Excellent suggestion.

 

I repeat: if you are having legitimate issues with a vendor or vendors, you should document it and share it with a moderator in writing and with all pertinent info provided the FIRST time. The moderator shouldn't have to keep coming back to you with questions.

Unlike private sales in the C6 Parts for Sale (or any other forum), these are businesses paying to provide a service or product. If they can't or won't do that, they don't belong here. And either the moderators or owners of the site will take care of it, or members CAN print their legitimate issues with a vendor.

That is fair, fair to both sides, especially if you take it private and make the vendor and the moderators aware of it first.

I applaud many/most vendors, such as JP who came on here to say he's subscribed.

 

I have spent $5K++ on mods purchased through vendors on this forum. I had issues with one vendor and went to a moderator for help - turned out to be a vendor - so you can guess the outcome. But to be fair I had another issue with another vendor and used a different moderator and the results were outstanding. I do agree that about half the vendors I've used were a pain in the a&^. I have had several excellent experiences with Gene Culley. I rate him an A+. Too bad we can't openly rate vendors who aren't so great.

 

I am happy with the progression of this thread.

It has maintained a high level of professionalism and no bashing. It is also clearly apparent that I am not alone with these concerns/frustations about a few forum vendors. I think its also a brilliant idea to have some form of rating/feedback area within each members folder. I belong to a slew of car forums (as I'm sure many of you do too), and the majority of them (even though none of them are the size of the Corvette Forum) have a rating section.

I appears to me that forum vendors profit from members, and the forum profits from vendors, therefore, its reasonable to request that the forum provide a method to manage their performance.

I would also like to add, that my postive experiences far out number the negative ones. I have posted plenty of threads here giving praise or thanking a wonderful vendor for their services/goods thus providing postive feedback, as I believe the door swings both ways.

 

To the OP, are the vendors that you are having issues with C6 Specific vendors? I've used some of the vendors in the C5 section and had no problems with any of them. Even if it was just to ask a question and not buy anything.

-Alex

 

Same for me also. SO far.

 

I do understand your point and agree that everyone in this country has a right to try and start a business and get ahead in life.

Now with that, what is to stop me from paying the forum vendor fee, setting up a website to take orders, advertising some widget here on the forum, then taking your money and running? There is nothing to stop me and that is my point. There should be some checking into these "vendors" when they apply for and pay the vendor fees.

No one knows anything about some of these people, they just show up all of a sudden and we (forum members) are suppose to believe they are a quality vendor just because they paid some fee? It is not my job to set the guidelines for vendors, but I would sure think that someone associated with the forum should be setting guidelines.

Your comment "Those who provide poor service, will be made known soon enough. It's up to each person to do their homework" bothers me a bit.

First, how will these people (vendors) be made known when no one ever wants to report who they actually are? I have seen some big problems develop when someone tries to go after a vendor for something bad that has happened.

Second, and the part I have the biggest problem with, is why in the hell is it up to me to do the homework on a vendor that sells on this forum? That homework should have already been done by the forum - and that is my point! If they sell on this forum, I should be able to trust them, if not, then what the hell do I need them on this forum for? I know the answer to that already. Money to fund the forum!

There are many great vendors here and for sure, problems happen from time to time and the good vendors take care of things. Those are not the vendors I am having a problem with.

Truth is all I ask. Say what you are going to do and do what you say. Period. If you can't, then don't take my damn money!

I like the rating system idea.
I would also like to see ALL "for sale" threads in the "Parts For Sale" section.

And to all a good night!

 

I have watched this thread with interest all day. Frankly, I've been racking my brains out trying to come up with something helpful or intelligent to add but the line that I walk as a forum vendor and active member has made that challenging for me. As you've likely noted, few vendors have made any comments in this thread and I can imagine that many would like to but are/were in the same situation that I am. The wrong thought expressed would come across as somehow defending the shortcomings noted (and rightfully so.) The wront thought expressed would come across as taking advantage of the thread to simply solicit business.

