Common Courtesy to our Sponsors

[corruption]

Hey all,

Some information has come to light to me in lieu of my For Sale posting recently, where I was attempting to sell lights, a skimmer and a tank. While I think this point probably goes without saying for most of us -- clearly theres some to whom the point of this message is currently lost...

If someone is posting an item for sale on the forums here -- chances are our Sponsor LFS will not know anything about the deal, will not have any sway to bring the price down, and in fact will likely be insulted that you called to inquire about someone else's used equipment. While used goods trade is a huge part of the reefkeeping hobby, and what allows a lot of people to side-step the high price hurdles our hobby is filled with, we have to remember: our sponsors live on the money they earn from our sales. To me, it is at best bad form, or at worst extremely tasteless and tactless, to call a sponsor's store to inquire about used gear that SOMEONE ELSE has posted.


In summary: Please do not call sponsor sites to inquire about someone elses posted deals -- either contact them via the provided phone number, or send a PM and await response... any less is insulting on many fronts.

</Rant off>

-Justin

[hobogato]

agree 100%

[hobogato]

apparrently i agree 200% (sorry double post)

[Kristy]

^Apparently Ace agrees 200% !

Hopefully this person was just confused or something? Plenty to research about a product online. Definitely offensive to turn to the LFS as your "go to" for information about a product you are planning to buy from someone else. Sadly, not the first time to hear this sort of thing.

[txav8r]

Agreed. That's a big No-No.

[corruption]

The issue wasn't that they were inquiring about product information -- they called a sponsor LFS to see if they thought I could be low-balled on my price. My biggest issue here is that there should be an ABSOLUTE disconnect in everyones minds from the for sale section, and the sponsors of the site. The for sale section is an absolutely essential part of this hobby -- many would never get into it if it weren't for these deals.. but so are our sponsor sites (and local LFS in general).. Brick and Mortar fish shops are, and always will be, the heart and soul of this hobby -- and it pains me to think that someone would be willing to slap at the owners livelihood to inquire as such.

-Justin

[Europhyllia]

Huh? I don't get it? Why would somebody call a fish store to inquire about used equipment sold somewhere else?
That doesn't make sense. If they wanted to find out what stuff is new they could just check online so they can figure out if teh used price is a deal or not right?

[hobogato]

apparrently i agree 200% (sorry double post)


^Apparently Ace agrees 200% !...

did you type this at the same time as i edited? that is just weird :what_smile:

[Europhyllia]

Ah okay I posted while you posted. Hm. Not sure what to say. That's just weird!

[Europhyllia]

wow I just said "That's just weird" too.
Spooky... lol

[corruption]

I agree Karin -- I don't know what was hoped to be gained by making the call, but its still insulting to the store owner on many levels.. If it were a pure product inquiry, it wouldn't be QUITE as bad -- still a bit insulting, esp. if you then say "nah, I was just curious, I'm buying a used one".... but I see it as an attempt to shoehorn the Sponsor into the deal for leverage somehow. It just seems very wrong to me, on many levels -- our Sponsors all do a lot for the members of this site, and direct slaps at their livelihood (whether intentional or otherwise) should be frowned upon, in my opinion.

-Justin

[allan]

Nor should a member direct a potential sale from a LFS, at the LFS, to maast for a better price. Boorish behavior at best.

[Kristy]

did you type this at the same time as i edited? that is just weird :what_smile:

No, I typed mine before your edit, because after it posted I looked at it again, but your edit must have been already in the works! Funny. Now quit copying me! :)

[hobogato]

great additional point allan


Nor should a member direct a potential sale from a LFS, at the LFS, to maast for a better price. Boorish behavior at best.

[Big_Pun]

all very good points, you want good prices offer to wear a bikini and get a waxing lol, but seriously this kinda stuff shouldnt happen either you have the money or you dont

[Paul28]

all very good points, you want good prices offer to wear a bikini and get a waxing lol, but seriously this kinda stuff shouldnt happen either you have the money or you dont

If you wear a Bikini you deserve a good price :)

[corruption]

Absolutely -- and I have no problem with people trying to save a buck. If you want to attempt to buy the item for less than the asking price -- just ask. The worst that can happen is you're told no. But the wrong person to ask, is someone who's completely unrelated to the transaction..

