YT Vendors w/private profile pages

[TammyJM]

I guess I'm confused....when someone has their profile set to "private" can you not send them a PM? Did you try this option when you wanted to buy from this person or were you wanting to place an order on their profile page?

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Here's the vendors list: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ore-sites.html, and you can see the second part of the link gives the vendors' profile page. For those vendors who wish to keep their profile pages set to private, I could change the link to a PM to you. Let me know on this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tes...g-test-16.html, if that's what you wish to do.

I don't plan to set my profile page to private, but I do like to keep all of my contacts in one place. The vast majority of people who contact me do so via pm's -- so even though my profile page will be set to "Registered Members" I would still prefer to be contacted via pm.

AND a great big huge THANK YOU! for all the hard work you do regarding the Vendor's List. It is sincerely appreciated!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I haven't seen any YT Vendor who uses the profile page for sales. Shoot, I have been selling at YT since 2004 and the thought never even occurred to me. Advertising and sales should take place in the Sales Forums. Contacting vendors can take place publicly in the Sales Forums, privately via pm's or by visiting vendor's websites. I do understand that some people post on profile pages -- both praises and complaints, but the appropriate place for reviews is in the Review section.

Other than an alternative method for contacting a member, I don't see what the profile page has to do with selling. To me it would open a backdoor way for non-contrtibuting members to sell which would be grossly unfair to those of us who do contribute.

I think you misunderstand, some people buy things through the vendors list, or word of mouth, not through sale threads. No one is saying that people are selling things through their profile pages.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I don't plan to set my profile page to private, but I do like to keep all of my contacts in one place. The vast majority of people who contact me do so via pm's -- so even though my profile page will be set to "Registered Members" I would still prefer to be contacted via pm.

AND a great big huge THANK YOU! for all the hard work you do regarding the Vendor's List. It is sincerely appreciated!

I think the vast majority of Yorkietalkers know how to use PM's, but we get newbies every day, who are not computer savy. They often are new to Yorkies and new to forums.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I think you misunderstand, some people buy things through the vendors list, or word of mouth, not through sale threads. No one is saying that people are selling things through their profile pages.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I think the vast majority of Yorkietalkers know how to use PM's, but we get newbies every day, who are not computer savy. They often are new to Yorkies and new to forums.

Ok, Ok all right already! I stand corrected.

The comment above was ALL IN FUN . Nancy, I do see your point, it's a good one. I fully understand where you are coming from. As a vendor I would still prefer my customers and prospective customers to contact me via pm so that I can keep all my order information in a central location.

Apparently guests CAN access our profile pages.

If you would like to restrict the display of some of the blocks on your profile page, select a minimum relationship that other users must meet to see the blocks.

Note: Guests and users on your Ignore List will only be able to view the blocks on your page where you have selected 'Everyone'.

[LuvMySissy]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

I just took a look at our options that can be used to allow people access to your profile page

Everyone
Friends
Contacts
Registered Members

So this is even more bothersome since it would seems to me that only "friends and contacts" can be chosen as an option. So I guess those vendors that have chosen this option should only expect sales from their friends. Sounds like a pretty small circle for business.

If you have ever been the victim of information being stolen you may be very cautious. This recently happened to me, so everything I on a "public" site for me is now as private as can be. I believe I changed my profile to "friends" only.....

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by TammyJM

I guess I'm confused....when someone has their profile set to "private" can you not send them a PM? Did you try this option when you wanted to buy from this person or were you wanting to place an order on their profile page?

I was just trying to pop on their page to ask a quick question and just be nice. When I found that I was block I just figured they didn't need my business. Truth be told~I thought to myself what where they hiding by not allowing posts to your page. Why should I PM if they have a closed door. Unless you are their "friend" you can't get in to the secret club? Why do I need to make an extra effort for them to profit from me?