The best that I've been able to come up with is to put on the forum, in writing what I strive to be as a vendor. Simple fact is this, I'm a new vendor but I'm an owner, an enthusiast and most importantly I've been a consumer for years. So with that said, forum buyers take heed:

I will always endeavor to treat people (not just customers) with the respect that they earn or deserve. I do expect the same from those that approach me as well however.

I will always do my best to answer your questions on any purchase large or small as you are doing me a favor by choosing to purchase something from me as there are a lot of choices out there and there are other vendors that offer what I have to sell.

I will always do my best to acknowledge your order and advise you of the good, the bad and the ugly about your order be it when it should ship, if something delays it and why.

I will always do my best to make sure you are satisfied. If you have a problem, I will always do my best to remedy it. I believe that mistakes will happen and that no one is perfect but the true measure of a vendor is how they respond to that problem.

I will always take responsibility for my actions.

If something is defective, I will replace it. If something is lost, I will replace it and if we can't work it out, I will refund your money but at the end of the transaction, I will have done everything I can do to make sure that your transaction was what you wanted it to be.

I am a single man operation and despite the urging of some in this thread I don't feel that we are all bad and I certainly don't feel as if I need to prove some annual sales dollar to be a participant in this program or to be a good vendor or a success in what I do. To believe that I am like any other vendor, let alone every other vendor is the most gross generalization that I have ever seen and I'm embarrased for the member that wrote it.

I am a distributor for the products that I sell. I do not manufacture them. I am working on new products that are mine personally and having the distributorship has allowed me to do this. The way that I guarantee my success is that I am selective about the people and products that I represent and will continue to do so to ensure that the needs of the customer and the quality of the product is always represented. Working with manufacturers that have the same approach to doing business ensures success. Being a distributor does not need to be a kiss of death as some seem to believe in this thread.

This is the best that I can offer to the members of the forum.

Best regards,
Paul Pearson
Red Lion Customs

 

I guess the vendors assume that we are use to poor service because we drive a GM car.

 

I always use forum vendors. I have bought many $$ in mod parts from Forum vendors. I have had no problems at all. Maybe just lucky so far.

 

No. They offer products/services to a number of vette platforms.

Also to clarify, the only issue I am presently having is with Item #1. I emailed this vendor Tues, got an autoreply stating I will get a reponse in 24 hours, but never did. I called today (2-3 times) and just got voicemail. Frustrating.

All the other items have been resolved, but still a PITA when you have expections of a straightforward/clean transaction.

As far as the moderators, I have reached out to them before with success. I only seek their assistance when I am out of options. With my current situation, its very frustrating, but I still beleive I will get resolution.

 

That is all i could ever ask for in a vendor. I will be buying from a vendor that is on top of things.

 

[QUOTE=talon90;1572989426]
I am a single man operation and despite the urging of some in this thread I don't feel that we are all bad and I certainly don't feel as if I need to prove some annual sales dollar to be a participant in this program or to be a good vendor or a success in what I do. To believe that I am like any other vendor, let alone every other vendor is the most gross generalization that I have ever seen and I'm embarrased for the member that wrote it.

I am a distributor for the products that I sell. I do not manufacture them. I am working on new products that are mine personally and having the distributorship has allowed me to do this. The way that I guarantee my success is that I am selective about the people and products that I represent and will continue to do so to ensure that the needs of the customer and the quality of the product is always represented. Working with manufacturers that have the same approach to doing business ensures success. Being a distributor does not need to be a kiss of death as some seem to believe in this thread.

Thank You for posting, you are the third vendor and obviously I don't think anyone here was refering to you or the other two vendors and I believe that you knew that already if not you would not have jumped into the lion's den. I agree with you, just because you are a one man show it does not mean that you can't swing it, I personally have not dealt with you but I have dealt with another one man operation, Corvette Pilot(Mike the powder coater), class act, I don't think I have read anything negative about him, on the other hand, you are a vendor selling parts for a manufacturer, we are customers dealing with the vendor, not the manufacturer, vendors should come to a point and realize that the manufacturer is producing garbage therefore putting the vendor on the spot and stop selling these products, some are not even test fitted prior to being posted. I learned from my very expensive mistake.Again, thank you for your input and the quality of what you do and sell.

