Anybody notice the new rules in the advertisng section.

Seems like it's a bit to tough, but those are the forums rules so I guess we got to stick with them.

I for one don't like them, because one 3 seperate times I've been able to offer a higher price, a bit less BW and the services they need and won the business.

also, sometimes the prospects learn a bit about what the market needs to get to a decent price.

anyway I would like to see the enforcement.

Mike

Soooo.... we are not allowed to offer exactly, or more than, what the requester wanted, for a price 26% lower than requested? :confused:

In my opinion, there were just too many blind posts in the advertisement section... random posts in every thread by the same person with the exact same wording... waste of bandwidth, time, and space - I say.

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=52538

As MattF posted, if you can't match the person's request - then don't post... if you think you can win them over by bombarding them personally (email or PM) then go for it, but don't post about it. Simple.

Originally posted by alpha

As MattF posted, if you can't match the person's request - then don't post... if you think you can win them over by bombarding them personally (email or PM) then go for it, but don't post about it. Simple.

I guess you did not read the rules, you are also forbidden to e-mail them or PM them .

but the point is to make a fair and competive market. and if you have been selling long enough, some times people don't need everything they are looking for something very specific.

but hey, now I will be very careful of what I post.

Think this is neccesary myself unfortunately, considering the adults let that kids play alone and some got crayons out and began drawing on the walls. Parents have employed the babysitter now, which always will penalise the best behaved kids.

Just shows that some still have some growing up to do....

Originally posted by MKelso
Think this is neccesary myself unfortunately, considering the adults let that kids play alone and some got crayons out and began drawing on the walls. Parents have employed the babysitter now, which always will penalise the best behaved kids.

Just shows that some still have some growing up to do....

great point, I happen to agree. I will confoirm to the rules inorder to play the game. just don't happen to like it.

Ahh my beef is only that I can not host phpnuke ( security reasons ) and I want to try to convert a person to postnuke.

Mike

Voicing loudly

Sorry, I guess it was recently updated...

I just read it... it's still very simple - if you can't meet the requester's requirements by close to 25%, don't post - I really didn't mind those who posted a slightly bit off the original request but people just so blind as to post prices of packages when the original thread started specifically asked for a sponsored free hosting.. or a person seeking a dedicated server getting a post about a 200mb and 2gb package - seriously, it got to be a joke.

Not pointing out at anyone at all, but some base their whole business and interactivity off of the WHT advertising forums - this is a pretty bad business marketing strategy, if you ask me - considering that the requests from WHT advertising are getting lower and lower (in terms of price) while expectations of service quality is increasing.

What we were getting were an increased number of reports that hosts were copy&paste 'spamming' offers in the requests forum. They were posting the same message, with the same offer, sometimes 25 or more times, without reading the request. It is a waste of time for people reading and it doesn't help the person who is requesting something.

While we try to leave the advertising forums alone for the most part (it is the only place members can discuss commercial things), often the advertising forums generate the most complaints and reports. Designers post negative comments about other designers, hosts negative comments (or unneeded comments) about other hosts and lately 'offer spam'. Example that really ticked me off the other day:

Request:
2 GB of space and 100 GB of transfer.

Offer Posted:
350MB of space and 10 GB of transfer for $10/mo.


So yes, there are some strict guidelines now. We need to have some common sense cooperation from hosts in order to keep the forum useful. If people request 2GB/100GB packages and they get offers for 350MB/10GB packages then what's the point?

The point isn't to ban anyone. You don't want that, we don't want that, no one does. We do need your help in actually reading and responding to the requests and not just spaming the same offer 25 times.

Chicken your right.
Funny (not you the cut and pasting post ), I never seen that happen until today in the Win side fo the market ( must happen in unix ), I just thought that this rule rather defined everything a bit to much, but yes your right.

A properly worded reply if your within a reasonable range of the prospects request should cause no trouble then.


But the best question is how do we deal with the guy that want's

a) reseller account
b) unlimitted domains
c) unlimited bandwidth
and all on the win platform

do we
1) laugh
2) laugh very hard
3) laugh very hard and pour a drink

TTYL

mike

I'd politely suggest that they post some reasonable amounts so that hosts can post offers that will meet their needs.

And as Matt said, within 25% of everything which is pretty reasonable I think. With the request I posted above:

Request:
2 GB of space and 100 GB of transfer.

