Link Removed By Moderator

[+Sputnik 57]

In a recent thread in the Units and Software forum, the OP contained a link to a commercial site offering a new Garmin 60Cx. Later, the link was removed by a moderator, with a quote of the forum guidelines.

Commercial Postings/Solicitations are not allowed. Commercial content as a direct or indirect (either intentional or non-intentional) attempt to solicit customers through a forum post will be edited or deleted. Notwithstanding the above, Groundspeak reserves the right to include limited commercial content in this Forum, in its sole discretion.

Last week, I had a link pointing to what appeared to be good deal for a GPSr on Amazon.com removed as well. I e-mailed the moderator for clarification, but have not yet received a reply.

 

My link wasn't to a site that I am in any way affiliated with. I certainly wasn't trying to solicit costomers for the site. I was just pointing it out as an example of current pricing. Members frequently link to outside commecial sites (Garmin, Magellan, RAM mounts, Gilsson antennas, backpacks vests, hiking sticks, etc.) and those links haven't been edited. Is there a new move to restrict outside links that may be sen as solicitations?

 

I'm not trying to start a fight about what should or should not be allowed. This isn't my sandbox, and I am happy to play here by whatever rules TPTB choose to impose. I'm confused, though, about what to do when the rules don't appear to be applied consistently. I would like to continue to post outside links that are helpful to other users, but would like some clarification on the policy. Can anyone enlighten me?

[+ChileHead]

I certainly don' t want to see advertising, but if somebody says "product x is available from y" I would find it useful. Or "soAndSo.com has the Garmin 60cs on sale for $129 while supplies last!" ... I'd want to see that!

[Keystone]

Which forum was the Amazon link posted in? If it was the GPS Garage Sale Forum, then it was posted to the wrong forum. If it was the GPS Units and Software Forum then, as I have posted previously, the volunteer moderator team is currently discussing with Groundspeak how exactly they would like to see the "no commercial postings" guideline enforced in their forums.

[+ricstone]

im with Sputnik57 on this also. i have been a Paying member sence 03 i dont use the fourms very often except when looking for such stuff like has been deleated. any way what do i know? thanks for letting me grip a little.

[+Sputnik 57]

If it was the GPS Units and Software Forum then, as I have posted previously, the volunteer moderator team is currently discussing with Groundspeak how exactly they would like to see the "no commercial postings" guideline enforced in their forums.

It was in Units and Software. Sorry Keystone. With the search function currently disabled, I wasn't able to find prior posts on this topic. I'm glad to hear that the topic is under discussion. I'm hopeful that some more specific guidelines can be given soon.

[Keystone]

No need to apologize. If the search feature was working, I'd have been able to find your edited post on my own.

 

The post where I talked a bit about this was in the GPS Garage Sale Forum, in a similar thread discussing the "no commercial posts" policy. I'd find it for you and link to it, but ummm, you know...

[+Les Nomades]

I think that with all the people coming on the forum to share their experience, its a incredible eye over this magnificient world of GPS. If someone sees or ears something that could be interesting for the rest of us, with of course having no affiliation to the site he's refering too, I believe he should be allowed to share this information with everyone else.

[+Alan2]

It just happened to me when I linked to a CF GPS site that just came out with the new SirfIII chipset - an important milestone. Are we suppose to delete links to garmin, Magellan, National Geographic, GSAK, gpxsonar, etc? It's so helpful to others especially newcomers. Sure there are the few that are trying to push their product, but that is a real minority and pretty obvious. There's never been a problem with links before so why fix it? Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[+TotemLake]

I'm in agreement with the general consensus of this thread so far.

 

If it's merely a pointer as has been past practice, then where is the solicitation? If it's okay to provide the pointer when someone asks where is the best price, then it's akin to answring the question before it is asked. I would submit in either case though, there should be the obligatory statement of non-affiliation.

[+briansnat]

I'm in agreement with the general consensus of this thread so far.

 

If it's merely a pointer as has been past practice, then where is the solicitation? If it's okay to provide the pointer when someone asks where is the best price, then it's akin to answring the question before it is asked. I would submit in either case though, there should be the obligatory statement of non-affiliation.

I agree. If Amazon.com or Offroute.com posted here that would be an obvious violation. If a fellow geocacher sees a great deal out there and gives us a heads up, I don't see an issue. Its a service to the rest of us.

