selling on this forum

[Xenia]

Ok let me give you a real example

someone from here contacted me for property management services, we sat down had a chat and he was trying to screw down the prices to levels where they would be barely profitable.

he also wanted to get involved with some of the procedures that would be a property managers job - he came across as "he knows better"

I perceived him as being a high touch client

at our meeting I asked him how he heard of us and he said SS (there's those clients I'm collecting)

I asked what his alias was and he told me.

I then did a search on his posts and found he had a negative attitude towards property managers and agencies. It was an "I know everything and you will meet all my unreasonable demands" type of attitude. He came across that way in real life too, his posts just confirmed it.

I think from memory there was one post that said something about sacking a property manager because there was nothing going wrong with that property and he did not think they should be paid when nothing was going wrong.

I sent him an email later and told him that I don't feel I can help him and I would recommend an agent with a different business outlook.

Now he has every right to be the way he is and have those view points, but he approached an agency with a "give us the keys and scram" business model (designed for a white collar richer demographic) and he wanted to micromanage. It would never have worked. It was best for him and me that we did not work together and maintained the respect that would have been eroded had I taken him on as a client.

I have nothing against cu - just used him as an example. If you know who you are working with, you can make better choices.

 

[Strannik]

that's totally different though. in your example it directly influences your work with him.

originally you effectively said that if cu is to be your lawyer you want to know what porn he's watching to ensure it doesn't clash with your beliefs.

 

[Xenia]

um... okaaaay! Glad I explained it differently then.

not sure how I would determine what porn hes watching from his ss posts??? can you do that?

 

[Strannik]

that was a figure of speech.

you said that it's 'covert' for him not to let you know that he is SS member so you can scrutinise whatever personal beliefs he decided to share with the forum.

 

[Ocean Architect]

I have now come to the conclusion that SS stands for "Stalker Soft"

 

[Belbo]

Or, 'Silly Sots'?

 

[Corey Batt]

Suspicious Spruikers?

 

[Xenia]

if you stand really still and play dead the spruikers will leave you alone.
No sudden movements they'll get you.

 

[Ocean Architect]

Slutty Speculators

 

[Ocean Architect]

...... and what about Brisbane?????

Brisbane: fine and sunny, 24. Mosquito Plague warning does not apply to a 5km radius around Pauline Hansen, back on the campaign trail, with mozzies close to the Pauline Zone spontaneously committing suicide, and many human residents reporting to the Royal Brisbane Hospital complaining of bulls**t poisoning. Excellent fishing outlook, with snapper biting hard in the CBD following last months floods.

In other news, Melbournite Bessie the cow has died following the 2:52PM tornado after being saved by OA the Weather Man with heroic groundbreaking mouth to mouth, due to exposure during the 3:12PM blizzard. A wake will be held this monday at the Laylor Greek Orthodox Church, with free yiros of unknown origin provided for all attendees. Bessie will be sadly missed, yet likely pooped out on monday

That is all for this evening ladies and gentlemen, have a happy Easter

 

[Melbournian]

But could there be an issue of liability for SS if misinformed posters use defamatory language or use personal opinion against businesses that are not wonky?

i would say no being it is the poster who wrote the certain posts - and for the moderators to monitor and repharse or delete the posts. However it is the business such as yourself or others who for example- whereby "someone claimed you to be upselling just to get kickbacks - that is like calling someone a cheat." You can choose to initiate litigation for defamation if it is untrue. You have to initiate this 1 year after the actual occurrence as after that you won't be able to take it to courts.

Also - it would also really be dependent if the person is worth pursuing and his net worth is sufficient as legal proceedings are expensive. However some people i know do it once they determine enough is enough and would rather lose money to make sure the person making those statements know that he should not continue his actions. i know for a fact where someone actually had to pay 25,000 to the other party for making comments on a public forum about a manager of a certain organization on his personal appearance and conduct of business. That is why i advocate certain individuals should know their limits and not mindlessly just throw comments that borderline people's personal reputation as well as put signatures that makes them look very childish in my opinion.

 

[Amadio]

If it's "nonsense" then you should tell me what is not covert about that.

It's nonsense because by implication you are saying that everyone who does not say who they are and what they do on the forum is "covert".

There are actually quite a few lawyers (+ real estate agents + a forensic ATO accountant + doctors + doctor who has abused his patients and now spruiks real estate + a prominant politician + who knows...) on this forum but they haven't said so and why should they?

It's a forum where you can choose to remain anonymous or be out there with your flag flying and there's nothing wrong with either.

 

[Perp]

I'm hiring a solicitor that does litigation this week I will never know if the person who has been recommended to me is cu from this forum or not since I have no idea who he is.

