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I took a look today at the 3 Rail Scale forum, (been a while) to see what was new and what type of modeling was going on.  Usually lots of good stuff.  There were maybe two threads related to the forum subject, and 22-24 advertisements.  So I bailed (probably the opposite of what the vendors want or anticipate) as there was plainly nothing going on, much to my disappointment.  I wonder if other modelers have the same reaction?  I  would like to make a suggestion.   I think these vendors would get more traction on the 3 rail forum, as the number of participants is far greater.  But if their stategy is to have their commercial linger longer on a less popular forum it may have the opposite effect?  Can or should there be  limited number of these advertisements?  In the not so distant past I have told some folks about the 3 Rail Scale forum and the feedback I got was it was just a bunch of advertisements.  I was puzzled but now I understand.

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Vendors are the sponsors of this forum, they pay to keep the lights on, ……limit them, and they’ll limit the money they spend TO keep the lights on, …..it can’t be that hard to scroll past the advertising if it doesn’t interest you, ……I have no issues with any sponsor putting their ads wherever they see fit, …..topics like this sprout up from time to time, and the main reply is always the same,…..break out your wallet and pay the light bill and you can move the sponsors around as you see fit,…..not trying to be rude, but without sponsors, and advertising from those sponsors, there is no forum, ….irregardless of where you think they should or shouldn’t peddle their wares,…..

Pat

@harmonyards, I thought the same, but then I went and took a look. Three posts from members, and twenty-two from vendors on the 1st page of that subforum. One vendor has eight posts for individual products on page 1, and another has eleven posts. Page 2 is better, only nineteen vendor posts to six member posts.

In the end, I tend to just scroll the "Recent Posts" on the right-hand side, but I definitely see the OP's point. In this case, that forum doesn't just host vendor posts, it's been taken over by them.

@Andrew B. posted:

@harmonyards, I thought the same, but then I went and took a look. Three posts from members, and twenty-two from vendors on the 1st page of that subforum. One vendor has eight posts for individual products on page 1, and another has eleven posts. Page 2 is better, only nineteen vendor posts to six member posts.

In the end, I tend to just scroll the "Recent Posts" on the right-hand side, but I definitely see the OP's point. In this case, that forum doesn't just host vendor posts, it's been taken over by them.

Not only that, but much of the "announcements" are for Rail King items, which are certainly NOT 3RS related.

@Andrew B. posted:

@harmonyards, I thought the same, but then I went and took a look. Three posts from members, and twenty-two from vendors on the 1st page of that subforum. One vendor has eight posts for individual products on page 1, and another has eleven posts. Page 2 is better, only nineteen vendor posts to six member posts.

In the end, I tend to just scroll the "Recent Posts" on the right-hand side, but I definitely see the OP's point. In this case, that forum doesn't just host vendor posts, it's been taken over by them.

Y’all can’t help that 3RS isn’t as popular as “traditional “ ….it’s an acquired taste that’s on the verge of 2RS …..but with that being said, and again, start dictating where sponsors can & can not post their ads, and you’ll have vendors dropping out,….I don’t need to tell you the outcome of that??….I doubt any of the powers to be tell the vendors where to place their ads, they choose that for themselves, ….if they feel that’s where they want to be, then so be it, …..sorry to beat the same drum, but break out your wallet too, and then have it your way,…..you guys need to look at it from the sponsors point of view, ( which you’re not ) …….if I was a vendor, and a sponsor, and you don’t want to see my ads, and you want me to move them,..how about I get off here all together??….oh and BTW, I’ll cut off the lights on my way out for ya!….think about it!!!…

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Y’all can’t help that 3RS isn’t as popular as “traditional “ ….it’s an acquired taste that’s on the verge of 2RS …..but with that being said, and again, start dictating where sponsors can & can not post their ads, and you’ll have vendors dropping out,….I don’t need to tell you the outcome of that??….I doubt any of the powers to be tell the vendors where to place their ads, they choose that for themselves, ….if they feel that’s where they want to be, then so be it, …..sorry to beat the same drum, but break out your wallet too, and then have it your way,…..you guys need to look at it from the sponsors point of view, ( which you’re not ) …….if I was a vendor, and a sponsor, and you don’t want to see my ads, and you want me to move them,..how about I get off here all together??….oh and BTW, I’ll cut off the lights on my way out for ya!….think about it!!!…

Pat

Not sure why you're lumping me in and quoting me specifically- I was of the same opinion as you until I actually took a look, and made it clear that I agreed until I scrolled to that subforum.

Sponsors have that right, sure. But, if I were looking to learn more on that forum or browse it, I'd leave it without clicking any of their advertising posts, and I wouldn't find my way back. Right now, it's like turning on a TV show and getting 26 minutes of commercials and 4 minutes of programming.

I don't see an issue with vendors posting. Name recognition is important and it's a chance to show their product. As long as what they post is a 3-rail scale item otherwise no. It does sound like a lack of contribution from the modelers may not be helping. Just my opinion I'm a regular 3 rail guy but do look at the great work shown here.

@Andrew B. posted:

Not sure why you're lumping me in and quoting me specifically- I was of the same opinion as you until I actually took a look, and made it clear that I agreed until I scrolled to that subforum.

Sponsors have that right, sure. But, if I were looking to learn more on that forum or browse it, I'd leave it without clicking any of their advertising posts, and I wouldn't find my way back. Right now, it's like turning on a TV show and getting 26 minutes of commercials and 4 minutes of programming.

Andrew, if you’re agreeing with the OP, all I can say is: careful what you wish for!…IF you’re agreeing with the initial post, you’re heading down a rabbit hole that can & will cave in on you guys…..it’s simple math man, …..no sponsors, no forum, limit one, you have to limit all, keep one guy out, the others will think twice before spending their money ……

Pat

I know in my case I don't post in the 3RS Forum because some participants bash Hi-Railers.

It could be that advertisers are just trying to make all forum members aware of new offerings.  There are many RailKing items that are scale and could be modified and used by a 3RS modeler.

If the 3RS forum was Hi-Rail friendly there would be much more content to view there.  Just my opinion...

I've had a few posts in the 3 rail scale forum about detailing scale sized equipment or scratchbuilding scale sized equipment. No Kadees, all lobster claws, and no one has given me flack for it yet. If the post is cross functional (its principals can be applied to Hi-Rail and 3RS) it seems to go over well now. As Bob said, it may not have always been that way here.

~Chris

@MichRR714 posted:

I know in my case I don't post in the 3RS Forum because some participants bash Hi-Railers.

It could be that advertisers are just trying to make all forum members aware of new offerings.  There are many RailKing items that are scale and could be modified and used by a 3RS modeler.

If the 3RS forum was Hi-Rail friendly there would be much more content to view there.  Just my opinion...

3RS is a different animal, …….I build almost exclusively scale locomotives, but most still use the crab claw coupler, ….I use that as the line in the sand, …..I’ve asked on that forum where the line was, and that was the popular consensus, …(not by my choice) …..as example, ….I built two identical scale Hudsons, ….one had coil couplers, the other Kadees, …..both were slightly weathered, both had lots of added details, …the Kadee equipped model went to 3RS, the other to traditional,…..if you use that as your guide, where to post will become a lot easier to decide,……

Pat

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