Advertising Taking Over the Forum?

 Seriously fellas, those banner ads at the top of the forum pages, the posts on the forum about specials, even the email blasts that several of our advertisers have done recently...they all serve two purposes.

1. They help keep this forum free to all of you who enjoy posting here.
2. They help keep those advertisers in business by connecting them with a very well targeted audience.

I encourage you to support them, not complain about them, especially in this difficult time. We’re all in this together.   👍🏼

Rich Melvin posted:

 Seriously fellas, those banner ads at the top of the forum pages, the posts on the forum about specials, even the email blasts that several of our advertisers have done recently...they all serve two purposes.

1. They help keep this forum free to all of you who enjoy posting here.
2. They help keep those advertisers in business by connecting them with a very well targeted audience.

I encourage you to support them, not complain about them. We’re all in this together.   👍🏼

I like the banner ads: saves me from internet searches, at least.
The ads embedded in discussion threads annoy me. Why not a sub-forum for them, possibly placed at the top of the page?

I have no problem with the ads.  We need them ( the vendors ) as much as they need us.  End of story.

I have no problems with the adds.  Many are informative and they offer good deals.  But on top of that, for the hobby to survive we need these stores and manufactures to stay in business.

Marty

You forum sponsors can post all you want. I enjoy reading all your ads. I especially love seeing new custom run cars painted up for different stores.

Rich Melvin posted:

 Seriously fellas, those banner ads at the top of the forum pages, the posts on the forum about specials, even the email blasts that several of our advertisers have done recently...they all serve two purposes.

1. They help keep this forum free to all of you who enjoy posting here.
2. They help keep those advertisers in business by connecting them with a very well targeted audience.

I encourage you to support them, not complain about them, especially in this difficult time. We’re all in this together.   👍🏼

Rich, I do not believe the original poster or others are opposed to advertisers posting on the forum.  I support the forum sponsors including the one who brought this whole discussion about.  I also appreciate their sponsorship of the forum and thank them for being there.

But, will you not admit that 12 postings from one advertiser in one 8 hour period  touting individual specials is a little excessive?

Can you imagine what the forum will look like if all sponsors decide they should also post so many different ads in the body of the forum itself?

 I have been subscriber to OGR  since run 92 (it was O Scale Railroading back then) and appreciate the magazine and this forum and hope we can have civilized discussions about these types of topics without being attacked for not appreciating the forum itself and what keeps it going.

Happy railroading,

Don

I have noticed the ads, but I haven't regarded them as ads, I guess. I read through a lot of them, but its a post like anything else. I click on a lot of items they have for sale because you never know, they just might have that one item I've been looking for and sometimes they do. So I guess I always look at them but really don't give it much thought as to them being bothersome.

I have no problem with the ads. We need to support our advertisers and dealers during this time.

I think it COULD become "too much" pretty easily.(not "is")

If 50% of the " recent post column" were "bait" titles daily ,I wouldn't be as inclined to wade through the crap for a gem. That's not a maybe. ( nightowls don't see the mid-day ad rush often luckily)

 I play free games too; until the spamy ads increase 10 fold and wreck the actual gameplay, and I uninstall and find another    (I do watch them to support until it gets stupid)

There has to balance ☯️. 

 E.g. really like Sunset/3rd rail Scott's posts/ads; "printed infomercial".

Ads fed me a while too    I've designed, sold, bought and appreciated buying many different types of space (not here ever, darn) and reading/watching/hearing/buying from them too. There is a line where it backfires though. I don't think we are there yet, and there is always someone going to step on a line without really realizing it.

If the ad is as informative about the product as much as it is about hype, I think they are an asset. I won't buy from overly any over aggressive, regularly baity company at any price. 

Some of our sponsors take the time to ID themselves in the title. I tend to look and likely for longer too ...I like being invited, not barked to.

When I'm ready to shop I use the header ads, index to advertisers, and of course, my local shop needs some support as well.  

I'm confused'.. a post is a post. you don't have to click on it. And there is no free lunch!  The ads at the top are cool.  If you need something you look.  The other ads appear to be for specials.  Every other outlet and all the magazines, paper, and Ezeens are full of ads.  It's not too bad on this site. It doesn't interfere with my reading.  I for one have no problem with the ads'..

I think it's a good way to keep informed on new products,  sales, inventory updates, etc.

I tend to click on the special run announcements, new product announcements etc., but rarely on the "Less than 5 in stock" announcements.  Not an issue for me and agree with the fact that these folks have paid to sponsor the forum(s), unlike the rest of us who get the forum for free.

