Company Complaints

[roadwarrior]

I have a dispute with 'company X'. Can I post about it here?

While we can empathize with your frustration, the best course of action is deal directly with the company. Escalate it up the ladder, file a grievance with PayPal or Ebay (if they were involved with the transaction). File a mail fraud complaint with the post office. There are other options, but attacking the company in a public forum is not appropriate nor allowed. Such posts will be removed.

Please read FAQs for an overview of what is expected from our membership:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

[Marty]

Where do you draw the line between attacking a company and relating a negative experience with a company?

[noway]

The flip side is; it's fine to talk up a company that has provided joy.

[tomustang]

Where do you draw the line between attacking a company and relating a negative experience with a company?

Precisely, there really isn't a review section here

[slonezp]

Tom, you can review whatever you want. He's just saying don't bash a company.

Write a review on a product(bait) Is it well made or cheaply made? Does it run true out of the box or does it need adjusting?, Color options? Does the paint chip off the jig on the first cast? Does it catch bass? and so on. If you present an honest and educated review on any product and leave it up to the guy reading the thread to decide whether to purchase it or not it should be OK with the mods.

It's self preservation for Bassresource. Someone's got to pay the bills. If it's not them, it's you.

[tomustang]

Yeah I know, I try to make reviews every now and then (i just made one my C21) but it's not like I'm a tackle junky and get ahold of everything first

I'm just use to all the other forums I go on that have a separate review/DIY section for things.

[J Francho]

There is a review section. It's in the articles.

[Glenn]

Tom, you can review whatever you want. He's just saying don't bash a company.

Write a review on a product(bait) Is it well made or cheaply made? Does it run true out of the box or does it need adjusting?, Color options? Does the paint chip off the jig on the first cast? Does it catch bass? and so on. If you present an honest and educated review on any product and leave it up to the guy reading the thread to decide whether to purchase it or not it should be OK with the mods.

It's self preservation for Bassresource. Someone's got to pay the bills. If it's not them, it's you.

You almost got it right. You may indeed provide reviews, good or bad. But bashing, attacking, or complaining about a company, "I hate UPS!", "Company X has poor customer service!", etc. is not allowed.

However, it has nothing to do with "self-preservation". It has everything to do with discouraging the negativity you see everywhere else (on the web, on TV, at work, etc.). We want this place to enjoyable, and a release from the everyday banter - just like fishing itself. An "escape", if you will. Excessive negativity doesn't play a role here.

Not only that, but complaining about a company here, is not going to solve your beef with them. You need to take that up with them directly. Letting your dispute boil over into these forums serves no purpose.

Hope that makes sense.

Glenn

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

In addition, a negative comment/review has a more dramatic affect on a business than several positive ones. It's just human nature. Someone can come on a forum and vent, and then have the issue satisfactorily resolved subsequently, but the damage is done.

[Diablos]

While I respectfully disagree, we are all essentially guests here and should follow the rules.

Most companies seem to respond faster when a negative review /experience is thrown in front of hundreds of eyes.

The only time I ever left a seething review of a company was on Google and nearly got an instant response after being told to 'get bent' just a week earlier.

The power of forums and search engines teach companies they can not hide anymore.

[tomustang]

There is a review section. It's in the articles.

Those are still articles, no way to post and have a discussion with the rest of the members

[airborne_angler]

What about personal experiences with companies? Say I had an issue with a piece of tackle,I took it up with the manufacturer and didnt get the issue resolved,or it was resolved poorly. Is speak of personal experience dealing with a company accepted? This way Joe fisherman can know what to expect or not expect when they deal with the company. All personal experiences won't always be positive,and that's what everyone wants to see and hear.

[J Francho]

Those are still articles, no way to post and have a discussion with the rest of the members

Perhaps you were posting about on the water fashion, and missed the discussion.

Many articles start as posts: http://www.bassresou...od-performa-xt/

[Glenn]

What about personal experiences with companies? Say I had an issue with a piece of tackle,I took it up with the manufacturer and didnt get the issue resolved,or it was resolved poorly. Is speak of personal experience dealing with a company accepted? This way Joe fisherman can know what to expect or not expect when they deal with the company. All personal experiences won't always be positive,and that's what everyone wants to see and hear.

