Advertising on header

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:34 am

Very suprised to see FJ's logo on the header throughout this site. I thought that the MMOC were not allowing advertising on here and were not supposed to show preferential treatment for a specific trader.
Maybe £20 odd K in sweeteners has changed the rules ???.
Wonder if this means we can all advertise now, must send an email and see what this is all about.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:21 am

I see no reason to worry - as long as it IS a 'paid-for' advert. I think in the past the complaints were about Ads at the sides of the page - making it difficult to read ?
If it helps to offset the 'expenses'..........

Post by **carlosramalho** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:53 am

Or maybe they get this as a sponcer to buy the Morris Million, who knows??

Cheers
Carlos

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:53 am

If its allowable though BM, then maybe it might have been in principal prudent to offer the facility to the rest of the trade. Level playing field, and all that. Paid for or not, rules is rules.

Post by **billlobban** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:37 am

Quite agree. Valuable piece of advertising space that! So hope we got a good deal.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:41 pm

Totally agree with advertising on the site in general

The politics of "we cant show preference to anyone" is ridiculous if it is paid advertising.

Its mutually beneficial - the clubs gets a little earner, and the advertisers get to advertise!

Post by **simmitc** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:56 pm

T&Cs state:

No advertising unless in For Sale / Wanted section

No traders please

I thought that it was clear enough. One of the great things about this site is (or at least was!) the total absence of advertising.

Whilst I can appreciate that the club might be getting funding (and everyone has been very vocal about needing to balance the books) it is, IMHO a very sad day.

Post by **Stig** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:23 pm

If you use Firefox you can Adblock it.

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:27 pm

Good move, but a principal and rule is being overlooked by most replies on this topic, regardless of the income to the MMOC.

Post by **billlobban** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:31 pm

Then maybe its time we changed the rule. I dont find the inclusion of an advert in the header a problem. In fact until the post I never noticed it. But I completely agree that it must be a level playing field. How about sponsering 'Technical' Jonathon?

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:56 pm

I have actually stated in previous discussions regarding advertising that I would like to see a traders page which could contain advertising, special offers, and also allow each trader a short paragraph where they can describe their company and products. Links from questions on the forum could be made which take enquieries about say 'disc brakes' directly to a trade page relevant to the topic.
I'd rather see the messageboard free of advertising and only the traders page to carry ads.
My concern is about the breaching of the clubs own T and C's, as described by Simmite, and the lack of any communication should the MMOC have decided to change the rules. I wonder how the other insurance companies who advertise in the mag feel about FJ's prominance on this website.
I have just filed a formal complaint to the MMOC and asked for an explanation as to how and why this breach has occured.
As I say I'm in favour of advertising, but lets make it fair.

Post by **Jonah681** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:29 pm

With an ever diminishing number of Minors around, perhaps we should help the remaining specialist traders to help us.

Could we not expand the 'links' page to incorporate traders' adverts as well as links to their sites? At the moment the links page does look at little boring.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:00 pm

Good move, but a principal and rule is being overlooked by most replies on this topic

Trader advertising has never (ever) been banned from the club website. Links to trader sites etc.. are a normal part of the club website - I'd guess some were pruned away when the website was reconfigured back into a workable state, but there's never been a big resistance to links etc... I've not looked recently but they certainly used to be some.

I think the confusion arises from the rules about messageboard post content - Advertising is merely banned from the public forum, and not from the website (including website headers etc...), and as the rules are not broken, change is not needed.

From what little I know, part of the rules for the club insurance scheme are reciprocal, including mention of FJ via club literature (probably including the website).
As regards trader advertising via the club site - I don't have a big problem with that personally, but anyone with google can find plenty of traders online, so the benefit to the membership is rather limited.
All club members get the magazine, so traders have a 'direct line' to members if they choose to advertise.

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:31 pm

Ray, I didn't mention links to traders during posts, this is perfectly normal and within the rules of the messageboard.
I am certainly not confused , (thankyou Ray ) my point was in connection with the blatant advertising of FJ's throughout the site. This facility is as far as I know not available to any other trader and we have not received notice that the rules re header advertising have changed. It could be seen as preferential treatment.
If an advert is on the header of 'the public forum' then it is breaking the rule and should be removed.
Would be interested to prove your point about 'reciprocal' agreements and how they are structured.
A well thought out trader section with appropriate links for FAQ's would be a gret benefit to all members joining the forum or simply visiting. We do have over 5,800 members of this forum but only about 50 who are active.
I still maintain that a principal and rule are being broken. We'll see what reply I receive from the MMOC, which I will post on here as soon as it arrives.

Post by **d_harris** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:53 pm

I'm sorry, but that header is simply vile! I really dont want to be staring at ads when I'm on here - and I can't install firefox on work PC's.

Have to agree with Jonno, I don't think its a level playing field - to a moggy specialist that has to be a prime advertising space and for it to just 'arrive' smacks of things being slid under the door.

Post by **sgray** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:07 pm

I don't like it and I don't like the fact that it's bigger than the MMOC logo. I would have liked to see a discussion first, along the lines of "if we place an advert in the header, the club will be able to afford..."
I think it should be removed or replaced with a rolling or random banner that all traders have access to - but preferably removed.
I don't use Footman James, but the implication is that they are recommended by the owners club - is this the case?

I think this is more serious than some realise. What next, a splash ad as you log in - ads down the sidebar? Did anyone see the vote at committee on this - presumably it's minuted somewhere?

Post by **mike.perry** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:14 pm

I would expect to see advertising from th RAC and The Travel Market or any other organisation with which the club has a scheme.
I think that there is plenty of FJ advertising in the magazine or perhaps I am ODing on FJ as my insurance is being renewed

Post by **LouiseM** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:17 pm

I don't use Footman James, but the implication is that they are recommended by the owners club - is this the case?

They offer a discounted insurance scheme for Club members (not just car insurance), which has been negotiated by the Club as a benefit for members. If you click on the link you'll see full details.

I would expect to see advertising from the RAC and The Travel Market or any other organisation with which the club has a scheme.

I didn't think that the Club had an RAC discount scheme any more?

Post by **sgray** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:27 pm

LouiseM wrote: If you click on the link you'll see full details.

I did that, but on the first page of the quick quote it specifies that "The vehicle is not a van, pickup, motorhome or any other commercial vehicle"

Ho hum - I think they were more expensive when I got Trev anyway, even with the discount.

but there are other things I do need - a discount on Swafega and plasters?

Simon

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:31 pm

They offer a discounted insurance scheme for Club members (not just car insurance), which has been negotiated by the Club as a benefit for members. If you click on the link you'll see full details.

I wonder how many folk on here are insured by FJ, must be a huge number for the £20K plus sweetener to be worth their while.