I've made a decision (about Trader Ratings).....

Recently I completed a purchase with a member of Fauna for some merchandise, and since the transaction went without a hitch, I left positive feedback for it. So I'm waiting for a few days, then a couple weeks, hoping for the same in return. Finally, I figure out that the reason I don't get it (at least I'm assuming it's the reason) is because the other party is only a registered member. What irks me is if the party is an actual business, and is receiving business because of their exposure on Fauna, then why the heck aren't they a contributing member???? Dang it, it's only twenty-five friggin dollars!!!

So, I've made a personal decision that if I do business with an entity on Fauna, and they aren't a bona-fide business, then they will (as usual) get feedback regardless of their member status; but if they are in fact a business, then they aren't getting a Trader Rating from me unless they are at least a contributing member. Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but for cryin' out loud, it's a small price to pay for the amount of business that results from the publicity enjoyed on this site.

Nuff said, I'm done ranting, we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

I hear you. It is annoying people won't contribute to this site. I'm not doing trader ratings now either unless they contribute to this site. It's a good idea I'm glad you posted this.

there are some members here who are no longer contributing members, because of hard times, that used to be.

Just an FYI.

But yeah, i totally understand what you mean.

Trader rating should be accountable for all to protect us from buyers or sellers that suck,so good or bad we really should leave it when we can,just my opinion I know it dont count for squat.

I think the rating is more than damn useful, I love it. I honestly almost walked into something super terrible before seeing a rating on Fauna. Very grateful for that.

But yes, if you can afford it and you run business you can fork over the $25 or your just a cheapskate!

I used to run a graphics website with a buddy of mine, we had artist or large print making companies advertise and never contribute to the site even though it cost us majorly to allow them to post high resolution images.

I think this is a very good idea: if you are making money on Fauna $25 is nothing to pay, and this would be a sort of voluntary pay-to-trade rule. Hope others come on board.

I can't fault someone for making sales, but I do prefer to do business with people who contribute to the entity that helps them. If you are making sales with fauna, then I would expect them to contribute at least minimally to fauna.

I know it is not the rules, but it is my preference, and the way I'll do business.

Sort of along the same lines, what bothers me; especially now that we may lose the BOI.

Right now there are 222 members and 275 guests logged on, out of the 222 members only 41 are paying members (including WebSlave) the remainder are only registered. I feel bad because I only paid the $25 this year instead of the $100 like in previous years; but that's another story.

Abso-FRAGGIN-lutely!!!!! Despite only producing a small number of animals annually, Fauna has helped me sell....both through the classifieds AND through positive threads on the BOI. If you are a business operating on Fauna, $25 is not too much to ask.

I've just finished my first breeding season and did my first small expo, and I don't even have a web-site yet, but once I'm really up and selling, I plan to join as a contributing member. It's just good business to be listed.