I could end up hiring someone from here who's philosophies and ideas don't resonate with me and who I would not go near if I had an opportunity to match their posts. That means that someone could be hired based on the fact that their identity is not disclosed here. I call that covert.

Xenia, your idea that everybody has to disclose who they are so that you don't "accidentally" do business with somebody who said something you don't like on a forum, is ridiculous on a number of levels.

Firstly, people are entitled to privacy, and are entitled to come here and share opinions and seek advice without risk of getting in trouble for bad advice, or exposing their circumstances to the whole world. If everybody had to disclose who they were, the forum would be much the poorer because sharing would be substantially reduced.

Secondly, I've found that many people are quite different in actuality than you might assume based on their persona on the forum. (Even WinstonWolfe isn't a bad guy in real life. ) Some people enjoy the anonymity to get things off their chest, or express their real feelings about something. Some even say things contrary to their true feelings, to amuse themselves and observe other people's reactions.

I find it quite plausible that somebody could be here on the forum slamming a group, eg "spruikers", but then encounter you in a professional capacity and be able to fully support you in, say, a particular litigation. Lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, etc, don't have to be like-minded, they just have to act in your best interests on the matter at hand, and it's always up to you to meet the individuals and decide whether you trust them to do so. If they're professionals, their personal opinions of you or your business won't hinder them in acting in your best interests, and if they do have such strong personal opinions that it would hinder them, then they should say so. What they have said on an internet forum before they met or knew you is really irrelevant.

 

[Xenia]

Thanks Amadio and Perp

the reason for me posting that was to begin a discussion and thinking against the current grain of belief on this forum.

There are pros and cons to both sides I enjoy the debate. (I don't enjoy when it turns into personal attacks but I do like the debate and balanced approach on both sides)

 

[Belbo]

Now can we please move beyond the Xeniaphobia?

 

[weg]

I'd like to add that because someone discloses who they are and what they do, does not mean they're laying all their cards on the table.

One can be very selective in what they disclose (and I don't think this is always outright deceit) to benefit themselves, which can be very misleading to newbees or young ones, who often take things at face value. What you see is not always what you get.

If you're to use a site to 'sell' then you have to be prepared to answer Q if people feel unease. It's not negative mindset to Q something.

 

[Piston Broke]

I don't disagree with what most have posted here, but if I go around telling the world that I am the RE investment education shizz and limit my participation in an RE forum to gossips and event posting, would it not be normal that i talk RE and answer investment related questions?
And not use personal posts, but debate and discuss investing?

 

[HiEquity]

what is wrong with collecting customers?

Nothing at all. But there is a quid pro quo. In return one needs to openly answer legitimate questions others may put to you about your business and the claims you make. If challenged on them, respond with facts and figures, not the "you're just a D&Ger" or "someone else trying to cut down tall poppies" routine that is all too common with the spruikers. So many times I've heard stupid claims with no evidence whatsoever to back them up. This forum should be a place where these things get challenged more often than advertised IMO.

I've certainly seen some here say that they're the best and then try to hide behind a TPS defence when challenged. Or say to the challenger that they're getting too personal / negative etc or "you can't say that about my business - I'll sue you for defamation". It's a far more revealing response in my view than just answering the question straight up.

So use this forum to make all the claims you like and build that brand - but just remember who is really to blame if it starts getting too hot in the kitchen! There should be no free rides...

 

[pennyk]

I don't disagree with what most have posted here, but if I go around telling the world that I am the RE investment education shizz and limit my participation in an RE forum to gossips and event posting, would it not be normal that i talk RE and answer investment related questions?
And not use personal posts, but debate and discuss investing?

I agree with this. If people are in the RE biz, and they are on this forum, I would expect them to be contributing to discussions. If they were only posting dates of events or similar, then I would consider that promotion/ spam.
But thinking of the people I know who are in the RE/ finance/ related businesses... Rolf, Xenia, Jacque, Kristine, Proportunity etc... this is exactly how I see them acting now. To me, there is very little "marketing" done by the vast majority of SS-ers who are in the RE business. Of course, there is advice..... but if we wont allow them to give that, then there's really no point having a forum!

 

[evand]

What gets me is the sneakiness of a lot of the members spruiking their stuff. In the sense they will reply to a post asking for info but reading between the lines, they are selling their service or talking up their business/expertise.

I've been involved in business a long time and i couldn't do that. Its just a bit smarmy for me as a way to generate business.

One who never does it tho is Aaron and i have to admire him for that.

Having said all that, i think a business website link as a sig. is fine.