Rules clarification needed regarding deal titles at Buxr.com

admin

Posted by YanBz on May 13, 2010

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In general the title should be short but descriptive. Coupons and Sales must include store name, preferably at the beginning. Product deals must not include price or shipping in the title. "(Refurbished)" must be stated in the title if this is the case. "(Limited States)" is recommended for the limited availability offers. "(In-store Only)" for in-store only deals.

These have been the rules so far, the ones we enforce. I also suggest to add these rules to the list, they have not been strictly enforced so far:

No self promotion allowed e.g. use of adjectives like cute, hot, great, or capitalizing the title or using the exclamation mark. You are welcome to promote your deal in the description.

What do you think?

teacher

Posted by phunkeey on May 13, 2010

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Buxr would shoot itself in the foot by banning all caps when a deal offers something for free.

This is a big reason why people visit deal sites, and I think people actually enjoy it.

professor

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Posted by orangearrows on May 13, 2010
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You gotta point - I second that.

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010

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I concur with Yan, which is why those types of additions are largely edited out if spotted.

professor

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Posted by orangearrows on May 13, 2010

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I would say add the model number where required. " 42" SONY HDTV Wide-screen 1080p" is too vague . Makes sense if you are a store and running a weekend deals AD and you happen to highlight that on your front page. But when there are so many deals showing up here at BUXR adding a model number probably might be required especially in cases when electronics are involved since model numbers decide the value of these devices.

teacher

Posted by phunkeey on May 13, 2010

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Daily deal winners for "FREE" items:

http://www.buxr.com/deal/kraft.....pack_50154

http://www.buxr.com/deal/ulta-.....ases_49995

http://www.buxr.com/deal/free-.....tion_49849

http://www.buxr.com/deal/sepho.....hase_50828

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010
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I missed those, but I will fix them now for you.

teacher

Posted by phunkeey on May 13, 2010
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What you are missing is the point.

People like it. It's fun. And it's good for Buxr.

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010

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With regards to the use of the word "free" in a title.

1. Its stated in bright red letters down in the corner of a freebie deal.
2. Its typically stated in the deal title somewhere.
3. Its typically stated in the description somewhere. (Often multiple times.)

This is more than sufficient to garner any non-blind human being's attention.

Superfluous capitalization of words is not required in any title.

teacher

Posted by phunkeey on May 13, 2010

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Nice. You retroactively change the titles of daily deal winners.

Ever read 1984?

Those deals likely won partly BECAUSE of the title.

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010

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Yes, I fixed them, and I can guarantee, with no reservation, that the number of votes they garnered had nothing to do with capitalization. I'm not sure where members get that notion from.

Yes, quite a few times actaully, and the book warms my heart every time.

teacher

Posted by phunkeey on May 13, 2010

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You're smart enough to know that you can guarantee no such thing. The only way to know for sure is to have the same deal posted both ways and visible to different viewers while controlling for other factors. You and I both know this.

Now, what's the problem? If that's how members want to post their deals, what exactly is the problem?

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010

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Do you really need me to go pull out the much larger portion of freebie wins that did not have capitalization to show you? I really hope not.

I could even pull out examples with capitalization that did not win, and in fact performed poorly.

So yes, I can, and I do, guarantee it. Your small sample size has only produced a false corollary.

teacher

Posted by phunkeey on May 13, 2010

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Small sample size? All I did was go 3-4 pages back through May's winners. I didn't attempt to sample anything.

Besides the question is why does it matter?

I repeat: it's fun, people like it, and it's good for buxr.

What's bad for buxr is inconsistent and unfair enforcement of "rules."

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010

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1. You will have consistency as a guideline/rule will most likely be in force shortly.

2. The concept of "free" is good in this setting, not its capitalization.

3. Its abrupt capitalization can actaully confuse, and make readability more difficult. This is especially true for those with dyslexia. The absence of capitalization is and can be good.

professor

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Posted by orangearrows on May 13, 2010

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2. The concept of "free" is good in this setting, not its capitalization.

replying to the above > well the concept of Free gets better when it written as FREE as it's more noticeable. Am sure you can notice FREE much easier as compared to free in this particular paragraph.

3. Its abrupt capitalization can actually confuse, and make readability more difficult. This is especially true for those with dyslexia. The absence of capitalization is and can be good.

I think it does not confuse - it's just one word which everyone in this world likes to see and if it's in CAPS - I or for that matter anyone would see it better.

master

Posted by iggy27 on May 13, 2010

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It Can Be A Little Confusing.

professor

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Posted by MrCheap on May 13, 2010

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You are wrong, Solstice. Capitalizing titles does make a difference and this is exactly why Buxr should not allow it. It creates inequality among submissions.

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010

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Maybe one day, when I get really really really bored, I'll break out my statistical analysis program and throw some serious formulas at the data. I'll rock up some chi scores for you all and show you what I already know to be true.

