Autopiaforums VS AG

Concours.John said:
Sorry that was in reference to post #2. There are some professionals who closely guard any and all of their product and process.
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I agree there are plenty of pros out there who do, and there's nothing wrong with that. Would I teach a competitor how to do paint corrections or high end interior details? Not likely. I don't really feel that helping someone on the other side of the country is compromising my business so I don't mind at all.
 
I wish this place had more traffic but mainly from the stand point to see what people use for differet processes and reviews. I've never been a fan to limit what products people can post about mainly because it handcuffs the posters to a limited selection. If I use jelly to clean my glass I don't want to have it removed because XYZ sponsor sells a glass cleaner. That may be a little extreme but you get the idea.
 
Threads like this can lead to a lot of speculation.

The BIG difference to me is that the advice given here isn't given to sell something or to boast about their experience, etc. It's a genuine offering of experience with a product or a method. Use it if you wish. If you wish to ignore it, then you can also do that.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
This forum about as open as it gets. At one time there was kind of an unwritten Henry Ford type of attitude among several of the members (you can discuss any product you want as long as it's Poorboy's) but it's never been officially enforced as such, instead it has typically been a free-for-all.
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Well that's really the way it should be. It keeps the good products in the market and makes the bad products go out of business:cool:
 
Let's face it. WE are the customer or the consumer. WE buy the products, use them, test them, and enjoy making public our thoughts. I've never been in favor of product censorship simply because "it's not one of our products".

I have to admit that much of my detailing collection was purchased through Autogeek. I also have many products from Chemical Guys, C-Magic, Blackfire, Adams, Uber and Lane.

Comparing products and reporting the results is paramount to us. WE again are the customer and to be put on notice via a PM from a moderator or administrator is a surefire way of removing me from their bottom line because I'll go elsewhere. Quite some time ago I got dinged on Autogeek for mentioning someone elses product. Both times I respectfully voiced my disagreement with their policy and my comments should be taken as a way to improve their business.....
 
BobbyG said:
Let's face it. WE are the customer or the consumer. WE buy the products, use them, test them, and enjoy making public our thoughts. I've never been in favor of product censorship simply because "it's not one of our products".

I have to admit that much of my detailing collection was purchased through Autogeek. I also have many products from Chemical Guys, C-Magic, Blackfire, Adams, Uber and Lane.

Comparing products and reporting the results is paramount to us. WE again are the customer and to be put on notice via a PM from a moderator or administrator is a surefire way of removing me from their bottom line because I'll go elsewhere. Quite some time ago I got dinged on Autogeek for mentioning someone elses product. Both times I respectfully voiced my disagreement with their policy and my comments should be taken as a way to improve their business.....
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So true Bobby. I know exactly what you are talking about. I have always tried to respect the owners of the forums that I participate in. It is their home and they have rules.

That is what will set this forum apart from the others. Freedom to discuss any product line. :rockon
 
Pats300zx said:
So true Bobby. I know exactly what you are talking about. I have always tried to respect the owners of the forums that I participate in. It is their home and they have rules.

That is what will set this forum apart from the others. Freedom to discuss any product line. :rockon
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Pat,

I'm with you here. :bigups

The Constitution of the United States guarantee's its citizen through the first amendment the freedom of speech. For some reason this doesn't seem to apply to forums and because they're privately owned the can and do make the rules.

:autopia:
 
He who owns the gold makes the rules. In most cases.

This forum maintained freedom of discussion mainly to retain members. The former DC members wouldn't have remained if the discussions were policed.

Many had their bags packed.
 
To be quite frank. This is the very reason im here. After an innocent mention of a CG product BAM...hate.

And not even from any of the moderators. From the other members.

I feel more welcome here than at AGO.
 
Mr. Gloss said:
He who owns the gold makes the rules. In most cases.

This forum maintained freedom of discussion mainly to retain members. The former DC members wouldn't have remained if the discussions were policed.

Many had their bags packed.
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Its the biggest factor on me joining and now staying. Good point.
 
Mr. Gloss said:
He who owns the gold makes the rules. In most cases.

This forum maintained freedom of discussion mainly to retain members. The former DC members wouldn't have remained if the discussions were policed.

Many had their bags packed.
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Yes. There have been self-appointed policeman as well that scare off people.

However, I also agree you play by the rules of the forum and in heavily moderated forums expect some inconsistent moderation to add to the fun.

