UKBF Offers Section

What shall we do with the UKBF Offers section?

  • Get rid of it.

    Votes: 7 7.3%
  • Make it Spamtastic (free for all)

    Votes: 5 5.2%
  • Leave as it is but disable replies

    Votes: 42 43.8%
  • Leave it exactly as it is

    Votes: 42 43.8%

  • Total voters
    96

Astaroth

Free Member
Aug 24, 2005
3,985
278
London
I think there should be an offers section

I think that it should be catagorised - eg print, IT (non-web), Web, Marketing etc

The bit which I am not sure about is how it should be ordered - allowing replies simply results in "bumps" being posted to get them up the rankings... Does the forum software allow you to have an expiry date? Say allow the posts only to be there for 1 month or such and then have them with no reply ranked by date posted?
 
Upvote 0
Sorry to all you mods, but I also vote to keep it as is, but disable the reply button. Also is there maybe a need to restrict the amount of offers a person can make in a given time frame, to prevent people from just multiple offers to keep their post at top.

Keep up the good work
icon7.gif
 
Upvote 0

cjd

Business Member
  • Nov 23, 2005
    15,989
    3,428
    www.voipfone.co.uk
    Keep it. I've never used it but I would imagine some people find it quite useful.

    I'd go along with disabling replies.

    You might cut down the spam if you made it so that you need to have posted say, 20 times before you can advertise. (If your software allows)
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    SuffolkDesigns

    It is possible to make it so replies don't bump the thread in a forum, which might be useful here. Replies are handy as sometimes a question about an offer is asked.

    So, basically leave as it is, make it so threads can't be bumped. set a limit such as 10 days between offers, make the forum so that mods have to approve posts (if it is easier and quicker to approve valid offers than delete the spam)
     
    Upvote 0
    I said dump it! More trouble than it's worth!

    Or make sure that these offers are only for UKBF people. I've seen the same offers by the same person on lots of forums and all they do it change the name in the posts. To me that is spam and it shouldn't matter whether they have been a member one day or one year, spam is spam. Even if it's decorated up to look like a helpful post, it's still spam and should be deleted.. Rant over, back to time out..lol

    Jayne
     
    Upvote 0

    creacom

    Free Member
    Oct 12, 2005
    1,927
    35
    Highlands, Scotland
    I would keep it but make sure that that offer is limited in some way. For example the seller has to fill in a specific form detailing their offer.

    Offer Headline

    Offer ( 3 lines maximum for example )

    Discount

    Offer Expiry date

    Like that, the mods can control better, most spammers wont be bothered to fill in a form like that and only genuine offers will be made and there is just enough space for the offer but nothing else.

    Jacqui
     
    Upvote 0
    How about making it a moderated forum, so no threads or posts can be seen until they are approved by a mod/admin.

    This should be faster and easier for mods to manage as they will be able to skim over all posts quickly, instead of having to search through all the latest threads and posts.

    if the forum is made as no reply, this will be even faster.

    Andy.
     
    Upvote 0

    Ozzy

    Founder of UKBF
    UKBF Staff
  • Feb 9, 2003
    8,336
    11
    3,474
    Northampton, UK
    bdgroup.co.uk
    Ok I couldnt find the option to stop replies bumping the thread in a single forum, only the whole board which is no good.
    So the offers section has been amended to work as follows;

    Posts in the offers section do not count towards your post cost.
    No-one can reply to posts in the offers section, not even the one who started the post.
    All posts in the offers section require moderator approval before they are displayed on the forum.

    Currently users who have not vaildated their email address can post on the forums, but all their posts need moderator approval, including posts in the offers section. Now they cannot post at all in the offers section.

    Lets see how that goes now.
     
    Upvote 0
    i agree with keeping it but disabling replies.
    I think it is a fine and useful part of the forum, although admittedly i have not used it myself much.
    A good place to test the product.

