Community Buy

[haysie]

Bulk Buys must be authorised by Dane [Ahb Admin] - please email me to start a Bulk Buy.

Bulk Buys on AHB are currently under review. The Admins and Mods have been working overtime trying to keep this forum under control so harsh moderation will apply.

No Questions.

Post at your own risk.

If you want to organise bulk buys with more posting freedom please organise them somewhere else.


IMO, Closed shop mentality by the very people running the show.
In the past and in the present BB`S run well and in most occasions supporting AHB sponsors i.e take a look at the grain buys. Surely letting the community decide should take precendent over bad chinese hops or sponsor pressure . Afterall,
it was the community AND sponsors whom decided to purchase chinese hops in the most recent bungled bb that has most likely led to this hard assed approach.
They got it wrong! Move on and return the bulh buy threads to the forum board. Amen
spelling

 

[peas_and_corn]

From what I understand a lot of it has to do with preventing dodgy deals and also to stop people from blaming the forum when something goes wrong with a private buy. Also to prevent non-buy chatter in threads, making it hard for people to know what's happening (Chinese buy thread?? that was insanely stupid with the amount of OT stuff there)

 

[Wolfy]

For the Dry Yeast BB I'm just finishing, all I had to do was send Dane a message where I outlined the reason/product/process for the Bulk Buy and got approval to post it up the next day.
I'm not sure that it so much of a hard arsed approach as it is designed to protect the community from scams, fraud, controversy etc.
As long as 'legitimate' BB's are not banned, I don't see a problem with having to ask for approval - especially with some of the rigmarole that has happened recently.

 

[haysie]

Sure Wolfy, I hear what your saying, my argument is PUT THEM BACK ON THE FORUM BOARD. What scams? what fraud? FFS, there hasnt been any, unless you bought chinese hops. Serve yourself right.

P&C, isnt there hmmm non descript chatter in most forums. I think its a little over the top to ban off the main board.

 

[Polar Beer]

Sure Wolfy, I hear what your saying, my argument is PUT THEM BACK ON THE FORUM BOARD. What scams? what fraud? FFS, there hasnt been any, unless you bought chinese hops. Serve yourself right.

P&C, isnt there hmmm non descript chatter in most forums. I think its a little over the top to ban off the main board.

I've been busy for a while and haven't been on the forum a lot recently, but I was in the Chinese hops first round. Scam? Did I miss something.

 

[Polar Beer]

I've been busy for a while and haven't been on the forum a lot recently, but I was in the Chinese hops first round. Scam? Did I miss something.

Right O. Have done some reading. Think Im up to date now. Love that Simpsons monorail cartoon spoof.

IMO - Anyone who feels they have been scammed or anything close, is talking out of their airlock.
An incredible number of people clamoured to buy a mountain of very very cheap hops...from China(!)...based on nothing but one blokes review and willingness to organise the whole thing.
True, (IMO) the hops are lower quality then the stuff we're used to. Bad luck. That's the risk. Ever bought something from China?
True, (in most everyone's opinion) the offending BB organiser seems to be a massive ******. But if you are looking for a great customer experience, go to the site sponsors.

Is this restriction to stop scammers stinging AHB members, or to save AHB member from themselves?

I love BB's. I probably wouldnt have got so far into this hobby without them.
Why not set a $ cap for BB's? It's at least as arbitary as sending an email first. Plus it limits the impact of any BB gone wrong.

Polar

 

[komodo]

I'm happy with the current situation regarding Bulk Buys and I'm thankful that this forum still allows bulk buys - MANY forums have banned them because of the admin hassle the present to the forum admins when people get their knickers in a twist or when the originator does a runner.


Many forums have all their trading subforums set to require new threads to be approved by admin or moderators before they become visable.

I think having it set this way helps to elliminate many of the people likely to try get in for a quick scam and allows mods to ask some questions to determine if the bulk buy is legit etc.

 

[Polar Beer]

I'm happy with the current situation regarding Bulk Buys and I'm thankful that this forum still allows bulk buys - MANY forums have banned them because of the admin hassle the present to the forum admins when people get their knickers in a twist or when the originator does a runner.


Many forums have all their trading subforums set to require new threads to be approved by admin or moderators before they become visable.

I think having it set this way helps to elliminate many of the people likely to try get in for a quick scam and allows mods to ask some questions to determine if the bulk buy is legit etc.

They are all fair points. Perhaps the author of the great big bold red text at the top of this thread could be a little more articulate regarding what the mods are trying to achieve.

