Unfairly target

[bike4ever]

I feel I am being targeted unfairly on this message board. I have never hid the fact that I work in a shop; however, my resent sale items have been removed. If the items were read thoroughly, one would realize they are all used.

I have many friends in the cycling community in St. Louis. They seek me out to assist them in selling their product since I have product knowledge. I receive no benefit from this other than helping a friend.

It would be unfortunate to lose a contributor to this board. I regularly point new female customers to this site. Why should I continue to do that?

Traci

[Zen]

I would hate to lose you as a forum contributor as well.
I know all these items are used, perhaps the owners will have to post them under their own user name.

[Irulan]

Maybe take it up with admin?

[Ana]

I love seeing the bikes you sell

That's such a shame... I like recycling bikes

Perhaps there was a miscommunication about the intent of what you were selling--that is is a favor for friends, not for your shop profit.

[PamNY]

You should discuss this with the board administrator, and keep the matter private.

Pam

[bike4ever]

PamNY - I agree with attempting to deal with an administrator; however, I have tried that without success. I have answered their questions honestly, but someone still "complains" about my posts. I never hear back from the administrator when I reply to their requests.

I greatly appreciate everyone's support. That is one thing that I really enjoy about this message board. If someone has issues, is injured, sick, worried, everyone provides support.

[PamNY]

I hope you can get things worked out. Buying a used bike was a great option for me, and I'm sure others welcome the opportunity as I did.

Pam

[Tuckervill]

I'm of two minds.

I think the fact that I can find people on here selling a bike that might fit, is more likely to be designed for a woman, etc., is a a great, invaluable benefit. I bought a bike from someone on this forum, in fact.

On the other hand, I can see how TE might want to limit that kind of activity, since there are costs involved with running the forum, and it's kind of like freeloading to sell stuff here on their dime, so to speak.

It makes me think of Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of Wal-Mart. As long as the Girl Scouts aren't making a killing on cookies based on the Wal-Mart traffic walking past their table, it's fine. Most people who sell used stuff here are not making a killing--they are probably taking a loss.

I look at all of the posts bike4ever posts and it always looks like the pictures are taken in an apartment hallway, not a shop. I believe her when she says she's just a conduit for friends. Working in a shop, she probably has lots of friends with bikes.

Karen

[Triskeliongirl]

I have no problem with your FS posts. We do have a FS section. If you weren't a regular contributor, it would be different, but you contribute your expertise, so I don't see what is wrong with your offering bikes for sale. I am sure many have benefited from your help in making these purchases.

[Susan Otcenas]

I agree with attempting to deal with an administrator; however, I have tried that without success. I have answered their questions honestly, but someone still "complains" about my posts. I never hear back from the administrator when I reply to their requests.

Bike4Ever,

You and I have had a long string of email back & forth over the past 24 hours. I could post that string to prove a point, but I won't because that was a private conversation.

Frankly, I'm rather offended that you would say that you never hear back. That's not the way I conduct business, and it disappoints me that you would attempt to shame me in public.

I quite specifically apologized to you if we had inadvertently deleted a For Sale post for used personal items, and even invited you to re-post those personal items if you wanted to.

FOR THE RECORD:
We do not permit commercial posts on the forums. That's been a long running policy. However, I don't actively "police" the forums, nor do I want to. These issues are brought to me and other admins when someone (usually more than one person) complains, at which point we take action to keep the forums non-commercial.

Our policy is to delete the offending posts, and send a polite email asking the poster to keep her participation in the forums non-commercial. We don't ask people to leave, but rather to simply respect the policy.

Susan

[kermit]

I would much rather buy an item from someone that posts on this board and is known rather than an unknown entity. I hope it can be worked it out.

[fidlfreek]

Agreed Kermit!

I LOVE TE! I can ask questions here that i can't ask anywhere else! And I would be sad sad sad if people w/ expertise (for instance bike4ever) were driven away. They (and their knowledge) are an asset to the website. I have personally benefited from bike4ever's wisdom and want her to feel appreciated!

I think the solution is just to get bike4ever's OPs to do their own postings. I know, unfortunate, but maybe the middle ground?

FYI As a person who recently used TE to recycle (aka resell) a small WSD bike I would haven been very content to pay TE a small classifieds fee given that their forum was the perfect place to find a buyer!

[Pedal Wench]

B. That's not the way I conduct business, and it disappoints me that you would attempt to shame me in public.

There is nothing that could be said that would ever cause me to doubt the way TE conducts business. I shop here because of the customer service and the people behind the product. People who know you will not let one comment change the way we view this company, and the people who run it.

[maillotpois]

There is nothing that could be said that would ever cause me to doubt the way TE conducts business. I shop here because of the customer service and the people behind the product. People who know you will not let one comment change the way we view this company, and the people who run it.

+ eleventy billion.

[snapdragen]

Have your friends register and post their own items for sale.

Maybe TE should start charging for ads, like Road Bike Review. I believe it's $2.00 per item or something like that.