Allow vouches in vouch threads only

I'm expecting this suggestion to be insanely shut down by especially the users who participate in such activities, but atleast now they know there's a solution to it.

The problem being: Users constantly reporting each other for vouches being posted in the wrong threads. When user A is selling gold; he's referring the buyer to his buying thread and the other way around. This can easily be resolved by having people vouch in their actual vouch threads, which is actually what the section is made for. This has both upsides and downsides of course.

Upsides:
- No more reports from people vouching in the wrong threads (and if so, easily handled)
- Trusted users who are doing very well are no longer always on top in the section. (gives the average user more chance to do business)

Downsides:
- Trusted users who are doing very well are no longer always on top in the section. (gives the average user more chance to do business)
- A change, we all hate changes.

Just so you know, I did look up the search index to check if this was ever suggested and I couldn't find it very quickly, neither could I find anything about it in the Do-Not-Suggest thread.

 

I really don't support this as the actions of a couple users shouldn't prohibit everyone else. I think just reporting the post will take care of the issue and we can always PM people if we think they are doing it purposely. Average user has to differentiate themselves to get on top (purpose of the free market).

Edit: RIP, I thought this was the SL.

 

On the fence with this one as I can see how users with more traffic can take advantage of this in order to always be at the top of said section.

At the same time, I agree with what HHN said. If it's abused, we can step in. (but what constitutes the user abusing it?)

 

Personally I think a vouch for a user selling gold in the company's thread in the selling gold section (vouching on the wrong thread) is a bit ridiculous. It's overly nitpicky and I still have yet heard a reasonable explanation. A vouch is a vouch: the company is dealing in gold purchases and sales, why not let them direct vouches to their selling threads to get more sales. It's a smart business tactic and inhibiting them to make it "more fair" is unreasonable. They are big because they put the time and effort to get there, we shouldn't punish them for being big. By not letting them be savvy, it's actually unfair to them. Let everyone use their own marketing tactics as that's fair to everyone. If smaller sites are upset, well they need to put the time and effort in to build up traffic and sales so that they become more relevant.

Basically, who cares. It's all RSGP related, so let companies direct vouches where they want. Penalizing them because every once and awhile a worker accidentally uses the wrong shortkey or a customer finds the wrong thread on their own is asinine. Companies can't constantly patrol their thread in order to correct these mistakes.

 

Think a suggestion was this was declined before with the reasoning Dunworry stated. I support the suggestion though as I find it unfair.

 

Well it's not punishing them, it's more of a solution to those users who report other users who have referred their buyer/sellers to the wrong vouch thread on purpose. We're getting quite a bit of reports about this and it's basically a continued fight. User A reports user B. User B reports user C and user C reports both users A and B. And this seems to continue so I'm just proposing a simple solution.

 

Yes I understand, but why is it an issue in the first place. No one has a reason for it being a problem other than "well they should be in the right section" to which I always say "then why are vouches allowed outside specific vouch threads?" All vouches are is a bump to the thread as well as another post to make the thread bigger. Directing all vouches to a single thread is a smart marketing tactic as that way instead of linking multiple threads when new customers ask for reviews, the company can link one large thread. The simple solution is to let companies and users direct customers to vouch where they please:

1. It's not unfair to anyone as everyone can do this
2. It's a nitpicky rule, gold sales and purchases are just dealing with RS gold, what's the big deal if it's all related
3. It's a smart marketing tactic for companies/users to do this, and a "free market" wouldn't inhibit them from being savvy like this as it literally hurts no one.
4. This is the same as saying "best prices" or "#1 gold site" - many threads say this yet obviously all but one are false. It's just a marketing tactic to drive sales, if you're going to be picky about this you really ought to regulate a lot more because it's a half-assed strict regulation that isn't applied evenly in all aspects of the market

 

Support, I've made this suggestion twice I think in Staff Lounge. I suggest you re-read what was said there since there were some valid points however it never made it through voting.

 

Staff read: https://www.sythe.org/threads/disallowing-users-to-post-vouches-anywhere-except-the-vouch-forum/

Can't see anyone agree with the rule there sadly.. Unless you wish to take over this suggestion again (can write down the points mentioned there if needed) I'm closing this suggestion. Let me know in private.