HATS OFF TO RICK AND THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS

[bassNspear]

I have been around for over a year and i can say that all the members here at FM are nothing but the best. Its great to know that we have such great support of this HSOforum.

I myself love to sit and talk with everyone in the pages about fishing or whatever it might be.

Thanks to you members, this HSOforum is a great success.

[Sifty]

Hats off to all the members you guy's are the best.

Sifty

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Every single member of FM/HSO has made this site what it is today. GREAT!

Even the few negative statements have had a positive affect on the overall forum product. Even if some do result in an EDIT or two!

Keep up the great support!

Cliff

[Glenn_S]

I have been here since Rick first started this on, I believe, the Yahoo Goups. A LONG time ago.

Overall, a great site for information.

However, I do have one complaint.

When you started this, Rick, you made it clear that the group (at that time) and then the site was about information for the angler. The direction seems to have gone away from that.

If a product or service is mentioned that is not a sponsor, the post is nuked. Let's face it, the sponsors know that they have competition. It is competition that makes a healthy marketplace for the consumer.

Recently there was even a post that got dusted that mentioned Target! I don't see too many sponsors directly competing with Target.

It seems, from my perspective, that the direction is that unless a product or service is a sponsor, they don't exist. Or if someone is in any way critical of a sponsors product, the post is removed.

Sponsors NEED to know if there is a problem, so they can correct the problem. Now, I don't mean flaming, nasty posts, but constructive criticism is good.

So to sum it up, loosen the reins a bit on discussing non-sponsored products, and you will have what I would consider the perfect site. Keep it family fiendly, clean and everything else you guys do and you will be golden.

Thanks for the consideration,

Glenn

[Note from admin: we are letting this post stand because we want you to see the potential for harm from a post with innaccurate observations. Look around and you will see tons of info about non-sponsor product. You will also note plenty of constructive criticism about sponsors if you really look around. We do our best to keep out bashing of sponsors and non-sponsors alike because who really knows how much of the damaging negative stuff is true or is from someone who has an ax to grind with someone they don't like. Complaints are what a company's customer service dept is for. We have no desire to handle that or the fallout from half truths or damaging false info. If anyone would like to dscuss our policies further please use the "Contact Us" link below. If not we assume you have other motivations. Thanks much all.]

[hanson]

Quote:

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So to sum it up, loosen the reins a bit on discussing non-sponsored products, and you will have what I would consider the perfect site. Keep it family fiendly, clean and everything else you guys do and you will be golden.

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Glenn,

I would first like to say I have much respect for those who have registration dates earlier than mine. You are only a few left who registered in 2000!

Secondly, I think if you carefully read the forums, you'll find that we practice what you are proposing. I could point out many instances but Vexilar (a non sponsor) used to be mentioned very often. We now have both Vexilar and Marcum as sponsors and they both get fair play. Fish Trap, Clam, Frabill, Eskimo, and other brands of ice shacks get plenty of discussion as well. I've seen Jiffy & Strikemaster Augers mentioned plenty of times in the last week, as well as Northland, Lindy, Rapala, and Salmo lures. There are many, many more products, services, and businesses that I've failed to mention but wanted to point out some that many folks are familiar with.

Sponsors are allowed more privileges in the forums such as photos of product and direct contact information but all products and services on the market can be freely discussed, as long as those post follow forum policy.

[Glenn_S]

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[Team Otter]

Hats off to all the FM members and staff.

Thanks for the kind words.

[Surface Tension]

inbass, please read the forum policy if you have any questions feel free to use the contact us link.

Answering your questions:

We don't allow links or phone numbers from non sponsor products. That eliminates all spammers across the board from inundating the forum.

Theres 1000's of outdoor products out there and they are talked about freely on this site as long as you can do that without posting links, contact info, and without promotion.

If you can't see that your head is in the sand.

We are not anyones Customer Service nor are we a bulletin board for broken equipment. We try and be consistent about that and won't allow ANY product or business to be rough housed on the forum. We will offer support on ANY product along the lines of How-Tos. Look in the Expert Equipment forum sometime and you'll see that happening and more so for non sponsor products!

This is the last that we'll allow of discussion about forum policy. If you have a gripe or question, use the contact us link. Again, Forum Policy can be discussed using the contact us link below. The forums are not the place for it.

If you're using HSO/FM you do so as a willing participant within forum policy guidelines you agreed to follow at the time of registration.

Please understand that we can't please everyone all the time.

[Rick]

I would like to Thank those of you who posted with your kind comments. I and our staff very much appreciate hearing it. It's not always easy for our staff but they do a very good job at keeping the forums fun and informative.

They are not paid for this and I thank them for a job well done.

Most of all it's folks like you who keep the forums FUN, interesting and informative. We may not say it but we do recognize many of you and your contributions to the place we have here.

I Thank all of you who share of yourself freely here.

[ArcticArmor1]

I am compelled to respond to this post as I couldn't agree more. First of all, fishingminnesota.com has had a direct impact on our (Arctic Armor)tremendous growth this year. As V.P. of Sales & Marketing, I look for return on investment when it comes to advertising. I would recommend fishingminnesota.com to any company involved in the ice fishing industry that wants to get the word out about their products. I had the pleasure, and please let me stress the word pleasure, of meeting some of the staff at the recent St. Paul Ice Fishing Show. These gentlemen are professional, knowledeable and good people. It is no surprise that this web site is so successful when it is 'staffed' by people such as the ones I described. When you log on it is though you have just sat down on your 'favorite' chair and someone has just handed you a hot cup of coffee. I look beyond the posts about our products because of all the interesting information that FM'ers add daily. They too are what makes this site what it is. In closing I would like to wish everyone (Arctic Armor customer or not) a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous 2008!

[Scott K]

I love this site, I am on it all day, every weekday. There is so much info on here, and I trust and respect the information from fellow FMers. I like the fact that I can read stories, and tips, without reading over a bunch of swear words. I have gotten alot of information from this site that I have used, for fishing, hunting, and almost everything inbetween. I also try to help with answering questions others have, when I know I can help.

Thank You all for making this site to what it is, by far the best site on the web!!

[Ebiz]

I have to agree - defintely the best site out there and I spend way more time here than I probably should.

I have always had one minor question, and please don't take this as a complaint because it's not - just something I've always wondered, but why on Fishing MINNESOTA are the Minnesota fishing forums way at the bottom under even the other regional forums - my fingers get sore scrolling

[Note from admin: Because it's an IceLeaders Forum right here and HotSpotOutdoors.com Forums for all but the FishingMinnesota Forums - I suppose we could put all those regional forums inside a Minnesota State Forum and save you a couple inches of scrolling and add a click through.]