Vendor Rules

[Trana]

The moderators and site administrators have compiled ideas for a vendor management system that is appropriate and fair for all parties on the site.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, already are a vendor, or just want to know more about what standards we hold the vendors to, please see the attached link.

These guidelines were created based on input from the community as a whole and are not meant to penalize or promote any particular aspect of the site. However, this website was designed for hobbyists first, so we are asking the reselling community as a whole to respect the open nature of this board.

These rules are by no means final and are open for reasonable input from members.

Also, these guidelines are a compliment to a few new features we will be enabling in the near future, stay tuned.

Vendor Guidelines

Please feel free to comment or make suggestions as we get ready to make these rules official. Our current plan is to make the Vendor forums mandatory no earlier than July 1st. Make sure you read the guidelines before posting your questions.

It is our goal to grow and enrich this community in a structured and level manner. We hope that you will enjoy the new features and functions and continue to support Manhattan Reefs!

:thanks:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Respect for our pets
• You will not KNOWINGLY purchase or sell “difficult to keep” livestock to new hobbyists
• You will not KNOWINGLY sell diseased, sick, dying, bleached or dyed livestock.
• You will not KNOWINGLY sell livestock to a customer whose tank has not been properly cycled.


I think the word knowingly needs to be added here as I have done above.
I say this for one reason, I could join here and not let anyone know anything about me and buy livestock with a tank that has been setup for 1 day and buy a alot of stuff no problems because I BS'd the vendor and got away with it. Or I could go home and throw the livestock into my tank without acclimating it and call the vendor tomorrow cause it died and accuse him of selling sick fish.

 

[DEEPWATER]

Respect for our pets
• You will not KNOWINGLY purchase or sell “difficult to keep” livestock to new hobbyists
• You will not KNOWINGLY sell diseased, sick, dying, bleached or dyed livestock.
• You will not KNOWINGLY sell livestock to a customer whose tank has not been properly cycled.


I think the word knowingly needs to be added here as I have done above.
I say this for one reason, I could join here and not let anyone know anything about me and buy livestock with a tank that has been setup for 1 day and buy a alot of stuff no problems because I BS'd the vendor and got away with it. Or I could go home and throw the livestock into my tank without acclimating it and call the vendor tomorrow cause it died and accuse him of selling sick fish.

how about the sponcer do they have to go by these rule or only vendors or members to ,singling out vendor is not right !!!



or only the vendor are affected by this ?

what is hard for some ,may be easy for other

Just recently a MOD told members to buy a CBB instead of a nusdi branch ,so whats the diff ??

 

[inkblue]

:flower::wink1::Hydrogen::afro::grouphug:

iSnt proGress great ?

 

[nycmat]

anyone need some security in here for this one?? LOL

 

[Josh]

how about the sponcer do they have to go by these rule or only vendors or members to ,singling out vendor is not right !!!

Sponsors have nothing to do with it. They support the site financially through banner ad purchases. If they want to sell online then they have to apply to be a vendor like everyone else.

 

[SlamaJama]

Sponsors have nothing to do with it. They support the site financially through banner ad purchases. If they want to sell online then they have to apply to be a vendor like everyone else.

I am sorry to say, but i think that is a double standard (sorry josh), not only should this be applied to ALL VENDORS and the FOR/SALE forum as well, let me explain myself...

If u purchase for the intent to resale(vendors), in my eyes that makes u RESPONCIBLE for whatever u sell, if it takes asking pertinent questions such as tank size, filtration, etc..u must! Its that persons business to have that responsibility that the livestock or goods to the buyer can reach its full potential.
Also, as a hobbiest selling from a display tank or other, this allows more "newbie" education, and gives a model for buying and selling on this site, they have to learn what they need to ask, and then to learn why, they need to ask it....

all i see is good with this change so long it does not only apply to select few..

Respect for our pets
? You will not KNOWINGLY purchase or sell ?difficult to keep? livestock to new hobbyists
? You will not KNOWINGLY sell diseased, sick, dying, bleached or dyed livestock.
? You will not KNOWINGLY sell livestock to a customer whose tank has not been properly cycled.


I think the word knowingly needs to be added here as I have done above.
I say this for one reason, I could join here and not let anyone know anything about me and buy livestock with a tank that has been setup for 1 day and buy a alot of stuff no problems because I BS'd the vendor and got away with it. Or I could go home and throw the livestock into my tank without acclimating it and call the vendor tomorrow cause it died and accuse him of selling sick fish.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Ok I am still a little in the dark on this one, Sponsors don't have to be vendors on the site? But they can be if they want to? If someone pays for a sponsor account are they also entitled to post in the Vendor forum. I know this is a stupid statement for me to make or stupid q's to ask but I am still a little foggy on the whole separation. Also aren't sponsors given the ability to post here on MR? Essentially they are potential vendors too correct? Sorry confused a little. Not starting trouble just looking to learn a little more.

 

[michael stern]

First of all, I'm glad this vendor situation will get more organized. I applaud the effors.

I also agree that it is the seller's responsibility to INFORM potential customers of requirements of the items they are selling. Ultimately, however, it is the buyers discretion to accept or reject the seller's advise. If a buyer askes to buy a sohal tang, for instance. The seller should inquire as to tank size and other inhabitants. If the buyer says I have a 55 gallon, with 3 other tangs, but this will be my last tang until I upgrade in 2012, the seller should make all reasonable efforts to discourage the purchase. If the buyer persists, I don't believe it's the seller's responsibility to police potential customers. This is America. You cannot forbid a customer from buying.

