I'm just a customer, not a merchant.

ClintH has helped me out a couple of times. So has JeffH.

I've never had a problem with their professionalism or their respective attitudes.

I suspect that they are just trying to make the best of a bad situation.

And another thing: I think that Renderosity will survive. I don't see it "going down the tubes".

However, I do not have a dog in this fight.

While I genuinely hate to see people leaving, I have no intention of doing so myself. I will continue to be a regular customer here.

To all of you merchants: no matter where you go, if I like your stuff, I will buy it. I will see you around.

BUT: I will most likely continue to spend the lion's share of my Poser dollar here at Renderosity.

If you are a merchant, please keep your customer's purchasing habits in mind. Not just the rage over your relationship to the administration.

I have bought a lot of stuff from a lot of you.

I will continue to do so.

But consider a plea from a customer: please don't use a nuclear weapon where a little diplomacy will do. Please don't damage the community any more than it already has been.

I am sorry if my words enrage anyone; the words are an attempt to bring a little sanity back into this situation.

I understand that you are angry. Sleep on it.

Sleep on it.

My credit card is ready. Make your stuff. Build your models. I will buy them.

Thanks to all of you merchants - creative as you are, and doubtless as you will continue to be.

XENOPHONZ, I am not going to speak for all the merchants but please understand that we are greatful for customers like you. as Merchants, as buisness people, we feel this is a bad idea on Renderosity's part and will eventually effect our sales and our livlihoods in other ways in other forms down the road. We are angry because if this can be done to a select few of this, what is next? unfortunantly the customers only see what is going on in the public forums not in the backrooms. WWe are asking questions and getting ignored. Which is not how you run a buisness. When you think about it the only money rosity really makes comes from 2 sources.. Their own sales (magazine and mugs t-shirts and hats) And the merchants here. We support most of the forums, galleries and all with our sales. If not for that how would rosity be able to expand and encompass as much as it does.. And yet now Merchants are under attack. We are being told to do it their way or suffer the consequences. We have been told in the past that we have to only place our ads in one area, so we do. Only do this or that. Make sure all our items sell continously or get moved to the warehouse. They ask for feedback and when told with a RESOUNDING HELL NO They just shrug and say Too damned bad that's how it is. Unfortunantly you might understand it better if you could read what's going on behind the scenes.. but I can't even show you that. You have to go by our words. Ultimately we are trying to protect the rights and privlages of our customers, and yet we feel that because we are constantly being ignored we are unable to. And that is unacceptable to our own buisness sense. We want to provide our customers with Quality, With choices, with something they can feel good owning. Not buy some piece of drivel just because we cannot run our buisness' with some matter of Honor and dignity. Most of us feel this is an attack us because if it can be done to a select few it can be done to all of us. And then where would our customers be? It's something we feel strongly about. And we would hope our customers support our feelings because we are trying to provide you with the best your money can buy. And we should have all the tools available to us to do that. As long as we are merchants here.

Ditto to what Stormrage said. I wish the non-merchants could really see what is going on behind the scenes and how badly all our questions are being ignored...

well i love everything i have ever gotten as a gift from a merchant or friend i love the quality of stuff you guys do so if you all leave i will fallow with my credit card :)

I'm a merchant and a customer both, as are many merchants. After reading the posts explaining their motives, I'm trying to understand rosity's side, but just not seeing it.

I am not a merchant but I do have some knowledge of business. I've always been amazed at how lenient Rosity has been with competitors; hell, they even opened a special forum for merchants and allowed all competition to advertise there. That's like Chevy letting Ford post ads for their new Mustang in all their dealerships. It's nuts, but I like it cuz it makes shopping easier for me. I've never had a bad experience with a vendor here, I like every one I've ever dealt with and hate to see any leave. But I understand if they do leave over this as, apparently, they've been insulted...or feel insulted. I wouldn't hang around either, no matter how much money was involved. However, businesswise, it's probably a bad move. I for one probably will not go hunting around different sites to shop. No time. Rosity is one central place to look for stuff. So, unless the quality vendors leave en masse and all go to one place, they will probably lose sales. On the other hand, if they don't leave they would be sending the message that the PTB here can do whatever they want whenever they want. Overall a bad thing for everyone. What's the answer? Don't know really. I wonder if the vendors who are pulling their stores will post ads in the Product Showcase? I wonder if they'll be allowed to?

Well Stromrage, It may or may not affect your sales, I fully intend to contact any merchnant whos merchandise I want directly. If I can get it that way, they make ALL the money and I get the product I want without lining the pockets of a site that clearly couldnt care less about its members or merchants.

Spiritbro.. S Again I can only speak for myself.. but I have done and am doing custom orders for my clients and customers and would have no problems filling any order you would want directly. I think Most merchants understand if customers are a bit disallusioned with Rosity right now especially since we ourselves are as well. The Rosity store, any store makes it easier for our customers to shop because in a way it's like a mall.. all kinds of stores are housed here so for you it's one stop shopping without havign to go all over hells half acre.. or a million websites to get what you want.. but we aren't happy with the state of things.

Stormrage-

Thank you for taking the time to answer my original post.

I will keep an eye on your products in the future.

However, I will find them most quickly if they are available here, in the marketplace.

Thanks again.

And perhaps I should mention one other matter ---

The fact that we are all allowed to post harsh criticisms of Renderosity, on Renderosity's forums, using Renderosity's bandwidth, for the entire membership to see -- and that the critical posts are not deleted immediately by Renderosity's staff--

I think this says something about the management.

If the administration is as dictatorial as some claim, then why don't all critical posts simply vanish within seconds?

This is not the behavior of tyrants and dictators.

Within reason, everyone seems to be allowed to speak their mind here.

I like that. I hope that others do, also.

Oh I understand Stormrage,8-) I can always find and list what I want from the store and then contact the vendor directly. Its nice that you are so candid with your views about the new policy. You are very brave, it seems around here anymore if you express dissagrement with a policy you are soon gone. Peace to you.

Xeno, you may be able to post critical threads, but they very quickly are locked. Happens all the time.

Spritbro... L hmmmm I started in the poser community three or four years ago and began by getting myself banned from this site. :) one thing I am is outspoken. I haven't changed my spots at anytime since then and Rosity knows it. :) Some would say I am not brave.. just a troublemaker.. Others know that when I feel strongly about something you couldn't shut me up with a million yards of tape :) Rosity and I argue but I believe in every poser site out there. I have been mod or admin at Most of them so I know them perhaps better than The average member. which means that I have to speak my mind when I disagree on something. XENOPHONZ, Currently I have no plans to move my store.. One half of the Thunderstorm Creations team, (my husband) will not be submitting products here which will mean some of our newer stuff will be elsewhere.. but for now my own personal items will remain here. thought that is subject to change should I deem it necessary. I'd prefer not since I have spent a lot of time and effort making my store here. And when threads disappear around here people tend to get upset so rosity leaves them. Don't get me wrong.. Rosity sometimes causes stirs like this.. The community isn't going to die.. the store isn't. but the merchants will express their dislike and disgust on this issue.. which will mean some of the best are going to be found elsewhere.. Which I really hope that They didn't want to happen.

"The fact that we are all allowed to post harsh criticisms of Renderosity, on Renderosity's forums, using Renderosity's bandwidth, for the entire membership to see -- and that the critical posts are not deleted immediately by Renderosity's staff-- I think this says something about the management." Well to a certain extent I would agree. But, search the forums for moved posts (primarily to OT) and you will see that this is not a unilaterally enforced ideal. R'osity staff have already mentioned resource issues regarding the immediacy with which some "administrivia" is able to be dealt with. Only time will tell. Also, some level of "ego stroking" and publicity, either negative or positive, does help to implant names, places, etc, into the minds of readers. (Ever wonder why you hardly hear as much of the wonderfulness of the world in news media as the crises?) Only time will tell what the ramifications of these decisions will be.