Well, my thread is gone, and I don't have access to it, to let you guys know what happened.

I received a PM this afternoon from iLikeBeer who said this:

"I wanted to remind you that commercial posting is restricted to site sponsors only and registered owners in a limited number of circumstances. After reading your post we feel it is too commercial in nature and therefore we have moved it offline."

I thought this group buy would be allowed, since we are getting locks with different patterns, which are not interchangeable with the ones from the first group buy. I know that a few guys from the first group buy also wanted to get into this one so that they could use more than one type of lock pattern, which increases security.

The big problem for me is that I was not informed until this afternoon, even though I have been posting that I will be placing the order today. Of course, I did as I promised, and our order is in. If I can't cancel the order, I will lose thousands of dollars!!!

iLikeBeer said that I should contact cthree, who is a site director, who may be able to inerpret our situation differently than he did. iLikeBeer said that cthree may also be able to bend the rules for our group buy, if he is so inclined.

I have seen the site rule that says only one group buy per item, per owner, then you have to pay to be a sponsor, but I know of other owners who were and are allowed to repeat a group buy order more than once, without becoming a sponsor. Also, like I have stated, these are not the same locks as the first group buy.

I will PM cthree later tonight, and see what he says. He has been heplful in the past, so I hope he will allow us to continue.

I already mentioned to you all that I have been contacted by some site sponsors that would like to sell my Seat Locks, so there may be some pressure to shut me down. It may be helpful for you guys to put in your 2 cents on the issue, but remember, cthree has been nothing but helpful in the past, so give him a chance!

-Pete

 

I'm not trying to jump into the middle of a political dispute, but...

I understand the outline of the GB rules: one hosted GB for any product by an owner, no profit allowed beyond getting the cost of one item covered.

So, it would seem to me that your second GB breaks those rules.

BUT, you're doing a great service to the s2000 community which has clearly seen a problem with seats being stolen. I would like to think that exceptions can be made for any rule, especially those that are helping the community at large.

Now I also don't know if you were planning on profiting from the second GB. That might change things a little. I had no intention of purchasing the seat locks, but I do believe that they are a quality product and that you should be allowed to sell them. Hopefully some sort of agreement can be reached.

 

For crying out loud! Pete was planning to take a LOSS on these things! This is insanity.

I would like to take this opertunity to encourage the moderators to support Pete on this endevour. I wonder how many of the moderators have the seat locks.

I am really sorry that this is a hassle to you, Pete. I read all about the problems you had with McGard the first time around, and am impressed that you were willing to take this on again.

 

This does seem strange to me. Pete is providing a valuable service to the community by organizing a group buy for an item that no one even imagined before he did the research on it last year. My understanding is that he puts a lot of work into handling this on a completely non-profit basis. I bought a set of locks in the first group buy, and I'm very relieved by the added security they provide.

I guess I could better understand removing the thread if I understood what the rule "repeat Group Buys are not permitted" is meant to achieve. The rule is stated in the FAQ, but it doesn't say why. iLikeBeer didn't even mention that as the reason, so who knows. I'm not sure what "too commerical in nature" means either. Looking forward to the clarification...

 

Thanks, everyone for the words of support. I will take some time to PM cthree later tonight, because I am so busy.

Everyone is making sense with their opinions on this issue. Also, I have already been contacted by vendors, and site moderators who think that we should be okay to continue.

I wanted to stress that I have no reason to think that any site sponsor hes said anything about our group buy. I was just guessing at what may have happened. Most likely, it was just iLikeBeer doing what he is supposed to do, as a Site Moderator. Actually, some vendors, like Rick's have supported my efforts to have and repeat the group buy.

Also, just so everyone knows, I do make some profit on the Seat Locks. I had no idea when I made the last group buy, if I would make any money, or not, because I pretty much have to sell all of the lock sets, in order to get all my money back.

Then came the issue of trying to keep a few extra sets, in case someone needed a replacement- but then I would have no profit again, so I did sell them. Now I will have to give that profit to McGard if I have to place another minimum order to get some replacements!

I don't like to admit it, but the money that I am making on the Seat Locks is a joke, for the amount of work that I put into it. If I need extra money, I can always work for one of my ICU Registries, which pay up to $45/hr. I'm doing the Seat Lock Project because I enjoy it- but the truth is that I wouldn't want to do all of this work for free!

Also I did offer to take on some of McGard's price increase, but I am still hoping that I won't lose money. The problem is that I have to make the minimum order from McGard (50 sets), and I don't know if all of the sets will be sold (and there's the issue of buying replacement locks or keys).

Anyway, I am willing to make it work, if S2KI will give me the opportunity to continue. Another option would be for me to pay whatever fee is required, and divide up that cost into the cost of the Seat Lock Sets- BUT THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD REALLY HATE TO DO- some owners can't afford them as it is!

-Pete

 

At least you got a PM in explaining the reasons why your GB post was deleted.

As for my fujitsubo GB post it was deleted without any explanation.

I know it was a personal GB post , but it was all within the guidelines for a private GB.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KW-AP1
[B]At least you got a PM in explaining the reasons why your GB post was deleted.

As for my fujitsubo GB post it was deleted without any explanation.

 

I'm still with you Pete...(notice the 'owner' description...thanks HondaGal)...whatever happens...count me in...

james

 

Just pay S2ki a month of sponsorship or give them a cut. Why lose $$$ over it?

 

This is a most regrettable turn of events. I would urge the forum admins (ie. cthree) to make an exception in this case as the plug was pulled so late in the game. It should have been pulled at an earlier stage when there was no risk of money loss, time spent or so many S2000 owners disappointed.
I believe it was not Pete who began the "solicitation" for buyers on this one. It was people like myself who PM'd him asking him to do another one. So it's not like he came looking for us. We went looking for him.

In any case, I'm still in and if necessary, we can do this by PM and by word of mouth. Hell, when I get mine, I'll even do one of my "How To's" on installing them (with a gazillion pics). I usually field a couple of dozen PM's a week as a result of those DIY threads and when I get PM's about this bolt "How To", I'd be happy to PM the details. I don't believe this would contravene any forum rules.

I tell ya one thing, though. If and when another sponsor shows up "marketing" these bolts later, we'll know immediately who may have been "turning the screws". I, for one, WILL NOT purchase them at that time.