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Controversial! +13 Manufacturers , Traders & Service Providers POLL

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by mick3272, May 10, 2016.

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Should manufacturers, traders and service providers wishing to advertise their products or services

Poll closed Jun 9, 2016.
YES. they should be Planet Figure Supporters 8 vote(s) 28.6%
NO They should not be Planet Figure Supporters 19 vote(s) 67.9%
DONT KNOW 1 vote(s) 3.6%
  1. mick3272 A Fixture

    Manufacturers , Traders & Service Providers



    Should manufacturers, traders and service providers wishing to advertise their products or services on Planet Figure be required to become a PF Supporter ($15 approx£10.50 ) to enable them to advertise said goods or services?

    Manufacturers, traders & service providers are persons who derive an income or supplement their income from this activity. e.g. figure manufacturers, hobby accessories (paint, glue etc.), casting services and painting services.

    Not included are members selling off items from "grey armies".

    I'm sure there will be reasons for and against on both sides of the coin, but I think it all boils down to two.

    1) Should manufacturers, traders & service providers pay a minimal sum for 12 months for unlimited advertising, which is aimed direct to the heart of the hobby.

    OR

    2) Should the fact that members are on the receiving end of quality services and an early heads up on products etc provided by the above outweigh the need for them to become PF Supporters.

    The Question


    Should manufacturers, traders and service providers wishing to advertise their products or services on Planet Figure be required to become a PF supporter to enable them to advertise said goods or services on this Forum?

    Mick
  2. Claude Portsmouth Active Member

    Hi Mick, my first reaction is no, but how can I make a rational decision?
    Some Manufacturers appear to be struggling already and value the free publicity. It also depends on the funding for the site required by the owners, their aspirations and objectives.
    Claude
    peedee, Babelfish and mick3272 like this.
  3. megroot A Fixture

    Country:
    Netherlands
    I think it should be entirely volunteered. I believe most of these guys are allready a supporter.

    Marc
    mick3272 likes this.
  4. Uruk-Hai PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Sweden
    Yes, they should be here but under some basic rules and guidelines.

    Cheers
    Janne Nilsson
    Babelfish and mick3272 like this.
  5. Ferris A Fixture

    No they should not be required to be a paying member.
    The new releases section is one many of us look out for. In other words, manufacturers are delivering valued content.
    Besides, figure manufacturing hardly is a business to get rich in, so it's not like PF is being exploited for others' riches.

    Cheers,
    Adrian
    Jeff T, Gellso, Mark S and 4 others like this.
  6. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    My own take is that any financial contribution (however modest) should be voluntary.

    That said, I like to see manufacturers contribute in other ways as active forum members in the way that people like Stu (Stormtroopers), Gra (CGS) and Ian (Ellies) and a few others do. The way that some guys just pitch up every so often to use pF as a convenient shop window for their goods & services (especially their services) is taking the mick a bit IMHO.

    I wouldn't be in favour of stopping these guys posting because I think that would be counter-productive. How else would we get the heads-up on new relase figures for example? But I do think that they encouraged to participate more, especially if they are one-man-band painters, sculptors, casters etc. as opposed to firms, because I'm sure the wider membership could benefit from learning about their techniques, skills etc. Question is, how best to do that? A conundrum to ponder!

    - Steve
  7. Martin64 A Fixture

    Country:
    Germany
    It`s up to the owner of this site to give a final answer.
    As long as producers / artists offer their services by sharing of pictures of upcoming releases / masters or WIP threads about sculpting, painting and so on why should they be treated different from the other members?
    If these threads are opened and the author can live with all kind of feedback about pros and cons of his work / product no need for necessarily becoming a supporter IMHO.
    If it is just about making the guys buy the stuff / only positive feedback is tolerated it`s mere advertisement and the owner of the site maybe - not necessarily:)- has to come up with a decision.
    My two cents.
    Cheers, Martin
    Mark S, akaryu and mick3272 like this.
  8. akaryu Moderator

    Country:
    Belgium
    As Martin put it, I can see a clear distinction between manufacturers who share the creative process of new items, the painting of the box art and so on, and of course accepting feedback and criticism from forum members and those, rather few, who just use the forum as a cheap alternative to paying for publicity. The same goes of course for the Market thread, where IMO there is a distinction between regular contributing planeteers who want to thin their grey army and the guys who rudely bump in to announce to have this and that stuff for sale, take it or it goes to ebay. Manufacturers/ sculptors such as Offo for instance sharing the creation of an upcoming release offer one of the very strongpoints of this forum and are one of its the raison-d'être. Financial contribution should be voluntary for all bona fide members, manufacturers or other as this is a warranty for independence of the forum. The not so bona fide guys should be cold- shouldered as much as possible!
    cheers,
    Piet
  9. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Agree 100%.