 

There are some gray areas in between the two and I think the forum mods have done a good job dealing with them on a case by case basis.

[+Mopar]

But how is one to tell?

Maybe the person posting the great deal at amazon DOES work for amazon, or owns stock. Maybe they have a referral embedded in the url. I've seen that here a few times in the past. The poster gets a commission on stuff bought through the posted link.

If I could search the forums, I'd point to a recently discussed event that was hosted by someone who works for a GPS company. What was billed as a general event to learn about GPS turned out to be an infomercial for the company's newest model. Not quite the same as posting a link, but the idea is you usually don't know who the person posting is.

 

The people who own these forums have made it pretty clear they don't want them used for advertising. The special rules for the sale forum are pretty specific that private sales between 2 cachers are ok, but commercial sales are not.

What's the problem?

[+Alan2]

I think you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Lots of important info gets linked to help other cachers. That will be gone with this new policy.

 

Also, if I say mapopolis is a good mapping program and provide the link mapopolis.com and the link but not the word is deleted, what is accomplished? I'm still refernceing a product and there still no way to know if I'm just giving a helpful link or own stock in Mapopolis.

[+Team Flashncache]

No need to apologize.  If the search feature was working, I'd have been able to find your edited post on my own. 

 

The post where I talked a bit about this was in the GPS Garage Sale Forum, in a similar thread discussing the "no commercial posts" policy.  I'd find it for you and link to it, but ummm, you know...

Would I be labeled a total creep to say that perhaps; until the search function is fully active again, maybe the mods and (I use this term realizing that I'm gonna get killed for it) the forum bullies just lay off for a while?

 

Just my 2 cents, not wanting to start a war, just thought I'd POST MY OPINION!!!

[+El Diablo]

What forum bullies are you referring to?

 

El Diablo

[+Corp Of Discovery]

Here's the link to the other discussion on this topic: Commercial Posts . That wasn't so hard, and I didn't even need to use the search feature.

 

I too think it's bad that the ability to give a fellow cacher a heads up on good pricing, or even just info on where to find something, is being curtailed.

 

Edit: typo.

Edited December 27, 2005 by Corp Of Discovery

[+Criminal]

Edited by moderator in a vain attempt to get that end of the year bonus.

Edited December 27, 2005 by CYBret

[+briansnat]

Would I be labeled a total creep to say that perhaps; until the search function is fully active again, maybe the mods and (I use this term realizing that I'm gonna get killed for it) the forum bullies just lay off for a while?

 

Forum bullies? Do you have examples?

[Keystone]

No need to apologize.  If the search feature was working, I'd have been able to find your edited post on my own. 

 

The post where I talked a bit about this was in the GPS Garage Sale Forum, in a similar thread discussing the "no commercial posts" policy.  I'd find it for you and link to it, but ummm, you know...

Would I be labeled a total creep to say that perhaps; until the search function is fully active again, maybe the mods and (I use this term realizing that I'm gonna get killed for it) the forum bullies just lay off for a while?

 

Just my 2 cents, not wanting to start a war, just thought I'd POST MY OPINION!!!

I think that the moderators are being much more lenient about duplicate threads lately, since we know that people can't search and likely aren't looking past the beginning of the first page of forum threads. I know that I am. I think that the post of mine which you quoted is a good example of that.

 

As for the on-topic posts regarding commercialism, I thank everyone for their input. I am reading everything very carefully.

[+TotemLake]

No need to apologize.  If the search feature was working, I'd have been able to find your edited post on my own. 

 

The post where I talked a bit about this was in the GPS Garage Sale Forum, in a similar thread discussing the "no commercial posts" policy.  I'd find it for you and link to it, but ummm, you know...

Would I be labeled a total creep to say that perhaps; until the search function is fully active again, maybe the mods and (I use this term realizing that I'm gonna get killed for it) the forum bullies just lay off for a while?

 

Just my 2 cents, not wanting to start a war, just thought I'd POST MY OPINION!!!

I get tired of people who refer to folks that disagree with them as forum bullies. I'm also offended by the term no matter who it was in reference to. It is a violation of the forum guidelines by not treating everybody with respect regardless of difference of opinion. Perhaps you might want to use a different term in the near future?

