Get yourself Noticed and not know it ;-)

[Gary W. Graley]

Friends, Romans and Leathermen, lend me your Attention

I posted this message in a thread that a Moderator directed me to, but since it's Leather related I am making this post here as well:

It seems that when someone, other than myself, makes an announcement that G2 is "taking orders" but not actually "making sheaths at this time" it strikes a cord in those that ARE taking orders and MAKING sheaths. Well facts are facts, you'll not see any posts of mine stating "come one come all to the leather shop" since I'm not actively looking for any orders, folks are hunting me out. I was lead to this thread by a friend that informed me some people are not happy with me? Basically since I guess they are trying to make sheaths and were told they had to buy a higher level of membership, something that is new in the past year or so for leather/sheath guys. Myself? while most are basic members here, some are just Registered Users, but you do see them sneak in the bit of commercial for themselves, so for those guys, that seems a little low, while most that just want to sell knives on here are at the Gold level, just enough to get them there, I have been for a long time buying the Platinum level membership, what does that get me? not much more than what the Gold does, I guess there are a few advantages to it but I haven't made use of that, I have just went for that level to help this great knife site out, I know Kevin needs all the funds he can to keep this going, so that's one of the reasons that I've gotten the higher level.

I do not know who all are upset with me? And I'm not even sure exactly what they are upset about, only that the one Moderator that was kind enough to PM me this morning pointed out that there is fingers pointing at me and the villagers are sharpening their pitchforks and wrapping new torches to storm my leather castle because I haven't made the jump to "Service" ???

Now, don't want to type a long thing here, which I'll also make a nice thread in the Leather section...just in case those that complain may not see this thread. But let me state that I'm not ASKING any one to order from me, I've even tried to convince some that they could get a nice sheath from one of the people on BladeForums and have sent them links to others sites, or gave them Email and contact information so they could contact someone that could make something now for them. Does that sound like someone that is being sneaky behind the scenes making a killing? Hardly, but even with that, people DO want to wait to have me make something and making a sheath here and there doesn't make me an active person taking orders and making a 'living' from this site, if I do get to that stage, you can bet your spurs I'd move up the ladder and get the "Service" membership.

I do not know what causes people to make such a noise about me? In fact, I received an INFRACTION on a thread over 5 years old in the Leather section. Reason given that I was offering my service but was not at a Service level membership. This from a moderator that doesn't moderate the Leather forum at all...I believe he was given that thread in an email/PM and just acted on it. When I replied to him to LOOK at the thread, how OLD it is AND, this is killer guys/gals, AND IN THE THREAD it is a How To Do IT kind of thread that I made VERY clear that I do not make fixed blade sheaths but wanted to HELP. SO he was kind enough to come back, apoplogize and recinded that Infraction, I wasn't upset with him, just very confused.

So bottom line, while "OTHERS" may post that G2 is taking orders, you'll note that it's not that I'm MAKING sheaths, but still as a hobby when I can and it's been a long time now that I have, I hope those that are upset are encouraged that I'm not taking orders from them at all, never my intent, they are still able to make all the sheaths they can!

Which does bring up the fact, IF I'm that nefarious to hide behind a Platinum membership all this time AND the very nerve of me making many, many TUTORIALS that provide help to those that want to make sheaths, how clever of me to take that time to make them, and it does take time and effort to really do a nice job of making a Tutorial that you can follow and end up making your own sheath, I would say you guys/gals that are upset with me, email me, if your sheaths are nice, probably are, I'd be happy to direct those contacting me to you, I do that all the time already. And in at least one tutorial thread, I start the first post that lists ALL the other people that could also be approached to make sheaths.

Thanks again to the Moderator who understands I've been here to HELP people, thanks sir!!!
G2

 

[leatherman]

Not an infraction, a warning, it was later reversed by the moderator that gave it. After all was explained he did the reversal. I feel the need to clarify that before someone gets the wrong impression.

Its not an easy job by any means, trying to figure out who is trying to sell their wares off the backs of those who pay for the right to do so, and then convincing said person to get a membership. Especially when free advertising is so much cheaper. The often rude responses, or totally ignoring moderator requests, or even better the sulky behavior after ponying up for membership as if they were pick pocketed. Compared to a lot of other effective advertising, this place is cheap.

I'll leave this open for a little while then lock er down, Gary's post above is an announcement and not really up for discussion. Sometimes you have to make a really clear point so everyone understands a situation.

I hope this helps a little.