Signatures (specifically pricing and plan information)

[Chicken]

So I was thinking (and you know that's dangerous), about signatures and the guidelines of no pricing and plan information in signatures.

Obviously, 500MB for $14.95 does not comply with this rule, but what are your thoughts on phrases such as:

"Hosting for as low as $14.95" or
"Hosting from $14.95"
"Hosting starting at $14.95"

In some ways that *is* pricing information, in some ways it isn't. In some ways, just not allowing a $ (with numbers), saves the trouble of tyring to figure out if it is pricing info or not. But I don't want to be overly **** if no one cares.

Some cases where I've seen this are: "Advertising starting at $1.50 CPM..." and "Domains for sale starting at $15..." -etc.

My second question is the use of FREE

Again, in some ways this is pricing information. If the web space or email account ws $0.01 it wouldn't be permitted. So should FREE be permitted? or is FREE sort of a special case, as it isn't costing the person anything, thus it's a gift offer, and should be permitted to be posted? Again, I'm talking about the signature area only. I would not permit a thread about free email or space on the main forums. In some ways, this makes me think it shouldn't be in the sig. area either.

Some cases where I've seen this are: "Free Enom reseller accounts" and "Free email..." -etc.

As with any rule, kinda, sorta, sometimes... isn't good! It needs to be as black and white as possible. So keep that in mind please.

[techmark]

Originally posted by Chicken:


"Hosting for as low as $14.95" or
"Hosting from $14.95"
"Hosting starting at $14.95"



would also state if monthly or yearly price...

[Robert]

I think users should not be able to place any pricing information in their signature.

I mean if a user asks "How is XYD.com for a host?" and JonnieB replies with "Do a search" and in his signature is pricing for plans much cheaper, that kind of hurts xyd.com.

Err.. yea and make me mod :D

[markblair]

I agree with Robert. I know people do this now but replying to a thread just so your signature is viewed is common. If pricing is entered, no matter what price (including free), that is pretty much the same as advertising. I haven't seen this as a problem here but at other forums I've seen the same type of posts -- "Do a search" -- just so the signature is viewed.

[Robert]

Originally posted by markblair:

I agree with Robert. I know people do this now but replying to a thread just so your signature is viewed is common. If pricing is entered, no matter what price (including free), that is pretty much the same as advertising. I haven't seen this as a problem here but at other forums I've seen the same type of posts -- "Do a search" -- just so the signature is viewed.

Yea.. WHT. I hate when people do that

[_Dana_]

unless you take my smilies away! no kidding at WHT you cant have not even one smilie in your sig ....I mean come on its like the smilie cops ..I can understand over use but geeeesh

[DarktidesNET]

Well, clear this up because I planned on putting "Get your FREE $8.95 eNom resellers @ http://url" when we opened ours ..

Won't do it if you don't like it, but... ******** this before then.

With that said, time for a funky dance!

:banana:

[Chicken]

Yeah, that's the type of thing I'd like to avoid. I'd like the signature area to be limited to identifying the general services you offer, such as:

eNom Reseller Accounts
Linux & Windows Hosting Plans

-that sort of thing. I do not want it to be an additional advertising area. What would be fine would be:

"Get your eNom resellers @ http://url"

-beyond that, we have advertising forums where pricing can be posted.

[DarktidesNET]

No problem.

[Living Media]

I'm late to the party...but I would go with "no pricing information of any stripe, that includes use of the word 'free' in relation to goods / services". That lets people post "Special this month! Click whateverurl.com for more information!" in their .sig if they wish, but doesn't use hotbed keywords like "free".

Is there something in the guidelines against posting affiliate links in your .sig? Last time I checked, I didn't see anything.

[Debbie]

It doesn't matter a lot to me either way.

It does sort of annoy me to see advertising with pricing etc. in a sig but not enough to make me all upset about it or anything. I only really get upset with big graphic images in a sig and that's not happening here anyway, so no biggie. lol

One consideration for YOURSELF though, is that if you allow more detailed ads like that in a sig, you might dilute your own ability to sell ads for cash. A mini-ad in your sig is posted anywhere in the forum that you post any message, so it's not restricted to the advertising area. That makes paying for an ad less attractive because you can DIY for free just by posting messages and would also compete with any paid banner ad on a page.

