Do direct ads from vendors belong in the discussion forum?

They belong wherever they want.  They foot the bill and keep the forum free.  I personally appreciate them.  Sometimes they seem excessive but then I remember because of them we have the forum. 

If a forum sponsor isn't taking advantage of the ability to post an ad that's on them.

Cant have TV without commercials

They support the web site.  Learn to live with it.

Technically, the Terms of Service agreement for the board doesn't even want vendors in the Buy/Sell forum:

"Commercial dealers may not use the Buy/Sell Forum to conduct direct sales."

I think it's fine for vendors who support the website. I imagine nonsupporters would be deleted...or at the least, ignored.

I see 28 slots for banner ads at the top of this page.  Only one commercial vendor that I see listed is responsible for all of the threads, from what I have noticed.  Again, I am not trying to single anyone out, but we do have rules here....

I am trying to be objective here.  I love TV, but I hate commercials, so I guess it could be perceived as annoying to receive direct ads on this forum.  My perspective is different.  When someone like Pat or AJ come on here and write a little note about a sale and leave a link, I feel like that's more personable to me.  When these guys leave an ad message for the board, it feels to me a bit more like a special invite.  The promos may not be any different for us than the public, but the public didn't get a personal invite from anyone, either.  So in that way, I accept it as a nice touch.

As you admit you haven't been around for a while.

This topic is OLD news.

The sponsors make it possible for us to read and post here so it's fine with me. I also appreciate them supporting the forum. 

johnstrains posted:

As you admit you haven't been around for a while.

This topic is OLD news.

John, if you can link to the original discussion, I would appreciate it.

TY

I understand the sponsors' right to post an ad .....1 ad a day is really enough....I do not do business with the few that bombard us with 3 or 4 ads in one day...... its really not a problem on here yet...

Jim, my issue is this:  One, if anywhere, the ad threads belong in the Buy/Sell forum.  Two, if they ARE redirected to the Buy/Sell forum, they are now competing with fellow hobbyists who also sell a piece or two on here from time to time.  And three, it's against the TOS that we all have to live by.

I WANT to know if there is a bargain available...the sponsor posts let us know.  I appreciate the forum and their support of it.  Those not interested can pass it by.

Montclaire posted:

johnstrains posted:

As you admit you haven't been around for a while.

This topic is OLD news.

 

John, if you can link to the original discussion, I would appreciate it.

TY

Here’s one thread which includes a response from one of the OGR principals. 

There are several others where this issue was addressed ad nauseum by Rich & Co. Frankly, I’ll just suggest you search for those yourself if you’re interested.

https://ogrforum.com/t...um-sponsors-and-such

Well, Third Rail at least keeps us informed about what is planned and what is coming.

Menard's does not have a cat, and the tease ads are interesting.

I think both are reading the feedback to see which products we want imported.....!

If you do not like a thread theme, DON"T READ IT.  If there is a thread Rich does not like, he will shut it down faster than threads about a particular steam program!

Plus, there was never the promise the cable companies gave that there would be NO ADS on cable produced programming!

The forum sponsors should not be selling commercially in the Buy/Sell section.  If you see that the moderators should be notified. I haven't seen that. 

They can post in any other forum as far as I know. 

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Well, Third Rail at least keeps us informed about what is planned and what is coming.

Menard's does not have a cat, nad the tease is interesting.

I think both are reading the feedback to see which products we want imported.....!

If you do not like a thread theme, DON"T READ IT.  If there is a thread Rich does not like, he will shut it down faster than threads about a particular steam program!

 

Again, I have no problem with discussion about upcoming releases.  I am talking about direct sales through the forum from commercial vendors.  Personally, I also appreciate hearing about new products or sales.  Just not direct sale threads from the actual vendors.

I'm an "advertising hater!" That said, I leave it to the administrator as to whether sponsors place ads in the various fora. As much as I detest how advertising has wormed its way into our media, to the point of utterly destroying commercial TV, IMNSHO, I do not find the ads I've seen here to fall into the same catagory as that at all.

I do swear though, that I expect to see an ad banner on the Presidential podium any day! Seems advertising is everywhere else . . . and I HATE IT!!!

As for the banner ads here. I was completely unaware of them. I just disabled Adblock and holy crow! Adblock goes back on . . .

If they are paying the bills, the special privilege doesn't bother me in the least. The ads I notice are indeed from forum sponsors. If the ads don't interest me, I don't look at them! It's not like I am forced to read those topics!

If you think about it, this forum is quite unusual in that there is virtually no advertising, other than the list of sponsors at the top. Most comparable forums have 1/3 of every page covered in flashing, animated ads for anybody who pays for the space, pertinent or not! Like this!    http://www.qrz.com/     Now, that site DOES offer advertising-free access, if you pay $39.95 a year for the privilege. The free access users get the ads.

Further down the same path, what percentage of forum users are OGR subscribers? Should forum access be for subscribers only? Do non-subscribers help pay the very real costs of running something like this? Why should we let them use it? 

It's called generosity. Don't abuse it!

Montclaire posted:

I see 28 slots for banner ads at the top of this page.  Only one commercial vendor that I see listed is responsible for all of the threads, from what I have noticed.  Again, I am not trying to single anyone out, but we do have rules here....

Montclaire, every sponsor of this forum has the right to post ads here. Not all of them do it and that's their loss. WickedWanda44 is a rep for National Railroad Worx, one of our OGR Forum Sponsors. They often post special deals here on the forum, to the benefit of our members.

We welcome their participation in these forums and wish that more of our advertisers would take advantage of this excellent advertising opportunity.