Diamond Talk's over-reaction, and it's effects

[Diamondsbylauren]

Hi Everyone.
Let's first talk about what a diamond forum is here for- why they exist.
Basically, till now, all the forums existed to sell diamonds, or to make money for the owners of the forum in some other manner- like advertising.

Here's how this one IS different: We need to sell diamonds to pay the bills, but the forum is a separate issue.
We are totally committed to having open, honest conversations about diamonds ( and other things).
We don't need to make any money at all from this forum- just the opposite- we'll spend money to make it as great as we can!

There may be things we don't want to talk about- and we might have to edit things from time to time- but our reason for having this forum is to allow for open, fun, nice, friendly conversation.

We used to be involved in another diamond forum, since about...2003.
I can't say for sure because all evidence that we exist was obliterated.
It's a shame, yet we bear no ill will to anyone.

We feel a certain....camaraderie with all the others who were banned.
There was even talk of an additional 3% discount to any CDI member who was banned from another Diamond forum.


Seriously.

The other main issue regards any and all commitments made to anyone on the other forum.
For example: Any contest that a member was waiting to cash in on, call us, we'll honor it.
Basically, our word is our word, even if  the place where we wrote it no longer exists.

Have fun everyone!!!

[Diamondsbylauren]

Hi Guys,
AS the days have passed, it seems that there's a lot of confusion being created over at DT.

DT management has decided that we no longer exist.
Funny, I saw myself just this morning.

Anyway- in addition to all my, and Webgal's posts being removed, they are attempting to remove any evidence we EVER posted there.
This is making for some very confusing threads.

Typical of the current behavior over there:
2 months ago, a consumer asked:
"Is fluorescence bad?"
Another vendor ( still posting there, guess who) answers "BUY OUR DIAMOND"

I followed that informative answer with a detailed three paragraph explanation on Fluorescence.

Now that we no longer exist, DT mgmt. left the others guys ad...... I mean "answer", but removed my explanation.
This type of thing is making it very confusing.

As I've written above, we will honor any and all commitments made on DT.
Any DT member is welcome here, and discussing this entire affair is NOT taboo for CDI members.

I encourage any and all to let folks know where they can actually find answers to their diamond questions.
Getting banned from DT will earn you instant respect here- plus, we ARE going to make T-shirts!




ON a personal note: Hard as I try to forget all this, I do find the actions of DT to be vindictive.
They are literally cutting off their foot, to spite the leg- ultimately they are hurting their own forum, members and advertisers.
But I'd be lying if Idid not say that it's gets me a bit angry having so much good work destroyed- It's like burning books.......

Regardless, we wish any and all the best.

[Snooper]

Well said David! It is a shame that former members, like myself, woke up last week to find that they couldn't post given that we have all posted on other threads to help diamond lovers.   No explanation, just did it because they didn't have the guts to, like an adult, explain their actions.

I love your forum! As we all know there are a lot of diamond forums, and what I appreciate is having a bunch of members trying to help consumers, rather than saying "looks good on paper" or "nice diamond, have you seen ours", when that was not the question of the consumer.

I'm here to stay, and it's an honor!

[acebruin]

it amazes me to see how far people would go...

but hey isn't it better to have a forum of our own?   

[Pinklady]

I haven't spent much time over at DT since this forum was established. I took a look yesterday and didn't understand what was going on. I read a post and WM answer to a post was clearly deleted.

It is sooo stupid of them to do this. I give them another two months before no one wants go go there. I think its boring after you David and WM left.

So, bottom line: let them destroy themselves. We have this one! And it's soooo much better!   

[jewellk]

ON a personal note: Hard as I try to forget all this, I do find the actions of DT to be vindictive.
They are literally cutting off their foot, to spite the leg- ultimately they are hurting their own forum, members and advertisers.
But I'd be lying if Idid not say that it's gets me a bit angry having so much good work destroyed- It's like burning books.......

Regardless, we wish any and all the best.

I wholeheartedly agree David!!!

I just recently posted in a topic there where another member was commenting on how they were leary of purchasing a diamond online. I responded with several paragraphs saying I thought they should reconsider and look at some of the great sponsors of the website. I spoke of my experience with you and lo and behold...my post was changed to omit any reference to DBL at all. They didn't delete the post, they changed my words to make it say what they wanted it to say. One of the sentences was changed from: "I just made my first DBL purchase and I couldn't be happier" to "I just made my first purchase from THEM and I couldn't be happier."

I will also say that yesterday, as I was attempting to post another reference to your great customer service, etc..None of my posts that had "DBL" in them ever showed up. All other posts that I attempted to make that did not have those 3 letters were allowed. 

