sure you can go to the sponsor page and get some insight about them but it would be nice to hear from them.
they could post about their specials or sales theyre having?
just a dumb thought!
Normand - Nothing dumb about that idea at all! Some of our sponsors do post here. Just a brief list off the top of my head:
Mustad - Jeff Pierce
Fly Reel Dots - Jerry Brumfield
BT’s Flyfishing Products - Al Beatty
Hook & Hackle - Ron
Conranch Hackle - Denny Conrad
Heck, Denny is even a moderator here! I’ve personally met three of these guys, and they’re all flyfishing addicts - just like us. They’re all FAR more interested in helping people out than pushing their products. You’d be surprised at who looks at this site, like what they see, and are content to let us do their advertising for them. Word of mouth by the consumer is a powerful tool…
I especially like it when Ron (H&H) gives us a special FAOL members only discount! (Hint hint, Ron)
My thought is it’s BEST for sponsors not to interact with BBs and become “friends”. Business is business and making “friends” is generally NOT a good policy. I can’t put my finger on exactly WHAT issues would arise but I have this strong sense that it’s best for business owners to stay behind the scenes.
I’m sorry my answer is so vague but …
Mark
PS: It’s a bit like having an AMWAY person for a friend…and being “caught” by her/him (of you) buying laundry detergent in a Wal-Mart AND this just came to me… Friendship creates " expectations" perceived or otherwise by both parties and that 'something I would prefer to avoid.
Sage rods posts here too
Marco, My friend think about what you just wrote. How many to your enemies do you do business with. It is true doing business with a friend can put a strain on the friendship when the rod breaks or the drag on the reel locks up but you have to understand the terms of a deal but I trust a friend to explain the rod did not have a lifetime warranty, etc. and to be a true friend even if I go else where to buy an item.
Jesse,
“Enemies” is not the only alternative to “friends”. And your broken rod scenario is one of the reasons I would “prefer” to hold to my statement. It’s not easily explained nor is it cast in stone , it’s just a preference. And , as for " and to be a true friend even if I go elsewhere to buy an item", I picture THAT as ONLY my MOTHER :).
Mark
Interesting idea.
I don’t think the business owners would want to become our best friends, but a “Sponsors” forum section where they could post news updates, specials, info about new products, etc. may be a good idea to both get them engaged with the FAOL community and a way to get a little more return on their advertising investment.
For example, the sponsor link that is showing at the top of this page is from Chota (changes with screen refresh I believe). I know Chota has some new boots on the market this year. I would imagine if they had a place to post links to their new products it would be a good thing for us and for our sponsors.
Just a thought.
Jeff
Too easy to “offend” someone.
under what user name??
There is only one thing I would like to say, Thank God for the sponsors or we wouldn’t have a FAOL/BB 
Generally speaking, I’d be inclined to follow Marco’s assertion. If it’s a snap shot of bulletin board fly anglers you want, then there is the, " why taint the outcome of your own research ? " thing.
Sometimes it just makes more sense to find out which way the crowd is headed, before stepping out in front of them and hollering, follow me !
Best, Dave
We need to define the term ‘friend’ better. If you mean that they will become your friend just because of what they may or may not post here, then your definition of a friend does not meet the critieria that I’d normally use to define the term. You can have many conversations with someone online or over the phone, enjoy the exchanges, even look forward to them, but that’s not really friendship. I think friendships can start that way, but it requires something a bit more than that to consumate the concept for me.
That being said, knowing something about the person through their posts here would seem to me to be a good thing. Not just for the business, but for the consumers as well. I’ve always appreciated the input from business owners and representatives either explaining something about their products or even, on some occassions, defending them from abuse.
In my own business, I find that developing a cordial relationship with my customers is not only nice ,it’s imperative to success. After many years of dealing with a customer, some do become friends. Then they are no longer customers, but friends. (Friends don’t pay, so any of those business related problems don’t come up). Relationships change. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Buddy
“but a “Sponsors” forum section where they could post news updates, specials, info about new products, etc. may be a good idea to both get them engaged with the FAOL community and a way to get a little more return on their advertising investment.”
