Evogear = conflict resolved

[H-wood]

Some marketing whiz at this operation decided it would be a bright idea to spam my ski shop's gear forum, ie the one we use to help people with bootfitting probelms etc., with a promo post for their internet store.
Thanks, kooks! We just love spam for other shops.
Maybe you could come by late at night and spraypaint "evogear.com" on the outside of our building too. Classy.

[BakerBoy]

Some marketing whiz at this operation decided it would be a bright idea to spam my ski shop's gear forum, ie the one we use to help people with bootfitting probelms etc., with a promo post for their internet store.
Thanks, kooks! We just love spam for other shops.
Maybe you could come by late at night and spraypaint "evogear.com" on the outside of our building too.

Post the address, and I'll forward it on. You're welcome!

[H-wood]

Post the address, and I'll forward it on. You're welcome!

The search function and the ability to add 2 + 2 should do the trick.
Seriously- support who you want, but adopting the same tactics as Viagra hustlers and Chinese Nike counterfeiters is probably not the best way to establish a solid rep.

(and I've got enough to do answering all the "what boot is best for me" posts without having delete more worthless spam- from another ski shop, no less)

my 2 cents

H

[freemont]

Dear H-wood:

I'm the marketing whiz that posted the thread you are so angry about--it was forwarded to me by our own shop tech.
Since we are a new company, we tend to be a little scrappy in our methods and as the old saying goes, "the freedom to swing your fists ends at the beginning of the other guy's nose." My freedom to promote our dearly beloved company ends when it encroaches on your ability to answer gear related questions and help people make solid decisions.
I must say that I'm sorry for that because we truly do not want to hinder people from getting the gear that ultimately promotes the sports that we love. I wasn't thinking about what was good for the industry as a whole, but instead was looking for short term gains.
H-wood, please forgive my shortsightedness and I can assure you that there was no malice in my actions. Please continue giving people awesome advice on gear related questions and please let this be the end of any animosity you have for us. If you see any other infractions on our part please don't hestitate to notify me directly below.
Sincerely,
Kirk Wimberley
Marketing Coordinator
Evogear.com
kirk@evogear.com

[Woodsy]

well played.

[H-wood]

well played.

Very well played- problem solved. I let Kirk know that I'm happy to delete this thread if he wants. Mistakes will be made, but the immediate (and polite) response) tells me that these guys should do well- I certainly wish them all the success in the world.

H-wood

[vinzclortho]

Very well played- problem solved. I let Kirk know that I'm happy to delete this thread if he wants. Mistakes will be made, but the immediate (and polite) response) tells me that these guys should do well- I certainly wish them all the success in the world.

H-wood

none of my business, but it seems like the right thing to do would be to delete this thread.

[H-wood]

none of my business, but it seems like the right thing to do would be to delete this thread.

Kirk @ evogear specifically asked me to not delete this thread.
He feels that that cooperation and conflict resolution is a good thing, especially when we both represent skier-owned businesses battling against the big corporate boxes.
Again, I'm very impressed with the way that he has handled this- I tried to change the thread title, but couldn't. Hopefully I'll get a chance to buy Kirk a beer someday.
I think this has also been a great example of the power that TGR gives skiers and skier-owned businesses- what a resource.

H-wood

[H-wood]

none of my business, but it seems like the right thing to do would be to delete this thread.

Kirk @ evogear specifically asked me to not delete this thread when I offered to.
He feels that that cooperation and conflict resolution is a good thing, especially when we both represent skier-owned businesses battling against the big corporate boxes- and I agree.
Again, I'm very impressed with the way that he has handled this- I tried to change the thread title, but couldn't. Hopefully I'll get a chance to buy Kirk a beer someday.
I think this has also been a great example of the power that TGR gives skiers and skier-owned businesses- what a resource.

H-wood

[phUnk]

I dig what kirk and h-wood did here. Air the greivance, apologize and fix the problem, and don't sweep it under the rug like the mistake is some terrible dirty laundry that must be hidden from everyone.

Well played indeed.