    It is prob going to get spammed so yes prevent replies, but allow other members to send pm or otherwise to the poster?

    just my pennies worth

    thanks

    al
     
    Upvote 0

    sharon25

    Free Member
    Apr 12, 2007
    24
    0
    Well i posted several offers but non of them got published, so im wondering why on earth you keeep a offer section if your not willing to publish legitimate offers that maybe very helpful for business owners in UK

    So I Dnt see any point why u wanna keep this thing, just get ridd of it without wasting valuable time of vendors. So they can use that time to publish else where without any stupid joker policies :mad:
     
    Upvote 0
    I think it should be kept as it is, but disable replies. It would also be useful to have it with expiry dates, so that posts get deleted once the offer is over and not before, I find it frustrating that offers disappear when they are permanent or long term discounts specifically for members, both from a view of offers I've posted for members which have vanished after a week or so, and other offers that I've wanted to come back to later.

    Perhaps you could split it, so that there is a section for UKBF specific discounts that are long term and then the offers page for the short term promotional offers.
     
    Upvote 0
    F

    Fit To Defend

    I think the offers is good ..but I have posted 4 offers so far andnone have been made visible to members..I believe all have complied with the rules of the forum but none posted and no reasons for why...so while a good idea..pretty useless if you cannot use it
     
    Upvote 0
    If you post an offer and get good feedback offline, wouldn't you want people to be able to post their opinions ON-LINE? Just a thought, but with no feedback, the rest of us just don't know whether it's an offer worth taking up.....without the negative feedback - er, same thing!
     
    Upvote 0

    ken_uk

    Free Member
    Jul 27, 2007
    2,213
    240
    55
    Confused...

    I try to reply to a post and I get
    ken_uk, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
    1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
    2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

    Have replies been disabled?
    If so, why is the button still there?
    Do my armpits smell? Is that why I cant reply?
    Why stop replies? Surely a reply pointing out something could be a dodgy offer, is a good thing? Better just to stop all posts instead of replies.
    I cant think of a reason to prevent responses, as a response is either
    1. Nonsensical, so can be ignored or deleted
    2. A bad attempt at spam, ie praise
    3. Genuine feedback praise
    4. A warning or valid point being raised

    Stopping replies would not stop spam, as the original post would be the spam...
    But it would stop valid points being raised, or warnings being given from people with experience of that offer, or similar scams etc.
    Only people with something to hide would want censorship, especially as the forum would be moderated anyways, due to its nature....
    Or is it going paid?
    Or is it another bug?
     
    Upvote 0
    I thought it was good. When you folks come to look for leaflets or some other service you can go there first and see if you can get money off. They do say money doesn't grow on trees.

    still don't no why mine never showed up
     
    Upvote 0
    Someone posted some printing "offers" there the other day which were dearer than my normal prices.

    Following this logic:

    Normal price by vendor = £100
    20% off for UKBF Members 20% (BARGAIN OF THE CENTURY) = £80
    Market Price (easily found by Googling) = £60

    Following this logic "Offers" page is very flawed!
     
    Upvote 0

    alldayPA

    Free Member
    Oct 15, 2007
    60
    5
    Manchester
    Everyone markets their product or service differently but the 'special offer' is age old. It benefits everyone.

    I read a thread recently on someone who is setting up a website to advertise businesses who offer free trials when you first use them...and I think that it is a great idea. I am going off topic...apologies....

    ..to get back to the topic... I say leave it as it is. It's not bothering anyone. No one is forced to sit down and read through it...or are they?

    Ruthh
    alldayPA - Google us or ring me for further info...we're always free for a chat!!
     
    Upvote 0

    Ozzy

    Founder of UKBF
    UKBF Staff
  • Feb 9, 2003
    8,336
    11
    3,474
    Northampton, UK
    bdgroup.co.uk
    This thread is so old that most people reading wont remember what it was to say "leave it as it is" :). So is that leave it as it is now, or leave it as it was a year ago? :).

    I'm going to lock this thread and freeze the poll for this reason.
     
    Upvote 0

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