I, for one, have no interest in participating in a forum where my words are needlessly censored when all I'm doing is posting a testimonial to a great experience with a great company and where they would systematically delete any evidence of your participation. It's just wrong!

[Kati]

Very well said David. You're definitely being the bigger person about it too. 

I agree with what F&S said.  Very well said, indeed!

I wasn't a member long over there because I was looking for recent, up-to-date testimonials about DBL...and what do you know, I couldn't find any at all.  I was referred to this forum.   

[jewellk]

Meant to say...

I LIKE IT HERE BETTER!!!
Thank you David and WM for creating such a great forum!!

You guys ROCK!!

[BigRed]

I for one am happy that CDI exists! You can feel the difference in the "air"! I feel like I can express my opinions and feelings openly and honestly without oppression or censorship! It is such a sad state of affairs on how DT handled this whole situation. To simply start erasing any and all ties that DBL had to it's site is just plain stupid. Then to remove one by one all the people that are your staunch supporters is foolish. I for one will proudly wear the badge of kicked out member of DT. In the end it will be their loss and their demise. You can't just start screwing people over and it not be noticed. Your actions will always reflect what kind of person you are and DT has shown us clearly what "they" are! Although I am grateful for one thing DT did and that was getting to know DBL and all the people that make up this new site. For that will be my only happy memory! Meeting all my diamond sista's!

[Trinkette]

Dear David and DT "Ban-ees,"
I have not participated in the DT forum, nor do I plan to. However, without immersing myself into whatever politics are occuring, I applaud you, David, for your candor and willingness to allow discussion of whatever DT issues are causing people heartburn.  It is the overall reasonable, positive, and supportive outlook put forth on this forum that encouraged my transfer from lurker to poster.  It seems clear to me that there's a lot more at stake here than simply selling diamonds... Please, everyone, keep up the good work.

By the way, I wrote this entry just after David posted his two initial entiies on this topic; then my satellite connection was lost and I was unable to post this (or log off) AGGHHHHHH!  I've driven 10 miles just to get online to send this...

[Trinkette]

jewellk, regardless of what the issue is, deleting someone's post without notification is one thing (and certainly not the way to go in my book). But, actually CHANGING someone else's words and then allowing the post to go through is absolutely a NO NO!  I would be outraged.

[Trinkette]

Thanks Amy!  It gets so frustrating to get "locked out"... The same thing happened last night when the weather was bad; it looked like I was online for HOURS, but actually, my satellite connection failed and I couldn't log off, or post anything for hours.  Sooooo, here's a tip everyone, if you see me listed as online for a ridiculous amount of time, my satellite has failed again!!! (sorry to change the subject).
 

[MaryAlaina]

DT did the same thing to me a year or so ago when I attempted to expose the fraudulent dealings of one of their vendors on their sister site, Sims Talk. They deleted all my posts I made in the years I was on DT, where I had spent endless hours and posted so many photos. If you do a search, last time I checked it still said I was a member, but with no posts. It also creates some weird threads, because people refer to things I had said, but my comments are all gone.

Whatever. I think the people who run it have some power issues. I'm not in it for that. I love jewelry and just like to share my excitement with others who can relate (because no one in my real life does!).

Glad you have this forum now David. I'll always be a big fan! 

[luckystar112]

Wow, now it all makes sense.

I continually browse DT as well as pricescope and here, and I noticed that DT seemed so empty lately...no new threads....nothing. I was wondering to myself "where IS everyone?" Now I know.

I don't know if it's private information or not, but did DT give any explanation for suddenly banning everyone? I just don't really get it because it seems like DBL had such a huge following on that site and they were pretty much the only vendor that was informative and not acting like an ambulance chaser whenever someone inquired about diamonds in order to get a purchase.

Anyway, it's really sad and thankfully this forum is here for people like me that appreciate honest dealers who hand pick diamonds.

[robin]

I did not ever participate in that other forum... I saw David's reference to it in one of his eBay ads, but then I found this one right away.

So from the perspective of an outsider looking in, I'll just say that doing what they're doing seems like a HUGE amount of work to no positive end.  I just can't imagine the effort this is taking... to edit all those posts?   

...And, as others have also said... I strongly dislike censorship.  I understand that on forums owned by commercial enterprises (this one included), I mustn't tout the merits of a competitor and such...  that is perfectly understandable.

But how disheartening to have one's words just... erased...

--Robin

[Diamondsbylauren]

How true Robin.
We're woe to edit peoples' words although it is sometimes necessary.

Lucky.....no, it's not private- although at this point, I'm quite sure DT management would be much happier if I did not have a means to explain our viewpoint.....

