Autopia Opens The Debate

**Ben@3D** · 01-14-2010, 01:41 AM

Autopia Members and Advertisers:

There will be a change on Autopia regarding the way that marketers will advertise on the site. The current community rules states:

"To offer added support to our Sponsors, we would ask that you refrain from overly recommending non-Sponsor businesses, products, or services that are in direct competition to our Sponsors in your thread replies. If you wish to offer another source to our Members, please use the PM option to give the information to a member in a private manner. "

Here at Autopia we feel that this rule allows for favoritism on the site. In order to keep Autopia neutral, fair, and open, we will be changing the rules. From now on members are free to discuss all products and services as long as you are not a representative of the company or blatantly bad mouthing another company.

In the future, if you are a manufacturer, Autopia will only allow advertising in the â€œSponsored Forumsâ€ area.

If you have any concerns about the Autopia forums please contact us at customerservice@autopia.org and we will be glad to respond to any questions.

Sincerely,

Autopia, LLC

**NotZeroSix** · 01-14-2010, 02:01 AM

"To offer added support to our Sponsors, we would ask that you refrain from overly recommending non-Sponsor businesses, products, or services that are in direct competition to our Sponsors in your thread replies. If you wish to offer another source to our Members, please use the PM option to give the information to a member in a private manner. "

Seems like this place is going to be only a *insert sponsor here* fan boy`s club. And that is not good. This forum is what separates from autogeek, MOL, PAC, etc. who only support their product/retailer than the industry as a whole. We are here because we are detailers who help other detailers. And only being limited to what we say or recommend, makes us hard to help ones in need. I think the forum is just fine as how it is. "If it aint broken, dont fix it." Thats my two cents.

**Ben@3D** · 01-14-2010, 02:16 AM

NotZeroSix,

That is what we are eliminating from the Community Rules to be less of a "fan boy" site. We don`t want you to be limited to what products you talk about.

**a.k.a. Patrick** · 01-14-2010, 07:25 AM

Nice move!

**gmblack3** · 01-14-2010, 07:36 AM

Sounds very promising!

**NotZeroSix** · 01-14-2010, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by admin

NotZeroSix,

That is what we are eliminating from the Community Rules to be less of a "fan boy" site. We don`t want you to be limited to what products you talk about.

oh my bad. I thought you were saying we werent allowed to talk about our competitors. The re-edit makes sense now. I am glad you are taking this approach and is a step up in terms of respect. Good job!

**wannafbody** · 01-14-2010, 09:07 AM

If 3D allows Autopia to be an open forum and not a sponsor only hype machine I think the reputation may be able to be restored. Many good detailers have been banned over the last few years that Autopia has lost what it once was-a great place to get advice from people who really knew what they were talking about.

And it would be in good taste to ask Autopiastore.com if they`d like to come back as a sponsor.

**dublifecrisis** · 01-14-2010, 10:14 AM

I think this is a good move! I`m more of a hobbyist/OCD that does a few side jobs but I`ve always viewed Autopia in the highest regard in terms of being the ...well most `Autopian`. The word itself should be added to Wickipedia to define the highest level of automotive detailing.

I always know where to go if I`m in a bind or scratching my head on something.

**the other pc** · 01-14-2010, 10:57 AM

:thx

Thank you, admin and the "powers that be" at Autopia, LLC.

Thanks for supporting us as an independent community.

Thanks for not treating this as just another business asset.

pc.

**Accumulator** · 01-14-2010, 11:18 AM

Gee, I just realized that I`ve probably been viotalating that (old) rule quite a bit over the years, though nobody ever called me on it.

Nice change :xyxthumbs

Maybe policies like this will help temper some of the concern that`s been permeating the community as of late.

**Setec Astronomy** · 01-14-2010, 11:21 AM

Don`t sweat it Accumulator, almost every one of us is guilty of violating that rule, it was never really enforced, anyway.

**MDetail** · 01-14-2010, 11:22 AM

seems fair to me.

**spooks** · 01-14-2010, 11:26 AM

Seems like a good move!

**wannafbody** · 01-14-2010, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Don`t sweat it Accumulator, almost every one of us is guilty of violating that rule, it was never really enforced, anyway.

No, it was enforced at David Bynon`s whim and fancy-remember Anthony Orosco, Danase and others who were banned at one point?

**Setec Astronomy** · 01-14-2010, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by wannafbody

No, it was enforced at David Bynon`s whim and fancy-remember Anthony Orosco, Danase and others who were banned at one point?

I think whatever trouble they got in pertained to their mfr. and vendor relationships. I can think of very few instances when an unaffiliated member had any action taken against them for recommending a non-sponsor product.

But don`t let me stop you from grinding your ax, which you seem intent on doing.