Donating to techs in gratitude for their counsel...

Gypsy62 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:33 pm

I'm corresponding with IDParts and Sasquatch regarding the possibility of facilitating contributions to the parts-accounts of some of LJ's"Super Techs". Given the immense value of their individual and collective experience and knowledge in sparing us CRD newbies grief, time and money, it seems like a small reciprocal gesture.
IDP already has a "gift certificate" program, however it starts at a $25 minimum value. I see that as exceeding what the average wrench is willing to pony-up for a bit of valuable online advice. Here in the age of the interweb, $5 or $10 is a typical "mass-scale" why-not donation amount. It seems probable that while a handful of people may kick the occasional $25, scores more would probably kick $5 without hesitation when a tech's post saves their butt.

Why use those two vendors? Well, let's face it: at least for North American CRD owners they have effectively become our central go-to parts suppliers other than the stealership.

Some potential downsides: this could conceivably create competition/resentment among techs and/or make novices feel obligated or guilty if they don't pony-up. That's another reason $5 looks attractive, and that would also make it possible to affordably pad the parts accounts of multiple techs.
One solution: ANONYMOUS donations.

For years I was one of those contributing veteran techs at subaruoutback.org. I know I expected nothing for sharing my experience and model-specific expertise, but you can buy soob parts at any liquor store. The unobtainium factor with CRD parts opens the door to this approach of expressing gratitude through our rarefied parts vendors. That is, IF they are willing to help facilitate the smaller-amount "gifts".

Thoughts?

Gypsy62 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2016 3:11 pm

Still no replies?
Given how vehicle boards are reliably opinionated, that's pretty d*#n funny.

Seth at Sasquatch = "Great Idea! Let's see how much interest there is".
IDP still mute.

They both should be jumping out of their skins for one reason above all others: they would have the use of members' gifted capital until the beneficiary SuperTech places a parts order. And even then, they will enjoy the profit on the sale.

With all gratitude and respect to Sasquatch and IDParts, is there any civilized, non-competitive way that this concept could be implemented internally within LJ? Either to reward individual SuperTechs for their generosity of experience and time, and/or to benefit LJ as a Club (donations held in interest-bearing accounts)? Maybe small donations used to help fund LJ events, if not F/G/M/W/Etc.'s personal Ale accounts?

I realize that there are (annoyingly incompetent) pay-to-play websites for consultations with (allegedly) professional mechanics. We all know that they are BS generalists.

Vehicle-specific boards are where the true Pros reside.

If we can devise and implement a friendly, affordable and efficient method for rewarding SuperTechs internally within LJ, it may well serve as a template for other job/vehicle technical-discussion boards/clubs.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

Going to a 3rd party seems unnecessarily complex - between Square, Paypal, and ClearXchange there are plenty of easy ways for anyone to get money from one place to another. You don't need a retail operation to broker that type of transaction.

Gypsy62 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:54 pm

True, but that is not exactly a slam-dunk simple method, and it doesn't provide for anonymous donations.
The key has to be that there doesn't necessarily have to be any "correspondence" between donor and tech. Say you just want a convenient way to easily facilitate dropping $5 to one or more SuperTechs at once; no dice.
You should be able to go to some secure, non-generic (=not paypal) site, select one or more SuperTechs, how much you wanna' drop on each of 'em, plug-in your plastic info and Shazam, finito.

It sounds like Sasquatch is willing to facilitate this towards parts-credit IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT INTEREST.

SO, how about a pile of replies with a simple "YES" or "NO" to let Seth know if it's worth doing?

Do any of you "SuperTechs" object to this idea?
If so, why?

Ceearedeedriver · **Joined:** Fri May 06, 2016 8:44 pm **Posts:** 177

Gypsy62 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2016 1:04 pm

"Thanks for the help! Lemme' buy ya' a beer".

That is the spirit of a $5 electronic gift.