    There are modelling sites where members are not able to offer goods & services for sale in the trading subforums until they have notched up a minimum number of posts as regular members.

    I for one think that would be a good compromise, certainly for the Market & Commissions subforum, where currently anyone and his dog can just sign up, flog whatever it is they're flogging (kits, services, painted pieces, whatever) before disappearing off back into the ether never to be seen again, or only returning 6 months later when they've got something else they want to knock out (and of course avoid paying eBay fees). Besides encouraging new members to participate, it goes some way towards discouraging "here today, gone tomorrow" characters who may or may not be trustworthy.

    - Steve
    mick3272 likes this.
  10. Helm A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    I don't see why they should pay for posting in the forums any more than anyone else. We've already seen some IMO over moderation in the Market & Commissions subforum. Especially as another member has stickied their post offering services so it remains on the top thus generating free advertising.
    Steve
    NickM, Ferris, Mark S and 2 others like this.
  11. peedee A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    You know I am a plain speaker and I am not going to be diplomatic here.

    I do not understand any of this....I mean no harm to anyone's sensitivities, however.....

    This forum actively seeks out news of what's on offer
    THATS WHAT WE WANT.

    If someone can't post their new figure releases or services as they come on stream, that makes us elitist, and dumb.

    On this forum, are we are that special that we have to make ten posts or something before we declare we have a commercial product? Or maybe face an interview to deem our suitability to be a member of a private members club.

    Some of you sound like the old nightclub doorman who says "not in them shoes mate".

    It makes not a jot of difference to anyone and loads of people have posted their new 'fantasy' creation as their introduction to us.

    How can we even think to suggest a manufacturer should pay to be here as a supporter when so few of US actually are.

    I have been a member of this forum for a while, and am releasing a figure at some point this year.

    If I wasn't a member of the Forum I would still want you to know all about it, why wouldn't I ?

    Come on guys and please lets just be consistent.

    Happy modelling

    Paul.
    Babelfish, tomifune, Jeff T and 15 others like this.
  12. Barry King Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Well said Paul, the whole concept is utterly ridiculous and nonsensical. It just reeks as nothing more than a money grab, and for what? Isn't the purpose of any forum a common meeting place that all are welcome to come to, and if manufacturers come, then all the better!
    DEL and mick3272 like this.
  13. Ferris A Fixture

    I see what you mean Steve, such 'transient' members can be a bit annoying.
    However, I don't think this is a sufficiently big problem to warrant more rules, regulations and barriers. Such cases are easily dealt with by locking a thread.
    Let's keep things open and simple as much as possible.

    cheers,
    Adrian
  14. Mat Lambert A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I think PF should be open to all. Any fees that potentially or intentionally put off anyone in the hobby sharing info is only going to reduce the value of the forum. Surely we want to know the latest news or sales etc and need to encourage as much of it as possible.
    Cheers
    Mat
  15. Chrisr PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Australia
    The benefits of manufacturers's posting are twofold - they get free advertising and we get to learn about new kits as they become available. So we both win. Someone flogging their painting services is different, although I would think most PF members would not use the service.

    Just mtbw
    Chris
  16. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Putty and paint is for flogging painting services as that is where the best are and possibly the reason for its elitism .
    To block manufacturers from showing what is on offer would be just silly .
    Re anyone wanting to buy a figure from a member here all they have to do is PM them and ask if it is for sale .
    When Gordy was running this site it was total ebb and flow with little restrictions . " moderate in moderation " (y)
  17. Mark S Guest

    I've been told I should drink with 'moderation' ........how about it, Steve.
    peedee likes this.
  18. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Yeah who is this "moderation" fella anyway Mark? ;) :D

    - Steve
    peedee and Gaudin like this.
  19. Mark S Guest

    Who ever he is Steve he can come along with us, but I'll be ignoring him,....let him get his own.
    peedee and Babelfish like this.
  20. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    As far as I'm aware Ron there are no plans by Admin to change the status quo regarding manufacturers, seems to me that this is just a member flying a kite to gauge opinion (I suspect in light of a conversation elsewhere).

    There still are few restrictions on pF - beyond the obvious, and the guidelines that were originally laid down by Gordy himself.

    - Steve

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