This means the following could be offered (roughly):

1.5 GB - 2.5 GB of space and 75 GB - 125 GB of transfer. That's a decent range.

On a smaller request (more typical):

Request:
200 MB of space and 20 GB of transfer.

This means the following could be offered (roughly):

150 MB - 250 MB of space and 15 GB - 25 GB of transfer.

Requested monthly amounts:
$5 = $3.75 - $6.25
$10 = $7.50 - $12.50
$20 = $15 - $25
etc.

I think 25% is very reasonable, to me, too reasonable. I'd say 10% should do to get it as close as possible with a bit of leeway, but 25% it is.

Originally posted by Chicken
I'd politely suggest that they post some reasonable amounts so that hosts can post offers that will meet their needs.

And as Matt said, within 25% of everything which is pretty reasonable I think. With the request I posted above:

Request:
2 GB of space and 100 GB of transfer.

This means the following could be offered (roughly):

1.5 GB - 2.5 GB of space and 75 GB - 125 GB of transfer. That's a decent range.

On a smaller request (more typical):

Request:
200 MB of space and 20 GB of transfer.

This means the following could be offered (roughly):

150 MB - 250 MB of space and 15 GB - 25 GB of transfer.

Requested monthly amounts:
$5 = $3.75 - $6.25
$10 = $7.50 - $12.50
$20 = $15 - $25
etc.

I think 25% is very reasonable, to me, too reasonable. I'd say 10% should do to get it as close as possible with a bit of leeway, but 25% it is.

Say if it was

100MB Space, 10GB bandwidth
$10 a month
and someone offers
200MB Space, 25GB Bandwidth
$10 a month

would that be breaking the rules? after all it is still the same price!

i think the newly modified rules are really necessary. the moderators here (most of the time Chicken) are doing a great job. i just wish other forums were as well moderated.

as wht grows the rules will need to change from time to time. in my opinion, this only enhances the comfort of regular users of wht's forums.

not only am i am a staunch anti-spam supporter but i also would not like to read repeative cut/pastes so often resorted to in this forum by posters who dont think twice about doing so without actually caring to read the exact requirements of the person who made the request.

What if you only offer one plan, and that plan meets or exceeds their requirements but fits within their price range? For example, what if you only offer 500 MB of disk space and 10 GB of data transfer for $5 per month and someone requests 200 MB of disk space and 4 GB of data transfer for under $10 per month? That breaks the 25% rule, but in my opinion, that's a relevant offer. The rule should be revised to state that offers must meet or exceed their requirements and must fit within their price range. I think that's fair and covers all bases.

Originally posted by ToastyX
What if you only offer one plan, and that plan meets or exceeds their requirements but fits within their price range? For example, what if you only offer 500 MB of disk space and 10 GB of data transfer for $5 per month and someone requests 200 MB of disk space and 4 GB of data transfer for under $10 per month? That breaks the 25% rule, but in my opinion, that's a relevant offer. The rule should be revised to state that offers must meet or exceed their requirements and must fit within their price range. I think that's fair and covers all bases.


This is what i meant.. but you've explained it better than i did.

I vote for this post.. When I frist saw it I was a little pissed but then I realized this will stop me from going into the forum and seeing userx replied to the last 3 pages of threads with some generic spam message.. i am glad it is here and i hope it stays. hopefully it will weed out some of the bad apples.. can we also ban all unlmited offers? :D

Yes. What OKIHost said, unlimited is bad :( - and also false advertising :)

Originally posted by ToastyX
What if you only offer one plan, and that plan meets or exceeds their requirements but fits within their price range? For example, what if you only offer 500 MB of disk space and 10 GB of data transfer for $5 per month and someone requests 200 MB of disk space and 4 GB of data transfer for under $10 per month? That breaks the 25% rule, but in my opinion, that's a relevant offer. The rule should be revised to state that offers must meet or exceed their requirements and must fit within their price range. I think that's fair and covers all bases.
While you'd have to confirm this with Matt (who seems to be the one heading up the majority of the clean up efforts in the forum), to me, if you exceed the space/transfer, but keep within the monthly price, that's ok. I mean if the person asks for 100 MB with 2 GB of transfer for $5 and you offer them 500 MB with 10 GB of transfer for $5, well then how can they complain?

As I said, common sense.

Match your offer with the request. That's all.

Do that and everyone will be fine and happy as a clam bake.

:homer:

Mmmmm... clams...