Cumquat

I understand wanting to weed out the 2-3% that you feel are causing problems. But the sad truth is that probably won't happen. Look at CL and how much the number of fake posts and B&S posts there are and how much it appears to be increasing. There are always going to be some bad eggs that you won't be able to completely weed out because someone is always going to fall for their games. If people didn't fall for the fake posts and the B&S they would stop doing it, but there is always going to be that element because we can't educate every single person that decides to hobby. Not all hobbiest participate in the boards and there will always be new people that don't know where to start and end up falling for the games. There is also the fact that some SPs just start out in this because they see the money that can be made but they don't really understand what it takes to really be an SP. They don't know the ins and outs of the business so they just wing it and make some bad decisions along the way learning as they go. Maybe it would be better for the 97-98% of SPs that are great to start a thread in the newbie section for new SPs offering advice and a place to give tips on things to do or not do, proper ettiquette, etc. And also have a corresponding thread for newbie hobbiest where the educated hobbiests can post on things to do, how to get started, doing searches, places to look so they don't fall for the fake ads or B&S, proper ettiquette, etc. This will not reach all of the SPs and hobbiests because not all participate on this board, but it will hopefully help those newbies that do join the board.

Then what is the point of continuing to complain in this thread if you don't think the people doing these things are reading the threads. The posts seem to becoming more and more agreesive and it is generalizing this issue as if all SPs are doing these things. I think it would be better if you are having a specific problem with an SP to message them and discuss your problems in private instead of making posts as if you are complaining about all SPs. You made your rant and your follow up posts seem to be just as negative. I don't feel like this issue seems to be calming down for you any as you seem to be getting more upset. No one wants to see you get booted if your posts are seen as getting to negative and attacking others. Maybe you should step back and talk to the people you are having problems with or talk to the MOD if it is something that he can help you with. I don't think you need to quit seeing SPs, if you are fed up maybe just take a break and give yourself some time to be more comfortable with continuing with the hobby.

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I have heard from a lot more SPs lately that people are booking them, saying "I saw your ad, and wanted to book with you". Then the guy shows up for the appointment already having seen the ad and seen the prices and agreed to it. And as soon as they get there they try to negotiate a lower price. I know this is something that always happens but it seems like the number of occurences is on the rise lately and it's not just newbies that have done it. Have other SPs noticed an increase in people doing this lately? or is it just a coincidence that the ones I have talked with a lot lately have had this happening more? Is this something happening because of the economy?

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This is going to happen and I'm not surprised that it did. Once I saw that someone was making posts about another SP and their personal life on CL to try to ruin them and lose them their clientele, I knew that would spread to here. It's a competitive market, like Seymore said money is involved and some SP's think that if they can tarnish the other SP then they might get some of their clients. This is a great community and most of the SP's and hobbiests seem extremely mature but there are going to be a few bad eggs around and as times get hard there will be those that need the attention and will get desperate to get it.

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