Membership Termination

[pricescope]

Regrettably, we had to terminate the forum membership of one of the jewelry trade members who had posted on this forum.

This member breached the forum policies about no-link-dropping and no-self-promotion by linking to another forum that he owns without proper disclosure of this fact anywhere, including his own forum.

The trade members can participate here and sign their posts with their commercial websites. In order to keep our forum CLEAN, we cannot allow using it for spamming, link-dropping, and other tricks used for self-promotions.

There is neither conspiracy nor hidden agenda behind this decision: all we ask is to behave ethically according to the forum policies without trying to take advantage and to drive traffic to your own websites...

Posting demands to explain "censorship" is another breach of the forum policies - we reserve the right to remove any post and tend to err on the side of caution to protect the integrity of our forums. Vendors, who think that the link in their signature doesn't compensate for their contribution, should not use our forums.

We really appreciate your understanding and sorry if our vigilance disappointed anybody.

 

[CatalinaGirl]

So now I feel as though I need to hide my identity so I will not get banned, but you will probably delete my post as well. This is more of a test on my part and two other posters on this forum. If so this will be my and their last post.
I am a long time member of ps forums and have posted here regularly for more than 2 years. I read every post by the poster you banned and could find nothing in any of his posts promoting himself or his product. What he did was finally provide expert information about pearls to the level we have never, ever seen here. Having him here was like inviting Donald Trump to your college marketing seminar and having his visit cancelled because the dean had not heard of him, and thought his name would be promoting a casino in Atlantic City!
Did you even read his posts? Do you know who he is? And you banned him? I am more disappointed with this place now than ever before knowing what was just lost to us all because someone jumped the gun and banned someone you should be paying to post here. I have been so upset this afternoon even my husband is now upset. How could you?

 

[JulieN]

I wonder if we could sift through the old posts? I was sure he said that he owned it. Developed with some other people...

 

[pricescope]

CatalinaGirl,

1. We created this forum first of all to be a place for consumers to ask questions and share their experience about DIAMONDS (all other forums were added just for everybody’s fun – we have no interests in colored stones or other jewelry). As opposite to the forums run by the vendors, we decided that there should be very strict rules regarding self promotion. We didn't want to see vendors soliciting business, steering consumers towards using their services, etc.

2. Consumers are in privileged position here and we hoped they enjoy being able to criticize or recommend any vendor, no matter whether it is an advertiser or not, hates or likes us. Some vendors got more recommendations here than on the forums where the bash us. All we ask our members is to help us to keep this place clean and not to make our job more difficult than it is with numerous spammers, self-promoters, etc.

3. It is hard to balance between self-promotion and education. And, yes, we are harsh on vendors. SORRY! But we do not differentiate between "Donald Trump" or any other trade member. This place attracts 10,000 unique visitors a day. Without vigilance from our side, it would become a junk yard. Would you, CatalinaGirl, spend more than 2 years on a junk yard? I don’t think your "Donald Trumps" would like it either.

4. I admit we are harsh on vendors including our own advertisers. We have to censor them all the time if they breach the rules. (You might be aware that we got rid of one advertiser who breached the trust of the community).

5. I don't want to spend too much time pointing out that each member should use the forum only if he/she agrees with our rules. Any forum, (including the one that is registered on your vendor's name) has condition that moderators "reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason".

6. Anybody (vendor or consumer) can make an honest mistake and so do we - we're all humans and we can be wrong sometimes. Any member can email us to rectify the problem. I'm afraid, however, that when egos are hurt and frustration, gossips and venom are spilled on public forums, it doesn't make it easier to resolve the issue.

7. In this particular case, a vendor/expert joined the forum posting here and gives links to his commercial site, which was fine. At certain moment he gives a link to a forum registered on his name. The forum doesn’t have “About” page and consists mainly from vendors talking about their products. We can argue whether it was not meant to be as self promotion but education. SORRY. For us it looks like a link-dropping. Such post are subject of removal.

8. Instead of trying to resolve the issue privately, your "Donald Trump" decided to demand an explanation forgetting that he said OK to our right to remove any post when registering and agreed to other forum policies. He also finds it appropriate smearing us on his own forum, looking for some sort of conspiracy on our end, repeating gossips. I don’t think you expect us to swallow everything?

9. Now, why we should delete your posts, CatalinaGirl. We’re trying to provide clean and free environment for people like you and it is not an easy job. I hope you enjoyed it (otherwise you probably won’t be here for 2+ years). Yet you find it's OK to breach the forum etiquette, create multiple identities and demand explanations for our actions. Sorry, we do not feel that we owe any public explanation since we didn’t do anything unethical. Removing any post is our right. You shall not use the forum if you disagree with the way we run it.

We are not going to give any more explanation on this matter - this forum is not a venue for the resolution of personal issues with members or companies. If one’s having question please drop us a message but we cannot promise any reply.