Poor-performing stores to be automatically rep-banned

moocher on 15/01/2014 - 12:41
Last edited 21/07/2014 - 15:50

In the past, moderators have been manually temp-banning stores with rep deals with no/negative votes, in keeping with our deal posting guidelines

Reps posting deals which are constantly attracting negative or no votes may also see the account and/or domain banned by the mods.

As of this morning, our system will automatically ban stores with rep posts where

The 2 latest rep posts are 30 days or less apart (note: the latest post will be allowed 24 hours to collect votes before vote averages are calculated)
The vote average for the store's rep posts over the last 90 days is less than or equal to 0

The store is temp-banned from rep posts for 30 days from the time of the latest rep deal if the above conditions are met.
~~If a store has been temp-banned for this same reason for 3 times, the 4th ban will be a permanent ban.~~

This is not so much a new restriction on store posts, but automating something that has been manually done by moderators.

Update 22 July 2014

After recent moderator discussion, we decided to make the 3rd ban permanent, instead of the 4th.
If a store has been temp-banned for this same reason twice, the 3rd ban will be a permanent ban.

Site Discussion

Comments

mafmouf on 15/01/2014 - 12:44

The only thing I can think of is if a new rep user jumps in and manages to get banned straight away. I'm not a rep of anything, so maybe I am unsure of what happens…but, when reps sign up are they prompted on the rules or when they post?

Would it be slightly better if the user was unable to post rather than let the post go through and then ban them?
- Moderatormoocher on 15/01/2014 - 12:59
  
  a new rep user jumps in and manages to get banned straight away
  
  They won't be banned until they've submitted 2 poor deals, so it won't be as soon as they start posting. The idea is that if they've submitted 2 poor deals (0 or neg votes) in a row, it's time for them to take a step back and think about what they're posting, or they're just shooting themselves in the foot. We often get requests/reports from users to ban such stores.
  
  when reps sign up are they prompted on the rules or when they post?
  
  Unless a user asks to be an official store rep, we don't really know a rep is a rep until they post a deal with the 'I am a store representative' checkbox. However your point is taken that we should try to give them more prompts. Most people don't read the wiki pages!
  
  Would it be slightly better if the user was unable to post rather than let the post go through and then ban them?
  
  We already have store rep posting limits that kick in immediately and stop a store rep from posting on the deal submission page. That looks at the short term vote average.
  - mafmouf on 15/01/2014 - 13:57
    
    Most people don't read the wiki pages!
    
    There are wiki pages?!?!?! Jks, I read them occasionally. If this information is in front of them before they actually post, then chances are they are less likely to post any plain 'special they have.
    
    I guess the system you have in place is quite fair and encourages the reps to post actual bargains. Good work. Ps. How do you (as in Scotty and mods) come up with the new rules? Extensively grind an MMORPG and discuss through the in-game chat? Then implement the next day? (That's at least how I'd do it haha)
    - Moderatormoocher on 15/01/2014 - 14:18
      
      Extensively grind an MMORPG and discuss through the in-game chat?
      
      If only… :)
      
      How do you (as in Scotty and mods) come up with the new rules?
      
      It depends - for moderation-related issues/features such as automated bans, usually there's a discussion with the moderators and power users. Sometimes if it's urgent it can be just between a few. But in terms of general guidelines, sometimes they are taken from user feedback from this Site Discussion forum, e.g. govt program posts and supermarket dupes
    - mafmouf on 15/01/2014 - 15:51
      
      I also meant to ask in what medium too. Phone call, email, physical meeting, Skype, ~~MMORPG~~?
    - Moderatormoocher on 15/01/2014 - 16:09
      
      Mostly through discussion on OzBargain moderators or power users forum, but sometimes Google Hangout.
    - mafmouf on 16/01/2014 - 08:54
      
      Ah ok, thanks!
NosDan on 16/01/2014 - 11:22

good news, i like this a LOT.

for a regular user to not know/understand/care about the rules is one thing but these businesses that use this forum to spam there horrid deals isnt acceptable imo. how long would they last if they put ads on tv or radio (or even billboards) with complete disregard for the associated rules/guidelines/laws? its much less stringent here at OzB so theres just no excuse for continued disregard
Moderatormoocher on 21/07/2014 - 15:50

After recent moderator discussion, we decided to make the 3rd ban permanent, instead of the 4th. See updated discussion. The changes will be rolled out in the next 2 days.
Boshait on 18/08/2014 - 14:41

Sounds vulnerable to brigading by competitor shills.
- NosDan on 18/08/2014 - 14:43
  
  how could that possibly happen? any invalid negs get revoked.
  - Moderatorneil on 18/08/2014 - 14:46
    
    We closely audit both negative and positive votes. If a rep (or anyone else), thinks there are suspicious votes then they should be reported and we will investigate.
adore tackle on 03/02/2017 - 21:36

Hi,
Not sure how this works from a new store point of view.
Indeed we have published two posts, so it's fine we didn't read all the rules and as such we deserve to have our domain temporarily suspended.
However, the fact that people have not voted is not something that we can control.
We are a new store with new brands ( not present anywhere else in Australia; we are the sole distributors). So, one would think that many of your users would not know about these products ( unless we tell them somehow), so they won't be inclined to vote.

Respectfully,
Adore Tackle

Poor-performing stores to be automatically rep-banned

Comments

New Forum Topics