[QuickSilver]

It seems to me that if someone doesn't want to be contacted on their profile page, that's their perogative, vendor or not. If someone wants to hide something, a page on a public forum that can be viewed at any time by moderators or admin is probably not the ideal place.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I don't plan to set my profile page to private, but I do like to keep all of my contacts in one place. The vast majority of people who contact me do so via pm's -- so even though my profile page will be set to "Registered Members" I would still prefer to be contacted via pm.

AND a great big huge THANK YOU! for all the hard work you do regarding the Vendor's List. It is sincerely appreciated!

I forgot to say "You are welcome!" I'm glad to be of service to Yorkietalk members, I really love this place, and I'm so thankful for it. I know I can always call Joey's breeder if I need advice, but its great to be able to read about others experiences, and the way they handle things, and mostly, I'm grateful for those who posted threads on "How to find a good breeder." So this is how I thank those who came before me.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

It seems to me that if someone doesn't want to be contacted on their profile page, that's their perogative, vendor or not. If someone wants to hide something, a page on a public forum that can be viewed at any time by moderators or admin is probably not the ideal place.

You are correct but if a vendor feels they cannot have an open door they just will not get my business or referrals for that matter. If I need to be on a vendors friends list to order to contact them I just will not order and will not refer others to their products either. Which by the way has also happened in the past. I've had a new members ask me who they could buy a product from~ie harness for a perfect example. I want to be able to say: I believe Chattiesmom makes harnesses. Here's her page: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/member.php?u=194. Simple and quick. Which by the way the first thing I saw on the page when I just used this as an example was someone inquiring about a harness.

What could anyone have stored on their profile page that could cause harm if "stolen" ~SS#, home address, mothers maiden name, bank account information

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

If you have ever been the victim of information being stolen you may be very cautious. This recently happened to me, so everything I on a "public" site for me is now as private as can be. I believe I changed my profile to "friends" only.....

I thought that you just worked with a select group of breeders to help transport puppies to their new homes. I didn't even realize that you were a vendor

[BaxtersMommy]

It can get confusing if the orders arent thru PM. I do not post like I used to, I dont have the time. But, If it alerts me that I have a PM I will answer it.

[PandaGirl]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I'm not sure if unregistered members can view profile pages either, but one of the options is "Registered Members". I will changing my profile to "Registered Members".

As far as whether or not profile pages are public or private, I do believe that it should be a personal choice for ALL YT members Vendor or not. I don't know if my sales are typical, but the majority of my business takes place either in the public part of the forum, via pm's or contacting a my website. It seems like it would be easier for a newby to hit the reply button in a sales thread and type a question to a vender if they don't understand the pm function.

I respect all of the hard work that many members put into decorating their profile pages. However, I am not a fan of the "decorations" and have the "hide customization" turned on. I guess this is what makes our YT world interesting -- we are thousands of individuals each with our own personal preferences.

Totally agree. Having your profile on private does not make you a BAD vendor or a BAD anything, that is ridiculous. It's a personal choice and it should be respected.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

You are correct but if a vendor feels they cannot have an open door they just will not get my business or referrals for that matter. If I need to be on a vendors friends list to order to contact them I just will not order and will not refer others to their products either. Which by the way has also happened in the past. I've had a new members ask me who they could buy a product from~ie harness for a perfect example. I want to be able to say: I believe Chattiesmom makes harnesses. Here's her page: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/member.php?u=194. Simple and quick. Which by the way the first thing I saw on the page when I just used this as an example was someone inquiring about a harness.

What could anyone have stored on their profile page that could cause harm if "stolen" ~SS#, home address, mothers maiden name, bank account information

Thank you for using ME as an example. I have been around a long time - since 2004 and love my YT family. This has been a very interesting discussion - thank you for starting this thread. I will be more attentive to my profile page -- I never realized that it was really "important". Heck, I may even try to "do something" with it.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by PandaGirl

Totally agree. Having your profile on private does not make you a BAD vendor or a BAD anything, that is ridiculous. It's a personal choice and it should be respected.

Ummm..... I never used the word "BAD" and I take offense that you are calling me ridiculous. It is my personal choice to only patronized and refer to vendors that are easily accessible to the all members of YT.