Depends. If it's done in a matter-of-fact manner ("I had a bad experience with them, so I'll take my business elsewhere"), we'll probably let it go. But if it's a "Company X is a SCAM!!!" or "DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH X!!!" kind of post, probably not.

It's all about the tone of the post in that case. Smear campaigns have no place here. That's not what these forums are about.

[BassCats]

Though some will disagree with this rule, I believe that it is good for the majority. Making this place a more respectable and enjoyable forum is part of the evolution that has kept this forum running with such high numbers for so long. I applaud the moderators for continuing to make this the best forum and keeping it respectable at the same time.

[tomustang]

Perhaps you were posting about on the water fashion, and missed the discussion.

Many articles start as posts: http://www.bassresou...od-performa-xt/

Didn't know that's how you guys lay it out. Unless I'm missing something on moble browser view I don't see a link to the original thread in the article format

Perhaps I could ask why today's youth wear women's pants in the next fashion thread

[HookSetDon]

I think the point of a forum like this in regards of sharing your experience about a service or company is important. Thats why we have a section on fishing tackle and rods, reels , lines. If someone has a bad experience they should write about it - its like anything else, go on bps website and youre going to read good reviews and bad, you need to go through it and make your decision. Dont sit here and cuss out a company like a moron because you werent happy with them, but whats the problem with saying the customer service is terrible- explaining the situation and outcome. A forum like that is an asset, where people who share the same interest can come together and look out for eachother. Say X company has treated a few members poorly, I want to know about that so I can save myself the same grief and send the message to these companies that youre not just dealing with one customer, youre dealing with a community that will support eachother, you mess with one you mess with all kind of mantality.

Heres a story for you, 2 years ago I purchased a used hummer from a dealership in my area, at the time I was an active member of a hummer forum based in my area. To make a long story short the dealership messed me around and hid a few things from me that came apparent once I drove the vehicle for a week, when I went back to them they werent willing to do anything, I was SOL. I reported what happened on the forum and another member who owned an advertising company took the time to send the manager of the dealership a letter, to this day I dont know what he said but I can tell you a few days later the manager of the dealership called me up and told me to go into the dealership with my visa and he credited me $1000.00 for the repairs they tried to cover up. Strength in numbers made the difference when the dealership knew they werent just going to ruin their reputation with one person but many.

[Glenn]

I'm not implying you can't post negative reviews. Just don't come here ranting and slamming a company - or posting a complaint in the hopes of getting company X's attention. Not only for the reasons I mentioned above, but also those things will end up with company X's attorney threatening ME with a lawsuit. Now I'm suddenly slammed in the middle of a dispute I had nothing to do with. Regardless of what I do at that point forward, somebody isn't going to be happy, and they'll turn their anger towards me and BassResource. I know this from experience.

Don't put me in that situation.

[HookSetDon]

Thats terrible Glen, as im sure its happened. Im surprised they can hold you accountable for someone elses actions. Rather than going through all the trouble of holding you accountable with law suits etc, why not make the customers more of a priority.

[Marty]

but also those things will end up with company X's attorney threatening ME with a lawsuit.

Glenn, in the strict legal sense, can you be held responsible for what's posted here? If I libel someone can you be a co-defendant?

[Glenn]

Whether they can or can't doesn't matter. What matters is at that point, somebody is going to be PO'd at me over something I never did....and could continue harassing me until I do what they want me to do, at which point somebody else is going be PO'd at me..

So, no, I won't let it go that far. Got a beef with a company? Take it up with them, talk to the BBB, the police, the post office, eBay, the police...whatever. But don't place me nor BassResource in the middle of it, thank you very much. It's not your right to bring innocent people into your dispute.

Been there, done that, won't go there again.

[Glenn]

btw - been there several times. There was even one incident where a member posted his grief about UPS on the site - even after the rule was implemented. I deleted the post and sent him a PM letting him know about it, and cited the rule. Then he got his panties all up in a bunch, accused me of taking sides, sent angry emails to me and several other members, posted crap and personal attacks on Facebook that I won't even get into...just a childish tirade.

Over what? Something a fishing site had absolutely nothing to do with in the first place!

So, you see why I won't allow those kind of posts on here? I've got the scars and t-shirts that prove it's a bad idea. I don't need to be thrust into somebody else's conflict. I've got my own problems, thank you very much.

The rule stands.