Silk Road forums

Support => Feature requests => Topic started by: anarcho47 on December 12, 2011, 02:42 am

Title: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: anarcho47 on December 12, 2011, 02:42 am
This is something that we should have implemented a long time ago, and I never thought to even mention it.  Now it seems so obvious.

We should set up a way to manage contact within the SR site.  Put people into groups that you can message all at the same time, done by username.

The reason I bring this up is because I put up a very sweet product offer, and I was thinking to myself "man, I wish there was a way I could send this to all of my GOOD/regular customers ahead of time so they get a chance to grab it up before anyone else."  Which made me realize two things:

First of all, I would have to spend hours combing through my messages and forum threads to track down my good customers, and secondly I would need to manually send each one of them a message about this deal.  This would be insanely time-consuming.  If I had a way of saving/organizing contacts right on the SR messaging system, I would be able to add my buyers to a "good" category (or not) after each transaction was completed, and then I would have a kind of "you get it first" list for when I get a bead on a sweet deal that I could send out ahead of my forum post by a day or two.

How hard would something like this be with the current messaging system the way it is?
Title: Re: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: newbyuno on December 12, 2011, 07:54 am
As a buyer I would see product offers from vendors similar to spam... I can see your listings on the page I don't really need a message every time you have what you consider a good deal. Also the fact that you would be saving my username on SR in a "good buyer" category would concern me of your security methods.
Title: Re: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: anarcho47 on December 12, 2011, 01:29 pm
As far as security methods go, that's a bit insane.

And I'm sure having a username sitting in "Category 1" would be a major tip to LE.  A lot more major that a breakdown of how many purchases you have made on SR as well as every message you have posted in the forums (readily accessible to any seller, and any person on the forums, repspectively).

Also, I would obviously be asking my good buyers if they wanted to opt-in to the deals.  As far as spam goes, I have only had 3 of these deals in the past 4-5 months.

It would be equally important for me to set up another category where I can add buyer usenames in the "people you never let buy from you again, or in the first place".  I lurk the forums often and add to my list of buyers from what other established sellers write.  Currently it's a list on an encrypted flash drive, which I always check if an unknown buyer orders from me.
Title: Re: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: JesusTwice on December 23, 2011, 08:13 am
To kill the problem of the "Spamming Effect", you could add a feature that let the receiver of these messages opt-out of any new messages from this vendor.

Or maybe message this customer and give them the opportunity to opt-in to your preferred customers list, and also giving them the option to opt-out at any future date.

My .002 BTC
Title: Re: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: friendlyoutlaw on December 23, 2011, 11:48 am
Perhaps SR could implement a feature where you "subscribe" to a vendor. This would put all of the power in the hands of the consumer, while still enabling vendors to reach out to interested parties.

So, let's say I subscribe to Anarcho47.

Then, he has a new group buy at crazy prices and he wants to get the word out. So, he would access a link to post a message to his subscribers, which they would get as private messages.

Perhaps you could even have an option to "Notify me when Vendor provides a new listing"...and perhaps that feature would, by default, ignore any listings that contain the string "custom" so people don't get hit with a bunch of meaningless custom orders.

Man, this would seriously kick ass. This is one place where I _do_ want to get "spammed"...
Title: Re: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: Variety Jones on December 23, 2011, 03:00 pm
That asshole who spammed everyone with his listings for fake hash products over on SR pretty much shows what would happen if you allowed unregulated and uninvited PM Spam Blasts from vendors, or anyone.

Perhaps SR could implement a feature where you "subscribe" to a vendor. This would put all of the power in the hands of the consumer, while still enabling vendors to reach out to interested parties.

So, let's say I subscribe to Anarcho47.

Then, he has a new group buy at crazy prices and he wants to get the word out. So, he would access a link to post a message to his subscribers, which they would get as private messages.

Perhaps you could even have an option to "Notify me when Vendor provides a new listing"...and perhaps that feature would, by default, ignore any listings that contain the string "custom" so people don't get hit with a bunch of meaningless custom orders.

Man, this would seriously kick ass. This is one place where I _do_ want to get "spammed"...
Not a bad idea at all, if a way could be designed to ensure that they don't spam or otherwise annoy folks with it.

There is also of course the Product Offers forum, where most vendors currently make their announcements.
Title: Re: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: 100% American on December 31, 2011, 01:31 am
I would love a msg system. So many times I wanted to msg people on SR only to find out I could not.
Title: Re: Standard Messaging Feature
Post by: Variety Jones on January 01, 2012, 03:58 pm
I would love a msg system. So many times I wanted to msg people on SR only to find out I could not.

Erm, you can. When on SR, just clicky on the name of the person you want to message to get to their profile. Then clicky on the little 'send Variety Jones a message' linky thing. 8)