We have been fairly relaxed about allowing our participants to discuss watches being offered in ebay, whether they are questioning the authenticity or value of a watch or admiring fine example. I believe that this has been a very worthwhile apsect of the forum -- we help each other avoid some bad ones, and watching the good ones reach record prices has been something of a spectator sport. I receive lots of e-mail thanking us for the Gallery of Fakes and for our discussion of the dodgy pieces.

There is potenital for abuse -- for example, people promoting watches that they (or their friends) are selling or trashing watches that they (or their friends) hope to bid on. Over the years, I cannot recall any such abuses actually occuring on the Discussion Forum (aside from the "pointers" to ebay auctions, which we delete as soon as they are posted). I feel as though there are instances when it is better practice, in discussing a live sale, for the person posting the message to confirm that he has no interest in the transaction / no relationship with the seller / no intention to bid / whatever.

As Chuck mentions, TimeZone has some very restrictive policies relating to discussing ebay auctions (or any other commercial transactions). This is to be expected. TimeZone is a commercial venture; it has sponsors and lots of rules; many of these rules are designed to keep readers confined to the "four corners" of TimeZone, and away from what they view as competing websites (like OnTheDash). In the end, TimeZone seems to me more about keeping eyeballs on their pages (for their advertisers), and less about allowing the free flow of information. This is the reality of "for-profit" / commerical websites. (This is also one of the beauties of non-commercial, enthusiast sites, where there is no business model, and relatively few restrictions on our readers and writers!!)

A recent illustration of these restrictions is that TimeZone won't let me post the Price Guide on their Heuer Forum, because they are worried that it might be viewed as violating their rules, in discussing "dealers, auctions, or net prices paid". Is that crazy, or what?

OnTheDash and this Discussion Forum have been up and running for approx. three years; no sponsors; no profit; no business plan; relatively few rules; amazingly few abuses over the years. Yes -- there is potential for abuse in discussing live auctions (or completed auctions), but I feel as though our readers have been great about avoiding these abuses, and so we have all benefitted -- from this openness / lack of rules and from this good behavior / mutual respect among our readers.

Thanks to everyone for making this happen.

Jeff

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

:

: just curious..... Posted By: jhb Date:
: 2/20/06 04:31 GMT

: not that i care either way, and i'm certainly
: not out to start a flame or fire war. nor am
: i picking on any one person(s) in particular
: or in general, nor in secret or
: openly....just so we are clear on what i'm
: asking...... Clear, no egos here.

: i'm just curious on what the forum's current
: official policy on self promotion and
: plugging of items for sale on the sales
: forum, or ebay, or a dealer site, etc. on
: this forum is? is it going on a case by case
: type review, or is it an open door, or a
: closed door policy...or somewhere in the
: middle? Well, recently TimeZone got
: downright repressive about enforcement of
: their policies regarding links, discussions
: and yes, even mentioning the word
: "eBay"! In fact, TZ has stated
: that merely including the word
: "eBay" in one's post can subject
: it to editing and or removal.

: In the past, there have been plenty of useful
: informational and educational posts both at
: TZ and here on OTD that have saved a lot of
: people from purchasing counterfeit. Here is
: one example that I'm sure most people here
: will remember: Seller claims
: 100% original. Then he should prove it!

: Now, TZ moderators have
: gone on record saying that “ we're here to
: discuss real watches, with the focus on
: owning and enjoying them and not on buying
: and selling them. ”. ... and that's fine, TZ
: is entitled to focus on a narrow portion of
: the entire sphere of owning and collecting
: watches should they choose to.

: We are not TZ. I feel it's safe to say
: (speaking for Jeff) that we feel that
: seeking, purchasing and yes, sometimes even
: trading and selling watches are perfectly
: acceptable topics for discussion. We here at
: OTD feel that part of our mission is the
: type of educational and informational pages,
: posts and discussions that will benefit our
: patrons.

: We have no problems with the word eBay or
: mentioning it exists or that (shock!)
: watches are being auctioned there!

: We established the ChronoTrader Forum in June
: of 2004 so that there was an attached sales
: corner for people to offer their watches for
: sale or trade, and or to post want to
: buy/trade advertisements. The ChronoTrader
: Forum is literally one keystroke [home] and
: one mouse click [ChronoTrader Forum] away.
: Anyone who's looking to buy, sell or trade,
: only need to do that to get there.

: We have rules and policies posted that states
: all links off site will be decided on a case
: by case basis. Until we have a compelling
: reason to change things, we will continue to
: allow discussion of watches if people are
: seeking information upon which to base a
: purchase decision, or to provide a heads up
: about a dodgy offering. On the other hand,
: we have no problem pulling posts that are
: ad's or attempts to shill when we spot one.

: As busy as Jeff and I (and over at the
: Chronocentric Omega Forum: Keith and Steve)
: are, we might not spot every last one
: though.

: If anyone has a concern or question about a
: post, please feel free to email Jeff or
: myself and we'll look into as soon as we
: can.

: once again, just so i'm perectly clear...i'm
: only asking as curiousity got the best of
: me. Understood. We would like to be much
: more open, informational and educational
: than other forums are. To the extent we can,
: we will be. But we won't let this forum be
: awash in ad's and shill posts. If you have a
: concern or a question email us.

: thanks in advance. Hope this clears things
: up a little! Oh, and Jeff... If you're
: reading, please feel free to add on, correct
: or change as you see fit!

: Good Hunting and carry on!

: j.h. -- Chuck

:

:

: Chuck Maddox

: Chronographs, like most finer
: things in life, only improve with time...
: Watch Article Index :
: http://www.xnet.com/~cmaddox/cm3articles.html
: , Watch Links Page :
: http://www.xnet.com/~cmaddox/watch.html ,
: Watch Blog :
: http://chuckmaddoxwatch.blogspot.com/ .

: