Lately I’ve also been teaching myself about board design and operation so I also may be starting my own Sea Doo Forum soon. If I do, you’ll know about it since this page is on Googles first page as of this writing and here’s where I’ll post my forum!
I’ve worked with them for 17 years.
“In the forum, we (moderators) have an un-written rule that if a post was made in advising a member on a problem, that isn't entirely correct, we send them a PM with better info so they can make the corrections verses posting behind them. I think this builds strength in the forum and doesn't embarrass anyone for being in accurate.”
You’re kidding right?!! The whole goal of the forum is to inform people but you don’t want wrong info to be corrected in public? That makes sense!
You don’t want to help people with problems that are over a month old and haven’t been solved yet? That makes sense too!
“It's great having a mechanic on board with your mechanical knowledge. Thanks for working with the forum.”
I’ve read some of the “tech” answers people gave to members. You definitely need a good mechanic onboard!
I originally used seadoosource.com as my username. I didn’t really think about it when setting up and didn’t really read the long TOS section since I don’t have that kind of time. Instead of just changing it, they send longwinded emails and have numerous discussions. It’s not that big a deal. Just change it!
I didn’t take my email address out. They did. Once again, it’s not a big deal but I keep getting all these emails! The whole time I’m helping people out free of charge and I get no business or profit from doing it. Although I don’t mind spending that much time helping out, the main reason I can do it now is I have lots of free time now and am bored!
Today I changed my signature to give a little “who am I” since the “profile” section of their site doesn’t have a place for that. I also mentioned I feature the sea doo forums link on my site and since it’s #1 on Google (search “sea doo parts” and I’m the first of the non sponsored links), that should help the forum as well.
As mentioned previously above, if you Google “sea doo parts” I’m the #1 non sponsored link and right below the people who pay to be on Google.
“I haven't figured out why you are spending so much time in the forum since you actually own a business, unless you have an ulterior motive, which I believe to be exposure. I have noticed, since you have been here, it has increased your visibility in the google search engine. “
As mentioned previously above as well, I have lots of free time now so am bored. Being on the forum doesn’t increase anything on Google either. That’s not how that works.
“You state that your not a fan of PM’s, or don't have enough time to read them, yet you have members send you email "behind the scenes". This, like xxx has pointed out, is not what a forum is about. We all put the marbles on the table for everyone to play the game.”
My signature said “I don’t like PMs so email me if you need to contact me”. The reason I don’t like PMs is I don’t like logging into a website to read something that should just show up on my computer when I click “check mail”! Plus I like a record of what I say to someone stored on my home computer in case I have to refer back to it.
“There have been several members voice their concern and complaint about your being in the forum. The mods have all expressed concern, even myself, that you are causing issues in what was once a happy place for member to congregate. I've explored your site thoroughly and even your bio. I will never say you’re a man that doesn’t know the Rotax engine, inside and out. But your also a business man and I feel (gut instinct) that this idea of being in the forum is only profitable to you. I personally don’t like that. No one in this forum is paid but the Administrators. You’ve made several statements, that I feel like, are the lines a salesman pitches when he’s trying to drum up more business. We added “Seadoowarehouse.com” this year so, we are doing well with our forum and parts sales. Your tiny link to our forum, just above a link that says, “free manuals,” is not something I approve of.”
I’m sure there are members and mods who weren’t happy with some of my posts. That’s because they provided inaccurate info to people who have problems and I called them on it! As for a “salesman pitch”, although I do make a little off selling parts, I rarely make money off helping out on those boards! Finally, sure you don’t approve of “Free Manuals” since you guys charge people for them. Charging for something that’s free on the internet. Why didn’t I think of that?!
“I have always been an honest man and don’t ever plan to stop saying what’s on my mind. Both Administrators know how I feel about you being in the forum. I’m dead set against it. We’ve never let an owner or manager of a business that is affiliated with the same products as us and I have yet to figure out why they have agreed to allow you to stay.”
They carry oem parts and charge retail on them. I buy out dealers and charge less than retail. Although I have quite a few parts on hand, if I don’t stock something I refer people to HLSM based sites. I was happy to refer people to their site for parts but they had no interest in that. Instead, they don’t want me sending parts sales to them and their opinion is profit is more important than me helping their members with tech issues. That doesn’t make too much sense.
“They do not know of my intentions but as of this moment, you are banned from our forum. I do not like your writing style, it’s filled with sarcasm and arrogance. Other members who have complained, say the same thing. These members are those that have been here for about a year and don’t like the direction the forum is taking. That’s why, I’m making the effort to make this what it once was. A place where members can congregate and talk about their problems without the sales pitch that, “hey, shoot me an email, I can hook you up” kinda replies.”
As I pointed out other places on my site, I may sometimes come off as being “arrogant” or a “know it all” but I’ve been in and around Sea Doo watercraft since the early ‘90s so have strong opinions on things. I’ve been living and breathing nothing but Sea Doo watercraft for years so when I state an opinion on things, it’s based on what I’ve learned over those many years. Plus I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering that taught me to write in a “matter of fact” way. Finally, nowhere on that forum and at no time did I ever make a sales pitch!
“If you have any complaints, you can seek out the Administrators of our forum and ask for an appeal of my “banning” you. But I won’t have anything to do with your being in “my” forum. My as in, the pride I have for the work we do.
Sorry to be so blunt, but you have other pokers in the fire that can be attended to. It’s not like not being here is going to hurt your business in anyway.
It also does not mean that when there is an issue that I’ve hyper linked members to in the past (Seadoosource), will change, it won’t. Your site is a great place to learn or find things we don’t offer but your advice in the forum is something I don’t need anymore.”
He’s definitely right I probably have better things to do but after you read all that, was it worth banning probably one of the most knowledgeable persons on the planet as far as Sea Doos are concerned? I would say “it’s his loss” but it isn’t. It’s his members who I helped since all my posts that told how to do or fix something were deleted once I was banned.
“Sorry for the long letter but I had to get this off my chest. If you’d like to remove our link from your home page, please do so at your convenience. With our #1 status under forums, I don’t think it’s needed.
I hope you don’t take this personal, it’s not meant that way. I’ve spoken to you when I had a problem in the past. You are always prompt and helpful. I just don’t feel you’re an asset to our forum.
Please accept my apologies in your banning, but I feel it necessary for me to continue my happiness.”
His happiness is the #1 concern on a Sea Doo Forum I guess. Not sure how I can be “prompt and helpful” and at the same time not an asset. Anyway, I didn’t take it personal but I have to say the way these guys choose to “help” their members is a bit scary!
Lastly, all of what was shown above are excerpts from actual emails I received. I did remove some names to protect the guilty though.
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Visitors - since 12/2008
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