Hi Barbara, Hope I don't seem to be pouring cold (salt) water on your idea. Even though I'm accessing this list on my employer's computer, and I am indirectly in the kayaking business, I am not here as a spokesperson for my employer - I'm here as a "civilian". I have occasionally responded privately to Paddlewisers looking for obscure kibbles and bits for kayaks that my employer happens to sell, but it has always been in response to a specific request, and involved very low value items. I have deliberately never offered suggestions on big ticket items. In any such messages, I identify who I work for, and that I am not commission. I honestly feel that I am simply trying to help my fellow Paddlewisers on these occasions, and as far as I know, that's how they've felt too (I've received no complaints). One of the things I enjoy most about this list is its non-commercial nature. I don't have to wade through gaudy ads, and I can get a variety of perspectives on any topic. Naturally, the conversation ranges into equipment as well as technique. When it does, folks often include a link to a supplier they're recommending, and that works well enough for me. It's nice that you (and I) think of our fellow Paddlewisers as family, and would go to them first for equipment or travel. (It's also nice that if you have something to offer, such as spaces available on a lovely trip, that you would like to make them available to "friends and family" first.) But one of the strengths of a family is that they listen first to your particular needs and situation, before offering advice, if any. In the same way, if I go on line, indicate my experience, physical shape and intended uses, I receive gear information more tailored and relevant to me than if I simply read an ad. I can find ads through a websearch already so a yellow pages would not offer much "value added" to me. My concern would be that the yellow pages would be the "thin end of the wedge". The "letterhead" that some of us have on our Email gives me enough information about the particular resources that our different members offer. Plus, by reading their letters, I get a better sense of who they are and what they're about than I would reading a ad. We do have access to a lot of valuable professional advice from the group, and I enjoy my current sense that they are on the list from a pure love of the sport, and not just 'cos they are looking for an opportunity to plug their products or services. I'd be concerned if we had ads that some folks would subscribe to Paddlewise just cause that's what they had to do to post an ad. Who would be the gatekeeper of the ads, and what criteria would they use? About the only reason I can imagine being in favour of this would be if our host, the lovely and talented Jackie, actually needed the ad revenue to keep Paddlewise going. That's up to her of course, as our benevolent dictator. But if it's a vote, I'd have to come down agin it. I'd be in favour of exceptions of a noncommercial nature: people looking for shuttles; for trip companions; or for romance. I can picture our first personal ad now: "SWM into rubber, tight skirts and watersports, seeks . . . " Cheers, Philip T. At 02:22 PM 12/11/98 -0800, you wrote: >I'm wondering if anyone else on this list is interested in figuring out if >there's a way we can take advantage of the sea kayaking related resources >of the folks on this list. There are a lot of people here who provide lots >of good services, and I for one, would turn to someone I know here for a >piece of gear, shuttle service, or guided trip before I'd go to a stranger. >Maybe we could create a sort of PaddleWise Yellow Pages. >What do you think? >Barbara >* -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * --*--*--*-- > Sea Kayak Italia - Elba, Italy > http://www.seakayakitaly.com > tel. 650-728-8720 fax 650-728-8753 >* -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- *--* --*-- > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > **************************************** Mountain Equipment Co-op 1655 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1 Tel: 640-732-1989 Fax: 604-731-6483 email: pid_at_mec.ca Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca ***************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Dec 11 1998 - 16:35:54 PST
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