Competitors, clarification

[DaveyD]

Certainly a lot of people on here that really want to push it and almost get suspended for the sake of getting suspended.

People in the Hardware forum are perfectly capable of this, granted they can get the majority of the hardware from OcUK, but still, they don't go around posting links to games shops in EVERY post, they still talk about hardware constructively and to the rules.

 

[Neil79]

I hope i don't get suspended

The only thing i can never understand is , why make a thread point out the rules and its up for discussion but only if the discussion is for the action. But then why the discussion over it? , why not close the thread.. What is done is done the rules have been set. These people that just got suspended would not have been able to reply and discuss it if the thread was closed, so for them no suspension.

 

[Gilly]

Neil, its a case of damned if we do and damned if we don't. We'd just have had lots of new threads posted about it instead.

Most of the people banned have got themselves banned on purpose to make some kind of statement.

 

[Dark_Angel]

Neil, its a case of damned if we do and damned if we don't. We'd just have had lots of new threads posted about it instead.

Most of the people banned have got themselves banned on purpose to make some kind of statement.

I think it's also better to leave it open . People could use the chance to talk/make suggestions and feedback to make it easier for both the admins/mods of the site and the regular users. Instead people are just picking arguments.

Bottom line is, if you get suspended it doesnt really help you make a point at all.

*EDIT*

Hostile, while I agree its a shame that in one way, (I will miss the 10 percent off codes that was posted ) as pointed out, if you ran a business then truthfully, I know I would be doing exactly as OCUK was doing. even if I could 100 percent KNOW my prices were the lowest I wouldnt want people to know about other shops.

If I knew I could sell a 360 game at 5 pounds new, and the competition was selling at 100, I STILL wouldnt say. You are basically giving the other places free advertisment. There are thounsands of active members on the board. That is literally targeting 10,000 or more people (depending how many read the threads or whatever) to someone elses shop.

 

[dokko]

Its a shame that you dont have a 'house of the banned' like other forums i go to, so people can see why others have been banned and avoid doing the same.

You see, i aint got a clue what the bloke in here has just had his account deleted for, and it would be nice to know as am scared to even type this post

 

[Gilly]

.

That would pretty much equate to OcUK paying for their competitors to be advertised. Not fantastic business management

 

[Beans on toast Dave]

'house of the banned' like

liking that

 

[Neil79]

You see, i aint got a clue what the bloke in here has just had his account deleted for, and it would be nice to know as am scared to even type this post

I agree with this , remember when the forum was closed because of 911? , sure i was arguing but it was a discussion people leaving views left right and center. When i was told ENOUGH STOP.... me and a few others did, by the next day i was suspended even though i had stopped. Spie and a few others do get a little rattled about the lack of freedom of speech in the uk especially with labour, but isnt it going this way aswell.

p.s I totaly agree with the no competitors hence i have never posted any competitors , just a few things i feel need erm changing. But who cares what i think

I forgot to mention you think you guys find it hard, try have aspergers autism and staying on this forums good side, you have a mental disorder well keep it in check SUSPENSION!. Thats how it feels sometimes

 

[Hostile_18]

How come my post was deleted I didn't brake the rules? I was just saying my opinion in sensible, rational terms? I said in the post I would abide by the rules?

Anyways don't want to get in trouble.

 

[Yewen]

Its a shame that you dont have a 'house of the banned' like other forums i go to, so people can see why others have been banned and avoid doing the same.

You see, i aint got a clue what the bloke in here has just had his account deleted for, and it would be nice to know as am scared to even type this post

If you insult the mods or take a huge stab at the rules then you will have a suspension.

It is nothing more than that, if you want to say something but are unsure about it being ok on the forums then please feel free to voice your opinion to me in email.

The people getting banned are out to get banned, if you just be polite and accept what has been said then you have nothing to fear.

OcUK has only introduced these measures after how the more relaxed ones were treated.

This is how the forum will stay, as is shown in the threads here already people still need to calm down.

 

[Richdog]

I never mention competitors and won't do in the future, but very sad to see OCUK have such draconian censorship when they have said previously that:

a) The forums aren't linked to the shop so no questions regarding orders or feedback regarding customer experiences are tolerated.

b) OCUK have said that these forums have very little effect on the sales figures of the OCUK store.

I fully realise it's a "like it or lump it" scenario, and it's definately not worth risking your account over... but it just seems so... I don't know... petty? If such things aren't going to impact OCUK profit then what's wrong with having a free and open forum where people aren't tip-toeing about worried about their accounts and worried about offending the mods with what they say? The slightly subdued atmosphere is to me the only thing stopping OCUk form being a great forum instead of a very good one. I love this forum community and many of the members here are very cool... I guess i'm just not used to such strict censorship on the other forums I frequent.

Regards,

Rich.

 

[Gilly]

I never mention competitors and won't do in the future, but very sad to see OCUK have such draconian censorship

If its draconian its because we've been driven to it. If rules aren't adhered to - like they haven't been of late - then there's a necessary clampdown.

 

[wedgie]

I really can't see why there is still so much confusion from people.

I have to say I was in the same situation as quite a few people a couple of days ago, not really knowing what was going on or why a certain retailer was all of a sudden deemed a competitor.

It is now very clear why those measures were taken so I think we should all accept it.

The main issue was the fact that most people didn't see how the most recently banned competitor could even be deemed as a competitor. That is surely not an issue now with the introduction of the OcUK Games Console Range.

You can't expect OcUK to allow essentially free advertisement of it's closest competitors.

 

[Spie]

a) The forums aren't linked to the shop

This concept has only ever existed in the minds of misinformed members.

 

[wedgie]

Indeed, the OcUK name alone means there is a strong link.

 

[Spie]

If its draconian its because we've been driven to it. If rules aren't adhered to - like they haven't been of late - then there's a necessary clampdown.

Exactly. Nobody wants harsh moderation, but a small bunch of people here have been taking massive liberties knowing exactly what they were doing. You can thank them.

 

[Wyrdo]

If its draconian its because we've been driven to it. If rules aren't adhered to - like they haven't been of late - then there's a necessary clampdown.

But is that strictly true? The rules suddenly changed Friday night and the big shop names that got posted in here regularly suddenly became competitors without warning. I didn't see that much competitor mentioning going on before the change Friday but if it was happening then I guess I wasn't paying that much attention.

As for the change in rules, all I can say to that is 'fair enough' and abide by them.

 

[Yewen]

I really can't see why there is still so much confusion from people.

I have to say I was in the same situation as quite a few people a couple of days ago, not really knowing what was going on or why a certain retailer was all of a sudden deemed a competitor.

It is now very clear why those measures were taken so I think we should all accept it.

The main issue was the fact that most people didn't see how the most recently banned competitor could even be deemed as a competitor. That is surely not an issue now with the introduction of the OcUK Games Console Range.

You can't expect OcUK to allow essentially free advertisement of it's closest competitors.

Said better than I could have ever managed.

People are still breaking the rules now, all it means is we are likely to introduce new restrictions to combat this and make everything clearer.

To make things clear you have to draw a line, ultimately that line is harsher than one where we allow people to walk the line.

To many people walked over the line, and when asked to get back on threw their toys out of the pram so now we have a giant fence up instead.

I just had the urge for a metaphor, sorry.

 

[Mirage]

I'd imagine the rolling in of 360 hardware and peripherals by OcUK would have a big thing with the lock down?
Literally all other sites posted on here for buying games etc also sell the same items.

 

[SiD the Turtle]

My 2p for what its worth.

This whole situation has been a bit of a nightmare for everyone, there were mistakes made from ALL sides. The lack of warning before the blitz of clamping down the other day caught a lot of people, including myself, out. On the other hand the attitude of some people here left little to be desired, and probably hastened some of what has happened since.

Personally I think its a bit of a PR nightmare, a lot of good people have been lost over it, and there's been quite a lot of bad blood between parties.

At the end of the day Spie, you are now selling 360s and so the rules that exist on other sub-forums have fallen into place here. Fair enough. I do hope that you and the dons do learn from what has happened though, and perhaps in future give us some more warning, and be a little bit less heavy handed unless people are asking for it.

Also I'd appeal for calm from all sides before saying or doing anything rash. You dons are clamping down, clearing the place up and laying down the law, but please, please please remember the reason why I and most other people come here and may be encouraged to shop with OcUK is because of the community. Community. Its such a hard to manage thing, please be careful not to break it.

Apologies if this sounds slightly lecture-ish.