[+Sputnik 57]

Threads discussing which online store or brick & mortar store has the best selection, prices, etc. are arguably on topic in the GPS Units and Software Forum.  As part of the coordinated discussion of this issue just mentioned by CO Admin, we have posed this question to Groundspeak for clarification under the "commercial" section of the Forum Guidelines.  But it is fairly clear that such discussions are not related to the "personal selling or giving away of geocaching related items," which is the subject of the GPS Garage Sale Forum.

 

I can clearly understand a policy is the garage sale forum to prohibit commercial links. As Keystone says, however, these links are often on topic in the Units and Software forum. I could certainly deal with different guidelines for the two forums.

 

In my specific post, the thread title was "A Newbie, Lookin At A Garmin 60c, can anyone change my mind?" My reply was

 

I just got a <link deleted by moderator> Garmin Quest for my directionally challenged daughter.  I happened to get it for $299.  It is a little higher at the moment.

 

Three things favor the Quest, over the 60C, IMHO.  First, it comes with City Select maps.  If you buy the 60C, you have to spring for the maps to get any meaningful autorouting. City Select runs about $110 from reputable on-line retailers [post continued to outline Quest benefits. . . .

 

I would normally have linked to the Garmin page discussing the Quest's features, but having just gotten a great deal on Amazon, I linked to that page instead (which also details the Quest's features). Would the link to Garmin's site been a "commercial post"?

[+New England n00b]

Ack! Sputnik broke the forums!

[+Geo Froggy]

I would normally have linked to the Garmin page discussing the Quest's features, but having just gotten a great deal on Amazon, I linked to that page instead (which also details the Quest's features).  Would the link to Garmin's site been a "commercial post"?

Of course it would, it is a commercial site.

 

Jackie

 

Edited to add: wouldn't programs such as GSAK and Cachemate also be commercial?

Edited December 27, 2005 by Geo Froggy

[Mustcache]

 

The people who own these forums have made it pretty clear they don't want them used for advertising. The special rules for the sale forum are pretty specific that private sales between 2 cachers are ok, but commercial sales are not.

What's the problem?

One could argue that your avatar is a commercial ad.

 

[+CO Admin]

 

The people who own these forums have made it pretty clear they don't want them used for advertising. The special rules for the sale forum are pretty specific that private sales between 2 cachers are ok, but commercial sales are not.

What's the problem?

One could argue that your avatar is a commercial ad.

 

ONE could argue that, but the people that own the site do not have a problem with it so it is not an issue. Avatars are dealt with under a different guideline than postings. That makes your point moot.

Edited December 27, 2005 by CO Admin

[+worldtraveler]

...Maybe they have a referral embedded in the url. I've seen that here a few times in the past. The poster gets a commission on stuff bought through the posted link.

Since Keystone is reading with interest, I'll add my vote for allowing links. I think the mods and forum participants have been pretty effective in distinguishing between helpful links and blatant commercialism, so I don't even care if the poster is an employee of the link target as long as he doesn't cross that line. But I'd also be in favor of permanently banning any account that engages in the activity to which Mopar refers.

[+geognerd]

I think the mods and forum participants have been pretty effective in distinguishing between helpful links and blatant commercialism <snip>

I agree. Just today Keystone nipped that REI post in the bud over in the Getting Started section. Pretty blatant, considering the user name. Swift action by Keystone. There hasn't been much of a problem (at least that I've noticed) with commercial posts. When people link to Amazon or TigerGPS or Magellan, it's not so much to sell a product or promote a store as it is about making someone aware of what is out there and where it is available. If linking becomes prohibited, I'd be OK with it. As long as we're allowed to link to the GPSr manufacturers, because those are essential tools of the trade.

 

As for sales...Instead of providing a link, we could just reply to someone who was looking for info about the 60C by saying "Since you're looking at the 60C, you might want to check the current sale at Amazon." That would require the reader to seek the deal themself; the reader was in no way shepherded to Amazon. BTW, just using Amazon as an example. I'm just a customer - not an employee or investor.

[+5winters]

Been watching this discussion and I think that links posted to helpful sites that are not blatent sales adds are helpfull and interesting. Just a side note I saw Jeremy post a link to a commercial site in the "How Do You Carry Your Gps When Caching?" thread, as an observation only. (sorry no idea how to link)

[+Sputnik 57]

Jeremy's post links to a product site. There is no "add to shopping cart" button when you get there. Maybe that is the distinction. If you are linking to product info, with no obvious way to purchase the product from that link, would it be okay? Again, just trying to get clarity here.

