Consumers guide?

[Martin Wallgren]

Is there any consumers guide on what to by and what to look out for on this forum? The obvius shallows I hope to stay clear of but then it is all the small reefs.

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Is there any consumers guide on what to by and what to look out for on this forum? The obvius shallows I hope to stay clear of but then it is all the small reefs.

[size=150:1tk80whh]A[/size] Consumer's Guide for Roman stuff is a great idea. I know we have one for WWII stuff. The WWII Reenactor's Consumer and Vendor Feedback Guide is an excellent tool and if used, it can certainly help the reenactor find good and honest vendors to buy from.

I've found that the feedback really helps you get a good feel for how the vendor operates and if it's negative, well, he does have the ability to rebutt postings and then have his own comments rebutted. And yeah, posts do have to be approved by a moderator there, so wild slander and flame wars don't really happen there. Give it a look... I think it would be an awesome tool to have for Roman reenacting.

Now, I wonder WHO we know that has the skill to set it up and make it work... :-Þ

[Praefectusclassis]

I'd be happy to facilitate it, but I ain't gonna run it.
We'd need at least two moderators and a commitment of members to add to it.

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I'd be happy to facilitate it, but I ain't gonna run it.
We'd need at least two moderators and a commitment of members to add to it.

[size=150:m003e4jb]T[/size]ell you what... you set it up and I'll help moderate it. Meaning I'll go do my duties once a day... ([size=75:m003e4jb]which is all it should need once it's up and going[/size]). Can it be made so the entries are not posted until approved by a moderator? And also, it needs be easy for the vendor to comment and then have comment on that. More so, I would make it so that stuff can not be changed w/ out a moderator's help. However, when it comes down to it, I think it would be a great idea! How many great vendors are there? And, how many scum who only wish to take advantage of new or uneducated people? This might help the good eggs and let the bad go out w/ the trash.

I know the WWII one has ratings for Overall Rating, Price Rating, Quality Rating... it shows a percentage for each cumulative... this would be awesome... :-) )

[Praefectusclassis]

I'd prolly have to look for a component that either goes with the forum òr with the main site, but I expect it would be possible.

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I'd prolly have to look for a component that either goes with the forum òr with the main site, but I expect it would be possible.

[size=150:14sppowm]W[/size]orks for me... :-) 14sppowm]dishonest[/size]) vendors scream... :-0 he-he-he![/i]

[Praefectusclassis]

I'm not starting till we have a) more moderators b) a consensus among the members that it would be useful. Maybe you could open a poll?

[arklore70]

I think it would be very useful...I am new still at the hobby....but once I get up to speed, I would not mind helping out.

v/r
Mike

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I'm not starting till we have a) more moderators b) a consensus among the members that it would be useful. Maybe you could open a poll?

[size=150:cmur17dy]ACK![/size] I had shut this down and was headin' to bed, but the #$*+@*&@^#+@&@! forum reader showed me that you had posted -- it's 03:16, I need to go to bed!! If one of our better ([size=75:cmur17dy]than me[/size]) moderators doesn't do it by when I wake up, I'll make said poll. How's that. I'm tired. I KNOW it will work and be popular. Hell, you watch, people are going to start posting to it, especially if it's not hard to use. It just needs to be "painless" and there. Make it so... :-) ) oh, and goodnight, I'm outta here.

[Martin Wallgren]

I could help you out too, in anyway I can.

Martin

[Magnus]

Good idea! No...great idea! Some points that should be considered:

1. Some type of guidelines as to what is recommended, and why. I know some group leaders have an extensive list of what not to buy, but some may conform specifically to their own group's policies, and not reenactors in general. So we'd have to figure out what stuff we'd let on, and why, and then why NOT other items.

Or do we list it all, but put in a disclaimer or warning next to items we don't recommend?

2. I also think we shouldn't play favorites with any particular supplier, rather we just give a list as to where they can be found. Any person interested can then utilize the forum to find out opinions on a given supplier, but I think we should remain neutral, and thus professional. Having said that, I am all for listing suppliers that people have had bad experiences with and why. So long as the information given is not overly slanderous, but rather objectively written, stating only fact and not opinion.

3. I think it's important to distinguish the fact that any equipment recomendations are only that...they are not written in stone nor are they a universal requirement of any reenactment group. Equipment regulations are group dependant, so any information we have to give should be checked with the group leader first.

That's about it for now...and of course i will help mod this with Marsh if he needs a side kick.

[Praefectusclassis]

Oh boy. Marsh and Matt as moderators, I look forward to the fun already! :wink:
Just to make it clear: are we talking about product reviews, vendor reviews or both?

[Magnus]

Hahahaha...yeah, me and marsh is a combination like Nitro and Glycerine...hahaha!

I'd stick with product reviews. For the most part, vendor reviews can be found on-site and imho, tend to be a bit biased. The company is trying to sell it's merchandise, after all. They may also be lacking the opportunity to have actually used the product in "the field". Something most of us feel to be fairly important, especially regarding how certain products hold up to continued use.

[Praefectusclassis]

I meant reviews of (not by) vendors. They are two things, product reviews and reviews of vendors, aren't they...

[Magnus]

Yes they are smart ass...lol.

Again, so long as the review isn't slanderous, but objective, I'd say that's a crucial component we should have.