JMO

 

[alrha]

if i understood correctly, a sponsor is just a person/company that is giving money to the site (to buy advertising, etc) but not someone that is actively selling.
If a sponsor would want to sell on the site as well, they would have to become a vendor and abide by those rules.

 

[Deanos]

Here's out current Sponsor List. As Josh stated, if they want a dedicated forum on the board, they must apply to also be a vendor. Currently, only 2 of those sponsors actively advertise their stock in the current Vendor Sales forum.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

First of all, I'm glad this vendor situation will get more organized. I applaud the effors.

I also agree that it is the seller's responsibility to INFORM potential customers of requirements of the items they are selling. Ultimately, however, it is the buyers discretion to accept or reject the seller's advise. If a buyer askes to buy a sohal tang, for instance. The seller should inquire as to tank size and other inhabitants. If the buyer says I have a 55 gallon, with 3 other tangs, but this will be my last tang until I upgrade in 2012, the seller should make all reasonable efforts to discourage the purchase. If the buyer persists, I don't believe it's the seller's responsibility to police potential customers. This is America. You cannot forbid a customer from buying.

JMO

I think MR is holding it's vendors to a higher standard and it is that higher standard that makes MR the great community it is. To put some responsibility in the vendors hands is extremely admirable. If you want no responsibility open a Petco. Those are good rules if they are passed and if you can't abide by them don't be a vendor on this site. Simple as that. I have been writing By-Laws and Procedures for almost 15 years and the little clarification I suggested was in both the vendor's and buyr's best interest's.

I also feel that there should be a link to the IFCC on the site somewhere as an ultimate end to disputes. I want to know that if I get ripped off by a fly by night vendor, and the mods try their best to resolve it but can't I can go to someone and they will solve the problem one way or another.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Thanks Dean and alrha for the help.

 

[Deanos]

SlamaJama: I understand your viewpoint, but remember, the Vendor Guidelines apply specifically to Vendors. I'm sure an addendum to the site rules can be added, addressing your concerns of a hobbiest selling in the FS/FT forum.

 

[SlamaJama]

SlamaJama: I understand your viewpoint, but remember, the Vendor Guidelines apply specifically to Vendors. I'm sure an addendum to the site rules can be added, addressing your concerns of a hobbiest selling in the FS/FT forum.

i understand, but if some1 buys a banner to advertise goods/livestock on this site then wats the diff.......

if we all have to drive down an MR street @ 35 mph, then it should be for cars, buses, trucks, no matter if it was originally posted for trucks.

 

[House of Laughter]

I also applaud the efforts and agree it is the sponsors/vendors responsibility to educate, however, we take drivers education and we all speed on a regular basis, does that mean car dealers should stop selling cars to people that speed? I think not.

However, I refuse to sell anything to anyone whose tank can't support the animal's health and longevity. Those of you who have been to my place and made purchases, you know this. I just won't do it.

Making it a rule to vendors and sponsors is very difficult to police - however, I will never make a reasonable effort to discourage - I just won't sell it to you.

RONEN - saying vendors should operate ethically is NOT isolating vendors out, it is an educational responsibility for those ACTIVELY soliciting sales to educate their consumer. Sponsors are not actively selling they are advertisers and the user solicits sales from them and it is up to the consumer to be educated.

As for your Mod comment, I would tread lightly on your accusation of a mod making a recommendation verses saying what a user should consider - this approach will not get you any more sales and we have seen that approach doesn't work well in this tight knit community. I don't know 100% the thread you are talking about and next time you may want to lin k that in so it can be kept in context, however, my experience is that mods don't give absoluts, they give recommendations and access to information for users to make a decision by. Just my experience.

I like the rules, think they are well written and agree with them wholeheartedly - they are as fair as we can enforce and will be managable for all.

My .02

House

 

[scarf_ace1981]

i think the rules are fair and necessary.

 

[masterswimmer]

Admins, mods, obviously very carefully planned and well thought out.
Seems like an equitable arrangement for all.

Thanks for all the effort.
Russ

 

[ShaunW]

I think MR is holding it's vendors to a higher standard and it is that higher standard that makes MR the great community it is. To put some responsibility in the vendors hands is extremely admirable. If you want no responsibility open a Petco. Those are good rules if they are passed and if you can't abide by them don't be a vendor on this site. Simple as that. I have been writing By-Laws and Procedures for almost 15 years and the little clarification I suggested was in both the vendor's and buyr's best interest's.

Exactly!! It is the vendors choice to sell here, we are providing an advertising forum for them, making them adhere to the standards that we feel are fair is not too much to ask.

I also feel that there should be a link to the IFCC on the site somewhere as an ultimate end to disputes. I want to know that if I get ripped off by a fly by night vendor, and the mods try their best to resolve it but can't I can go to someone and they will solve the problem one way or another.

We cannot take responsibility for all actions by vendors. If a gripe occurs that affects all MR then we will get involved, however, the moderators of this site are not responsible for every problem (especially the small ones) that could happen.

 

[ShaunW]

Respect for our pets
? You will not KNOWINGLY purchase or sell ?difficult to keep? livestock to new hobbyists
? You will not KNOWINGLY sell diseased, sick, dying, bleached or dyed livestock.
? You will not KNOWINGLY sell livestock to a customer whose tank has not been properly cycled.


I think the word knowingly needs to be added here as I have done above.

Seriously, this is common sense. Vendors should have reefkeeping experience. They should know that animals that they are selling. Selling corals/fish that are impossible to keep to reefkeepers is irresponsible and should not be done here. We ALL have to have some standards! We will also frown on individuals selling such things here also! So this doesn't just apply to vendors.