Date:         Sat, 23 Aug 2003 13:16:03 -0600
Reply-To:     Bret Berger <bret@STONEFLYTECH.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bret Berger <bret@STONEFLYTECH.COM>
Subject:      Thin skinned list vendors and market transparency
In-Reply-To:  <20030823183221.804221B981@sodor.stoneflytech.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I have heard Ron publicly request several times that customers with
complaints not bring them to the mailing list, but contact him directly.  My
personal inclination is to make a strong effort to resolve differences
privately before bringing them public.  However, I am not at all comfortable
with the pressure Ron is bringing to bear on his customers to keep their
complaints private.  Are the only public comments we are allowed to make
about BusDepot the positive ones?  I appreciate the time Ron spends on the
list answering questions and being part of the online community but, since
he also uses the list to advertise his services, I think he SHOULD be held
to a higher standard.  Criticism, properly addressed, will only make
BusDepot a better vendor.  My personal experience with BusDepot has been
mixed... good prices and selection, but poor packing on a couple of
occasions and one order that was completely dropped.  In my opinion BusDepot
has a lot of work to do before they approach the level of service I get from
the big on-line vendors I deal with.  I wish Ron good luck and plan to order
from him in the future, but attacking the messenger is not a winning
strategy.

-bret