[+BlueDeuce]

...nevermind

Edited December 27, 2005 by BlueDeuce

[+sbell111]

What about those cachers who sell different geocaching-related items. Can they link to their store? Can they offer their merchandise without links? What is the rule on this?

[+Alan2]

If linking becomes prohibited, I'd be OK with it. As long as we're allowed to link to the GPSr manufacturers, because those are essential tools of the trade.

 

Who says? I use my Ipaq PPC with a Globalsat CF GPS slipped in to it do more caching now than my old Vista. Technology changes. There's more equipment out there, a lot of it better than what Garmin and similar companies offer. In fact my link to the Globalsat was what was deleted. Why? Would a similar link to Garmin Vista be deleted?

[+JimmyEv]

Since Keystone is reading with interest, I'll add my vote for allowing links. I think the mods and forum participants have been pretty effective in distinguishing between helpful links and blatant commercialism, so I don't even care if the poster is an employee of the link target as long as he doesn't cross that line. But I'd also be in favor of permanently banning any account that engages in the activity to which Mopar refers.

I agree with this. I've found quite a lot of useful things in the forums here, and quite a few deals posted to our local forums. It's always nice to know if a store is selling explorist 100's for $50, or is having a half-off clearance on kayaks, or has $10 trekking poles that rock compared to the ones you saw for $45 somewhere else.

[+TotemLake]

There's a significant difference between solicitation and just providing a simple link to a great deal. The trouble is when trying to hammer out the solicitation with a black and white policy, the action also kills the interaction this site is so good at, helping others to find a great deal. That sole action is a part of the hobby. If the mod's were to follow this as a black and white policy, the Garage Sale forum is in direct violation of that policy and quite simply should be shut down. It is afterall, solicitous by default. Bottom line is, the great deal isn't just in the Garage Sale, it is out there, the Internet and enthusiasts of a hobby will want to post links to them.

 

Yes you will have those that will abuse, such as that REI topic in the Getting Started Forum, and rightly so, that should be locked down and kicked out. But providing a simple link that offers a great deal shouldn't be deleted just because it had a shopping cart button.

 

Mopar Posted: Dec 26 2005, 05:38 PM 

 

But how is one to tell?

Maybe the person posting the great deal at amazon DOES work for amazon, or owns stock. Maybe they have a referral embedded in the url. I've seen that here a few times in the past. The poster gets a commission on stuff bought through the posted link. 

 

Just because a few baddies are using firearms to kill folks, you're still out there defending the right to own and bear arms. So why is it your statement is akin to saying everyone is guilty until proven innocent just because of a few violators to posting links that are defined as solicitation? In this great land of ours we should be able to assume in this business and sport people are innocent until proven guilty. TPTB have the tools to ferret out the baddies without having to use a sledge hammer policy.

[+Mearth]

Having lost a precious message board to obnoxious advertising that drives folks away, I agree that this issue should be a high priority. However, in the spirit of geocaching's preference for guidelines vs. rules, I think the forum mods should be given the elbow room to make any tricky evaluations for themselves rather than try to put an encompassing policy on paper. This assumes that noobie mods are mentored to some degree and any rogue mod that may appear in the future could be bullied off the playground.

[+TotemLake]

You'll hear no argument on me about the need for wiggle room. I'm merely debating against a sledge hammer policy.

[+Mopar]

Just because a few baddies are using firearms to kill folks, you're still out there defending the right to own and bear arms. So why is it your statement is akin to saying everyone is guilty until proven innocent just because of a few violators to posting links that are defined as solicitation? In this great land of ours we should be able to assume in this business and sport people are innocent until proven guilty. TPTB have the tools to ferret out the baddies without having to use a sledge hammer policy.

Very true.

However.......

 

I'll also defend a person or private company's right to bar firearms from their property.

It's their home or store, they have the right to say what goes.

Either I accept that or go elsewhere.

 

Same thing here. If TPTB do not want to have to be bothered trying to have to decide if Joe Geocacher is posting a link to AcmeAmmoCans.com because it's cool, or he's posting it because his uncle's brother's friend owns it; that's their prerogative.

[+TotemLake]

Same thing here. If TPTB do not want to have to be bothered trying to have to decide if Joe Geocacher is posting a link to AcmeAmmoCans.com because it's cool, or he's posting it because his uncle's brother's friend owns it; that's their prerogative.