It is no different going to a church service, play, concert, or sporting event. They also have limits on behavior (unevenly enforced of course) even though you are paying.
 
The good thing is, it's "just" a forum and it's "just" detailing. Insignificant in the real life scheme of things.
 
Mr. Gloss said:
The good thing is, it's "just" a forum and it's "just" detailing. Insignificant in the real life scheme of things.
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I completely agree! At the end of the day, it's just wax.

I used to be active a few years back but just got back into detailing a month ago (something about having 3 new kids took me away from my car care passion). I've been reading threads and getting caught back up but it is rather strange how things have changed and new forums are bountiful.

I have never been a proponent of product censorship but I respect the rules of the forums owners. It costs a heck of a lot of money and time to provide us a place of discussion - the least I (we) can do is respect their wishes. With that said, I do enjoy AGO. It is a great revenue stream for them but the sheer volume of posters is undeniable. There is a bunch of product-pushing (that's nothing really new for any detailing forum), but there is still a large number of quality reviews, experience sharing, and general camaraderie. The "unofficial" forum moderators do give me a chuckle and make me roll my eyes, but it doesn't happen frequently.

Judging from the replies on this thread (and many others), it seems that AF members greatly value open, honest, and thorough discussion and are more interested in what you did instead of what you used to get that show car shine...which I greatly appreciate. :rockon
 
vitalcarcare said:
To be quite frank. This is the very reason im here. After an innocent mention of a CG product BAM...hate.

And not even from any of the moderators. From the other members.

I feel more welcome here than at AGO.
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As AGO is the forum I frequent the most, some of the members have seemed to take on a feeling of "moderator authority status". I will not comment further on that, except to ponder that, perhaps, the source of their assumed policing authority may have been a result of the same treatment from other members, or they may have had their threads deleted in the past.

Who knows? I don't. But I do think it would benefit the AGO forum if they were to integrate a rule concerning said policing by forum members who are not moderators or administrators. I understand the need for members to alert moderators and administrators of rule violators; this is crucial. Many of the policing post can be easily misconstrued as "bashing members", "hate", or "threats", all of which violate AGO forum rules.:inspector:

I will, however, comment that I do enjoy the fact that AF is a vey open forum, and you don't have to worry about other forum members assuming the power to determine what moderators "might" do as a result of mentioning competing products.:autopia:
 
Ted S. said:
As AGO is the forum I frequent the most, some of the members have seemed to take on a feeling of "moderator authority status". I will not comment further on that, except to ponder that, perhaps, the source of their assumed policing authority may have been a result of the same treatment from other members, or they may have had their threads deleted in the past.

Who knows? I don't. But I do think it would benefit the AGO forum if they were to integrate a rule concerning said policing by forum members who are not moderators or administrators. I understand the need for members to alert moderators and administrators of rule violators; this is crucial. Many of the policing post can be easily misconstrued as "bashing members", "hate", or "threats", all of which violate AGO forum rules.:inspector:

I will, however, comment that I do enjoy the fact that AF is a vey open forum, and you don't have to worry about other forum members assuming the power to determine what moderators "might" do as a result of mentioning competing products.:autopia:
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This sums it up why this site IS unique. I lurked many places before joining and give many senior members here much credit.
There has been a willingness to talk about any product and process AND answer questions.

Sometimes on other sites it looked like "I used this" but in reality it may have been another product not sold on the site. I'm basing this on the process reported and results obtained. There also seems to be a "one up" game at times. I personally like to share what I like doing not play the trump game.
 
I'm still kind of new to the forums mainly this one and AG. But aren't they both owned by the same people?
 
rzatch said:
I'm still kind of new to the forums mainly this one and AG. But aren't they both owned by the same people?
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Autogeek Online and Autopia Forums (as well as both supporting stores: Autogeek and Autopia-CarCare) are owned by Palm Beach Motoring Group in Stuart Florida.

It is similar to how General Motors owns Cadillac and Chevrolet.

Autopia Forums is an open forum where any product discussion is allowed and encouraged. The forum (and as a result the store) are more open and we have (the forum members) have more direct control over the direction of this forum.

While there is some obvious overlap, we have talented people at PBMG who share double duties, similar to an engineer at GM who designed several Pontiacs before working on the C6 Corvette. This is a good thing as it gives up incredible resources in which to build the forum and store with. However they are run as separate entities.

Remember that this concept is still young (as far as forums and stores go) and the future is only going to get better.
 
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