I am looking at past posts. If it wasnt for some DEDICATED members, there would be no group buys. I for one offer a Special thanks to all that have started these past Group Buys. I am curious when some of these Sponsors are going to offer members some of these. There is a spot here to post them, but nobody stepping up to the plate. Its easy Sponsors, just click on the link Group Buys and hit New Post. I would assume that this is why this forum is on here, especially since The Good Hearted members that have done it in the past, CANT Anymore

Not trying to be sarcastic, just trying to make a point and thats how I express it

ROC has sponsors? ;)

I agree we need sponsors to run group buys as
We can not........

Joe,

Big brother has spoken and big brother has ruled.:confused:

Ya know, i've been on this board for awhile and I think every topic that could be covered has been covered (and some locked as a result) and every opinion has been voiced. This is a good forum for general purpose questions and a little truck knowledge to boot. There have been very few issues involving the moderators and administrators and while not always agreeing, at least I understood the logic. On this issue of group buys I would like to see a brief explanation on why the rules are as they are. I might not agree but at least there would be an explanation. The last thing I saw was "if you have an issue with this 'pm us and we will consider it." Was there any resolution?

I am just waiting for a GROUP BUY from a sponsor. Why is this section of the forum here . Big Brother said Sponsors run group buys. well........ Go back and look how long its been since that happened. Thats all I am saying. I just hope that they do a little better and have a few of them.

Not saying anything about procedures or policy. Not badmouthing anyone. Just want to see a little better activity from "Sponsors and group buys". Is that asking to much for its members?

I'm going to play the devils advocate here and offer this. When group offers were made, maybe the response was so little, the sponsor decided it wasn't worth their time to make another offer. They are in the business of making money, not being a charitable organization and if they bottom line doesn't show a profit, why bother repeating the process. Just my .02!

I'm with ctjoe on this - group buys are a great way to reward the ROC members who frequent this forum, as well as a good means to spread the word about the ROC.

How are group buys supposed to be organized? It seems there are two ways to approach this (i am relatively new to this forum so forgive me for any ignorant deductions I make) -

1) Representatives of the ROC gauge the amount of interest in a group buy from the members of the forum. Once a specific item and sponsor is identified, the ROC representative(s) approach the sponsor with an offer for group buy.

2) Sponsors monitor the interest on the ROC for a particular item. If they feel like there is enough interest for them to make a profit, they make the group buy offer to ROC leadership

Do either of these currently happen? And of course, I am not aware of the hierarchy as far as who can be deemed leadership/representatives of the ROC. I am assuming these are the "elders" who have been around the longest, in addition to the folks with "moderator" next to their names?

Attention Moderator: Send me a PM on how I can be a sponsor, I believe there are several members who what a Retrax group buy. Special discounts are only available until the end of March! FYI: I'm an authorized Retrax dealer.

I just got my RTL and am doing some mods right now....If the sponsors want my cash, offer some deals....otherwise I will spend my cash elsewhere. I got cash.....what you got?:act030:

I find it very interesting that the administration here says no ROC member group buys, unless it is a ROC sponsor, yet the only folks I see willing to offer anything close to a group buy is H&A and their monthly ROC special.

I have made my opinion known on this "no ROC member group buy unless it's through a ROC sponsor" policy (I think it's BS). I think somebody needs to give the ROC sponsors some gental shoves to offer more deals...otherwise let the ROC member run group buys continue...that simple. :act047:

I find it very interesting that the administration here says no ROC member group buys, unless it is a ROC sponsor, yet the only folks I see willing to offer anything close to a group buy is H&A and their monthly ROC special.

