This is a how to site, not a why I hate this product site - DIY Chatroom

***Nathan*** · 01-29-2009, 02:02 AM

I just wanted to post a quick reminder here. This is a "how to do it yourself" site and not a "why I hate this product" site. If you have a question about a product or need help with it please post about it. If your here just to make some sort of public statement about a product or company then this is not the place for you.

Thanks.

***Nathan*** · 01-29-2009, 10:59 AM

Sorry guys, we now have two threads about this and it may get somewhat confusing. Here is the other thread This is a how to site, not a why I hate this product site

and this is a response that I just made that I think should be copied here:

Quote:

OK, I wrote this late last night and I think I need to clarify what I'm talking about here. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba_Dave

Isn't that part of a DIY site?
"I used this product & had this problem"

Yes, and I have no problem with a member of this site telling us what he thinks about a product both Good and Bad. In fact, on some of our sites (like www.WoodworkingTalk.com) we even have a special forum for product reviews. The problem is not established members who tell us what they think about a product, it's a few people who have joined this site and seem to want to do nothing but bash a product or company.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba_Dave

I guess it's different if you have people coming on to try to sell something or bash the competitor

Yup, this is what I'm talking about. For example, I can look at one thread (and there are a few like this) and see someone with over 40 posts. When I look at their posting history every single post they have made has been a negative comment about one particular product. Do we even know if they own the product or installed it right? It's hard to tell and I'm not sure it's fair to the company to allow this to take place.

This is kind of a gray area I know but this is my thinking. Let me know if this doesn't make sense because I'm thinking it through as I type.

If you're a new member and join the site to do nothing but bash a company or product you have no place here.
If you're a new member and come here because your having problems with a product and need help fixing it post about it and let's see if we can help.
If your an established member (with some posting history) and you want to give a product review then by all means do so. But give your review and comments about the product and move on. Don't make this site your personal soap box.

People get pissed when they feel they have been wronged and sometimes they go to far. If you need help fixing a problem that's really what this site is about. Your sole purpose for joining this site should not be to tell everyone why you hate a product.

Thoughts?

**thekctermite** · 02-01-2009, 02:50 AM

Right on Nathan. There have been at least a couple recent new members that came here for no reason other to have a soapbox from which they can spew their negative comments and agenda. If someone has an axe to grind over a product or company there's little chance that they'll have an objective viewpoint to offer anyone.

This is a pretty friendly place with a really good bunch of people, and this policy will certianly help keep it that way.

losttool · 02-06-2009, 12:50 AM

Amen, if you want to vent a complaint call the manufacturer directly, but don't kick them around until you get an explanation. Most manufacturers will go out their way to avoid bad press and often replace tools destroyed by ignorance.

rh8868 · 02-10-2009, 12:11 AM

I appreciate that you guys strive to keep the forum in use for what it is intended for. This way when people like myself come on here to research and learn we don't have to muddle through hundreds of junk/biased posts. Ever since I found the site around New Years 2009, I practically visit everyday now. Thanks for the awesome center you guys have created here.

Tscarborough · 02-10-2009, 09:28 PM

Another thought is the posts that have nothing to do with DIY, but rather deal with relations between contractors and Homeowners. DIY does not mean (to me) that you are contracting someone to do work for you, it means that you are putting your grubby little hands onto the materials and building something.

downunder · 02-11-2009, 07:21 PM

In the possibility that my recent post regarding lopping shears might have contributed to this thread, I apologize.

However, I did so with the following points in mind:

1. I pointed out up front that the mfg had a long history of quality tools which I have used for a number of years. My disapointment was with one particular model.
2. I have found out from the mfg that this particular model is marketed to one specific big box store that caters to the DIY homeowner ("You can do it, we can help"). In fact, the tool is marketed with the blade that I feel is inferior being the selling point. The same tool is available, per the mfg., in other stores with a different blade. The cutting blade being the only difference.
3. The item is twice as expensive as a better performing product IMO and I truly believe that most folks want the best value for their money. I have the benefit of someone else buying tools so I am not out of money for something that does not perform well. Most of us, myself included with my personal tools, do not. Frankly, I like going to a store with several choices, being able to buy one or two of each with someone else's money, and then I can buy the one that I like best for my personal use. To that end, I had the opportunity to use the tool enough to come to a reasonable opinion based on the experience with the tool.

Again, if I have contributed to the offense, I apologize but I would be disapointed if a neighbor had used a tool and did not like it, and did not tell me if he knew I was planning on buying one. That's what I consider a good neighbor to be, and I consider this forum a neighborhood.

**thekctermite** · 02-11-2009, 07:57 PM

Downunder, your 246 posts on this site haven't been in fervent opposition to a product. A few of them were, and that's ok. No apology necessary! The mods will almost always send users a note if we have a problem with their posts due to a site rules violation, in an effort to curb the issue.

What we're trying to avoid is people that don't come here for any reason besides dragging a company's or product's name through the mud. We get a lot of new users that will start a bashing thread and not do anything else. They don't lend anything positive to this great group of folks that we have here.

We encourage people to share their experiences with products when someone asks about the product. But starting a thread with the intent of sharing that negative opinion and general bashing isn't going to be tolerated.

fireproofidiot · 02-11-2009, 10:43 PM

I see some of these folks are frustrated and looking for help. It helps to have a sounding board with others all over the nation that are having similiar issues. I live in Florida and see posts clear across the country and some even in Canada. Some of those people have helped me avoid some costly mistakes in my choices.

**thekctermite** · 02-11-2009, 11:34 PM

If someone is looking for help, that's why we're here. If they're looking to complain and generally muddy the waters, that's a different story altogether.

JAKESCHS.COM · 05-02-2009, 05:23 PM

I love this Forum

Luckily I didn't have any bad experience here.
I found a lot of good help and I also helped some people too.

Keep up the good work.

Vandy · 05-21-2009, 09:42 PM

Yeah, this is a good place. I've already picked up a bunch of good info from here.

I'll keep my emotions to myself when it comes to products though, glad I saw this thread before I started venting.

LifeTimeLumber · 06-04-2009, 02:46 PM

Also, I think that this forum is a great place for manufacturers to be able to interact with end users. It may even be the case that some issues can be resolved through communication on this forum. That way, other people can potentially have that information at a later time.

***Nathan*** · 06-04-2009, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeTimeLumber

Also, I think that this forum is a great place for manufacturers to be able to interact with end users. It may even be the case that some issues can be resolved through communication on this forum. That way, other people can potentially have that information at a later time.

Agreed. We allow manufactures to interact with customers and solve issues or correct misinformation as long as it doesn't turn into a sales pitch.

Glad your here

rjordan392 · 06-26-2009, 08:58 AM

Nathan,
I look forward to post's from those who are unsatisfied with products or service. Its messages like these that keep me on guard against inferior products or services. But I usually investigate to see if the product or service has complaints from others besides the poster and/or if a complaint is registered with the Better Business Bureau. But in the event, there are no other complaints and I want to use the same product that the poster complained about, then I will voice my concerns to the salesman/installer and have myself covered with additional wording in the contract.

Most homeowners do not have the knowledge and experience to do all of the diy jobs. So they must rely on the integrity of the contractor. I believe in my own case on a new install, that a product was left out of the install because 1-1/2 cooling seasons later, the problem was resolved with the addition of a thermal expansions valve and a new thermostat.

So Yes, I believe I might have bashed the installer on this forum and he deserved it. What you won't hear on this forum is complaints from homeowners who don't know any better and good work from shoddy work.