 

I agree with this, but I disagree there is a sledge hammer need to shut down everybody from posting links to great deals just because of a few bad apples trying to make a buck. There is always going to be that newbie coming on board seeking the best deal with other surfers silently agreeing and they're not going to get that info due to the ban on posting commercial links out of fear of it being considered solicitous in nature.

 

This community is here to help and posting links to good deals and better equipment will always be the norm. I said this before and I'll say it again, it is the community's responsibility to help police and advise the mods when there is a blatant incident.

[+Alan2]

I'll also defend a person or private company's right to bar firearms from their property.

It's their home or store, they have the right to say what goes.

Either I accept that or go elsewhere.

 

That cuts both ways.

 

I enjoy passing on my knowledge and experience. That's half the fun of posting (the other half is arguing with other posters If TPTB frustrate my ability to do that and I lose interest in ythe forums, not only do the cachers lose, but this web page loses as a business. I'm sure Jeremy does not think that he can do anything he wants because people could go elsewhere, screw them. They may by stopping and he loses too. An attractive and dynamic forum attracts new cachers who become paying members.

 

I just hope after everything fleshes out that the posting continues as it once was.

[+Mopar]

Here's how another forum I use does it:

1) The item be posted in the "For Sale" forum and not in any other forums.

 

2) The item for sale is sold by either a non-commercial entity or a paying sponsor.

 

Any commercial entities/companies that wish to post their wares for sale on the forum are welcome to do so for a period no longer than thirty days and this will only be allowed one single time. After the thirty days the post will be removed. If you wish to post the items for sale beyond the thirty days you will have to become a sponsor.

 

3) Upon sale, trade or completion of your post, please delete your post, or add "SOLD" to the subject.

 

4) Any private sale thread with posts older than 30 days will be periodically deleted.

 

5) Post in the For Sale forum should be of fixed price style post. This is not the place to run an auction or incite a bidding war.

 

6) Please keep the Bump To Top (btt) post to minimum.  We keep the For Sale . . . forum pretty clean, nothing over 30 days, so "btt" post should be used with discretion.

 

As far as the links go, they have a totally different discussion area for that called:

Hey - look at what I found for sale! Sale Items, New Items, Great Price, etc.....

Which is basically just links to things for sale of interest to users of that site. Links might be to auctions, or company sites, or whatever. If someone uses that forum to promote their own company, the thread is deleted and they are asked to become a sponsor (buy banner ads and/or forum space).

Edited December 28, 2005 by Mopar

[+Corp Of Discovery]

 

The people who own these forums have made it pretty clear they don't want them used for advertising. The special rules for the sale forum are pretty specific that private sales between 2 cachers are ok, but commercial sales are not.

What's the problem?

One could argue that your avatar is a commercial ad.

 

ONE could argue that, but the people that own the site do not have a problem with it so it is not an issue. Avatars are dealt with under a different guideline than postings. That makes your point moot.

On topic: Commercial is commercial tho. Ebay seems to be a somewhat taboo place to mention/link to. What if someone were to have an avatar that said 'Shop ebay'?

 

Off topic (slightly): Could one argue that the avatar in question should be changed because one finds it offensive?

 

Not in a commercial way mind you, but c'mon- it's Chrysler........

 

Off topic (totally): I thought you were retired......

[+briansnat]

Same thing here. If TPTB do not want to have to be bothered trying to have to decide if Joe Geocacher is posting a link to AcmeAmmoCans.com because it's cool, or he's posting it because his uncle's brother's friend owns it; that's their prerogative.

 

I agree with this, but I disagree there is a sledge hammer need to shut down everybody from posting links to great deals just because of a few bad apples trying to make a buck. There is always going to be that newbie coming on board seeking the best deal with other surfers silently agreeing and they're not going to get that info due to the ban on posting commercial links out of fear of it being considered solicitous in nature.

 

This community is here to help and posting links to good deals and better equipment will always be the norm. I said this before and I'll say it again, it is the community's responsibility to help police and advise the mods when there is a blatant incident.

I agree with you Totem Lake. There are numerous posts from newbies (and even veterans) asking where the best deal is. I see it as a service to be able to point them in the right direction, even if it includes a link to GPSworld.com. Helping people out is a big part of the purpose of these forums to me.

 

Then there is the question of where to draw the line. If the point is to end all commercial posts, then taken to extremes, a post extolling the virtues of Garmin, Magellan or Lowrance could be considered to be off limits, as could linking to specific models on their websites.