[COLOR=black]I think this idea may be worth looking into. It may also generate more sponsors since it does give them more exposure and brings them to the front of things. Knowing that some of our sponsors are wholesalers only, it would probably work out better if the forum was set up for them to use to advertise their specials, updates and info about what is new. I do not think this forum should give the membership the power to respond to the sponsor’s thread because this could create problems between those that can sell their products retail those that only sell wholesale. It could be just a forum for the “paying sponsors” that keep FAOL up and running and that way it would give the sponsors the feeling that they are not just supporting FAOL but are also paying FAOL for their ad (like in a newspaper). Allowing members to respond to their ads would generate problems. I know we already have a sponsor’s page, but, this would bring them to the Bulletin Board where most members visit and you would have access to what is avaliable easier and be more aware of the “whats new” items.[/COLOR]
I just think this idea should be tossed around a little. I just feel it may generate more sponsors, but, I could be wrong…
I was considering posting a suggestion that a section of the forum be created for paying sponser subject to limitations. However Warren P. beat me to it and stated it much better than I could have.
Tim
Warren
I see that all that cold weather that you are having has not froze your mind…I think that your idea has some merit.
Brad
Warren,
Very nice and well thought build on the original idea. I like it. I agree, allowing people to respond to posts could end up in some kind of flame war about “Product X is far better than Product Y” and even some gamesmanship between competitors sayimg “My service is better than your service blah blah blah”. But a place where they can post about upcoming specials, new services, new products, product specs, reviews of their products, links to such on their corporate websties,etc. really sounds like something FAOL could look into.
It may bring new sponsors, and it would most likely help retain existing sponsors.
On the Internet, the more times your name shows up and the more websites that link to your website, the higher placement one gets in search results. It helps FAOL but most of all, it would help our sponsors and bring their sponsorship to life among the FAOL community.
I’m not sure the technical difficulties in this idea, but if the moderators are reading, it is something to ponder for sure.
Jeff
Re: “but a “Sponsors” forum section where they could post news updates, specials, info about new products, etc. may be a good idea to both get them engaged with the FAOL community and a way to get a little more return on their advertising investment.”
That’s one heck of an idea, I’m surprised someone hasn’t thought of that already. http://flyanglersonline.com/about/mustad/
Best, Dave
I stand corrected, and I agree, there is no one I consider a personal enemy. There are a very few people I really don’t like. I would not do them harm for the enjoment of seeingthem suffer, although I might contemplate it. I do prefer to do business with people I like and learn to trust. There are a few people I like but do not trust and would not do business with unless I controlled all factors…
Dave,
I detect a note of sarcasim in your post. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. It’s been a long day and I have a really nasty cold so medications could be clouding my thinking (OK< medications are clouding my thinking).
The link you posted looked more like a fly of the month type of thing. I’m not even sure how to get to that page from the home page of the site.
The sponsors page is essentially electronc business cards which is quite useful but may not offer the competitive value sponsors would seek in today’s internet market.
Anyway, if I misread your post, sorry.
Time to go take some more medications and get back to sleep.
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
It’s not sarcasms, it’s an observation. Over eleven hundred posts to this site and your not sure how to navigate to the sponsors link page? That is probably more telling to the sponsors than anything else written here.
Folks come here and post, but how many take the ride out to a sponsors site during each visit. Most all of the sponsors have some sort of promo or newsletter about new products, updates, etc. on their site and we’re being asked to follow those links out. That’s where the content you wish to find, is.
Many sponsors advertise on multiple boards, it simply makes more sense to centralize their product updates, promos, what have you, in one location. That location is more often than not, their website.
It’s not a problem of them not coming here, it’s a problem with you, me and everyone else not linking out from here, often enough.
Then there’s the little matter of time, whose got enough of it now days? If these guys and gals have a going concern, they’re taking orders, building gear, stocking shelves, ordering inventory and shipping orders.
Best, Dave