At 05:08 PM 8/15/96 -0400, Jason F. Dutt wrote:
>At 10:53 PM 8/14/96 -0400, you wrote:
>> If I asked for a company suggestion for a fix, I could understand,
>>but this solicitation of business I find annoying.
>>
>> Bob Skillman 47TC, 68MGC
>
>
>I can't say I've experienced the problem...yet.
>
>You're absolutely right, Bob. I have no problem being patronized
>electronically if I ASK for it, but any such thing you get through this list
>I'd consider spam, and annoying. If anyone reads this who is partaking in
>this activity, please refrain from using this list for it. The idea here is
>"MG owners helping MG owners"...free of charge. If we wanted to pay for
>your advice, we'd take our cars to a garage...
>
>Regards,
As an enthusiasts and someone in the business of selling parts and service
for classic cars, I agree that selling "advice" is not an appropriate action
on these groups..in my opinion of course.
It is known in several groups that I will offer advice, if I have any to
give, FREE OF CHARGE.
However, I do not see a problem with offering to sell parts or books or
whatever if it is a relavent topic to the email discussion. If someone
outright says "wanted" to find etc etc I will usually email that privately
unless I feel the whole group would benefit from the answer/reply.
Although my methods can be considered solicitation of a sort, I have had
many people thank me for free advice, and thank me for locating parts that
were unavailable, or for saving someone money. I would also mention that
anyone who is offended by a reply from a commercial enterprise should simply
a. ignore the message or b. email a reply asking not to be contacted in the
future.
would not sell advice in this sort of forum. Maybe there is a need for this
type of consulting business but the group members are probably not good
prospects given the free nature of advice that is available. I am not so
sure that offering to sell a "consulting" service relating to our topic- MG-
is such a terrible thing. Remember that as owners of some rather unusual
cars, we have some specialized needs. The people that are in this type of
specialty business are not usually shifty eyed boiler room operators looking
for "sucker" stamped on the head of some mg owner in cyberspace. Many are
true enthusiasts who just want to earn a reasonable living.
We...the enthusiasts, brokers, parts businesses, mechanics, all need
eachother. Without this diversity, owning an MG or other classic cars would
not be a "joy". We are lucky to be in this forum where so much IS free and
where MG owners have free access to people in the MG trade as well as other
enthusiasts.
Please enjoy what we have. This internet experience is 98%, 2% irritation
and certainly HISTORIC.
Sincerely,
Hal
Hal Rogers
H.D. Rogers & Sons
Import Auto Specialists
3418 Barksdale Blvd.
Bossier City LA 71112
(318) 742-3651 voice
(318) 742-5044 fax
Serving Auto Enthusiasts since 1959
|