 

If the issue is just linking to sites, then it would it be OK to mention a deal on Amazon.com, but not link there? That doesn't make sense.

 

As I said before, the mods have done a great job of weeding out the obvious solicitations. You see a thread started by someone who just registered and has no finds linking to a "deal" on BuyGPS.com, its pretty obvious that its something that should be quashed. If Totem Lake or Lapaglia were to provide the same link, we can be pretty sure they are just being helpful.

 

It's been done this way all along and its been pretty effective. OK is there a chance that one may get by the mods? Sure, but is the sky going to fall if that happens? Its also possible that Lapaglia just bought tons of stock in BuyGPS.com and I think that would come out in the wash pretty quickly.

Edited December 28, 2005 by briansnat

[+JohnnyVegas]

I would like to see the links to new products remain. This is one way to make sure that incorrect information about a product is not being twisted or mistated. We have seen this happen. With a links to manufactures web sites we have a system of checks and balances to gaurd aganist someone being led to a product that they may not really need. Just yesterday I saw reply posted by a forum reg. the would give the impression that the explorist 210 uses a lithium battery which it does not.

I am sure it was an honest mistake. but we should have links that provide proper information.

[+av8ndv8]

By disallowing all commercial links, you kill about 50% of my enthusiasm for this site.

 

I enjoy seeing -and buying- the deals I find here. I've gotten some smoking deals on hardware and found a few small mom & pop suppliers with great goodies that I would not have found otherwise.

 

It was a nice touch GC had, letting a few small garage-based suppliers get the word out. What a great sense of community I got from that, the big guy letting the little ones ride their coat tails.

 

Most anybody can see if a link has a referral code in it and if the mods don't catch it, someone will mention it. And it doesn't take much history to see if a poster has ulterior, commercial motives. It's already been said a couple of times, you're throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

 

Another thought is to create a forum area that's just for paid commercial posts. Charge a vendor $X and put their message there. It would bring in a few dollars to GC and give vendors a place to reach us geocachers. I would read it just out of curiosity.

 

So I guess where I'm going with this is; please reconsider doing away with all those helpful and non-threatening links that (evidently) most of us want to see remain.

[docdigit]

What about a vendor that gives incredible service that you want to praise? Not selling any particular item, just that they have gone above and beyond? Does that also violate?

 

Doc

[+Lil Devil]

Personally I don't see a problem with mentioning a vendor's name without providing a link. I haven't seen any names deleted so far - just links. There's always Google to find the link.

 

Speaking of Google, doesn't everyone check Froogle before buying something?

Edited December 28, 2005 by Lil Devil

[Bryan]

Groundspeak and the moderators are currently working on a set of guidelines to address commercial vs. non commercial activity in the forums. We should have a policy clarification shortly.

[+TotemLake]

Personally I don't see a problem with mentioning a vendor's name without providing a link. I haven't seen any names deleted so far - just links. There's always Google to find the link.

 

Speaking of Google, doesn't everyone check Froogle before buying something?

As unbelievable as this is; up until last month, I had not known about froogle. But even froogle doesn't point to the best purchases. A quick look at Google/Froogle's advertising policy and it becomes quickly asserted Froogle is a paid for service. There are links that bubble up to the top based on how much money the vendor paid to have it there.

 

Also, not everybody coming to these forums are adept at searching the web. These are the ones that ask for help. Banning the ability to link merely takes away the convenience and adds to the laborious need for text mode links with instructions to copy and paste to the URL Address line. The community needs to be able to continue to provide links.

[+TotemLake]

Groundspeak and the moderators are currently working on a set of guidelines to address commercial vs. non commercial activity in the forums. We should have a policy clarification shortly.

Thanks for the update Rothstafari!

[+Team Flashncache]

Personally I don't see a problem with mentioning a vendor's name without providing a link. I haven't seen any names deleted so far - just links. There's always Google to find the link.

 

Speaking of Google, doesn't everyone check Froogle before buying something?

Personally, I see this as being the solution to the problem. You can say the name all you want, just don't provide a link!

[+geognerd]

If the issue is just linking to sites, then it would it be OK to mention a deal on Amazon.com, but not link there?  That doesn't make sense.

Well, judging by this post in the GPS Units & Software section, it appears this is the policy. At least right now.