[vinzclortho]

Solid, well if you guys are both into the resolution then I guess no harm, no foul. It is really cool though to see this handled the way it was.

[bdog]

This defines community. What we are ... who we are.

[PeachesN'Cream]

yes indeed well played.

as soon as i saw the thread title i was ready to send an FYI to the boys at EVO. happy to see it resolved quickly and in a friendly manner.

EVO is great and very respectable and i know that while looking to do business (with an amazing new seattle retail location that demands sales for the bills to be paid you gotta be on your game) they aren't out to screw people over.

way to keep it happy ya'll.

[Danno]

I guess I take this "conflict" a little differently. While it is great that Kirk stepped up and apologized, he also essentially admitted that his marketing plan is to stretch the boundaries until called on it. I can't say I am very appreciative of that approach in general. Companies have, in my opinion, a duty to act ethically, to independently assess what is right or wrong, and not merely go out there promoting until someone complains.

Not having seen the thread in question, isn't it well understood that a company seeking to promote itself on a forum should first contact the owner of the forum to see if it's ok? Why do they get a free pass when they didn't do this, got called on it, and then apologized? And isn't it interesting that the apology doesn't really say they won't do this again, jus that they won't do it again to H-wood's forum?

But maybe I am an island of one on this... :shrug:

[bdog]

I guess I take this "conflict" a little differently. While it is great that Kirk stepped up and apologized, he also essentially admitted that his marketing plan is to stretch the boundaries until called on it. I can't say I am very appreciative of that approach in general. Companies have, in my opinion, a duty to act ethically, to independently assess what is right or wrong, and not merely go out there promoting until someone complains.

Not having seen the thread in question, isn't it well understood that a company seeking to promote itself on a forum should first contact the owner of the forum to see if it's ok? Why do they get a free pass when they didn't do this, got called on it, and then apologized? And isn't it interesting that the apology doesn't really say they won't do this again, jus that they won't do it again to H-wood's forum?

But maybe I am an island of one on this... :shrug:

You are reading far more into this than is there. Perhaps it is because you do not know the people involved in this. The situation is resolved between the two entities.

[Danno]

You are reading far more into this than is there. Perhaps it is because you do not know the people involved in this. The situation is resolved between the two entities.

perhaps, but I have recently seen a fair amount of unethical spamming of forums that is passed off as ok once the spamming party apologizes. What makes it "ok" in my book is if the company never does it again, to anyone.

[frozenwater]

Wow. If I went off like this on every one that spammed our web site I would never get anything done. Hell we have our direct competition on here looking for ideas on how to make thier product better.

Live and let live. If you really don't like the spam, just delete it.

Oh - and I just looked out my window - it's fuggin nuking at JH right now.

[Mountain Junkie]

Oh - and I just looked out my window - it's fuggin nuking at JH right now.

You're itching my trigger finger, pal.

Looks like there's a ton of joeys there as well. The lift lines are huge (aren't web cams great). Expect that to clear out by the weekend?

[frozenwater]

it's christmas break man, there are ducks everywhere you go. For my money, I would wait till the holidays were over.

[Hugh Jass]

perhaps, but I have recently seen a fair amount of unethical spamming of forums that is passed off as ok once the spamming party apologizes. What makes it "ok" in my book is if the company never does it again, to anyone.

Calm down. This isn't ttips.

[Danno]

Calm down. This isn't ttips.

phew, thanks, I was really getting hysterical there for a moment!

[Hugh Jass]

phew, thanks, I was really getting hysterical there for a moment!

No problem. Glad you've calmed down, because I hear there's no arguing with a Boulderite.

[Schmear]

Not having seen the thread in question

FYI, this IS the thread in question.

[truth]

FYI, this IS the thread in question.

Which question?

[Danno]

FYI, this IS the thread in question.

actually, no, this wasn't the one I was referring to. Perhaps "thread" wasn't the correct word, maybe "post" would have been better, but I was referring to the original post that was the subject of this thread. I have since seen it (but am not going to post it here since the OP did not).