Wasnt this intended to be a 914 technical fourm?, Im seeing a disturbing trend. Options

[914work]

More & more I'm seeing the "Garage" being used to solicit sales for various of our member vendors instead of helping members fix problems, impart knowledge & generally discuss 914 related news experience ID parts & the like.
We have a section devoted for Member Vendors ~ don't we ?
I understand the occasional crossover where customers need help or provide a (unbiased) reviews but cant we keep the introductions / group buys ect contained to the forum section CREATED for that purpose?

Flame on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[shoguneagle]

Does post have just sales offering?

Does the post create information exchange?

Does everyone participating gain knowledge?

Has anyone tried to make parts better which are getting hard to find?

Have members participated in exchange of information which provided vendors with the needed requirements to develop product?

Are there members requiring information on handling rust, replacing sheetmetal parts, welding, parts sourcing, parts exchange, Etc?

How do you think the threads got the informative information on the above subject matters?

Is there information regarding our vendors and others ever discussed in detail including their produces for sale?

How many people have received information with discussions with all members including our vendors which lead to a particular problem solution?

How do I know from experience who and what provided information in these threads?

Over the years members have had their differences which lead to our separation from 914club.com to 914world.com. The basis of some of the reasons why we split may lie in the reasoning that we have to have absolute correctness in every and all threads we write. Further, we cannot have absolute this or that; it must be based on reasonableness and how exchange information.

I have personally gained on exchanges in the Garage and did get information on parts, how to do things, etc. The Garage did provide me with members participating in my inquiry about parts to be replaced which I lost in a major theft in Barstow, CA.

One could make a point that I was requesting parts and should be in the vendor/used parts areas. But you cannot put in the vendor or the used parts sales category when my inquiry caused people to be aware of theft, parts stolen, offering free parts, available parts for sale, offer os assistance, and numerous other related services/information.

Years earlier we helped a member get a Volks Van with a wheel chair lift.
How do you codify this? Under a vendor or parts for sales thread?

I did loose considerable parts and was on the edge of not completing my conversion. Based on the inputs from our members which included selling of parts via the Garage thread I probably would not have gotten the car completely together and somewhat finished. It is painted, licensed, insured and running on the road. The information I got on how to things including sheetmetal parts, welding parts and techniques, and other major items came from the Garage. In sum, information either originating or developed in the Garage led me to buy from our vendors, reviewing via commentary via Garage, etc. In sum, everything is closely associated and cannot say absolutely where the dividing line between vendor sales and information exchange can be made. It is basically how the information exchange is developed and handled.

Sorry for the long winded verbal and wordy exchange but I maybe I have been around too long in 914world.com.

I try to maintain a low profile but when it comes to the 914world site and threads, information must be exchanged freely and maybe it should be listed under a different category instead of the Garage. Special offers to develop product requiring development, money expended, ideas, how many interested people, etc takes on a different and very important function. It does involve people interest, intent, development expenses, etc from our members to have a chance of bringing our needed parts and supplies to market for our use. it is hard to tell when it changes from a developed product to one ready for market.

[wndsrfr]

Whew! Well said everyone....the OP and the rest of us are all suffering from Cabin Fever & should be out wringing out the car......I love this Garage just as it is even when we get down into these weird introspective essays. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)