DT gave NO explanation why they banned anyone, nor did they let us know they'd be pulling all our threads.

Another important point...although they destroyed a lot of work- the main parts of the content are still here!
All the photos we ever posted are backed up in multiple spots.
Any members that wish to see any of our photos , ask.
We may be able to locate the one you seek.....


We also need to mention that we bear no ill will to ANY of the DT newtork jewelers. We wish them the best.

[acebruin]

is it because you created CDI david?  the reason for all this madness they've turned to...

[webmistress]

I am particularly upset that they have randomly deleted the accounts and classifieds of some of our members. These are members who purchased from SEVERAL of the network jewelers, not just us. I simply do not understand why there's a "you can't play in our sandbox if you play in theirs!" mentality. 

I would have thought that David's substantial monetary and educational time investment would have earned him some equity at the very least. He is truly dedicated to helping consumers navigate what can be a confusing process--buying a diamond.

There were no ill words in the parting of ways, no nasty knock down dragouts. But the negotiation position of "Double what you're paying or we don't have a deal" is rather harsh and makes me think we were being pushed out.  I don't know this to be the case, however, it's just supposition.  But I can say that we have several tools in development as well as new inventory and paying double simply wasn't in the internet spending budget I would have recommended given what we're be developing in 2007.

[acebruin]

"double what you're paying" out of nowhere?  WOW?!!!  no wonder they're doing what they're doing...  i bet you their traffic is cut by 80% because DBL left...  now they're eating their own words...

[Snooper]

I am in total agreement with what you have all said.  The members who have been banned, myself included, had purchased from the other NJ.  But to delete everything without warning, seems a bit irrational. 

The fact that things were censored, in what seemed to benefit them, and the manner in which they were, was just out of spite. 

I was surprised to see all the valuable posts that were deleted, especially since at the time, David had paid for being a NJ on that forum. 

I'm just forever thankful that we have this forum, as I've learned so much already.  It's nice to post in an environment that isn't stressful or petty...

[evilmailjeep]

What are we renaming our Cosmos?

[acebruin]

Cosmo2DIfor

[DiamondLady]

Last time I checked, I was still able to log onto DT. I don't know if it's changed recently or not. I went on recently to copy a bunch of MY photos since I lost so many in a recent computer crash.

And I SO agree with what everyone has said. If I try very, very, hard to be unbiased about the whole thing, I see clearly that what DT did about removing all the valueable posts and references to DBL is just vengeful. There's no other way to explain it.

The truely sad part is that the true losers to all this are the remaining DT members. They've lost a great deal of helpful, valueable information that was, at one point, free for the taking.

And now to hear they are actually changing someone's post remarks is outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited for my typos.. 

[Pandora]

I mosied back over to DT today to see if things had picked up any...

Nope..
Not a bit..

Things are as stagnant as pondwater there since all you wonderful people left.  There was actually one post in existence with Davids name mentioned.  Amazing. I tried to post a reply, but apparently the moderator has "chosen to censor" replies before allowing them to post.  Whatever.  That was my official last post at DT regardless.

I'm outraged that they would acutally go so far as to edit the content of a post.  The wonderful thing about David was that he was willing to give input on any stone, whether his or not, and would valiently defend a point that he believed in.  That's what I admire about him, and that's why, even before this whole fiasco, I knew my next jewelry purchase would be from him.

And I agree, they have totally shot themselves in the foot!!!

[Diamondsbylauren]

Frankly I don’t know what the kirfluffle is all about. DBL chose to leave DR, and he did it in less than honest circumstances. Admin has removed his posts and threads as it has no obligation to maintain content for any vendor. David no doubt anticipated using DR as an unpaid billboard to steal customers away from the DR NJs, but unfortunately for him, his plans got thwarted because there is nothing of him on DR...
In fact what has happened to everything associated with DBL is exactly what David always harassed Admin to do with every potential new vendor who tried to participate on DR.....he wanted us to obliterate their existence!
....ah the irony

The above was written by a DT admin.

Interesting.
I suppose we'll see a flood of new advertisers over there since I can't "harass" them any more.
Nor will we be able to steal the wealth of DT clients away.


For the record, we informed DT that we needed a smaller advertising package in the last part of February.
They responded that they would release us from their"30day  notification" policy.

We (I) never signed any contract. If they had written that we needed to fulfill some  reasonable obligation, we would have complied.
What's "less than honest" about that?

Also for the record- even at our lower DT budget, we were offering them a reasonable amount of money.

I apolgize for  the need to have this conversation. I have always made efforts to temper my words- even in the heat of the moment.