These advertisements are not deceptive or intrusive as what you find on internet sites.  For the most part the title tells you who it is and what it is about.  It is easy enough to skip over or stop and read.  The banners at the top are fine but you wouldn’t know that store “X” is having sale on something you might be looking for if he didn’t post it somewhere for you to find.  Also, as virtually everyone has pointed out, these advertisers help support the forum that we all enjoy.

I love ads. TV commercials are often the best part of the show.

Hal

Rich Melvin posted:

I’ve said this before, and it seems appropriate to say it again.

If some of you were given $1 million in $100 bills, you would complain it was too heavy to carry.  

Rich;

When I was in college back in the mid-70’s, I worked part time as a teller for Chase Manhattan in NYC... being somewhat evil, I suggest giving them the million in Sacagawea dollar coins... it would be a lot bulkier, not to mention weightier, and would give them something of import to grouse about since no one likes them   

If they aren’t available, I’d suggest the reissued 2$ bills (I think people like those even less than the Sacagaweas).

Personally, I like, and have used a number of the forum sponsors and will continue to do so - I wish them all the best in these difficult times.

I've been wondering why I'm not asked to renew my online subscription?

Alan

Look at it this way, their in lock down like all of us together. They have to eat, pay rent, mortage, pay for trains they ordered. We are the customers that can't come in their shop. Ya, I like it.

Ha! Rich Melvin is 100% correct! Funny as this scenario came up in last Sunday's episode of "Better Call Saul"

For the very few above who are complaining about the ads, please articulate for me, specifically, exactly what the so-called problem is.

We need something to get us through quarantine and no York!  Advertise away!

-Greg

It is what it is. They have to try to keep business going during these uncertain times.  I have no problem with that and will try to support them whenever I can. 

Never better said by Jim911....additionally, think of this...why not read an ad once in awhile....or open the advertisers' link. Might be something useful gained from that reading?

I have no problem with the ads, e mail blasts etc.  They keep me informed.   I appreciate that the advertisers pay for all of us to frequent this forum for FREE!   I support forum sponsors and OGR Magazine sponsors whenever I can. They deserve our business.   I certainly wish all of our sponsors the best during this uniquely difficult time.

New Haven Joe posted:

I have no problem with the ads either.  This is a very difficult time.  I would also suggest that if you have the financial means and you need or want something, this is the time to buy it from one of the advertisers.   We need to support the people that provide us the products for this great hobby.  

I would also suggest that anyone using this forum that doesn't subscribe in print or digitally to OGR that this is the time to signup.  NH Joe

That's exactly what I did. I needed something and I searched throughout all of the forum advertisers until I found one (Pats Trains) that had it. When I got an email from OGR that my subscription was expiring (usually I take my time) but this time within 24 hours I renewed my subscription.

I don't mind the ads. They aren't obtrusive at all. I have been on other forums where they are WAY worse.

I purchased three items from Pat's Trains last night. If he hadn't posted the items on the forum, I would not have known about them. Also, in the process, I found several other items I'm interested in purchasing.

In this time we're all currently in, it's a win win for myself, and who I buy from, here on the forum. I'm spending money I had set back for the train shows that were cancelled in my area last month and this month.

Rusty

Though sometimes there seems to be quit a few on the first page, I scroll past them if I'm not on the market.  These last couple of weeks have been way out of the norm and I have to use internet to get product, from 7 sources and I  have picked up on some of the specials our sponsors have advertised.

Having been in retail  for over 50 years, I say good for the Forum to allow them to post.  Retailers need to reach out to the local  consumers any they can.

Keep it up, PLEASE!

Each current sale irem/ announcment from one vendor should be grouped under one thread. Not 20 different ones. 

As the original poster, I meant to convey the idea that generally, I'm not opposed to the ads.  The banner ads are fine, and even the ones that are listed in the threads are OK.  I agree that the advertiser's support of the forum is welcome and necessary.  I have even made a purchase in the last two weeks from one of the advertisers!  My point was that I thought the quantity and frequency was becoming a bit much (half of the first 25 posts I looked at were ads).  Suggestions have been made by others that reasonable limits are imposed, or that multiple sale items are listed within one ad instead of many separate successive postings.  I think those are good ideas.

The ads are fine. Look at it this way...without the internet we'd all be sitting in the house staring at the walls. As Rich always says, this doesn't happen for free. The OGR is the best RR forum around, if a couple of ads are the the only cost then fine.

Rich Melvin posted:

I’ve said this before, and it seems appropriate to say it again.

If some of you were given $1 million in $100 bills, you would complain it was too heavy to carry.  

BRAVO!!! Well said, maestro!

