[rescue] Reseller question

[Bill Bradford]

On Fri, Dec 14, 2001 at 04:05:39PM -0800, Ken Hansen wrote:
> Maybe the vendor list could be made a bit more
> dynamic, since I am a sporadic reseller, maybe a
> temporary link on the HW vendor page would be a good
> idea.

After we emailed you and asked you not to dictate
what the list reseller post policy is (thats mine and Amy's
job), now you want to tell us how to run the web site?  

Please go re-read the email that Amy and I sent to you in private
Friday afternoon.

> I would assume there would be compensations involved
> to the host (real, not percentage of *possible*
> sales).
> For example, think back to the sparcbook offer Bill
> was associated with - now pretend it had to do with
> low-end WS instead (being vauge on purpose).

The only way I was "associated" with that was that I helped
the guys get the news out to the public that they had some
laptops available, and in exchange, I got one of them.  

For the majority of companies listed on my vendor/reseller 
page, I've gotten absolutely nothing from them in return for a
listing.  However, I have bought plenty of hardware from those
folks - the reason the vendor page exists is to give people a good
reliable dependable honest source for purchasing new or used Sun
hardware, NOT to get stuff in exchange for listing companies.

If someone emails me and asks me to add them to the listings, I'll
usually do so within a couple of days (when I get a chance to work
on the page), unless I've heard bad things about them or their 
firm (e.g., bodoman) or they've pissed me off for some reason.

I have no interest in having to add/delete listings to the
vendor/reseller page according to how lucky someone was at
the scrap dealer that week.  I have better things to do with 
my time than spend most of it pimping out someone else's hardware.

> If, hypothetically, I had a large number of something
> to offer, it would seem reasonable and right to offer
> the sunhelp.org website hosts a "taste" of the action.

Ken, you sound like a drug dealer or someone from the Godfather
movies.  Stop hypothesizing about our dealer/vendor/reseller policies.

As it is, SunHELP (e.g., the entity of me and amy and a few servers)
is not interested in making a profit.  We run the web site and mailing
lists as a public service to help others, NOT to line our pockets.  If
we were trying to make a profit, I would have "sold out" long ago.  As
is, it costs more to run the site than we get back in very occasional 
banner ad trades and/or donations.

We will tell people when policy changes.  There are no changes
planned for now or the immediate future.  We have clearly stated the 
list posting policy, which I think is very reasonable.  It shouldnt
be that hard to understand.

ONCE AGAIN:

- If you're just a guy with an interesting find, a single machine for sale,
  etc, its okay to post to the lists, a single post, detailing the hardware
  and "contact me off-list if interested".

- If you've got multiple machines for sale, are cleaning out your closet, 
  or have bought multiple machines to sell to others, or have lots of common
  commodity parts coming in and going out, you qualify as a "reseller", and
  need to restrict these posts to the SALES list, 
  http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/sales

WHAT PART OF THAT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND?  

If I see someone "evolving" into being-a-reseller territory, I'll send them 
an email and say "hey, please post this stuff on the sales list from now 
on".  

It takes a LOT to piss me off, Ken, but you've managed to do it.  I'm normally
a nice (some say too nice) guy, but this time I've gone looking for the beatin'
stick.

> I am not in that position, but if I were, that would
> seem reasonable...

THEN WHY DID YOU EVEN BRING IT UP?

> (Damn, did I just post on this topic again?)

Yes, you did.  Stop it.  I'm tired of the subject.  Enough has been
said, and the policies are VERY FUCKING CLEAR at this point.

Yes, the listmaster is not happy right now.

If ANYBODY has any questions about any of this, please feel free to email
myself or amy:

	mrbill at sunhelp.org
	turtlex at frenzy.com

and we will do our best to answer your questions.  

Bill

-- 
Bill Bradford
mrbill at mrbill.net
Austin, TX