Making the Pro Forums private

Jerry Thomas · May 8, 2006, 01:54 AM

Admin,

Not being critical at all but what purpose does it really serve the Pro's here to have a Pro Forum section if everyone can access it and read it? Pro forums are an invaluable tool for me and i learn a great deal by reading only. There are alot of aspects that need to learned and followed when you install flooring. Pro's should be able to post candidly about any and all aspects of flooring jobs, such as regional pricing, distributors, good vendors, hard learned lessons, ect.

For example, Danny has a question now about a cork floating install. I don't know the answer, hopefully a Pro will come along with good insight. Then you have a consumer who wants cork in his/her house and is "riding the fence" on whether this is a job they can do (if they knew how) or should they find a good installer. I don't know what side of the fence they might fall off of. That would probably depend on how detailed and thorough the advice was they were reading on here.

We Pro's need candid advice and through details, I least I do. I will check on the consumer section and offer what help I can, sure

, DIY jobs are here to stay, but some are not a DIY job unless they discover the lessons we learned by formal education, classes and just plain studying.

Just a thought to consider. Keep up the good work!

TFP Admin · May 8, 2006, 02:03 AM

I did give this very idea a lot of consideration before this forum was started but I didn't discuss it with anyone else. I know that this has been tried before and I don't think it worked at those forums.

Let me hear what others have to say on this topic. I hope we can have a good discussion about it. My mind is open.

hookknife · May 8, 2006, 07:39 AM

I like the idea, it doesnt have to be all the pro forums but at least one or two for the pros only that would be nice, my only question would be who decides wether youre a pro or not lol

Lo Down · May 9, 2006, 09:25 AM

hookknife said

I like the idea, it doesnt have to be all the pro forums but at least one or two for the pros only that would be nice, my only question would be who decides wether youre a pro or not lol

You need to provide Admin with a note from the Floorpro doctor proving that you have at least one bad disk, and had some water on the knee at some point. I think Dr Bendover is his name......... how'd you sneak in here without a note?

TFP Admin · May 9, 2006, 09:34 AM

I added a poll to this thread to get better response. It is an important issue and I would like as much feedback as possible even if you do not want to make comments.

Lo Down · May 9, 2006, 09:55 AM

Are we debating whether to make the pro forums invisible to DIY?

I joined an engineering forum to get some feedback on concrete drying/curing time estimated, and got one good answer. I could find no real answers on flooring forms or anywhere else....... anyhow, the next time I tried to log on to that engineering forum, I couldn't ..... There was a note that said there was a problem and to contact the admin. I did, but got no response............... I didn't lie about anything in my registration info. Anyhow.... I got da boot.... most likely because I am not an engineer. I assume they don't want to be bothered by mundane questions from novices or home owners....... and I can totally respect that. If making the material here invisible to the DIY, I think that would be OK......... we can always help em out, (and we will), in the DIY section.

May 9, 2006, 01:42 PM

I can see the point, but so can the consumer. If we hold back info or they believe we are, then why should they trust us and why should they come here?

Now if you had say a front door to this site and a back door, then the consumers could come into a site that's all them, but if you set it up so they can see but not get to all the site, it seems that would make them very skepticle of the info they get.

I could be wrong, but that's how I would see it.

Bud Cline · May 9, 2006, 02:48 PM

Seems that a lot of installers see fit to bring customers or potential customers to DIY Forums for some reason. THAT is neither here nor there. I think the Pro's should have a place to discuss procedures and issues that are out of sight of the DIY'er/customer.

Not that there are any big secrets and not that anyone is trying to deceive anyone but simply because there are things that can be discussed that wouldn't necessarily serve an installer/customer relationship. Not all installers are great people and not all customers are great customers, occaisions arise that require conversation that the average customer SHOULD NOT be privy to.

hookknife · May 9, 2006, 03:57 PM

maybe they should be able to view them ,but not respond??????dunnno???

Im gunna hold off on my vote for a short while

William Mear · May 9, 2006, 05:44 PM

Bud cline what a surprise!! hope you are well brother!!!

As for me I think that some part of the pro section should only be visible by other pro's.

If i wanted to give away all that I have learned over the last 17 years I would hang out at jb's forum, great site but it is A DYI SITE and they will let you know it. I do not mind helping a diy out on little stuff but I am not giving away all my little tricks for free to someone who may or may not understand exactly what I am saying.

off with their heads.

lol

Jim McClain · May 9, 2006, 06:01 PM

Some of you might remember my position on professional forums from my comments on the flooringinstaller and FCI forums. I do not think professional forums should be open to the general public. There are too many issues that should remain private: pricing structure (not what we charge, but how we determine it), business tactics, marketing decisions and the few times (maybe more than a few) that we discuss specific customers.

When we do get into these discussions, is is usually assumed that we pros are the only ones listening in. That just isn't true. This forum isn't there yet, but when a site has some placement in a search engine and someone types in the right key words, they find several sites that have the information they are looking for. Whether you state plainly in the title or domain name that you are for professionals or not, people will look in and read what they want. What we say here is not private. SOME of what we say here should be.

I think it's a great idea to have a combination forum. Why not bring pros into close proximity of potential customers -- why not bring customers into close proximity of the people who can provide the products and services they seek? But The Professional Forums of this site, in my opinion, should be private. For professionals only and that means a consumer cannot even read the content in these particular sections.

I've gone 'round and 'round with the likes of Perry and others who seem to relish when a consumer finds their way into FCI or fi.com. Not to bash Perry because he provides more help and support to the DIY and consumer crowd than most of us, but my beef with him and others was why they didn't SEND those people to the forums they helped in instead of encouraging their access to what I hoped would be private, professional forums. We've got an opportunity here to do that without actually sending them to another website. We have our own consumer/diy forums right here. And where's Perry when you need him? (prob'ly off stuffing blades under a pad someplace)

Not to complicate the issue, but it should also be a consideration that if this site was only flooring pros and it was in near lock-down to keep the consumer at bay, there would not be many search engine spiders lurking here either. The pages would essentially be password protected and you can't give a spider a password (I don't think, I'd have to check to be sure). So, having consumer oriented forums and some forums for general flooring related discussion for everyone would help with the site ranking. One forum that does that with some success is hardwood installer. They have one forum for the pro and a bunch of forums for consumers (where pros also contribute). And Ken is one who is acutely aware of search engine ranking if anyone is. However, his pro forum is also open to the public and I have seen several consumers post questions there thinking they'd get quicker response.

Just a few things to ponder. My vote is to have private forums for the flooring professional and to continue to have the consumer oriented forums -- and a mixture of general discussion type forums that pros will participate in and consumers can join in too. Sort of a chance for the two to mingle and get to know one another.

Of course these are just my thoughts and opinions. Luckily this board places more weight on the consensus rather than the individual.

Best R'gards,

Jim

Paul Browning · May 9, 2006, 06:16 PM

I agree 100% Jim.

Danny Ferguson · May 9, 2006, 07:00 PM

I will also go along with Jim's post. Very well said Jim.

tony lamar · May 9, 2006, 07:21 PM

me three.

Jerry Thomas · May 10, 2006, 12:30 AM

Very well said Jim. If i didn't have AADD that is the way I would have worded my original post. But having said that, I do want this place to be a success. If i had a sensitive question I could use the PM feature or email. I suggest the Admin take all this into account and go slow with it until you gain status on the search engines, then make a private section if we find out we need it. My guess is some form of off-limits would be a good thing for the installer community if you decide to do it now........What was the question again ?