100% agreed on your point as well, Allan -- its just common respect for a big part of what makes our hobby what it is: the common, comfortable gathering ground of our local LFS sponsors.

-Justin

[justahobby]

I know nothing of the situation other than what I have read in this thread. With that said, Publicly calling someone out on their poor etiquette isn't really a lesser of two evils. It's ranting at best. If you feel like the person was disrespectful then it should be discussed in private between the involved parties.

Note: this is my opinion as a person and not as a moderator.

[aquasport24]

I know nothing of the situation other than what I have read in this thread. With that said, Publicly calling someone out on their poor etiquette isn't really a lesser of two evils. It's ranting at best. If you feel like the person was disrespectful then it should be discussed in private between the involved parties.

Note: this is my opinion as a person and not as a moderator.

I agreed with you, but if it not out in the puplic discussion then someone will try this again.

[hobogato]

tough line to toe, but since no names were mentioned....

[justahobby]

And I agreed with you :p.

That's why I didn't make the post until the thread continued down the path its taken.


I agreed with you, but if it not out in the puplic discussion then someone will try this again.

[justahobby]

True, no names are mentioned. But if that person wants to chime in to defend himself/ herself or apologize they now have a hard act to follow. A reminder to remain polite to our LFS is great but continual notation on the said person's morals isn't necessary.

FWIW Just trying to keep us peaceful and cordial.

[hobogato]

a very valid point. it would be difficult for the caller to participate in this thread now. maybe he/she can have a private conversation with the store owner and smooth things over a bit. hopefully, if that happens we will hear about it...


...A reminder to remain polite to our LFS is great but continual notation on the said person's morals isn't necessary.

[tebstan]

Nor should a member direct a potential sale from a LFS, at the LFS, to maast for a better price. Boorish behavior at best.

+1 100%!

Would you go to HEB and approach strangers to tell them how the guy at corner with the truck is cheaper?

I hate seeing customers butt-in to a conversation with another customer and staffer. It's insulting to the business on many levels. They don't want to lose a sale, or lose a customer.
They don't want people who shop at Wal-Mart for their fish tank to come to the LFS to answer questions about the stuff they bought elsewhere. The absolute worst, is when a newbie comes in complaining because they followed advice that didn't work out. They didn't hear it from a staffer, they heard it from a customer while in the store--and hold the store responsible!

[corruption]

A reminder to remain polite to our LFS is great but continual notation on the said person's morals isn't necessary.

My goal wasn't a shine against morals -- purely against actions. I don't think theres anything MORALLY wrong with trying to save a few bucks -- but why involve a 3rd party in something they're not part of anyway? I did not desire to single out anyones morality, or call out specific events in detail -- this was by design. While I was not appreciative of the situation -- the issue I brought up was more of a general respect for all members involved... The somewhat further explanation of the events was only detailed, because it seemed that my vague descriptions were too vague for some :)

I can't argue with you on the fact that it comes off as ranty -- I posted in the first post that it was a rant, and I fully see it as such. If its too angered or rambling for anyones tastes, I do apologize -- but I'm not a fan of censoring my words in hindsight, as I always fear it makes people feel somethings being hidden.

If I offended anyone by this, I do sincerely apologize. I have no desire to attack anyones morality, and my only goal was to lay out something that otherwise seemed to me just to be proper etiquette.

-Justin

[justahobby]

I don't think you should be expected to censor in hindsight either. Cover ups lead to ...corruption? lol. I appreciate a good rant but decided to mention the need to keep in on track with the need to not disrespect our LFSs vs. what that particular person did when none of us were there. And you are right, all you did was provide more details when people asked. It just sounded too gossipy and we are too good for that. Justin, I commend you for keeping it anonymous.

[samurhai]

Shows how much manners are being taught these days. It's pretty sad.