Silk Road forums

Support => Feature requests => Topic started by: anon911 on May 29, 2012, 04:48 am

Title: Samples
Post by: anon911 on May 29, 2012, 04:48 am
Is there a system you can set up for people getting samples for review? I always see people asking for samples yet they don't even use it, write a review/trip report so it makes it useless and just gives them free drugs. I see like 1 or 2 people who got samples actually leave a review on it out of the 10+ who got them. It's ridiculous and is screwing over the community. Maybe something like the karma system that says whether or not you fulfilled your duty of testing and reviewing a sample so if they don't they don't get another. If we had such a system, so many people wouldn't have got fucked over on DrGonzo's RC candy when it was supposed to be LSD. We didn't get an actual report on it until about 10 days after he sent out a bunch of samples and there was only about 2 reviews.
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: Caparino on May 29, 2012, 05:16 am
Well, you can always reserve the samples for more reputable forum members. I for one have always left a review for any and all samples I've received.
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: Meister on May 29, 2012, 02:31 pm
Well, you can always reserve the samples for more reputable forum members. I for one have always left a review for any and all samples I've received.

Same here, I've left full and proper reviews for any samples I received. I didn't sample DrGonzo's LSD, but his methylone was legit and appreciated.

There are a lot of things going on with samples though, aside from a review of the product quality. They get several (hopefully) 5/5 feedbacks to get a jump on things, reviews on how to improve their packaging if it needs any improving, but most importantly they are trying to obtain a few repeat customers. If you buy a certain product from a reputable seller you're likely to form a trust with them and stick with them, far less likely to take the risk with a new seller with superior or cheaper product. However, if you can get that person to receive a sample and plant the seed of trust with no risk for the buyer then that's worth more than a good sample review.
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: fitness_n_herb on May 29, 2012, 03:40 pm
I wanted to jump in if I may and play the other side.

I run a tight ship. Before I started selling I offered samples. Got 5ppl to commit to an order after reviewing a sample. A week passed, I listed the samples (I was lacking the $150 to open  the acct so I waited for payday to catch up. And only two people replied. Ok, harder to get established but I send those. One user was a good guy and did his part. The other user, never finalized even after I confirmed DCN. It was crazy frustrating.

As to the system, karma is hard for me. When I first started my forum acct IDK what happened but I got hit with a bunch of dis-likes. I think it was when I was scammed by a seller on SR and more or less flamed his feedback thread b/c he wouldnt reply.

Samples in escrow I feel should (dealers hoice ;>) be reserved for those who established. And as for your last line. I mean no offense and very much respect your thoughts, but I have gotten free samples from Coke-Cola and they never came at me and said I owe them.

If a vendor offers FREE samples, all that can be asked is for the help to be established. That is just my two cents, take it or throw it in a well and wish I didn't ramble :p

-F&H
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: UKMJ on May 29, 2012, 05:53 pm
I think Limetless found a good solution to this problem with his recent 25nci samples. They were on offer to forum users with over 100 posts. By selecting from that pool you are looking at active forum users who are more likely to leave reviews/reports as they have proven themselves (to a degree) as active community members. He currently has other samples being offered for 5 MEO on the same basis.

I do agree with some of what  meister says however if a sample is given with an expectation of a review (and that was clear from the outset) then it is not unreasonable to expect a review. I wonder if the seller forum tracks sample takers and their responses or lack of.
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: anon911 on May 29, 2012, 06:14 pm
I'm talking about free samples if you weren't aware. People are just hoarding drugs and not helping us or the seller out at all is the problem.
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: endorfin on May 29, 2012, 06:27 pm
The problem with samples is that batches constantly change.

By the time you read about something nice on the forum, then ask for a sample, then come back with an order, the product likely has changed already.

Some suppliers are working with larger quantities but most are not. And nobody is going to tell you how much they are sitting on.

Just roll the dice, read, and speak out on the forum. It's the forum that influences a seller the most. In some cases the forum feedback has destroyed a seller's reputation. Then they sometimes run a sale, collect a bunch of orders and disappear with the money, AKA VortexMilkman most recently. Wait out negative forum rhetoric. Let the dust settle after a seller is called out and see if he/she makes good, sometimes they do.

It's the nature of this market...
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: mrduke on May 29, 2012, 10:03 pm
The problem with samples is that batches constantly change.

By the time you read about something nice on the forum, then ask for a sample, then come back with an order, the product likely has changed already.

Some suppliers are working with larger quantities but most are not. And nobody is going to tell you how much they are sitting on.

Just roll the dice, read, and speak out on the forum. It's the forum that influences a seller the most. In some cases the forum feedback has destroyed a seller's reputation. Then they sometimes run a sale, collect a bunch of orders and disappear with the money, AKA VortexMilkman most recently. Wait out negative forum rhetoric. Let the dust settle after a seller is called out and see if he/she makes good, sometimes they do.

It's the nature of this market...

Well said Endorfin. I was thinking the same thing as I read through this thread. I'm assuming the changing of batches plays a very significant role in the fluctuating reviews around here.  It can be frustrating when your trying to decide where to best spend your hard earned Btc, and there's conflicting reviews not only in the forums, but also right on the vedors home page. ie- 2/5 and 5/5 right on top of each other.

Title: Re: Samples
Post by: fitness_n_herb on May 29, 2012, 10:23 pm
The problem with samples is that batches constantly change.

By the time you read about something nice on the forum, then ask for a sample, then come back with an order, the product likely has changed already.

Some suppliers are working with larger quantities but most are not. And nobody is going to tell you how much they are sitting on.

Just roll the dice, read, and speak out on the forum. It's the forum that influences a seller the most. In some cases the forum feedback has destroyed a seller's reputation. Then they sometimes run a sale, collect a bunch of orders and disappear with the money, AKA VortexMilkman most recently. Wait out negative forum rhetoric. Let the dust settle after a seller is called out and see if he/she makes good, sometimes they do.

It's the nature of this market...

Well said Endorfin. I was thinking the same thing as I read through this thread. I'm assuming the changing of batches plays a very significant role in the fluctuating reviews around here.  It can be frustrating when your trying to decide where to best spend your hard earned Btc, and there's conflicting reviews not only in the forums, but also right on the vedors home page. ie- 2/5 and 5/5 right on top of each other.

Both of you two great points. I think limitless has a good idea. What do you think OP?
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: mrduke on May 30, 2012, 01:23 am
I'm aware of the reasoning behind a vendor not discussing how much they pick up or have on hand, but what if their was another way for  a buyer to know what batch was reviewed, and what batch his purchase will be drawn from? For instance, if a buyer read a review of a vendors product, the product could be labeled as batch 1.1, 1.2...or however, it doesn't really matter. As long as there is some link between batch, review, and purchase.

The vendors could be encouraged/forced to strictly and honestly label their batches. The buyers would still be able to give negative feedback and discuss it on the forums if a vendor obviously did not send him the correct batch he requested. For example, I see that a vendors batch of C labeled 1.1 has got the forums buzzing. I request that specific batch, and he lets me know if he has it or not.

Now, obviously there is still a way to calculate how much a vendor is sitting on or reloading with at one time. But this would require the coordinated efforts of many buyers, all comparing their purchases of half grams, grams, balls, quarters..etc.

This may make sense, it may not. Ill find out tomorrow. Ive had my nightly 8-pack and I'm out ( That's Canadian beer, so for all you Yanks, that's about double  ;))
Title: Re: Samples
Post by: Meister on May 30, 2012, 01:01 pm
I seriously doubt that would ever happen, your best bet is just to look at the date of the review.