Deal/Store Crapping in Hot Deals = Temp Bans?

[blainehamilton]

I've noticed a real surge of members crapping on OPs who post a new deal. In some cases, there are insults directed at the OP for posting the deal, and in some cases, bad comments directed at the store/retailer as the poster has an axe to grind with the company.

I feel this is creating a real problem for new members who post a deal only to be dumped on and told how cold their deal is. Tantamount to running a new citizen out of town because you don't like what they have to say. As a result they sure won't be telling their friends good things about the place.

On top of this, the mud thrown at the retailers isn't going to encourage them to invest their advertising/promotional dollars in RFD in the future. Like it or not, RFD is a business, and there is a select few posters hurting potential future business here.

I'm all for introducing simular rules in the Hot Deals forum that are currently in practice in BST:

Thread Crapping on a deal/product/retailer WILL not be tolerated. (Mature objective opinions should be fine)
eg: 'This product is made of lower grade plastic, it's flimsy' NOT: 'This product blows donkeys' or 'this was a 1999 deal, now it's crap/junk'

Attacks against the OP or other posters WILL not be tolerated.
eg: 'OP, you are an idiot for thinking this is a deal'


Opinions on a retailer belong in shopping discussion, make people keep them there. Delete posts that bash a retailer with no basis on the deal posted.

There has been a real effort to clean up the forums, taking out the trash over the last couple of months. However, some real laying down the law is required in the Hot Deals forum. It's the most visable (and most heavily used) part of the forum, and should be cleaned up a bit...

[Shaner]

I agree with you about tightening up the rules with regards to personal attacks in the hot deals forum, I strongly disagree with clamping down on insults towards retailers/companies. Many times, what someone posts about a certain business should be taken into consideration before doing business with that company.

For example, if someone posts a hot deal from the Brick, and I enter the thread to let everyone know what I think of the Brick and why (for example, they often don't deliver the items when they say they will and getting a refund is a nightmare), I shouldn't be banned. This amounts to censorship just so RFD doesn't possibly losing a few dollars in revenue from these companies. RFD should be focused more on its members best interest than the best interest of various companies. Without its members, RFD is nothing but another forum.

Like I said though, I strongly agree with their being tighter rules in Hot Deals regarding personal attacks. In fact, even being disrespectful to the OP should be a temporary ban. That's the only place where I think there should be absolutely zero tolerance. As it is now, half the time when a deal is posted, the OP is berated because it's already been posted (rudely told to search, called a stupid noob, etc.), the deal isn't hot like the OP thinks it is, etc. This to me will persuade those people to not post deals anymore.

I know someone will come in and say to just report the post, but half the time it's a borderline comment that really doesn't violate the rules. However, if there was zero tolerance in that specific forum, then these people could be warned, banned, etc.

[7jaii]

I agree that OP should always be encouraged to post more. Most RFDers, myself included, are lazy and don't contribute often. We all rely on Hot Deal poster's generous sharing - they deserve PROPS!

However, I disagree that Retailers should enjoy a pass because they paid RFD money. The current method of "Locking Threads" is already distasteful. 90% of complaints can be traced back to poor customer service and common sense. Lenovo Canada, for all their high praised Thinkpads, still haven't improved their call centre software & customer care after 3 Years! That's unacceptable no matter what one's opinion about $40 hard drives.

I have no problems with RFDers pointing out or outright complaining about poor business practice.

I do agree that if RFDers have nothing reasonable to contribute then we should keep our mouth shut. If we're just complaining or calling "donkey butt" as you put it, then yes, it's not helpful and just bites the hand that brings in ad revenue and exclusive deals.

-- Retailers are not saints. They're in business to take our money so they should at least earn it. Retailers Don't Get a Pass just because they pay advertising fee. How would RFDers respond if Scammers & Warning allowed bad traders to pay for reinstatement? What if Scammers were could pay to prevent people from sharing negative feedback for past trades? And yet Tigerdirect & Factorydirect and TheSource do just that over the years!

-- And Blaine, for all your insider experience & sharing, you should know first hand that many retailers are underhanded to prevent losing money - even if they break their own corporate rules (ie. Staples & Office Depot & TheSource). We all benefited from your instructions for tracking clearance items and finding deals and I appreciate your contributions - and I know you stopped because RFDers acted like jerks. You didn't deserve ignorant members who gave you a hard time nor scammers who wasted your time in BST. I'm sorry it wasn't pleasant.

I wish you would return to contributing in Hot Deals but I also understand if you don't. If we didn't raise our voices then Futureshop would never improve their annual Boxing Day technical & inventory failures. RFD feedback is one reason NCIX & Acanac responds in RFD threads to improve customer service

[grappos13]

i agree about how we should be able to give our experiences about the retailers.. because giving that experience could be saving other ppl hardships when they think something is a deal but find loopholes in it like cant return, bad customer service, etc..

also, on the point of personal attacks... i got a warning once cuz i said "cold deal noob"... so u do get warnings and things like that and i havent said it again.. but also i purposely dont reply anymore to most hot deals that are posted by newer ppl....if a deal is reposted, or totally cold...the OP should be told... he needs to learn a lesson as well or he and others may just continue to flood hot deals with what they think r hot deals without ever searching the board or prices else where...

but i agree, you shouldnt have to call them a noob or anything...but i dont see anything wrong with ppl writing "maybe u should try the search button as there is already a post about this" or "man this is a cold deal...futureshop has it for $10 cheaper.."

i believe these are fine... but if u go calling someone a noob or a loser for posting the bad deal, then that gets out of hand..

[Shaner]

but i agree, you shouldnt have to call them a noob or anything...but i dont see anything wrong with ppl writing "maybe u should try the search button as there is already a post about this" or "man this is a cold deal...futureshop has it for $10 cheaper.."

i believe these are fine... but if u go calling someone a noob or a loser for posting the bad deal, then that gets out of hand..

Or you can just respond like a decent human being would. Telling them it's a cold deal is pointless, because that's a completely subjective term and you're being rude. If they are posting a deal for something that is $79.99 and they proclaim it as a hot deal, by all means, point out to them why it's not a good price with proof to back up your statement. If you can't provide a link proving that you can get the item for cheaper, than how exactly is it a cold deal?

Also, if it's a repost, politely let them know and link to the other post. If you're not wiling to do that, then just don't respond at all.

I'm glad you got a warning for calling someone a noob, I think it should have been an automatic ban. There should be absolutely zero tolerance in Hot Deals. People posting hot deals have good intentions, give them a break.