 

[mintsauce]

I think if you saw the (abusive) posts on the Chinese hop buy round 2 thread you would see the amount of effort required by the admins to keep it clean - it went way off the rails (I liked the simpsons thing too). I think this way is OK and I like the fact the bulk buys are allowed tho I've yet to be in one

I do think it all boils down to everyone is taking the risk - if you do not want to take the risk to save a few dollars then don't bother - no need to pick on the guy organizing it tho.

 

[Wolfy]

They are all fair points. Perhaps the author of the great big bold red text at the top of this thread could be a little more articulate regarding what the mods are trying to achieve.

Seems the big red text (that I conveniently ignore) has changed recently - very blunt and to the point now.

 

[haysie]

I think if you saw the (abusive) posts on the Chinese hop buy round 2 thread you would see the amount of effort required by the admins to keep it clean - it went way off the rails (I liked the simpsons thing too). I think this way is OK and I like the fact the bulk buys are allowed tho I've yet to be in one

I do think it all boils down to everyone is taking the risk - if you do not want to take the risk to save a few dollars then don't bother - no need to pick on the guy organizing it tho.

Geez, where do you start, BulkBuys are about saving ME money. Risk? what risk? For mine in a nutshell the chinese thing dealing with a man whom his latest post is that he will ressurect his business under another guile is selfish.

That man should have been moderated and not let the BB`S of AHB discontinued for one ********.

Return the bulk buy threads to the main board!

 

[bcp]

I do think it all boils down to everyone is taking the risk - if you do not want to take the risk to save a few dollars then don't bother - no need to pick on the guy organizing it tho.

Exactly!

My view is that the problems with that particular bulk buy were about personalities. It wasn't a bulk buy problem. It's just ...people. My organisation works with dysfunctional communities that make that look like a picnic.

Generally the mods give a fair amount of space before they act. I've found the moderation is good.

But I also support Haysie's main point - it's nice to know the buy is going on. It creates a sense of community. I was part of the melbourne bulk buy. I met some of the people on the forum, and if anything it has strengthened my allegiance to G&G who participated.

 

[peas_and_corn]

Geez, where do you start, BulkBuys are about saving ME money. Risk? what risk? For mine in a nutshell the chinese thing dealing with a man whom his latest post is that he will ressurect his business under another guile is selfish.

That man should have been moderated and not let the BB`S of AHB discontinued for one ********.

Return the bulk buy threads to the main board!

...bulk buys haven't been stopped.

 

[leiothrix]

@haysie - The bulk buy forum is still there, and on the main page. I'm guessing it's missing for you (and possibly a bunch of other people too). It was missing for me for a few months and I thought they had been cancelled due to the chinese hop fallout too.

As it turned out that was not the case and there was an issue somewhere else along the line. I PM'ed an admin (Dane specifically) and it got fixed.

Rob.

 

[haysie]

@haysie - The bulk buy forum is still there, and on the main page. I'm guessing it's missing for you (and possibly a bunch of other people too). It was missing for me for a few months and I thought they had been cancelled due to the chinese hop fallout too.

As it turned out that was not the case and there was an issue somewhere else along the line. I PM'ed an admin (Dane specifically) and it got fixed.

Rob.

Hi Rob, missing as in the main board? I do not get BB`S anymore on the main board! Browser thingyo?

P&C, well aware of what you pointed out thanks. My browsing AHB 99% of the time doesnt involve checking the forum boards out, unless I may have some interest because I read it on the MAIN board. BB`S are all legal and well why are they not on the main board and hidden out the back with "off topics"?

 

[bum]

I think if you saw the (abusive) posts on the Chinese hop buy round 2 thread you would see the amount of effort required by the admins to keep it clean - it went way off the rails (I liked the simpsons thing too). I think this way is OK and I like the fact the bulk buys are allowed tho I've yet to be in one

I wasn't involved in the buy (had expressed an interest in the second buy before the quality was known and the 'ugliness' occured, though) but I'd like to point out that the vast majority of the truly awful stuff was posted in the satellite threads that were not in the BB forum. Yeah the official BB thread was more unruly than usual (easily the most unruly I've come across in my reading thus far) so there is something of a point there I suppose. If there hadn't been some, quite frankly, heavy-handed moderation we'd all be able to verify this now.

