something and dmails, hey, i want that!) are off the thread the off DG on the telephone or email. I didn't think it would violate any aup; didn't even cross my mind, actually, since I'm not in a business, or don't feel like I am. If all those folks were in my living room, chances are they'd each leave with a carload, whether they wanted to or not! :-) It happens every time I move cross country... (this time, though, I need more room to take worms, dirt, and plants, too.)

Yep, 4paws ... I think that is against AUP policy ... self promoting or making money by selling things on the threads or d-mail. If you have things for sale it has to be on the Classifieds or Marketplace.

On past threads, I think Dmailed responses to direct questions about your business have been the correct and appropriate thing. You can't send unsolicited business-related Dmail, but you can send information that people have asked for (either on a thread or privately).

If somebody asks on a thread, "hey do you have any purple kumquats left in stock, and how much are they?" it's not appropriate to respond with price and availability on the thread, but it's fine (as far as I know) to do so through Dmail. (You can always post a "you've got Dmail" on the thread, so nobody wonders if you just left the person hanging.)

4paws, if you are posting a list of items that you have available, I think that needs a Classified ad... but if people are just contacting you to say, "hey, are you selling the purple kumquat tree you mentioned growing last spring?" then that's a different thing.

(and just in case anybody is curious, I am pretty sure there are no purple kumquats... LOL)

If there were, critter, I'd have them!

Plantladylin, I don't think I've offered anything to anyone for money, only for postage; I spent a bunch of time listing nifty clothes on ebay last week, and while I was listing, I was posting. One person saw something I had on ebay and contacted me and she's getting it. Friends helping friends.

Critter, you've been on that thread a lot, so I suppose if I broke any rules, you would have let me know. I'm not going to worry about it. :-)

(me too)

Paws, I've never seen you offer a laundry list of for-sale stuff on that thread, and I think mentioning items in passing that you're hoping to sell on eBay etc. might start approaching that line, but I don't think you've crossed it... I'm not an admin of course, so it's just my opinion, but yes if I thought you needed to take it off-thread I'd have suggested it. And you have also been offering things on occasion for postage, and I sure don't think you need an ad to do that.

4paws: I apologize ... I should proof read before I hit send, LOL. I didn't mean to sound like I thought you were violating AUP rules. And, now that I've re-read my above post, the way I typed it, that is exactly what it sounded like! So, please accept my apology?

I think it's so nice to be able to have friends know of what you have and letting them get first chance at it. A lot of folks have gotten good stuff (plants, supplies and wow! even clothes!) by paying for shipping/postage costs! Friends helping Friends ... yep, the way it should be!

Lin

Didn't read like that to me, plantladylin, so no apology necessary. I thought about it and decided that I'll place a classified generally listing things I have and directing folks to me if they have something they are looking for. It's cheap enough to one run ad; I don't have a laundrylist of what's for sale, just general categories, and as I open up boxes and drawers and garment bags...many that haven't been opened since 2003, lots more since 1998.....

It's like going to a thrift store at home!

Thanks for the input, too, critter. What I offer for postage is worth only the postage. Either give it away here, or give it away to strangers, you know? I would rather give something to a friend for postage, than make a dollar at a garage sale here, and the economy/lifestyle here doesn't need/want what I've got.

You gave me another idea while I was thinking about this. :-)

Sorry if I took your thread the wrong way, tetley.

Got an answer from admin. You cannot list business names on threads and then start talking about them but it is completely permissable to answer through d-mail if asked a direct question. :^)

Thanks Tetley! Good to know!

4Paws: I bet you get lots of response from your classified ad and I bet you are going to be very busy, a lot of work ... all the packing, labeling and hauling to the P.O.

I hope so. lol
I had already started sending things out...joked with my po ladies that I was moving out of Hoopa via the post office. They didn't believe me, but every week, I haul in boxes. I need to step it up, however, cause I want to be on the road by the end of March. I need to permanantly fit into a 17' uhaul and a 22' travel trailer. I moved here in a semi-truck and have acquired a few critters, tools, and more needful things that what's been packed up all this time, so..

Thanks, Tetley!

4paws: Are you leaving California? What a job, moving! We've been in our house for 33 years and I would love to move but can't imagine the sorting, trashing, packing and loading and unloading! Whew! I would need a large trailer just for plants! But, we have decided to stay here another six or seven years until my DH retires ... then downsize and get rid of a lot of stuff, and live in a townhouse or smaller house.

You have critters too? That in itself would be a job, moving animals, especially if you are moving any distance from where you are now! I don't envy you but will keep good thoughts that everything goes as smooth as silk for ya!

Thanks, plantladylin! I am heading east, as far as it takes for me to be able to afford my own place again, but the first stop for a season or two or maybe forever, is western Colorado.
I'll probably have a travelling thread eventually...it'll be an adventure, to say the least! It would be easier to just take it all with me than get rid of it,but I collected it, so I have to be responsible for it...and no sense to having it, either. Dogs have replaced a lot of other things I used to keep around the house (6, and a cat)

See you around the threads! :-)

4paws: Oh my goodness ... That is going to be a Journey! Sounds like fun! I will watch for your thread and look forward to reading updates on your travels! Are you traveling with 6 dogs and a cat?!%@

Safe Travels to you and your family!

Lin