2 replies to this topic

[asaint]

Hi all,

The Cloudy Nights forums are unique. We are the only astronomy related forums that request vendors post in specific areas only. By doing so members can feel free to make comments about products without having to fear offending a manufactuer.

However, with this comes an additional responsiblity. Since a vendor is not allowed to post on our forums, they are not able to give their side of story about customer interactions. In other words, they are not able to defend themselves if someone posts some remarks about a vendor's customer service. As moderators, we don't know when a member is telling the truth or merely making something up.

As you can see, we can't BOTH exclude vendors AND talk about their customer service. We have to choose one or the other.

To this end I am asking members to discuss Vendor service problems ONLY in the vendor forums. That way vendors can join the discussion and state their point of view.

I appreciate everyone's help in keeping these forums a friendly, family oriented forum.

Allister St. Claire
webmaster@cloudynights.com

[Ken]

Allister,

I have not seen this issue come up in this forum, however I think you are way off base here. The user experience of any instrument, or commodity for that matter is in part effected by the users experience with sales and customer service. It is unreasonable to believe that these experiences should be sepaarted. The finest instrument in the world can leave someone with a bad taste in their mouth if the personal experience in purchasing or using it is poor. As that experience is an essential part of the ownership experience then to try and censor those experiences would seem inconsistent with the stated goals of Cloudy Nights. It is the readers responsibility to not take all the information here within with credulity. I believe it is possible that this is not your intent, but I must admit that when I first read your message I thought it smacked of commercialism.

Clear Skies,

[asaint]

Ken,

I've modified the original guideline. We are now asking members to discuss customer service issues in the "feedback forum" in the vendor section. by doing so vendors can now participate in such discussions.

allister