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My Thoughts re: Dealers Posting on Audiogon

I originally posted this in a thread in the Speakers forum.  It's more appropriate here:

As a former audio dealer and long time Audiogon member who has walked the tightrope I will say that, while I do not have a problem with dealers posting on Audiogon, I do feel that there are some basic rules that should be observed, both by the dealer and by everyone else:

For dealers:
1- Clearly announce that you are a dealer
2- Try to be helpful, objective and educational
3- Understand that an Audiogon forum IS NOT a sales venue
4- If you mention or recommend on of your products, mention again that you are a dealer for this product so that it's clearly understood that you have a finalcial interest in your recommendation
5- Don't trash the competition or other brands

For Audiogon members:
6- Don't complain about dealers posting in Audiogon forums. They are A'gon members like anyone else. If you don't want to read dealer posts them just don't read them
7- Just because a dealer makes a recommendation in which he/she has a financial interest does not automatically make it a bad recommendation. If the dealer comment is in the spirit of the discussion and or answers a question then it's probably appropriate, IMO
8- Dealers, well *many* dealers, have a lot of experience that most just audiophiles do not have. If a dealer is posting to be helpful to the group and not just trying to sell stuff then take advantage of that experience. Their answers to your questions will guide you as to whether they are interested in being helpful members of the Audiogon community or just pushing gear.

I hope that this is helpful guidance. Just my opinions...
br3098

Showing 5 responses by nonoise

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,581 posts
 
2psyops, 
Sorry to hear that. When you think about it, it's funny that dealers/manufacturers would do that on the one hand, and yet still want the freedom to post even if it crosses the line.

If one can't separate their job from their hobby, then all bets are off. 

Now that I know that, don't they still have dealers identify themselves on the regular forums? If not, then this is all moot and won't likely be settled any time soon.

All the best,
Nonoise
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,581 posts
 
Doesn't Audio Circle avoid all of this by denoting a member as a dealer when they participate in their forums? It's never quelled, muzzled, censored or silenced anyone. They also have sections dedicated to specific dealers and their wares. Seems like a no biggie to me. Everyone has a voice and everyone knows who everyone is.

All the best,
Nonoise
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,581 posts
 
Quite so. But it might be nice for dealers to have the option of an identifying symbol.
A very good point and one that I believe has been advocated before. It would inherently put a poster and those who read them on notice and would be self policing.

And to any alarmists out there, it wouldn't be a modern day Scarlet Letter and should be looked at no differently than the avatars we presently use.

All the best,
Nonoise


nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,581 posts
 
You gotta love the purity tests being advocated here. Nothing more than a perfect example of political correctness gone amok. As long as a dealer stays within the guidelines proposed by the OP (which had always been the de facto approach here), then there's nothing amiss. 

To put such strictures on a dealer, what about someone who has all the knowledge and experience of a dealer who's not one? That would apply to many a poster here. How would their advice differ from that of a dealer who abides by the rules?

A closer look would likely reveal an animus between advocates who want to deny a voice to those who may have crossed their paths in the past.

All the best,
Nonoise
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,581 posts
 
What the OP says....+1.
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