http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=936803

I am not trying to be a problem, but it is an honest question. Were there some rules broken? If so, I'd like to know them so that I don't break them in the future.

Sincerely,

 

Yeah, good question...I'm new to the Forum, but I think pricing is something we want to discuss, at least in general terms. I know that this is an area -- using the Internet, negotiating, MSRP, list, etc -- that I'm not good at. I sure as heck could benefit from a a thread/threads on this when I am about to buy a C-6.

FWIW, that is what I was doing today: I read the thread yesterday and stopped by my local dealer to see what was available, price-wise.

I am sure this site doesn't want lists of dealers and prices and so-and-so, but general talk should be OK and not a violation of TOS.

 

Yeah,

I am under the impression that we are not supposed to post advertisements for dealers other than forum supporters. But I was posting links to Ebay in answer to a SPECIFIC QUESTION about whether there were any C6's out there for less than MSRP. I've been on this forum a long time and no one is going to think I'm shilling for a dealer. I've purchased both of my cars from supporting dealers (Maxie Price and Les Stanford) because I was able to get the best deals from them.

Besides, EVERYONE knows about, and can easily check, EBay.

Personally I find it disappointing if you cannot even MENTION a dealer that doesn't advertise here. I can understand that the supporting dealers pay to ADVERTISE here, but if they are paying to be shielded from ANY MENTION or competition, then the forum is serving the dealers and not its members. I work for a radio station. If a Chevy dealer advertises you can bet we won't talk bad about them. BUT, it doesn't mean we can't mention another dealer that doesn't advertise.

I am also curious because the overall tone of that thread was negative towards the C6. But so what? That is what free speech is all about and there was plenty of exchange and discourse on the subject.

I realize the owners of the forum don't have to play by the "free speech" thing, and frequently shut down threads where people insult each other. But it is a shame if you can't have a good argument.

Ultimately, if it is because of the mention of the cars on Ebay then this forum is - in my not so humble opinion - doing a disservice to the members. If we can't count on the forum to be able to hear about the best deals on a Corvette, supporting dealer or not, then we are paying a very high premium if we use only this forum for our information.

If that was the "rule that was broken" then I won't break it anymore. But I also won't consider this forum to be the best place to search for a good deal on a Corvette, since I'll know that some information is not allowed to be shared on this forum.

 

Now that you mention it, it is very strange. I didn't participate in that thread, but I just went back and read it, and it didn't seem to violate any kind of reasonable forum rules, unless the purpose of this forum is Corvette PR.

I've been on a lot of forums, and I've never seen one cancelled for this type reason. Getting personal, or offensive is one thing, but I didn't see any of that.

 

Just message one of the moderators.

 

I just went back too. I hadn't seen all the crap on page one. Maybe THAT was what got it cancelled.

Which is kind of a shame, because it is the first time I've ever seen a thread de-volve that far and then return to its true purpose.

It starts off with questioning of why dealers are now charging $2k less than sticker.

Then goes full-tilt political/economy/off-topic.

Then it comes back around to "why dealers are now charging $2k less than sticker."

Interestingly, a moderator comes in at post #44 and threatens to shut it down - long after the worst offenses had been committed. But then it dies abrubtly at post #70 after the OT stuff had been left by the wayside.

Oh well, I was just curious if it was because of some "don't post about a non-supporting dealer" rule being broken, or if there was something I had done wrong. And I wanted to make sure we were able to discuss something like "why is the C6 being discounted" or more importantly (to me) "where is the C6 being discounted" without being locked out.

Maybe it was the OT stuff from earlier.

 

I actually thought it was a pretty good discussion also. Even those of us who dissagreed were doing it in a civil manner (on the later pages, at least).

 

Seems like threads are getting locked down more and more frequently these days. It sucks when a good thread with relevant information gets closed, but I guess that's what the mods wanted.

 

I was hoping the moderator that shut it down would drop in this thread and tell us (and then probably lock this thread down! )

On a serious note, and since no one is asking, I think it would be a good idea to note who is shutting down a thread and why. That would help guide us all better in what is appropriate and inappropriate here on the forum.

Thanks for asking!

 

Well Tom, it was a good question. I won't participate in a BS forum where free-speech is not allowed.

As I already said, I agree with shutting them down when they get personal, insulting, or destructive, but destructive to what? I'd love to hear the answer. I hope it's not forum advertisers.

 

Lets ask Tracy - she responds to everything else


Tracy? Please Respond.

 

I'd bet is because it got political and there were a couple of nasty comments in there, I can see why a moderator reading through would shut it down.

 

Uh, can you buy a new car/C-6 on Ebay? I knew they had used cars there, not new ones.

My uncle bought a 1970's Ferrari there. It didn't work out for him -- not a disaster, but out a few thousand on some extra work on the car. Caveat Emptor, I guess.

Does Ebay give any guarantees on cars breaking down quick....what about outright fraud? They can't treat car sales the way they do $20 magazine or baseball cards, right?

 

Here is my take on it. I actually did not read the thread in question, but when someone in this thread already brings up "Free speech" I am sure they already understand this is not a "free public board" and it is paid for with private money. While censorship is not what the moderators intend to do, they have the right to lock any thread they wish for any reason they wish. Sometimes it makes total sense and sometimes not. What might seem like a spirited discussion might appear to be more to the moderator.

With that being said I suggest any problems and questions be brought to the moderators attention via PM or email. I am sure some rule was broken that they can clearly explain and direct you to in one of the rules of conduct pages that we all are suppose to have agreed to in order to use this forum.

I am not trying to jerk anyone's chain, just repeating messages I have read in the past when "Free speech" and questions are brought to "Why this post was locked?" Again, ask the moderators in private is the best policy.

 

If anyone knows a good primer on MSRP, list price, dealer price, rebates, 0% financing vs. other options, etc, let me know. Yeah, I went to Edmunds and didn't know what the hell I was doing.

Hey, I'm clueless on this stuff and won't fake it. I'm just not good at it. If anybody has a question on finances and investments, I'll be more than happy to do my part, but on this whole "how to buy a car and know what the hell you're doing" I'm the rare "smart guy" who never learned this and is totally in the dark. I even needed my brother to guide me on Edmunds when he helped me buy my Honda and was just "uh-huh"ing him and not understanding what the hell I was looking at.

 

Answer: Because sometimes threads get locked for stupid reasons.

A thread may have some 80 replies and be gathering moss like a rolling stone.........and someone will come along with (internet athority) and lock it.

 

More than likely, a mod figured it was going to go to crap anyway, so they cut it off before some forum members say something they'd regret and get banned anyway.

 

These 'follow-up' threads would be unnecessary if the Moderator would post the reason for the lock like they use to...

 

perhaps this .. had something to do with it..Please PM the moderators at the bottom of each section ...

 

BTW, have problems with the moderaotrs, contact savewave or Troy Roberts via PM or email...