$25 says "let me buy you dinner", and is better reserved for higher aspirations :wink:

Listenin', IDParts?

jws84_02 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2016 1:23 pm

I think you are trying to create a solution to a problem that doesn't exists. Hopefully from the lack of responses here you can see that this isn't needed. If you want to give someone who helped you out just message them and send them PayPal.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2016 3:42 pm

Advice is free, gratitude is a gift!
It is reassuring, when an expression of thanks can in itself be its own reward, and everyone can benefit... :wink:

Gypsy62 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2016 4:15 pm

I try to avoid using paypal; not a fan.

While I certainly see your point, this idea was never about solving a "problem"; it was about creating an efficient, affordable and anonymous method to show basic thanks to those (1,000-plus posts) posters who save our butts on a daily basis.

But you're correct; clearly there's not enough interest HERE to incentivize any parts vendors to make this happen.

I still think this is a pretty cool idea, though. Larger-volume parts vendors would be wise to acknowledge the era of mass-donation and take the initiative to implement "internal gifting" at ANY amount. And then promote the "rewarding SuperTechs" concept across vehicle-specific boards.
There may not be any enthusiasm here with DIY CRD owners to reward the valuable advice of SuperTechs, but somewhere over the f'n rainbow, I suspect smart sellers are gonna' smell dollars and 'make it so'.

Here in CRD-land, Case Closed.

geordi · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2016 10:59 pm

As one of the potential recipients of this idea, I have to say thank you, but I stayed out of this conversation up to now simply because I didn't feel I should have any input about it.

I like the idea, but I do this to help CRD owners and some of them elect to have my skilled hands carry out their wishes instead of trying it themselves. I see the information as freely offered and the actual labor as the service. For what it is worth, I think that the 4 or 5 other techs I am aware of also operate with this kind of belief, that helping people helps us all.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:15 pm

geordi wrote:

that helping people helps us all.

So very true geordi! We all learn when we help others solve problems we have yet to have! Experience is truly a wonderful teacher!!! :wink:

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:23 pm

I work for beer

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2016 4:17 pm

flash7210 wrote:

I work for beer

Me too, especially FREE BEER!!! :goink:

Hexus · **Posted:** Sun Nov 20, 2016 3:02 pm

I try to help others as others here have helped me. Hell I'd have to go back and buy beer for Geordi, Scout, and a bunch of other folks who don't really frequent the board much any more.

My tools are on loan to a guy on these boards, and he's been done with his work for WEEKS. I'm not worried about them, and I didn't charge him to use them, he's local.

It's well-intentioned, surely, but un-needed.

I've had people mail back cash with my tools, or buy beer, or just say thanks, and it all was plenty.

When/if you set up something like this, it sets up expectations, and that's dangerous plainly because it isn't the intention of this board originally.

Great thought, unnecessary IMHO.

Gypsy62 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 20, 2016 5:06 pm

That is more like the dialogue I thought this idea might catalyze.
"Expectations" is a genuine, legitimate concern.
As are "resentment", "competition", "obligation" and "guilt".

I do NOT reject any of the sentiments expressed above. As a soob SuperTech who formerly contributed freely and frequently to the board, I also embody the spirit that "knowledge and experience shared is its own reward".
That said, if a newbie on the soob board had tossed this idea out there, my response probably would've been "why not?": if a SuperTech in Savannah saves the butt of a DIY newbie in Seattle, an "electronic beer" seems to hurt nobody*.

Bottom line: at least among this crowd, this idea has no wings.

However, on DIY boards elsewhere from home-appliances to home-built aircraft, I suspect this idea may eventually find support as it provides an opportunity to express a SMALL gesture of ANONYMOUS appreciation to those whom give generously of their experience, knowledge and time.

*I just flashed on a future where we'll easily and instantly be able to literally buy someone an "electronic beer". Vid feeds in bars coupled to online menus... hot babes would never pay again!
And the occasional SuperTech would enjoy the occasional gratis suds...
More Big Brother; makes my skin crawl.

Donating to techs in gratitude for their counsel...

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