Personally i will make sure before buying from any VENDORS on this froum that they are not set up out of there house or buddies garage. In the pass i have been a little lenient and given guys a chance but with all the B******T and people losing money from now on if i can't call you or swing by your place of business find your # in the yellow pages.YOU WILL NOT GET MY MONEY. I think if more of do this we can weed out the TRASH

 

I've got a ton of papers; business license, insurance, sales and use tax certificate, LLC, DBA, a web site, yadda yadda yadda. I work from my home. It has an address and a phone number. I'm not listed in the yellow pages though. If you're ever down this way stop in for a chat and a cup of coffee. Call first though, my security is pretty tight. I have yet to cheat or steal from anyone.

Bernie Madoff had much more paperwork to make him "legit" than I do. Ditto Tyco. So did WorldCom. Probably Enron too. I could go on...

All big companies aren't solid and honest. All small guys aren't scammers. I'm sorry you got burned. It's happened to many of us including me. It's nobody's fault except the guy who cheated you. Not IB. Not the staff. Not small mom and pop vendors. Just one dishonest business or person. Sure it sucks but don't blame the whole world.

Part of the problem is this thread. You posted your rant in the lounge and put a bad name to "Lame a$$ vendors" when in reality it's only one vendor. You're indicting a whole class of small businesses when in reality only one person or business did you wrong. There's a forum strictly dedicated to situations exactly like this to warn others and tell of your experience with a vendor but you chose to vent here instead. Again, I'm really sorry you had a problem and if you'd asked me, I'd have been glad to do anything I could, even if it's not much, to help you.

 

I did not say that all small businesses were bad nor that all big businesses were good. But that i belive its easier to track someone down when you have all the info. I did not get bruned yet but know that many people have. I dealt with you and it was fine but you had been on here a while and no one had anything bad to say about you . So like i said from now on i will only buy from VENDORS that i can trace. I guess you took this personally hence the security and call a head remark which i don't appreciate.I wish it was only one guy but there have been many crooks on these froums.

 

I just thought your view or perhaps the way you stated it was harsh and unfair to small one man shops like me and some others. But it's your money to spend and your opinion that you are entitled to. I meant absolutely no offense, I'm sorry you took it that way. I don't understand why it ruffled your feathers but since it did accept my apology. I was serious. About having good security and about calling ahead. It's kind of rude to drop in on someone's home unexpectedly, which is different than a shop or storefront. I was also serious about welcoming you and having a cup of coffee too. Just call first.

I guess I must have also misunderstood what your beef is. I thought your problem is that you were cheated out of money by a vendor? You weren't burned? Help me to understand please.

 

I could be wrong but having met Team Punisher before, I think he's just voicing his concern and frustration on the lack of requirements placed on the forum vendors. It's understood that it's not the admins' fault. The blame should be placed on the scamming vendors (however big the operation) but I'm sure everyone wishes there was more regulations put in placed so the vendors can be held responsible when something going wrong. A lot of us are also not as resourceful as Team Punisher, so he's writing for the other members too.

 

So exactly how should vendors be vetted? None of them are scammers until they scam someone. What happens when they pass muster and then still cheat someone? I have yet to go to any forum, IB owned or otherwise, where no member has ever felt that they've been burned by a vendor somehow. What's the answer to the problem? Because I've been beaten out of money before myself and it doesn't feel good. There's former vendors of this forum who have cheated numerous members and yet right now others still sing their praises and recommend them because they didn't get cheated personally. Anybody have a reasonable, workable solution? Post it or PM or email me if you like. I'd really live to hear it. Seriously.

 

I think the big issue is that IB does ZERO due dilligence on their vendors. If you're willing to cough up the dough, you get your name in green.

If IB did even a minimal amount, or required even the basics, a lot of issues would be gone.

Yes, it is not difficult at all to become a business, and does not cost much, but many people will not go through even that minimal effort.

 

Mike hit the nail on the head (as Team Punisher was venting about exactly what Mike just said, I think Mike just made it a bit shorter)

 

I think from IB's perspective:

IB is a business, vendors are their source of income. Ratio of people getting scammed vs everyone else is relatively low, that you hear about at least. It happens and is not uncommon, so now it's kind of accepted as part of "not doing the research before buying" on the buyer's part. Thus dedicating any IB man power or resources for any vendor regulation would probably be a lost cost and waste of time/money.

Don't think IB is wrong for doing that. Of course there's more that can be done, but there's always more that can be done.

Lack of vendor regulation is not going to cause another financial crisis. There also isn't an agency that can impose rules in IB, we're all willing participants in IB's domain, and that's as high as it goes.
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IB will maximize their profits at all costs, whether it is ads, vendor fees, etc.

Clearly, they are not a customer service oriented operation.

Even the staff at each forum is consisting of volunteers

 

Haven't you seen all the ADs on this site, top, bottom etc..

IB is a profit making organization, members will always come second (unfortunately)

 

yes that is the issue. |If you search you will find other VQ sites that actually look after their members and hold vendors accountable

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So nobody has a workable solution or suggestion as to how to best accomplish this screening or how to "hold vendors accountable"? What does "due diligence" entail? Lots of complaints, but it would be nice to hear some real solutions that could be implemented.

 

What about a rating system for Vendors. Say on a scale of 1-5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest rated and 1 being the lowest rated. The scale could be based on Overall satisfaction. I personally know several vendors that I would give 5 stars to and also one in particular that I would give 1 star to. There really should be a way that people can show their appreciation for excellent quality and service at the same time there should be a way to show others that some vendors have subpar performance.

 

Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that the complaints are that IB who owns the forum isn't properly screening the vendors before they're allowed to sell here. They're being held at fault for allowing them to even be here doing business in the first place before properly checking them out. It's not a bad idea, but I'd like solutions to come from those that have the problem.

Members have the option to use the iTrader system to rate any transaction, vendor or private sale, and also to make specific comments but few people even make use of it. There's an entire subforum in the vendor forum for any member to post regarding their good or bad vendor experiences as well where post about the whole experience in their own words. Some people have made use of it so far. But what I want to know is what specifically would those who have a problem with lack of vendor screening suggest be done to make it to their satisfaction? How should vendors be screened before being allowed to sell to members? What's the criteria?