Members seem to believe it makes a difference, but it really does not. Its the concept of "free" that is getting the attention, and then what is actaully being given away value-wise that decides ultimate voting. The capitalization of the word does nothing for the offer or votes it gets.

A free item is more likely to get a vote, because its free, but the freebie value is also important.

However, in the remote possibility that I'm wrong, then Mr. cheap gives us one more good reason to not allow it. (I'm tipping my hat for you.)

professor

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Posted by orangearrows on May 13, 2010

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I think capz in titles does not really make BUXR a bad place or a less efficient one or gives the deals a bad flavor. I see it only adding some attention to the deal. It's a harmless addition which I think people need not kill over.

Add it - Close it - forget it.

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 13, 2010

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Yan, clearly you're just going to have to make a call on this one.
Its a pretty even split, with arguments on both sides.

Throw argument and democracy out the window, embrace 1984 as an ideal, and give both members and moderators a ruling to guide them. I think enlightened despotism will carry us through on this one.

professor

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Posted by WhattaDealBlog on May 13, 2010

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I fall on the "FREE" is OK side personally. Also I personally PREFER the model # in the title.

If I'm looking for Samsung Blu-Rays I'd like to know what model they are without having to open each option individually. I think it helps with the overall value of the deal, and makes it easier to search and skim through the data on the site.

teacher

Posted by phunkeey on May 17, 2010

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Well here's one way to get your "FREE" deal in:

http://www.buxr.com/deal/frien.....-5th_51095

professor

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Posted by mooncow728 on May 17, 2010

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I for one don't think it matters all that much. As long as the deal title is short and explains everything then why does capitalization matter? It doesn't distract from the deal or make it that much more noticeable. It doesn't make me vote for something that I wouldn't ordinarily. It just makes the poster feel better about their deal in my opinion.

The problem I've been seeing far too much lately is what seems to be nonstop bickering at each other. I understand that this is a contest and people want to win. I just don't understand why anymore there is always some argument.

Now don't get me wrong, I have agreed to a few of the complaints lately but it's never ending anymore. Over a year ago when I joined, Buxr was a happy place. People seemed to get along (minus the neg wars) and didn't complain about the rules all the time. So why can't we get back there?

The way things have been lately just make me want to leave Buxr. I can't believe how many new people have actually stuck around either with the way everything has been. Buxr used to be addictive to me but not anymore.

And I know some people are probably going to say if you don't want to hear it, then don't read it. Well I wouldn't read it but it seems if you don't read the stupid drama then you don't find out when rules are going to change. Or something will happen in the comments of a deal and you have no idea what's going on. And I'm guessing that this comment is going to get negged but I'm happy to finally get this out.

I just want Buxr to be everything it used to be, not only for us but for all the future Buxrites. I bet you can all agree that this place is addictive and can be so much fun. /endrant

professor

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Posted by Solstice on May 17, 2010

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Mooncow, I think you should know that I love your rants.
That also might be one of the highest complements I can give any member.

admin

Posted by YanBz on May 18, 2010

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A great rant, one only a truly dedicated Buxrite could have said! I think it is time for you, Mooncow, to join the "power" ranks. You just proved you are worthy the title.

professor

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Posted by orangearrows on May 18, 2010

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Nice write up Mooncow but as I know BUXR is quite peaceful these days.

Before -- it used to be a War Zone.

Now things are more settled - streamlined and orderly.

Phunkeey is a old member and has his (assuming he's John Wayne) opinion which was expressed in a pretty nice way (If you read the title - he's asked for Clarification). Yeah he's frustrated since unnecessary interference in ones deals can get to you sometimes since we all spend time submitting it - and we all want to win. But again - once the rules are laid out - whatever they are - am sure we all are going to abide by it.

Again - these opinions / arguments we go back and forth - is what made BUXR it is now.Agreed they sometimes get annoying but without these going back and forth comments ( including yours mine and Phunkeey's ) BUXR would be just another deal site.

I think if YAN can have the last word to this - we can all close this matter and move on.

professor

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Posted by mooncow728 on May 18, 2010

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Well thanks Yan and Solstice didn't expect anything positive to come from that, just had to vent.

admin

Posted by YanBz on May 18, 2010

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And here it is, the last word that's it.

There will be no rule set forth regarding using caps. It is up to the submitter to keep things orderly and avoid extreme use of caps. It seems the consensus is that capitalized FREE is OK and it is fine with me. Entire title in caps - certainly not. Select names/words in caps - will have to look at them on a case by case basis.

I certainly don't want myself or Buxr admins to interfere with the way you guys express yourself in your deals. Creative deal descriptions are welcome and will likely get you extra votes. The deal title however is a very significant part of the deal and the goal here is to offer Buxr visitors certain uniformity, at least at the front end of their shopping experience.

professor

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Posted by CouponNut on May 14, 2011

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Great topic for more clarification.