I have made my opinion known on this "no ROC member group buy unless it's through a ROC sponsor" policy (I think it's BS). I think somebody needs to give the ROC sponsors some gental shoves to offer more deals...otherwise let the ROC member run group buys continue...that simple. :act047:

I concur, members want deals, deals create traffic.....it is a win win for everyone. ;act028:

I am glad to hear that I am not alone in this. I sent a PM to one of the Admins (who will remain nameless) and he was not even aware of the new policy. Way to stay in the know! If we sit and wait for a sponsor to run a deal, all of our RLs will be rusted out. The sponsors pay for ads, but what/where does that money go? ROC t-shirts that we have to pay $20 for? Maybe they can charge the sponsors more for exclusivity in the GB Forum....who knows. Although, if you pay money for that exclusivity, why wouldn't you use it. You have an intimate auience here sponsors. Be smart an use it to your benefit. Maybe you make a little less money per sale, but at least the sale goes to you. I have read that many members are avoiding using any sponsoring companies. Hey Admin, get off your soap boxes an let us benefit from this Club!

I also have contacted ROC administrators with a PM on this policy. The particular administrator I contacted was very polite, said I made some good points, and would take them under advisement...and that has been it. I have not heard if this particular policy is under review, if they are actually going to do something about it, or his message was just a polite way of saying go jump in the lake. Personally, I would like to hear just something from the administrators on this...good or bad...just so we are informed.

I also have contacted ROC administrators with a PM on this policy. The particular administrator I contacted was very polite, said I made some good points, and would take them under advisement...and that has been it. I have not heard if this particular policy is under review, if they are actually going to do something about it, or his message was just a polite way of saying go jump in the lake. Personally, I would like to hear just something from the administrators on this...good or bad...just so we are informed.

well, we need to get this rolling. I have a guy willing to give a good price on the Bakflip G2 or HD with multiple buyers, but need to get it rolling.......

well, we need to get this rolling. I have a guy willing to give a good price on the Bakflip G2 or HD with multiple buyers, but need to get it rolling.......

Well I suggest, if you haven't already, you should contact one of the ROC adminstrators and let him know what you think of the current policy and ask for a review/change. And then contact as many ROC members as you can and ask them to do the same. I think if we get enough folks voicing thier opinion in favor of reinstating ROC member group buys, maybe they will let them continue.

I also have contacted ROC administrators with a PM on this policy. The particular administrator I contacted was very polite, said I made some good points, and would take them under advisement...and that has been it. I have not heard if this particular policy is under review, if they are actually going to do something about it, or his message was just a polite way of saying go jump in the lake. Personally, I would like to hear just something from the administrators on this...good or bad...just so we are informed.

I said the same thing in the "Skid Plates" thread. Contacted the mod, etc.

well, we need to get this rolling. I have a guy willing to give a good price on the Bakflip G2 or HD with multiple buyers, but need to get it rolling.......

I say, if you have a guy willing to give a good deal, ask for pm's. Bypass the GB spotlight an let's save some money. I am in the market for one so pm me the details or email me @ yinzguys@msn.com.

<**crickets**>

Hmmm...interesting the mods won't even make any comments on this. Not to be critical, but it's like the parent when the kid asks to do something, the parent says no, and when the kid asks why, the reply is, "...because I said so...". No reason, just because they said so. Surprising there isn't at least some discussion about this.

Chris, diggin’ in and trying to bring this situation to a head isn’t going to work.

As mentioned by K757 in an earlier post on another Thread, "If anyone wants to address any forum rule to get that rule changed, feel free to PM the admin & mods with your idea/reasons. I know the staff will not discuss anything along these lines publicly or in PM, but your idea will be discussed privately amongst the staff".

Various members have mentioned sending PM’s to Admin to voice their suggestions and so far the policy remains unchanged. Perhaps, the situation is still under review and a revised position hasn’t yet been reached.

There are a few things in-play here:

1. Sponsors don’t want to compete with Group Buys. When done properly, Group Buys offer the best pricing because they are not done for profit. Whenever possible, I try to work with Manufacturers, not Distributors. Pricing is best when received from the manufacturer and there is no middleman to claim a piece of the pie. Sponsors can’t compete with Group Buys direct from the manufacturers.

