Audit performed as follows:
Results:
265 posts: General Triathlon or Other Oriented (63.8%).
181 posts: Bikesport specific Sales Oriented (36.2%).
Now, in fairness to myself and others, most of the posts included in "Bikesport specific Sales Oriented" are not solicitations to purchase items from my store, i.e. "We have received a shipment of wheels and you may contact me now at Bikesport to purchase them." but rather references to products we do sell. The response was to a question about a product that we also sell, such as "When will XXXX bicycle be available?"- If I responded to that question and we happen to sell that bike I counted it as sales oriented even if we do not have the product or mentioned that we sell it- in other words- the person asking the question may or may not be aware that I have or sell the product. I am assuming they are aware of it since I answered the question.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
- There are two categories: "Bikesport specific Sales Oriented" and "General Triathlon or Other Oriented"
- Differentiation between the two is based on an examination of the "Subject" line in the history of my posts available by clicking on my name, then selecting "Show user's posts".
- A "Bikesport specific Sales Oriented" post is loosely determined to be any post that contains mention or reference to any product sold, displayed or inventoried at Bikesport, Inc.- regardless of whether or not the written text is a solicitation for a sale of product to be conducted directly at Bikesport, Inc. In other words- if a forum poster asked a question about Speedplay pedals for information purposes (but not sales purposes) and I posted on that topic that IS included as "Bikesport specific Sales Oriented" for the purposes of this audit due to the possiblity of ancillary sales as a result of mentioning a specific product and the reasonable and customary knowldege that I own a bicycle retail store and that information is displayed in my signature to all posts. (i.e. someone could see my advice, deduce that the item is for sale and visit/call/e-mail my store to make a purchase of the item mentioned)
- "General Triathlon or Other Oriented" are posts relavant to such topics as Mr. Tibb's Lavender room, race information, training advice, movies, injuries, hobbies not directly related to triathlon equipment (i.e. "Day in the Life" photo contest), nutrition/diet, travel, relationships, advice to other retailers on this forum, advice to vendors on this forum, general non-sales specific conversation.
- Note: Since service sold such as bike fitting are including during this time frame, they are included in and counted as "Bikesport specific Sales Oriented"
Results:
265 posts: General Triathlon or Other Oriented (63.8%).
181 posts: Bikesport specific Sales Oriented (36.2%).
Now, in fairness to myself and others, most of the posts included in "Bikesport specific Sales Oriented" are not solicitations to purchase items from my store, i.e. "We have received a shipment of wheels and you may contact me now at Bikesport to purchase them." but rather references to products we do sell. The response was to a question about a product that we also sell, such as "When will XXXX bicycle be available?"- If I responded to that question and we happen to sell that bike I counted it as sales oriented even if we do not have the product or mentioned that we sell it- in other words- the person asking the question may or may not be aware that I have or sell the product. I am assuming they are aware of it since I answered the question.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com