[I, Brian]

Identifying a market area, as suggested in post#8, seems fine. Allowing use of $$$ figures is asking for a forum filled with spam posting just to get the signature about.

[Chicken]

Just to clarify, the question wasn't really about whether to allow pricing in the sig., it was more about allowing or disallowing the word "FREE" to describe certain things.

Re: Affiliate links, that needs to be added as does the guideline discussed in this thread. I am slowly re-working the guidelines.

[linux-tech]

Here's the deal (unfortunately)
IF you allow X for free or register your domains for as low as $15 in signatures, what you'll see is people putting plans in their sigs, and there's not a lot in the interest of fairness that can be done.

Yeah, it's a bit harsh, and yeah, I see all sides of this, but if you do one, you can't really ban the other. If you do, you'll have people come up constantly saying "But SO AND SO has it in THEIR profile, why are THEY special?"

The best way to handle it? just like it is now, 4 lines, no plans, no pricing (even free). Why? Because otherwise you'll have a major hassle on your hands, NOT just with users trying to get their sigs seen (posting stupid crap), but with the administration side of things as well.

[beley]

If pricing isn't allowed, free XXX shouldn't be allowed either if any purchase whatsoever is required. However someone may be running a contest, and put something like...

"Sign up to win a free hosting package..."

What's wrong with that? It has nothing to do with the pricing of their services??

[Chicken]

How much is that hosting package going to be again? Ohhh, free? *zeeeeeeeet*

While I think that one's a bit grey and one could debate people putting contests in their signature, I think you can cover that without the mention of free even:

"Win a hosting package! Sign up HERE!"

[beley]

Originally posted by Chicken:

How much is that hosting package going to be again? Ohhh, free? *zeeeeeeeet*

While I think that one's a bit grey and one could debate people putting contests in their signature, I think you can cover that without the mention of free even:

"Win a hosting package! Sign up HERE!" Very true... :)

[xerocity.com]

I think that your signature sould be exactly that, a signature. Your name, title (if any), and if you are/own a company the company name(s).

Anything that is allowed besides this will get abused eventually.

[Barbara]

Originally posted by Living Media:

I'm late to the party...but I would go with "no pricing information of any stripe, that includes use of the word 'free' in relation to goods / services". That lets people post "Special this month! Click whateverurl.com for more information!" in their .sig if they wish, but doesn't use hotbed keywords like "free".


I agree 100% with Lesli.

[Rob-Bocacom]

In case you need one more nudge in that direction, I agree with Barbara and Lesli.

[Living Media]

All these folks agreeing with me...and I didn't do too much more than restate what others said. At least I thought...

There goes me, stealing other folks' thunder again :D

The English language is marvellous in its flexibility, but this also means that if it can be abused, it will. Going out and blocking things like "Special offer" or even just the word "special" seems a bit harsh...but basically, if you wouldn't allow a thread about it, then it shouldn't be in the signature. That's a guideline I'd use, at any rate.

And that and five bucks will get you a venti frapuccino. Which sounds good for lunch, actually. Caffeine, a cool drink, AND a sugar rush.

:coffee:

[Rob-Bocacom]

Originally posted by Living Media:

All these folks agreeing with me...

Maybe there's something subliminal going on for me... I really want to be sitting in the sun by the rose bushes, feet up and pretending to work...

[Chicken]

2:17 p.m. .... 13 more mintues until I am FREEEEEEEE! I might stay *late* at work (until 3 p.m. heh) and do some things around the room. Maybe not...

[Living Media]

Originally posted by Rob-Bocacom:

Maybe there's something subliminal going on for me... I really want to be sitting in the sun by the rose bushes, feet up and pretending to work...

That's just my backyard, in front of the gazebo around the hot tub. My normal working environment is somewhat less...er...glam. That just made a nicer photo.

[Coach]

Hot tub? :banana:

Anyway... yeah, what everyone else said. Might as well lay down the law now before this place becomes yet another scumhost.com cess pool.

[Chicken]

LOL, I searched for users in the admin CP. This is just a search in the signature area...

Term: FREE
Result: 23 matches

Term: $
Result: 5 matches

[Chicken]

DOH! Many of them were references to freeBSD or ad-free, etc. Ooops!

[beley]

LOL Chicken I can just see that one...

"xxxxBSD Servers" :rofl: