When discussing services ... some advice, offering services
From:
Steven Clift
Date:
May 13 18:49 UTC
Short link
No problems so far, but when discussing service providers I'd keep the public
forum positive and share more negative experiences privately. Why? You a liable
for anything you say on this public forum - it will be noticed by anyone you
mention by name.
Therefore, unless you've documented a negative experience (that the provider
knows about and has not responded to satisfactorily), assume that you'll be
challenged by that provider whose livelihood is tied directly to their
reputation. So with positive recommendations, let the cream rise to the top so
to speak.
Also, it is great to see people to respond to neighbor requests for
information. Based on the "hyper-local" approach on this forum the service
providers discussed should live or be based within our two neighborhoods. No
one will quibble about someone from a bordering neighborhood, but the more we
connect with those within walking distance, the stronger our local bonds.
I should note that at this point it is not OK to directly advertise a service
on the forum without the topic being started by someone seeking such advice
first. One legitimate way around this is to add a simple link to a web site
that lists your services when you sign your posts on other topics. This way you
are providing value to the group as a participant and just happen to be an
accountant for hire.
Finally, ideas for single web form to a single digest listing for "Thrifty
Thursday" or "Free Friday" ... perhaps "Service Saturday" are in development -
but we need to either find a volunteer software developer who can work with our
system or find some development funding. (The goal is to avoid being flooded
with Craigslist or Freecycle-style classifieds while still allowing some of
this natural community-based commerce to occur within our civic mission.) No
promises on the web form to digest tool, but perhaps the more technical amongst
us can help make something happen.
Steven Clift
Forum Co-Host
http://publicus.net/speaker.html :-)