The Wholesale Forums

[anotheruser]

Hi, All, and especially Anthony,

May I suggest a new section heading, something t the effect of "Seller Subscriptions" - but that's wrong, think of another one, please ;o)

This is about those times when a registered forum seller puts up an offering and asks "Oo wants some, eh, John?". This results in people adding to posts offering email addresses or other declarations of interest. Terrific. If trade between members can be encouraged, I'm all for it.

Each post, however, is flagged in the same way as when someone has a contribution to make which may be worth reading. So we all dutifully click to read, only to see it's another request for info/offer/price list, whatever.

So why not get them all in the same place? If there's no way of permanently turning off the new post flag, at least we can double click on the icon without wasting time going there. If there is, it's done in an area which won't affect the rest of the discussion and the only one who need check is the trader with the offer.

What do you think, folks? I can see a couple of potential glitches, but I don't think they'd be major.

[greedyboy]

Market Research or Marketplace Research?

[meanmachine29]

I totaly agree.

Call it ere Ill av one of them there thingies.
or just, purchasing Leads

[Anthony]

Thank you for your suggestions guys.

I must say I am not entirely sure on what it is you are suggesting, so I'm hoping you could detail it a little more specifically or perhaps clearer.

Thanks

[anotheruser]

Let's say I decide to buy a seller membership. I then come up with a deal which I wish to advertise. I do so in one of the sub-forums under The Wholesale Marketplace. Cool. That's the right thing to do.

Each time anyone makes a post in one of the sub-forums, the icon to the left of the sub-forum title shows differently to one for a sub-forum where there are no new posts since your last visit. So you click on the icon to see what's new.

Problem: Some offers tell people where to find out more. New visitors to that thread, apart from the odd, to avoid strong language let's say individual, who can't or can't be bothered to read, follow the instructions.

Still cool. Threads are worth following because new contributors are likely to have something to say.

But I have a one-off deal and invite people to "post here with an email address for prices, tech spec, or whatever". If my offer is in any way attractive, I have just interrupted that flow. I've done the right thing, so no criticism of anyone following this practice inferred or intended. But now, everyone on a fresh visit sees the left side icon flags a new post. It's someone giving an email address. That can happen several times each visit if my thread is popular, more so if someone else has acted similarly.

So visiting members are forever clicking to see what's new,only to find it's nothing worth seeing from their point of view. Evdn if they have or intend to express an interest, do they really wish to read about everyone else wishing to do so?

Now, if there were a new section to display such offers, or sellers were encouraged to say "got to the Let Me Know Here section" where the invitation to give contact details for that item were to be displayed, those not interested could simply ignore that section. The initial thread starter post would be flagged as read on the first visit after posting.

Blimey, there must be an easier way of explaining that!

[greedyboy]

I was lost at the 'May I suggest' part

[anotheruser]

greedyboy, which thread are youresponding to? You've already responded to that comment on this one.

[meanmachine29]

Well Said, in a sort of around the reakin way.lol

[PT]

A bite late on this one... But saw Mike's post in another thread about the issue.

To have a new section just for this would probably make the forum look a bit cluttered. I personally think the best solution would be to put a rule in place where sellers must provide a download link or a email address for people to request a list. That would probably put an end to the endless amount of people posting their email addresses.

Just my thoughts...

[TheBear]

sounds like a good idea PT