I think it would be positive to open Clyde's "can of worms" and discuss how commercially connected people could/should/might/shouldn't be involved in this list. Clyde wrote: > When making a postive comment about a product or service, many people feel the need to offer a disclaimer that they gain no benefit from...., etc., etc. Is this really neccessary? And also > There are manufactures, outfitters, dealers and the like on the list who take good care to maintain the integrity of the list. I can't help but feel they have a lot more to offer the list but don't because of this constraint. > They're the ones making, using and selling a wider variety of products than any of us could ever hope to try. If one of them wants to make specific points or offer reasonable opinions or has a hard to find product in stock, so what? I personally would not be offended, particularily since I get the occassional email from them already. I am one of those folks. With all of our staff's combined experience, education and "lessons learned the hard way," we do have lots to contribute. But I always feel quite constrained not to appear too commercial. When Paddlewise members are discussing and looking for a particularly hard to find book or video or paddle which we carry, I would love to say that to the whole list rather than to just, on occasion, send a private email saying we would be glad to provide what the Member wants. I even feel constrained at that, although about half of those result in a mail-order sale! And when everyone is discussing something we have commercially evaluated for sale in our store, I would love to give our evaluation and say they can buy the one/s we found work best from us (or, of course, from their local store). Of course, I can not take the time to write full/real magazine quality prodct evaluations for the zillions of things we carry (250 books/videos, 35 dry bags, 40 paddles, etc). Wouldn't that be a fun product catalog!?! Two of our instructors are occasional contributors of technical info and perspectives here and I love to see their expertise shared. I occasionally contribute a non-sales oriented piece (rolling a folding kayak, for example), but most of what I would have to say, if I felt free, would come from my perspective as a store owner/guide/instructor who really does have biases based both on my commercial interests and my/our zillions of paddling/guiding/teaching days. I know other similar commercial folks who severaly limit their contributions because of the same reason. We really don't want to turn this into a marketing device, but we are in the business of helping paddlers do what we all want to do! What does everyone think? Joanne Turner -- Southwind Kayak Center, Inc. 17855 Sky Park Circle #A, Irvine, CA 92614 U.S.A. 949-261-0200 or 800-SOUTHWIND (800-768-8494) info_at_southwindkayaks.com doug_at_southwindkayaks.com joanne_at_southwindkayaks.com http://www.southwindkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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 Tue Apr 27 1999 - 21:16:33 PDT
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