Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 13:05:57 -0400
Reply-To: Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Subject: Spam, spam, spam - the List Admin!
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19990118201759.006b9d98@mail.abccom.bc.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>After reading most of the follow up posts to Tim's comment, I must admit
>there is almost an even split amongst people who are for vendor
>"advertising" as there are people who are against vendor "advertising".
OK, my last post to the list on this, unless my button gets pushed again...
a couple of longstanding problems with this list
1) no FAQ.
2) no 'welcome' statement/info for newbies.
3) little reference to the vanagon website or archives.
4) no FS/Wanted section on website for ALL private sales of parts/vehicles
One huge pile of newbie list traffic could be eliminated by posting a
battery FAQ, a tire FAQ, an FI FAQ, a D-I-Y FAQ etc etc, all found via the
website.
This is the fault of longterm members for not having done so already. I
once tried for a'Digital Bentley' online repair manual to answer a lot of
probs and allow folks to gauge what it would take to fix theirs. Since 8
people (the response I got) is not enough to pull this off it's dead.
Anyone want to take this up again? Same for developing a FAQ library, one
person want to coordinate for each section? Time the entire V@L community
pulled its hands out of its pockets and did something as a group. This
list crawls compared to pre-split days when the aircooled folks were still
with us. I detect not only a loss of community but also a loss of concern
about it, which reflects badly on wasser folks. Perhaps a different mindset
at work, too bad.
The welcome to V@L message needs to point out what's available and where,
especially since we've just lost Joel's Weakly Statz, (thanks for doing it
so long Unca Joel).
Finally, the vanagon website..... needs a manager who actively promotes
and develops the site. We had good growth in there initially (thanks Ron
L.), but it needs adding/updating. Volunteer(s)??
Given a good welcome, good website, good FAQs this list could cut down
traffic levels a lot.
Finally.... advertising (nope I didn't forget!) ALL vendors are listed on
the vanagon website (aren't they?), and any with links have them posted
there. If you want to shop, go to the catalogue. If you want monthly
specials, go look for them at vendors' sites each month. Make it a habit!
The 'welcome' message can drum this point home to all who sign up, saving
vendors from plugging stuff on the list.
This list has launched at least 3 vendors into VW sales, the list doesn't
owe it to these vendors to keep them in business nor provide their main
line of advertising. And I don't consider buying parts cheaply as a
personal favour in any way, it's simply good salesweaselship to keep prices
low and boost volume, so says Tom Waites. Maybe you are grateful for not
having to pay dealer prices anymore, but let's not get too giddy about
this, it's business, nothing more.
As for David's suggestion about advertising.. the idea of one day a week
is great, a full advertising day, no holds barred. I'll stay home. I'm
just getting tired of seeing "I have that for $xx" in response to every
query about fixing our vanagons.
Keep those P-flames coming folks, like water off a ducks back :). I've
been around long enough to know that e-commerce did NOT build the net, nor
was it built for them. ANY advertising is SPAM, slice it how you like.
And please don't reply to this on the list, I'm defeating my main
objective that way, list traffic is out of control enough already. Once
people get used to browsing the vanagon website first not last maybe things
will clear.
bye, Tim
