Thread: Discussion regarding future requirements for group buys

Originally Posted by Smasters

RAVENS HOLLOW
If I may submit on behalf of the GB organizers. A request that members with much higher post count than the current 15 posts, are allowed to participate. The majority of those screaming the loudest, quite obviously don't plan on being productive members. As the number of their posts (aside from those complaining & registering for the GB), barely tally enough to actually meet the current expectations for participation.

This is coming from a member that did not participate in the GB, so I have no vested interests. Although, I can say w/ certainty of all the GB's I've been privy to... None have ever gone smoothly, even when everyone was taken care of in an expedient manner (and items were received prior to the original expected delivery date).
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Well Im new to this forum and I have complained.
I have been in the Pro Haunt Industry for 12 years now and particapate in other forums.

also, I/we are the ones that put this group buy over the top so WE ALL can get a better price. We spent 1580.00

What is your point?

Mira

I'm quite sure my point is very obvious. To be frank, there is decided difference between complaining...and what has been going on in that thread. In point of fact, none of your attributes you list there, have any relevance whatsoever to the topic at hand.

Originally Posted by Shadowbat

I just recently organized a group buy, my first one. I kept everyone publicly updated in the buy thread. I also publicly asked if anyone wanted tracking. I think any additional cost is up to the people involved in the buy as it does add an additional cost. I dont think it should be required. If you want to pay the extra .70 cents, thats up to the person. Only a couple people in my group wanted it, which was no problem, but everyone received their package with no problems. As least thats what I was told. lol Even when it came to the shipping method, everyone was in agreement that they wanted the cheapest way possible. Again, I discussed this openly in the thread.

What am I getting at with this? I just think open and frequent communication is a must when organizing and participating in a group buy. The details of the group buy should be left between the individuals involved in it. As noble as the idea is to set some ground rules for the group buys, it is also contradicting the the statement that the forum will not get involved in the transactions.

I totally agree with everything you said. But, each group buy is uniquly different and proposes it's own challenges. To compare your group buy (which consisted of 12 participants and a set price of a $1 item obtained from Dollar Tree) to my two group buys with a combined 80+ participants with both items being shipped from China, with a set price reached via supplier deal; I don't think it truely fair to compare the two! Not that you did anything wrong. Thank you for organizing a group buy! I love my crows!

Any group buy will have it's positives and negatives, but the "forum" shouldn't get involved. It should be the soul organizer's responsibility and it's group buy participants that decide any group buy rules. The forum itself should only serve as a location to hold group buys. Set rules, should be established at the time of the group buy, by it's members and organizer only. Each group buy is unique, and any rules set at the begining of the group buy, should be unique to how the group buy organizer and group buy participants work toward their goal, if a quantity-based group buy.

Also, it should be noted that a group buy participant and a "buyer", though similar are two entirely different things. Same can be said for a group buy organizer and a "seller". A "seller" sells his/her wares for profit, and group buy organizer only collects payment for a "seller". Although a group buy participant buys items, they must be made aware that they are buying not from the group buy organizer but from his or her "seller/supplier". As a middle man, the group buy organizer holds the weight of both the supplier, shipper, and funds collector, all of which are added stress, but does so making no profit. The group buy participant must know "these" truths prior to ordering so as not to complain later should an issue arrise, at no fault of the organizer.

The terms of a group buy are arranged between the organizer and the participants beforehand. If a participant does not like something, or "wants" something that wasn't arranged beforehand, they can either work with the organizer, or choose not participate. If rules are kept between organizer and participant, then the forum isn't held responsible for anything, as it should be anyway. The forum should remain only an area to organize a group buy, and should not be required to / asked to moderate it.

I too, agree with what UnOrthodOx and Shadowbat mentioned. I have only participated in two GBs, one being the GB that Shadowbat organized and the other is currently underway. I had absolutely no trouble/issues with how Shadowbat ran the show. It went quite smoothly and he kept us well informed. Eyegore is organizing the other GB that I'm taking part in and so far, he's also doing an excellent job. I have no idea what has been going on or what these complaints are about, but it seems to be a real shame. These folks are going out of their way and taking on this huge task to help us all out and all someone can do is complain about it? C'mon now. I think if there is going to be rules and regulations, it's going to drive people away from organizing/participating in the GBs. Anyone buying, needs to be aware of the risks. If they choose to not have a tracking #, then that's their problem if something happens to their order. GB organizers should offer tracking #s to any buyer, of course, but if they don't want it, then oh well. And yes, I completely agree that if the forum suddenly has these rules, that is getting involved.

Apparently, the way it was done has problems. So, what we are trying to do is change it for the better.

No change = No change...

Laying out Guidelines is just like you can't post bad words. It's advice! The forum is not involved in the actual transaction. You can even cover your butt by saying "we offer these guidelines but we are not responsible, Seller and buyer assume all responsibility" or some crap like that.

The thing that really bugs me is why would it matter if you pay an extra .70 cents or a buck more??? What are you really saving not paying that? If that measly amount is so precious to you then maybe you should not be spending the money to buy the product.

I would think that you would want to protect yourself from fraud or loss. Without it you would have no recourse.