Kevin, did you realy read the whole post or did you just key on the parts that pissed you off?
If anyone depended on this site for their bread and butter, yet wasn't willing to pay the $50 per month "bargain" to advertise in the "the biggest knife show in the world, in cyberspace" (your words); then I'm sorry, but I'm not exactly going to be dripping with sympathy.
That's pretty much what I said, or tried to. In fact, in the whole first part of the post, I thought that I had made it pretty clear that I understood what you did and why. That wasn't the problem, as I saw it. You did what you had to do.
I hadn't read the post that you referred to indicating that you gave plenty of warning but, come on, three weeks? You call that sufficient notice. I call it a bolt from the blue.
That wasn't a warning it was an ultimatum. It wasn't saying "Hey guys we hate to this" and why. That was more in the line of "AWRIGHT PAY UP. YOUSE GUYS HAVE HAD IT TOO EASY TOO LONG". That's how I read I anyway and, if I read it that way, you can bet some of the others did too.
Did you and Mike try E-mailing the affected parties and explain? I don't mean going to the whole membership but it's pretty obvious who the consistent players are over there. You could have done that. Did you? And, before you ask "why should we?", well, if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand. It has to do with courtesy and good business.
Dennis, did you have a banner? No? Hmmmm.... Did you rush to get one, when we announced that the Dealer forum would be for advertisers only? No? Hmmmmm.... oh wait, you don't have a website. Hey, no problem, I'd be more than happy to give you your own page here on BladeForums.com, I've offered that in the past as well... but I didn't see *anyone* take us up on it.
I told you in my post that I don't have a banner and why. I don't have need for a banner in this market. I don't have anything to advertize. What's the point of saying "CLICK HERE" when there is nothing to click on? That being the case, why would I rush to get one when you announced the new policy? I didn't see the "announcement". I don't play on the dealer's forum, remember? How would I have seen it if I don't spend any time there? If I don't spend time there, why would I want a banner? Also, considering the debacle over there these last few days, why would I want to? A debacle, I might add, if not perpetrated by, certainly exacerbated by the appearance of 1SKS.
As for your offering "free web pages", I don't recall seeing that or hearing of any such offer but, as someone once said on here, I can't read all of the posts. Not that it's likely that I would have taken you up on it. Why should I? As I said, this is not my market. Besides, no one else took you up on it either. I wonder why?
Yet you have the audacity to claim that you were "sandbagged" and that we weren't acting like men by doing what we had to do?
Again, you misread, or read into the post what you wanted to. I never said that
I was sandbagged. How could I be if I don't post on the dealer's forum? Since I don't play in there I'm not affected. Also, where did I say that you didn't do enough to improve your situation?
What I did say was that it was easy to see how those who were complaining could have come to the conclusion that
they had been sandbagged. They were led in and set up then hit with unexpected charges and broken promises. If that isn't being sandbagged, it's a pretty good imitation. It's easy to see why they squawked and that was the whole point of my post. If you see that as acting "holier than thou", so be it.
Again, just so you understand, I was not complaining about the steps you had to take. Other than you and Mike, swinging a broad brush, calling all of us freeloaders, leeches and deadbeats simply because we wouldn't buy your goods, you did what you had to do. Right? It doesn't really bother me that much. If I'm not selling off that forum, what do I have to complain about?
Us armchair quarterbacks can only cast stones and watch you sink slowly into the mire. (If you piss enough people off that's a real possibility.)
After all, we're nothing but a bunch of freeloaders, leeches and deadbeats. Right?
As to lifting a finger to help, help what? Is this a charity or a business? If it's a business, what would you expect me, or any other businessman, to do? Especially when you are in direct competition with us? (The banner advertizers much more than me.)
Should we sacrifice our own resources to ensure your survival, when your goal is to dominate and control our entire market? Do we seem that foolish?
But then, we're a bunch of freeloaders, leeches and deadbeats. Right?
Did you come to us and
ask for help? You could have done a conference or something and tried to get us dealers all together (We have a forum specifically for that purpose) and lay it out and ask for suggestions and, yes, even help. Instead, we are regaled with tales of how You guys have all the "secrets" and knowledge and how you have clawed your way up from one table at a flea market to a multi-million dollar entrepeneur and for a "mere $1000.00" per head you will show us all how to "have it all" Does that sound like a business or organization that needs help? No wonder we weren't knocking your door down to help.
But then we're just a bunch of freeloaders, leeches and deadbeats. Right?
Actually, I do have an idea, or two that might help, and for a "mere $1000.00" I can .....Nah! Why bother?
We're just a bunch of freeloaders, leeches and deadbeats.
However, I do like the idea that someone came up with about doing some classified advertizing. I think it came from one of us freeloaders, leeches or deadbeats. (Not me. I wish it had.) I would even consider participating in that program. That is if I haven't been kicked off of here by then.
I also never said that you were taking money and giving back nothing. I know the value of this site and appreciate it as much as the next person. However, it is a business and I still find it incredible that you have people sending in donations.
At least they're not freeloaders, leeches and deadbeats.
Just for the record, I've always had a policy of treating people fairly and honestly and taking them at their word. I believe in helping someone when they are in trouble. I also believe in not meddling in the affairs of others. If I am not directly asked for help, then I will stay back and out of the way. Too many times in my earlier life I tried to help folks who either didn't want help or didn't think they needed it. I paid a price for that and learned some painful lessons from it. I will help all I can if asked, but you must ask. If you don't, then I figure you are doing ok and don't need it.
If that makes me a freeloader, a leech and a deadbeat, so be it.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I am not "beating you up" for doing what you had to do. I understand that. I am pissed, though, that you had the audacity (your word) to denigrate and vilify those of us who, for one reason or another, failed to see your plight and step in and bail your sorry asses out. It's a two way street, Kevin. If you want help,
ASK. Don't blast us for not reading your mind or picking up on your hints.
I also never said that you weren't acting like men, wherever
that came from!
As for your interest in MY manhood, Kevin, these days you're pretty much free to swing the way you want. However, my wife and I are pretty much comfortable with the way things are. No thanks.
DW
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Dennis Wright
Wright Knife & Sporting Goods
1-800-400-1980
("Have a knife day!")
wrightknife@ixpres.com
[This message has been edited by Dennis Wright (edited 03-21-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Dennis Wright (edited 03-21-2000).]