What I don't think anyone wants to remember is that the buy itself actually went without a hitch (excluding the thing around Chappo - which should never have happened). Surely the biggest buy ever and until the hops hit kettles it ran like clockwork with the vast majority of buyers still happy and optimistic (ignoring shipping delays from wholesaler).

I remember early on (before the buy was official) I was regularly being shouted down for getting up GLS for being a cock and now I'm defending him. Funny old world, innit?

He's still a cock but.

And a cock-butt.

 

[leiothrix]

On the main forum index it should appear under the "Retail Shop" forum in the "Tools of the trade" box. New posts don't appear in the "all latest threads" box on the top right of the screen, but they DO appear if you click "View new posts".

HTH,
Rob.


Edit: It wasn't a problem with my browser (using firefox 3.6). After Dane fixed it all up the BB forum reappeared all by itself. I didn't have to clear cookies/cache, or log off and on.

 

[roller997]

Hi Rob, missing as in the main board? I do not get BB`S anymore on the main board! Browser thingyo?

P&C, well aware of what you pointed out thanks. My browsing AHB 99% of the time doesnt involve checking the forum boards out, unless I may have some interest because I read it on the MAIN board. BB`S are all legal and well why are they not on the main board and hidden out the back with "off topics"?

Haysie,
One way I find very useful was to subscribe to the forum, so any time a new bulk buy is posted, I get an email with a link. Resolves the whole issue where in the site it is and gives me an excuse to jump on the site more often to look at my subscribed topics / forums.

Overall, I would have assumed all AHB participants would be aware that bulk buys are "Buyer beware" and since AHB is not getting any financial rewards (unlike BB participants), the risk is something AHB or its moderators should not be held responsible for.

Setting guidelines on what is acceptable for bulk buys would be good, however I suspect that it is more down to who is organizing the bulk buy, what is know about the product quality and finally what motiv the individual has in organizing the BB.

Having been involved in a few BB's so far, I have been more than happy and thankful on how they were organized.
I didn't get into the Chinese hop buy directly but then it was a high risk BB - Much bigger savings with a greater risk of "sub-optimal" quality hops. Unfortunately unlike most other BB's this one resulted in the quality being at the lower end of sub-optimal.

Most BB's which deal with known quality item (German, British and Aussie malt, Monster Mill or Crankenstein mills, Perlicks taps, Stirplates.com etc) provide good savings while there is very low risk of sub optimal quality. These tend to be the types of BB's that have many happy participants and I intend to stick with these as a low risk option.

I am not sure if this is feasible without people abusing it, however would it perhaps be an option to set some guidelines on what BB can proceed without involving Dane?


Cheers

Roller

 

[benno1973]

What I don't think anyone wants to remember is that the buy itself actually went without a hitch (excluding the thing around Chappo - which should never have happened). Surely the biggest buy ever and until the hops hit kettles it ran like clockwork with the vast majority of buyers still happy and optimistic (ignoring shipping delays from wholesaler).

Absolutely. I was involved with the buy, and posted my reviews of the hops. I don't think anyone complained how the bulk buy ran - it was all executed very smoothly, and most of that was down to GLS. The hops weren't great, but that didn't mean that the buy wasn't done well. I'm all for returning the bulk buys to the 'Latest Threads' pane.

 

[Back Yard Brewer]

From what I understand a lot of it has to do with preventing dodgy deals and also to stop people from blaming the forum when something goes wrong with a private buy. Also to prevent non-buy chatter in threads, making it hard for people to know what's happening (Chinese buy thread?? that was insanely stupid with the amount of OT stuff there)

Dodgy deals can happen in other threads that are on the main board, like when someone may have some brewing gear for sale. I am sure that if brewers do their own homework there is less of a risk of being ripped. Would you trust someone who just pops up and a few weeks later they are trying to "sell" something. Location of the brewer, and a few pms to others for reference should be enough. Then if you still get ripped........... you have learnt something. **** I have bought my fair share of gear on here with no problems and have even met a heap of good and bad brewers as well.

Absolutely. I was involved with the buy, and posted my reviews of the hops. I don't think anyone complained how the bulk buy ran - it was all executed very smoothly, and most of that was down to GLS. The hops weren't great, but that didn't mean that the buy wasn't done well. I'm all for returning the bulk buys to the 'Latest Threads' pane.

Yes, the hop buy did run well and brewers were made well aware of what they were getting into. In the end it was really just plain arrogance from the organiser that became his undoing.
So PLEASE can the bulk buy thread return to the latest threads.

BYB