Community Feedback Requested Re: EuroConnex / Epoustouflant

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Let the man continue to GB on the forum.

Personally I already follow him on other social media sites and love seeing all the products he brings to the community.

Keeping this thread open for much longer just won’t be productive.


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[jet_dogg]

yea just let him be a business here, he wouldn't be here giving exposure to new products unless it came with his group buy so why treat him like an enthusiast?

Seems to me the line is attempting to be blurred. There's nothing wrong with running a business but let's face it, these are luxury mods for m3s, not a bluetooth adapter (for example) filling a much needed void bringing a chassis into modernity created by an enthusiast for enthusiasts. This is commercial posting under the guise of "helping people".

Those who are interested will simply continue to follow in the vendor forum, pretty straightforward.

[natty99]

IMO it’s absolutely against the spirit of GB not to post open pricing. There should be no reason to give up personal information just to see if you’re interested at the price point. It’s gotten to the point where I no longer even click the thread once I see who’s GB it is. Whether the product it amazing or not, I won’t be playing the data collection game.


This is coming from someone that ran a handful of GB’s on M3f.

100% my thoughts exactly

[Epoustouflant]

100% my thoughts exactly

I’ve explained why this is, and how it benefits the community.

Here is more detailed information.

The data I collect is like any other forum and online retailer, the difference is it’s done prior to pricing for very specific reasons laid out in the link above.

It’s a blanket policy to appeal to high visibility brands, and it’s been very helpful in my discussions with them. It is applied to all as I am carefully monitored by dealers of brands with MAP pricing for slip ups.

[Epoustouflant]

Seems to me the line is attempting to be blurred. There's nothing wrong with running a business but let's face it, these are luxury mods for m3s, not a bluetooth adapter (for example) filling a much needed void bringing a chassis into modernity created by an enthusiast for enthusiasts. This is commercial posting under the guise of "helping people".

Those who are interested will simply continue to follow in the vendor forum, pretty straightforward.

Group Buys are inherently successful by their mass appeal. Generating awareness towards BMW M owners that do not know EuroConnex exists helps this work.

There are 80,000 E46 M3 owners in the world, 650 are on EuroConnex.

Stashing them away into a low visibility vendor section is self defeating.

The current adaptation to rules, from my understanding, are that initial launches of Group Buys can be posted in the regular forum and it is then moved by the moderator team to the GB section after a few days to avoid clutter.

That’s perfectly reasonable to me.

[Obioban]

Group Buys are inherently successful by their mass appeal. Generating awareness towards BMW M owners that do not know EuroConnex exists helps this work.

There are 80,000 E46 M3 owners in the world, 650 are on EuroConnex.

Stashing them away into a low visibility vendor section is self defeating.

The current adaptation to rules, from my understanding, are that initial launches of Group Buys can be posted in the regular forum and it is then moved by the moderator team to the GB section after a few days to avoid clutter.

That’s perfectly reasonable to me.

All of this seems accurate to me.

I think having GBs in the main section for a few days then moving it to the GB section ensures visibility without cluttering the main discussion forum.

GBs live and die by the number of participants they get-- which means maximizing visibility is necessary.

Epoustouflant's group buys are group buys, therefore putting them in the vendor section (where what they're doing isn't group buys) is less accurate. If he ever sells something in an ongoing fashion, rather than through a group buy, agreed that belongs in the vendors section.

Epoustouflant's group buys do bring prices down and do bring new products to the chassis, both of which I see as the main benefits of group buys to members/chassis.

The only real sticking point I see is having to sign up off site to see pricing. I don't think it's reasonable to demand prices be posted in the group buy thread, as that would only serve to not allow group buys in violation of MAP-- which is most of them. But, I do think requiring that prices be disclosed via PM might be a reasonable compromise.

Epoustouflant has not ripped anyone off and seems to be making a genuine effort to provide good customer service, from what I've seen. I don't see any benefit to trying to curb what he's doing. He's also brought some new/interesting stuff to the chassis. That said, I do agree that 95% of his role on this forum is selling stuff-- so it might make sense to give him the vendor tag. This wouldn't require any change of action from him, just alert new members to his primary role here.

[jbfrancis3]

The only real sticking point I see is having to sign up off site to see pricing. I don't think it's reasonable to demand prices be posted in the group buy thread, as that would only serve to not allow group buys in violation of MAP-- which is most of them. But, I do think requiring that prices be disclosed via PM might be a reasonable compromise.

Epoustouflant has not ripped anyone off and seems to be making a genuine effort to provide good customer service, from what I've seen. I don't see any benefit to trying to curb what he's doing. He's also brought some new/interesting stuff to the chassis. That said, I do agree that 95% of his role on this forum is selling stuff-- so it might make sense to give him the vendor tag. This wouldn't require any change of action from him, just alert new members to his primary role here.

I think "require" is too strong a word. Require, or what? The "penalty" to not disclosing price via PM should be a lost group buy participant and nothing more, which is what happens currently. If you require as a condition of a group buy host/vendor existence, that's placing an undue burden on said party and overly-obtuse in my opinion. As I've said before, I feel the complaining and double standard by members here is not worth feeding oxygen to.

Seems appropriate to give a vendor tag. On this platform, it shouldn't make a bit of difference in practice.

[jbfrancis3]

What we should be discussing and reminding each other of is the fact that a "vendor" is still an individual and the same level of respect, courtesy and politeness should be brought to the table by all parties. Equally, the vendor should exhibit the same to members and endeavor to always be transparent and forthcoming. That's what matters at the end of the day and what I see as more of an issue than any of the labeling, product, pricing, etc discussions.

[Tbonem3]

Is there a strategy with listing a group buy for CSL trunks on IG, but not listing it here? As an enthusiast, this is the first place I think of to sell/buy something and share deals/info.

[jet_dogg]

Is there a strategy with listing a group buy for CSL trunks on IG, but not listing it here? As an enthusiast, this is the first place I think of to sell/buy something and share deals/info.

Just list it here, it'll benefit the community.

[oceansize]

Is there a strategy with listing a group buy for CSL trunks on IG, but not listing it here? As an enthusiast, this is the first place I think of to sell/buy something and share deals/info.

Is someone from the forum running that on IG? If so that is funny, or smart, avoid this crew here like the plague lol.

[Epoustouflant]

Is there a strategy with listing a group buy for CSL trunks on IG, but not listing it here? As an enthusiast, this is the first place I think of to sell/buy something and share deals/info.

There somewhat is - but to be perfectly honest […]

I’ve had a big week at work up to now and devoted most of my free time yesterday to formulating proper answers to valid feedback here along with handling the logistics of the M359 10/11s wheel GB.

[Epoustouflant]

Is someone from the forum running that on IG? If so that is funny, or smart, avoid this crew here like the plague lol.

It’s your guy ahah, right here!

It isn’t a GB, it’s a Quantity Limited Special I negotiated with Turner Motorsport on 20x trunks and installation kits that are in stock right now. No minimum threshold needed.

To your point, there is most likely a limited part of my reasoning that isn’t exactly thrilled by the feedback received here from the usual suspects - but I can cut through the noise and view there’s a majority support and constructive feedback from members that are genuine.

[oceansize]

CSL trunk comes into play everyone going to forget all about those privacy concerns



just kidding fellas.... have to have fun.

[Tbonem3]

Not at $3350