 

 

First, I don't think it's cheap to be a vendor here. I find it hard to believe that some one would go through the time and expense to get set up as a forum vendor, and then rip off the first person that they do business with. There are cheaper ways to do that on the internet, without paying the money to become a forum vendor. Fraud occurs on the internet and in real life hundreds if not thousands of times a day. If you are not comfortable buying with a brand new forum vendor, simply don't do it. But to deny them the right to be here because they don't sell $xxxxx per year is ridiculous. According to your rules, Talon90 couldn't be a vendor here. Did you read his post right below yours? Do you think he, a well respected member on this forum, is going to screw anybody over? I don't know him personally, but I'd be willing to bet it won't happen.

There are millions of vendors all over the internet that sell from their own site, and do not pay to be forum vendors. If they had no intention of being legit, why would they pay? Pretty good check and balance if you ask me. I'm not saying they won't, but why would they?


Don't agree. If I was to ever be ripped off by a vendor, it would be plastered on this forum. I have seen it done countless times. I have also seen people bitch when a pm isn't returned, or a shipment is a week late. It's up to you to read the posts and decide if you want to buy from them or not.

I know of a few well know tuners that I would never do business with, just from their reputation here, and other car forums. There are always two sides to a story, and problems do happen in business. Those that are consistently bad will be called out.


Exactly, you said it yourself. This forum is free for us, and vendors and ad's keep it going. If you want the forum to provide this service, then we should pay for it. Also, it is up to you to do your homework before you buy ANYTHING. If you don't do any homework before you make random online purchases, be ready to suffer the consequences. Caveat Emptor.

I agree and disagree with this at the same time. Having a rating system is good, but how is it fair? Example. Somebody get's pissed because an item they were quoted 8 weeks on shows up in 9. So he gives a **** poor rating. How is this fair?


I don't mind them occasionally posting in Gen. But I think there should be a limit on how many times it can be bumped to the top. I've seen this on other forums. Once it reaches xx bumps, move it to the for sale section. Then again, we don't pay to be here, so it's not my call.

 

Just to address this point, there actually is a limit on vendor threads. We are only allowed to have two active threads in a forum section first page at any one time. The moderators do their best to enforce it and it can't be helped if other members bump a thread or ask questions that bring a thread to the first page but we can't bump more than two on our own.

I know the forum members get frustrated with vendor threads but you would not believe the DIRECT correlation with a thread making an appearance on the first page and a sale of the item or items mentioned. It is staggering. In some cases it is the only form of advertising that we have and it has immediate results.

 

I think one of the difficulties for forum vendors is the type of products they are selling. For exsample: Corvette is a dream car for many of us. When You get , You are all excited and thrilled. Then You start modding, waiting for the new part for Your Corvette is exciting, and You can´t wait to recieve it and install it. 2 weeks delay, for some reason, is almost a catastrophe . 3-4 weeks delay and You are ready to kill the vendor.

I ordered a new sliding trash bin system for my kitchen a month ago. There will be another 1 month delay with it. So what, who fr*****g cares when it arrives. I don´t even bother to contact the bin vendor.

I think many of us, me included, are more sensitve when it comes to Corvettes and Corvette parts and accessories, and the forum vendors should foresee that.

 

To be honest, after years of reading some of the **** retentive, OCD behavior in this forum, I'm not sure I could ever satisfy most of you as a vendor.

 

So, it seems a few members (and one I thought was a friend) seem to want to keep slamming me for throwing out ideas on how to make things better. Other than the idea of a rating system, I have not seen a single suggestion on how to make things better.

I have just been throwing out suggestions to try and stir up the conversation and maybe get something productive out of it. But, that is not to be.

 

There you go. I wasn't aware there was a rule, but there is. The threads that get bumped TTT multiple times by prospective buyers are usually things that members want anyway. I have no problems with that whatsoever. Like I said, small "one man show" operations should not be denied the chance to make a living, and if that is their only form of advertising, then I'm all for it.