[Capt Chuck]

scott

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I can’t believe I have to sit here and explain my position in something I was never involved with. It’s ridiculous! But, since I (and THT) am being wrongfully accused of many things like being heartless and money grubbing I feel the need to make a statement.

Upon returning from an exhausting but successful Miami Boat Show I find some forum member has taken upon themselves (without consulting the forum moderator) to post an EPIRB power buy thread. The thread contained absolutely no details to any specific arrangement already in place, no pre-determined price quote and no vendor information. As expected several members replied “I’m in” – even when there was nothing to be in.

Now, the same forum member (who’s only affiliation with the marine industry is that he wants an EPIRB) decides to spam this same power buy thread across many other web forums – again without any specific details. After about 50+ people replied “I’m in” (even without any specific details) the forum member then decides to seek out a company for the power buy without taking into consideration the following:

1) If a web forum is used for an exchange of money and product then there is a certain (even if limited) liability and responsibility levied on the forum owner where it is posted. If the manufacturer does not come through on their agreement and THT was used to “promote” this event then who now shares in the blame? The forums reputation is now on the line.

2) MAP pricing and other vendor restrictions come into play. A vendor simply cannot advertise a ridiculously low price just because 30 people in a group decide they want to buy at the same time. You risk their credibility just because you want to save yourself a few dollars.

3) The current relationship with the supplier and forum owner. How are they to know if the vendor they find has broken forum policy in the past, or is not a well respected vendor?

4) How will the post affect the relationships between the forum owner and current forum vendors?

So, being inconsiderate of all the above the forum member eventually uses the dastardly THT forum to locate a vendor to go along with the power buy – again without even a “head’s up” to the forum creator. The contacted supplier is already a well known THT vendor who doesn’t need the need of any middlemen to create a power buy. Regardless, a power buy price is created. The forum member quickly takes this information and runs over to post it on another forum – thus straining the business relationship between the THT vendor and forum moderator.

The THT Vendor already has the right to post a power buy in his thread with no additional payment to THT. If they desire THT to assist in the marketing then you better believe there will be a fee involved. What is the fee? That’s nobodies business but the parties involved. If in this case it was an EPIRB for selling 50 then chances are it would have eventually been offered up as a prize on the forum

I highly recommend before people overstep their bounds and use the hard work of others (like THT) for self serving purposes that they consider there’s much more to doing business on web forums then blindly finding 30 people to buy a product that you desire.
If anyone reading this can’t find that I was justified in my concerns regarding this poor attempt at a power buy then perhaps the THT philosophy isn’t for you.

It’s not always about a “cut” or fee. There is a certain protocol that needs to be followed. When this power buy is advertised THT won't make a red cent. RMS runs power buys in their forum all the time, without any additional fee to THT. Other forum moderators can destroy their forums by letting members create their own deals on their forums – it’s not going to happen here on THT!

Hopefully the vendor will post the details of the EPIRB Power Buy in his Vendor Forum tomorrow. Please be patient and realize you will be dealing with the source - and a company that must answer to THT members!

Thank you.
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Wet-n-Wiley
Forum Moderator