Autopia Opens The Debate

Ben@3D

Ben@3D

New member
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 “Sponsored Forums” area.



If you have any concerns about the Autopia forums please contact us at [email protected] and we will be glad to respond to any questions.



Sincerely,



Autopia, LLC
 
"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. "
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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.
 
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.
 
admin said:
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.
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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!:bigups
 
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.
 
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.
 
: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.
 
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 said:
Don't sweat it Accumulator, almost every one of us is guilty of violating that rule, it was never really enforced, anyway.
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No, it was enforced at David Bynon's whim and fancy-remember Anthony Orosco, Danase and others who were banned at one point?
 
wannafbody said:
No, it was enforced at David Bynon's whim and fancy-remember Anthony Orosco, Danase and others who were banned at one point?
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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.
 
Accumulator said:
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.
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I can relate 100%



Setec Astronomy said:
Don't sweat it Accumulator, almost every one of us is guilty of violating that rule, it was never really enforced, anyway.
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Agreed...



Seems like business as usual.....
 
Setec Astronomy said:
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.
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Speaking the truth is grinding an ax? At one point Bob from Danase was a sponsor here(until his forum cost skyrocketed) and Anthony was always up front about his affiliation with Optimum. IIRC their banning was around the time Autopia went commercial with the Ultima line. And if their infractions were so horribly wrong why were they reinstated as members after a long period of time? Nothing changed on their part.



And the thread has the word "debate" in it. That references that there is potential for differing opinions. Let's talk about the history of this site so that the new owners don't make the same mistakes the last guy did.



Sure, Bynon built this site initially but this site became great because guys who were passionate about detailing took their time to post for the benefit of others(and the vast majority of those guys don't post here any longer). The members did more to give this site legitimacy than David Bynon did by hyping products.
 
^ agreed. Good to see the new ownership wants to continue to move autopia in a positive direction that will benefit all people
 
wannafbody said:
Speaking the truth is grinding an ax? At one point Bob from Danase was a sponsor here(until his forum cost skyrocketed) and Anthony was always up front about his affiliation with Optimum. IIRC their banning was around the time Autopia went commercial with the Ultima line. And if their infractions were so horribly wrong why were they reinstated as members after a long period of time? Nothing changed on their part.



And the thread has the word "debate" in it. That references that there is potential for differing opinions. Let's talk about the history of this site so that the new owners don't make the same mistakes the last guy did.



Sure, Bynon built this site initially but this site became great because guys who were passionate about detailing took their time to post for the benefit of others(and the vast majority of those guys don't post here any longer). The members did more to give this site legitimacy than David Bynon did by hyping products.
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Yeah, I was banned for a bit a long time ago because someone was giving false information about our company and I came on and corrected them. That was considered spam and I was banned for it. That's why whenever someone post anything about us I just stay out of it. Even if someone asked a simple question. I think I was most ticked off about it because of all the money I gave David to support this site over the years in advertising fees and one time I try to correct someone I was banned. It sucked. Then it just got worse I think. Like the people that paid him the most to advertise got away with the most.



In my personal opinion it'd be much nicer if advertisers on the forum had their own forums and that was it and they'd have to keep their product pushing out of all the other forums. But I know some of the other forums are sponsored and they can push product in those forums on top of their own. I'd get rid of the sponsored regular forums.



Another thing I was always sort of peeved at is I've been advertising for a year now with the banner ads and in the product section. But there was only a push to support the vendors with their own forums and not the other contributors, which there is plenty of us. As a vendor I feel it's just gotten to be 100% about how much they can make off of you and that's it. No customer care for the paying vendors or anything. Just dollars and cents.



I'd most likely never support this forum in the way of money again. I find more joy in supporting the members by helping them by answering questions and such whenever I can.
 
Danase said:
Yeah, I was banned for a bit a long time ago because someone was giving false information about our company and I came on and corrected them. That was considered spam and I was banned for it. That's why whenever someone post anything about us I just stay out of it. Even if someone asked a simple question. I think I was most ticked off about it because of all the money I gave David to support this site over the years in advertising fees and one time I try to correct someone I was banned. It sucked. Then it just got worse I think. Like the people that paid him the most to advertise got away with the most.



In my personal opinion it'd be much nicer if advertisers on the forum had their own forums and that was it and they'd have to keep their product pushing out of all the other forums. But I know some of the other forums are sponsored and they can push product in those forums on top of their own. I'd get rid of the sponsored regular forums.



Another thing I was always sort of peeved at is I've been advertising for a year now with the banner ads and in the product section. But there was only a push to support the vendors with their own forums and not the other contributors, which there is plenty of us. As a vendor I feel it's just gotten to be 100% about how much they can make off of you and that's it. No customer care for the paying vendors or anything. Just dollars and cents.



I'd most likely never support this forum in the way of money again. I find more joy in supporting the members by helping them by answering questions and such whenever I can.
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Well said Bob. I'm sure the folks who use your products are glad that you are here to help. :bigups
 
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