adrs2k

After seeing a few scams, and potential scams, I think as a community it is worth re-evaluating vendors, and the application process.


I would like to see a more selective and intense set of requirements for people that want to be vendors. Now I realize this may stifle new businesses from starting, but I think there are ways around that. Being a vendor on S2kI should be a privilege, and not a RIGHT.

First, don't let just anyone become a vendor. It needs to be more than just paying the associated fees etc. Vendors should either be full blown honest to goodness companies like GoTuning, Evasive ETC. I see no problem with these longstanding companies just paying a fee and being granted vendor status. For instance, what if AMS, or Cobb decided to sell S2000 products. They are all well known and should be signed up no problem.

If they are not a well known "real" business and more of a start up, the requirements should be that they have had a longstanding membership on s2ki. There should also be an "interview process". Such that old threads are reviewed, do they contribute positively, are they active, do they have a positive feedback review, can multiple people vouch for them? I think a new business/vendor should have a list of references. So require 5 people to be interviewed via pm that can vouch for the company/vendor. OF course it goes without saying these references must also be positive contributors, and have been a part of the forums for awhile. I think we can potentially weed out some of these bad eggs. I am sure some creeps will still go through the effort to fool the system, and we can try the best we can, but some will still beat us. Such is life.

S2KI is flooded with vendors and I dont think we need lots and lots of new vendors so lets perhaps take a step back, and reevaluate what it means to be a vendor, and what is required to become a vendor.

I know nothing of the process so I apologize if I have the wrong idea about things. Please correct me. Please also PM me for more ideas and conversation about the vendor selection process as I have a bunch of ideas, and would also like to read up on the vendor requirements.

sam_spider

We need Internet Brands' input on this, we have little to no input on the vendor process as Moderators.

The Internet

I think this is a great idea - a fairly straightforward step to help protect a large group of people.
Heck, you could create a sort of application form that the prospect has to fill out (have things like references, time active on boards, etc.) and they would do most of the work for you. This would ensure standardization across the board and give the admin/mods/owner some sort of protection in the event that something happens.

1FastS2k

You make some good points, Adam. I too, do not know the requirements to become a vendor. I think at the bare minimum, they should have to be a legitimate business as in tax id/business license. Those things are easy to acquire albeit a little intimidating to do but it at least shows some commitment.

Manga_Spawn

Further I think the ability to post a group buy or presale of an item should be limited to vendors that are in good standing. These presale situations allow for a vendor to collect money when a product does not exist and sit on it which can put you well past the number of days allowed to file a claim. Another option would be to enforce a very limited deposit for these presales or group buys. Something like 5-10% of the total cost of the item that way it will limit the amount that cannot be gotten back if a claim cannot be filed.

adrs2k

Yep those are very good points.

berny2435

Agreed.
Just to point out b/c it hasn't been said yet: When evaluating a company, you really have to look past a flashy website as it means nothing these days and proves nothing about a companies integrity. Lots of ways to get a good website built.

Interviews are necessary along with a small business plan of sorts. If they can't take the interview or the business plan serious, they're probably not the type of vendor you should let interfere with the good ones we already have. On the flip side, ambition and good ideas should be rewarded.

Group buys that deal with collecting money up front? definitely only for vendors that have proved themselves and have proper cash flow.

MrKlean187

This is an excellent idea! I haven't personally been bamboozled, but have read some horror stories and think something like what Adam suggested would really help to improve S2ki and its paying members! Maybe even have a potential start-up vendor get x amount of "signatures" from paying members to become a vendor? This would give paying members another benefit of paying for membership!

datbino

i think they should also be evaluated based on the 'value' they add. there are shops posting up bs dyno's and getting people to buy snake oil. and yes, even though they claim that header dyno to be a 'fluke' - many people are mislead by it. my skepticism was met by pm's from random people that wanted me to delete my posts(i can submit these), just because you already 'are' a vendor, does not mean you are exempt from criticism

datbino

also, gorilla marketing is a growing problem on the internet- s2ki needs to do something about it