23 replies to this topic

[greatwatermelon]

I brought this idea up a while back but it never really materialized. However, I'm bringing up idea again, in hopes of successfully arranging something like this. I hope to bring retailers and manufacturers in airsoft to get a little more involved with our forum members by having a night dedicated to asking such company any questions or concerns, or to simply say hi and hang out with them.

So how it would work is, I would just announce on the news page that this company will be chatting on this or that night, and feel free to drop by to talk or ask the representatives from that company, about any questions or concerns.

I hope to get a few companies in so that we can rotate the chat nights with the various companies and keep it interesting for our members. For example:

Monday night... Company 1
Wednesday night... Company 2
Thursday night... Company 3

I know companies are often reluctant to post on forums, and that it's unlikely I'll find many willing to participate in the chat nights, it may be something that starts up with 1-2 companies and grow into something more popular.

Nonetheless, lemme know what you guys think.

[Pickles]

I think it is a great idea and I am all for it. This would help liven the forums up a bit (hopefully), and i honestly cant see any downside, aside from the possibility of a HUGE influx of members joining just to talk to the manufacturer/company/whatever, although i find this scenario highly unlikely

[Starblade54]

me gusta. it would be cool to chat with different companies about anything they would be willing to divulge.

[greatwatermelon]

The only downside is for the companies. Some of us on here very opinionated and forget to be respectful to them, at times. We don't see many company representatives on forums for that reason, their brand can easily be tarnished in a few replies. **cough James Chan from WE*

But, nonetheless, it can also benefit them and the rest of the community if it all works out.

[FNH]

We probably should have multiple mods in chat to ban people who are disrespectful.

[greatwatermelon]

Good idea! Yeah, I'll have to discuss with a few mods and admins to see if they would be willing to help out as well. However, I don't want members to be afraid to post either, just because we're keeping an eye out.

[Llama]

PB likes banning people from chat, let him do it.

[swishy]

Looks like a good idea. I'de like to talk to KWA and ask them how the heck they managed to mess up my MP9 so much.

[FNH]

No... you totally misinterpreted this. Thats something for KWA's customer service. Don't go in there with all your personal problems.

[swishy]

FNH, on 15 August 2011 - 04:33 PM, said:

No... you totally misinterpreted this. Thats something for KWA's customer service. Don't go in there with all your personal problems.

I know. I wouldn't actually ask them that...

[FNH]

Of course you do.

GWM, we need a guideline of what we can relatively ask, other wise a "swishy" would happen. Because it already gets out of hand when Allizard pops in some times. There should be an order for questions such as top to bottom in the chat list in the upper right.

[Starblade54]

I volunteer to be a mod in chat...if it helps make this happen

[Piano Black]

Llama, on 15 August 2011 - 04:28 PM, said:

PB likes banning people from chat, let him do it.

Only those who deserve it, Kyle.

-Piano

[greatwatermelon]

swishy, on 15 August 2011 - 04:28 PM, said:

Looks like a good idea. I'de like to talk to KWA and ask them how the heck they managed to mess up my MP9 so much.

LOL funny enough, KWA probably has been approached in that manner all the time. I'm sure Allen would be like, sigh, I'm an old man, where has been the respect for elders.

Thanks FNH for all the input you've replied with, it's definitely very helpful and advise that will be incorporated in. A guideline is definitely a must, because people obviously cannot respect or appreciate a representative at all, for spending time on our forum. You won't see another brand, yet, that would do the same that Allizard from KWA does, and especially put up for all the crap people spill on him, especially from Airsoft-Barracks. As for something like customer service support for a ASB members' broken gun, I think it's fair game as long as the person is very respectful in their mannerism and is actually wanting to get their gun fixed. That's what the representative is also there for, especially when you approach them in person.

What do you mean by questions top to bottom in the chat list though?

[FNH]

Like hop in chat for a second and look at all of the user names. People would have there turn in descending order.

[greatwatermelon]

Ah, so questions wouldn't simply flood, we'll see how it goes on the first one. If the room doesn't have so many people in it, we won't have to have that much organization. However, we'll have a back up plan if the chatroom does have too many users in it. Either see if the chatroom system allows people to submit questions in that will put them in descending order, or we'll have a wait list sort of thing, where people can sign up when they enter, and us mods and admins will work with the representative, in who is up next to ask questions.

I'm liking your ideas FNH.

[xPHOBIAx57]

gasguns.info did something similar to this where members could post a list or questions to ask the sales manager of WE (Jame Chan) about their gbbr's. Posts were then compiled on a list if agreed to be important and proper and were sent to James who then responded in a youtube style video blog. This method would cut down on "swishy" questions.

[FNH]

Also, a mod could make a private room at choose who he invites.

So some random person who just found out about chat doesn't wander in and has no idea about what is going on.

[Jakobie1086]

What FNH said. It would be bad if we had a noob in chat or a troll saying things giving us a bad name around a manufacture employee. Also some sort of organization would be important as far as questions go otherwise you would have way to many people all talking at once , as previously mentioned. Maybe take turns in chat bar on the right order?

[M4Maniac]

I would be happy to represent Airsoft Atlanta in an unofficial form for one of these chat nights. I think the best way to use this as a retailer would be for people who don't have specific in/out of stock questions or specific order questions to bring a list of products (guns, gear, parts, etc) that you would like us to carry. Basically, I have an open forum with my bosses to ask for us to carry specific items, but obviously they're only going to be carried if a business case can be made for them. So if there's a product you're certain you would buy if we carried it, I can make a much stronger case than if it's just something that I wanted to carry.

Just my .02.

-Matt

[Hans17]

Great idea but whats makes you think that these companies will be willing to donate their time to another airsoft forum?


Don't get me wrong I really would enjoy to partake in this event, just unsure if they would be willing.

[greatwatermelon]

KWA has spent plenty time on our forum already, and if M4Maniac represent AA, and hopefully ASB store itself, we would already have 3 companies on here by then. Whether or not other companies want to donate their time to this forum, is up to them. I already stated before that most airsoft companies don't even participate in forums, just read what people have to say. However, many airsoft manufacturers are struggling, and a business practice that have shown to help sell their products, may have to be adopted by these silent companies, which is to actually connect with some of the airsoft communities on the forums, and not be chicken to handle harsh critisms.

tdlr;

we already have companies that are in our chats from time to time, and the economy is bad. If other companies, especially manufacturers that want to compete in a bad economy, participate in our chat, they may have small but still positive benefits to gain.

[Starblade54]

i like the idea of manufactures (like KWA or WETech or whatever) but im not sure if having retailers is a great idea. When Doc pops in from time to time it goes from helpful "do you carry this product, if yes, how much" to spamming "WHEN ONLINE STORE COMING" in a matter of seconds (which Doc hates and thus usually leaves). But i guess if a mod could regulate that...

just my $.02 and my fears.

Edited by Starblade54, 18 August 2011 - 08:24 AM.

[FNH]

Starblade54, on 18 August 2011 - 08:23 AM, said:

i like the idea of manufactures (like KWA or WETech or whatever) but im not sure if having retailers is a great idea. When Doc pops in from time to time it goes from helpful "do you carry this product, if yes, how much" to spamming "WHEN ONLINE STORE COMING" in a matter of seconds (which Doc hates and thus usually leaves). But i guess if a mod could regulate that...

just my $.02 and my fears.

Star, my regulations in the past posts have been to prevent this. And if everything goes according to plan that wont happen.