2. Sponsors may feel their advertising dollars are wasted on the ROC if members are allowed to organize Group Buys and undercut the sponsors on any given item.

3. Anyone organizing a Group Buy could be doing it for profit. I could have very easily increased the pricing on the Pop & Locks by $5-$10, make about $250-$500 and still sell them below any distributor's price. If a site sponsor believes a member is making money on a product he sells and that member is not paying an advertising fee, the sponsor should be upset and should complain about it.

When I was chastised for running the ROC "approved" Group Buys, sponsor complaints were not mentioned, however. Giving the benefit of the doubt, I'm willing to assume there may have been a sponsor complaint or two.

Group Buys are not unique to the ROC. Other Forums have them, but I'm not familiar with how they're done or what restrictions there may be on them. I'm also not interested in finding out either. Running Group Buys here have taught me "no good deed goes unpunished". Even when the rules are followed to a "T".

Frankly, I'm fed up with it all.

PizzaMan,

You are right on. If it were not for member "group buys" my truck would not be outfitted with the pop-n-lock or the nice weathertec floor mats.

I have bought plenty of other things from "sponsors" but the price was not that special, I just needed to get it done for my truck--sidesteps, trailer hitch and wiring harness, roofrack, etc.

Not sure of all the reasons behind the decision. One of them might be the moderators don't want the inevitable ripoff.

Have a great weekend.

Brad

Chris, diggin’ in and trying to bring this situation to a head isn’t going to work.

PM, I am not trying to "bring things to a head", all I am doing is looking for a response of some kind. If it is still under review, fine, it's still under review. If the policy is being discussed, fine it's being discussed. Why can't we just get some sort of update that says something to the effect, "We are considering all opinions on this issue, the issue is currently under review, and all ROC members will be updated with the decision once it has been discussed", or something like that. That's all I am asking for.

You are exactly right, in your case...no good deed goes unpunished... you got crap when running a group buy, even though it cost you money to run the dang thing. I find it interesting the moderators are willing to find time in thier busy schedules to chastise somebody like you, claiming you were running a "cottage industry" our of your basement, yet they can't find the time to give us some sort of update on this policy.

Again, all I am looking for is some sort of update. That's all, nothing more, nothing less. I don't think it is too much to ask.

PizzaMan,

You are right on. If it were not for member "group buys" my truck would not be outfitted with the pop-n-lock or the nice weathertec floor mats.

I have bought plenty of other things from "sponsors" but the price was not that special, I just needed to get it done for my truck--sidesteps, trailer hitch and wiring harness, roofrack, etc.

Not sure of all the reasons behind the decision. One of them might be the moderators don't want the inevitable ripoff.

Have a great weekend.

Brad

I need a pop n lock!!! what is the best price! :act060:

Why can't we just get some sort of update.... That's all I am asking for.
Because, as K757 has mentioned, it won't be discussed publicly. Watch for a rule change. If there is one, it will be announced.

PizzaMan,

You are right on. If it were not for member "group buys" my truck would not be outfitted with the pop-n-lock or the nice weathertec floor mats.

I have bought plenty of other things from "sponsors" but the price was not that special, I just needed to get it done for my truck--sidesteps, trailer hitch and wiring harness, roofrack, etc.

Not sure of all the reasons behind the decision. One of them might be the moderators don't want the inevitable ripoff.

Have a great weekend.

Brad

I've boughten a few items from H&A...

They were great setting up specials for the month at a discounted price. Just putting the sugestion in for the month... I've received the oil filters discounted, OEM manual, Cargo net, etc at discounted prices.

Just like this months special....

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33518

:act030:

would like to be part of any group buy for Weather tech digit fit floor mats for '09 rtl.

Thanks,
jbub

I think a weathertech group buy is a great ideal also!!

evidently the sponsors dont read this section of the forum lmao

I see the rationale from the moderators point of view. Make sure they get sponsor revenue at the expense of ROC members helping members. At least I have been able to get good info here on the site!