A Gray Area for Sales?

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
Let me say up front that I am not trying to single anyone out here or criticize or question anybody's legitimacy in the forum.

However, we do have an interesting question to answer.

Members who show up as "Festool Dealers" in the forum are people who are classified as Dealers by Festool -- they sell tools from their home office or own a store that sells Festool tools.  Recently, a new member, Warpedbored, joined the forum.  He is an employee at Rockler, but not an official dealer.  Warpedbored has posted several times discussing Rockler and relating his posts to the sale of Festool items.  His posts are enthusiastic, but he is an employee of Rockler, not a dealer.  He does not seem to represent Rockler corporate. 

I'm very happy to have him here and definitely appreciate his input.  But here's the question: should Warpedbored's posts appear in the "Sales Zone" or in the regular areas of the forum?  I wrote personally to Warpedbored and told him he should post in the regular area, since he's not a dealer.  That was my decision, not Warpedbored's.

Several members have sent me messages saying that, out of fairness, Warpedbored should be considered a Festool Dealer, or that his posts should appear in the Sales Zone.

Again, this is not meant to single out Warpedbored, and I like Warpedbored's contributions.  Actually, I'm happy this has come up, as it will allow us to find a solution.  As the forum grows, this is likely to come up again.

Everyone, including Warpedbored, please post your opinions on this matter.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[semenza]

Hi,

      I would think that the nature of Warpedboreds (or anyone in a like position) posts would determine the catagory/zone. Not his status. If the post is about Rockler and selling Festool then it belongs in sales zone. Unless it is a reply to someone elses post then  it just shows up were ever that thread was started. Just like everyone elses posts including the dealer posts. 
      I see that there is a new darker green color for dealers selling Festool related items.  Neon green for Festool dealers, purple for Moderator, and the dk green for related dealers. Why not make a new color to identify people who work for dealers. Dealer Employees.

Seth

 

[woodshopdemos]

Matthew,
  A fair question indeed. I may be color blind or at least not quick to pickup the color difference. But I always look at the person's name and affiliation if posted...and I think it should be posted. If they list themselves as dealer rep or employee or any affiliation and then ask a question that is not commercial, we can figure that out. It is commercial bias and we don't know, that is the problem in my book.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

This question has come up in just about every forum I have participated in.  I think the best solutions use the following techniques:

1. Identify whatever commercial interest you have.  I would suggest even non-Festool.  Isn't it relevant if someone works for DeWalt or Fein?

2. Commercial promotions are either banned or kept in a separate area, like the sales zone.

3. Let the person describe his own status.  warpedbored for instance could have a signature or other visible thing that says something like "I work for Rockler, but don't necessarily represent Rockler Corporate."

I'll bet a small amount of money that there are many folks participating who work part time at Woodcraft

Most of all, I don't think its a big problem.  As long as posters use good judgment.

 

[Qwas]

It's a tough question. As a newbie to the board, I like that dealers are listed in green. This way I know where they are coming from and might not have have actual hands on experience.

But then you have Bob Marino. A dealer and very experienced woodworker. Should Bob be limited to the Sales Zone only and we lose his valuable experience elsewhere?

Maybe in the Profile area there should a checkbox for dealer, salesman, professional, hobbyist, etc. Then whatever gets checked shows up on the left part of the screen under a persons nickname in their posts. And you can let everyone post anywhere.

I have seen some of Warpedbored's posts and I think he has alot to offer the FOG.

 

[Eli]

But then you have Bob Marino. A dealer and very experienced woodworker. Should Bob be limited to the Sales Zone only and we lose his valuable experience elsewhere?

He isn't limited to where he can post, no one is. There are guidelines for content only. In other words, Bob can post about any of the tools anywhere, but if he is running a special on a specific tool, or announcing a package deal, that must be in a dealer or sales zone.

 

[Ned]

I too value Warpedbored's contributions.  Both W and FOG can benefit by his participation here.  IMO, every Rockler, Woodcraft, Hartville, etc. employee should be a member and at least actively lurking (?).  Even Hafele employees could benefit  : .

I don't think the Sales Zone should contain anything but official (even if informal) communication from Dealers.  Therefore I don't think any of Warpedbored's posts belong there, since he doesn't speak for Rockler.

How about, in W's and similar cases, simply asking him to put in his sig something like "Private opinion by a Rockler employee."  That should cover any accusations that he's somehow a "plant".  Honest and up front.  No problems.

Ned

 

[chrisrosenb]

Don't employees of other Festool dealers post in the Sales Zone?
Why has this not been an issue with these posters?

 

[Ned]

Don't employees of other Festool dealers post in the Sales Zone?
Why has this not been an issue with these posters?

I believe most other dealers are much smaller, even McFeely's.  The distance between the employee on the sales floor (real or virtual) and the person who decides the dealer's policies is much less for these smaller dealers than for a Rockler or Woodcraft or Hafele.  Bob or Jim Force can define what their sales organizations will do.  Ron at McFeely's could do the same.  Sales staff in the larger organizations cannot.

Ned