I have been on the site and reading for over a year and have enjoyed learning from the site and with my mill this past year. My question is this.
If I read a post of local fellow member about selling RR ties, is it bad form to PM him and ask where he is selling. Is this considered private or rude.
Thanks, John
I would say that answer would be between you and the person you message. They should tell you how they feel about it. Mileage may vary...
TFJ,
I find most folks here to be extremely outgoing and helpful. Go ahead and ask. He can't eat you. Worst he can do is say no and we've all heard that before. Good luck.
I'd say no problem,
I feel that that's what the PM function is for!
If you want to PM someone, go for it!
you can ask but, if the person is less than friendly here's why. i'll help anyone any time,when it comes to giving specifics like who do you sell to or where do you get something, i won't devulge :)we all develope markets to fit our business model and more times than not finding those markets has come with costs and struggles :)
Quote from: red oaks lumber on March 23, 2015, 07:42:55 AM
you can ask but, if the person is less than friendly here's why. i'll help anyone any time,when it comes to giving specifics like who do you sell to or where do you get something, i won't devulge :)we all develope markets to fit our business model and more times than not finding those markets has come with costs and struggles :)
ROL took this to the level I left off, in regards to selling ties, I see no problem, other sales that have built our specific markets and customer base is another avenue. It takes time and effort to build up to have someone slide in and undercut. ties are ties, not a real niche there, getting the logs is a different story.
I have markets and even some processes that we have developed that give me a big edge over competition. Those I won't divulge. But there are a lot of things I am happy to share. Markets that are common knowledge. Helpful hints on sawing. etc. Marketing ideas. Sale ideas.
If my market is a place the buys from everyone, I will share. If it is a market that only I sell to, then that I keep private.
As has been said, politely ask, but be prepared for no and be very thankful if they say yes. And sometimes, people are happy to give up a customer that they no longer can supply the quantity they need.
Some people have been a little." Edgy" . . . so then you have to make a post to Clear everything Up
Your question may not really be about PM'ing or Forum etiquette. You say local, and you're also milling, sounds like you could be asking him about sharing business information which you yourself might benefit from. Or he might worry about that at the beginning. Probably don't PM him asking about anything that you wouldn't ask him face to face about or on the phone. Takes some relationship to begin sharing sensitive information, if that's what this will be, maybe it's not. That being said, being fellow FF members is certainly a good place to start.
Thanks for the replies and advice
John