small suggestion on "AnandTech Deals" locked posts in Hot Deals Forum...

[kgraeme]

Thank you Anand.

I'm going to be my normal curmudgeonly contentious self, and say I have no way of knowing if you are being honest about whether the ads were pulled or they expired. As someone who's worked in marketing, I've helped put spin on more than a few situations. However, The TD ads are gone and that's all that matters. Hopefully, your marketing folks will be a bit more aware of the consequences of their decisions. Hopefully, there were consequences for them and you didn't come out raw in the deal. I know I would have made them cough up an AE or two for putting my business in a bad spot.

And especially thanks to the members and mods who spoke up as the voice of the community to protect their fellow members from getting screwed by TigerDirect!

 

[Anand Lal Shimpi]

kgraeme

I think it's perfectly fair for you to be cautious when taking anyones word; by being burned enough times, we all must exercise that sort of caution. However, I do hope that the way I've run this place over the past several years has lend itself to be much less of a business and more of a community. As I mentioned in my post, I don't like responding with the marketing or PR spin - I like responding with the truth.

In response to your comment about how the agreement could have very well just lapsed, in the net world these sorts of things go for 3 month minimum run terms; a lot of our booking is actually made for periods of 6 months. While I can't disclose the particulars of the deal, if you ask around you'll find it very unlikely that we booked a deal that lasted a couple of weeks

I don't expect you to believe me, but I'm not one to expect anyone to believe my words. Let my actions speak for themselves and over time I hope that my actions can convey much more than any amount of words could ever do.

Take care,
Anand

 

[bizmark]

Thanks for the resolution to the TD thing and for the added bandwidth to the non-subscriber forums. They really fly now

 

[randypj]

Anand, thanks for taking the time to post and detail it for us.

Guys, actually, Anand gave more detail than I would've expected him to give, considering this is a business for him.

Thanks also to the mods, especially for jumping in very early, and to the mods and Anand for letting the thread stay.

I imagine Anand was "conflicted" about accepting advertising, and then also leaving a thead(s) that blasted the advertiser. Anand, care to comment about your thought processes on this further? I'm guessing not.....and I understand why.
--Randy

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: Anand Lal Shimpi

I don't expect you to believe me, but I'm not one to expect anyone to believe my words. Let my actions speak for themselves and over time I hope that my actions can convey much more than any amount of words could ever do.

Anand,

I wasn't trying to insinuate that I do think you were being less than honest. It's just that I've unfortunately learned not to take anyone at their word, ever. You've done more than most business owners would in this situation and the end result is what we all were hoping for.

Like any business (and forum) this site has it's ups and downs, but overall you keep the feel of the site small and personal despite the enviable size of your membership. The reviews are generally top notch and in depth while still being readable, you've done more than almost any site I know of to respect the community's opionions of which ads are offensive, and the subscription rate is even reasonable.

I have kept my opinions, contentious as they may be, in this thread or to you in email. I'm not out to spread dissent towards you or this site. I just wanted to see an ad that would harm the community taken down. It has been, and for that we can all be happy. (Except maybe TigerDirect.)

Thanks again.

 

[Oakenfold]

Wow,
Now I really feel great about being a subscriber!
How many business owner's step up like this people?
A content provider that actually listens to his readership!

Keep up these business practices and it will get you very far, although I'm sure you already know that.

 

[MrHans]

Thanks for stepping up Anand.

 

[TOOCOOL]

I must admit the mods get most improved for the way they handled this i was impressed