I say its time to relish the ads, the vendors, and to thank those sponsors....and the OGR Forum owners..all keeping us entertained.  And this is from a somewhat grouch!

Oh yeah...foremost would be thanking all of the First Responders, Health Care folks, Grocery store & Pharmacy workers...THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESERVERANCE!

DGJONES posted:

dwp425 posted:

I understand the need for sponsors and ad revenue,  but when 13 of the first 25 posts I see are advertisements, I think it's gone too far.   At that frequency, it really detracts from the fun and purpose of the forum.  Am I off base? 

Thank you for posting.  I felt the same way when I came to the forum this morning.  I agree that this is a problem.

Well!  I normally do not have a problem with advertisers posting but when ONE Advertiser post individual ads for each item he wants to sell and takes up one half of the first page with his ads alone, I do believe it is out of line.  It is the first time I have seen this done and I think he is abusing the privilege.  If all the other forum sponsors were follow suit, one would be hard pressed to find anything but sales ads.

Maybe each advertiser should limit their new ad postings to one per day like the For Sale forum does for individuals.

It was not the intent for forum sponsors to post like is said in the second paragraph above.  Grouping items into one or two posts once per day is what I have suggested to our sponsors.

The sponsors need help at this time more than ever. This is a friendly reminder that we need to support the Sponsors just like we support local and small business in our community to help them thrive in this unprecedented time.

DGJONES posted:

Rich Melvin posted:

 Seriously fellas, those banner ads at the top of the forum pages, the posts on the forum about specials, even the email blasts that several of our advertisers have done recently...they all serve two purposes.

1. They help keep this forum free to all of you who enjoy posting here.
2. They help keep those advertisers in business by connecting them with a very well targeted audience.

I encourage you to support them, not complain about them, especially in this difficult time. We’re all in this together.   👍🏼

Rich, I do not believe the original poster or others are opposed to advertisers posting on the forum.  I support the forum sponsors including the one who brought this whole discussion about.  I also appreciate their sponsorship of the forum and thank them for being there.

But, will you not admit that 12 postings from one advertiser in one 8 hour period  touting individual specials is a little excessive?

Can you imagine what the forum will look like if all sponsors decide they should also post so many different ads in the body of the forum itself?

 I have been subscriber to OGR  since run 92 (it was O Scale Railroading back then) and appreciate the magazine and this forum and hope we can have civilized discussions about these types of topics without being attacked for not appreciating the forum itself and what keeps it going.

Happy railroading,

Don

Don...I don't think anyone attacked anyone else here.  One of the problems I see in today's world is folks can't seem to have a discussion without feeling they are being attacked when someone doesn't agree with them.  I don't disagree with you....and I posted about your concern just recently in this thread.  Just because the overwhelming response doesn't see a problem doesn't mean that they are attacking those that do...it is just a difference of opinion. 

Rich Melvin posted:

I’ve said this before, and it seems appropriate to say it again.

If some of you were given $1 million in $100 bills, you would complain it was too heavy to carry.  

Hello Rich,

I do not have any issue with ads on the Forum, so keep them rolling!!!!!!

Also I'd like to take you up on that offer of $1 million in $100 bills.

Could you please make it available to me for the next TCA York Show? 

I am all for the ads. I have been suppoirting some of them with my purchases . I have been laid off for 3 weeks due to corona. First time in over 30 years I have off for more than a week at at a time. I feel bad for people raising families and don"t have a back log of savings to fall back on. One thing I have learned from this is I am never totally retiring.  

ajzend posted:

I've been wondering why I'm not asked to renew my online subscription?

Alan

You will soon get that "ask" when you get to 2 issues left!!!

redjimmy1955 posted:

 

Oh yeah...foremost would be thanking all of the First Responders, Health Care folks, Grocery store & Pharmacy workers...THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESERVERANCE!

Might I ad TRUCK DRIVERS (specifically OTR drivers) whom if not for them we all would not have much. Showers, food, the access to a restroom; difficult to find during these troublesome times for these men & women. 

Rich Melvin posted:

I’ve said this before, and it seems appropriate to say it again.

If some of you were given $1 million in $100 bills, you would complain it was too heavy to carry.  

Hi Rich,  If you want to give me $1 million in $100 bills, just let me know. I’ll go to the gym seven straight days and work out for eight hours each day and then be over to your place to pick them up.

Seriously, I have absolutely no problem with the increase in ads. Many of our dealers and suppliers are walking a very thin line during this down economy and we need to do everything we can to support them. Jim

I do not mind them. It helps me know when items are available. It has also helped me aquire items that sold out, hard to get, or I did not know existed.

Joe Gozzo