Posts Made By: Jordan Ragsdale

Hello,
Recently I posted a classified ad for some reproduction 3D printed parts for the old Edmund Scientific Astroscan scope. The next day, I found my ad deleted and I was locked out of most of the pages on Astromart including classifieds/messages, etc. It said "You have 0 Sponsored Ads remaining". I didn't realize that I had crossed a line and had entered the territory of an ATM manufacturer and therefore would be in the blue "Vendor" account category. But I had no notification that this had happened or as to why. I had important messages I had to access immediately, and I found the only option to access my account would be to pay $50 to buy the basic 10 sponsored ad package at $5/ad. I paid the fee, but my account was still locked even the next day. I sent an email to [email protected] and just got back "3D printing is a business. You are a BLUE mfg now. Congrats.". But my account was still locked, and my questions unanswered. I didn't want to be a vendor, so I was fine with the ad remaining deleted and I would not post any 3D printed parts again, which is fair. It took another few emails and finally the $50 payment was applied to my account and it was unlocked and I haven't posted any ads since then. But in the mean time, I've sent 6 email messages to the email address above explaining how I didn't know I had crossed a line, and that I'd like to go back to a regular account, and I understood now that 3D printed parts aren't allowed for regular accounts, but I don't want to be a blue vendor account and I would like the $50 refunded. I've received zero response to my emails and this happened 5 days ago.

My question for people here is; am I in the wrong to expect a reply? Once you get tagged as a vendor can you ever go back if you agree to not sell vendor parts? I would think a warning email or a choice to either leave the ad and become a vendor or delete it and remain a regular account? Should I just accept that the $50 fee is gone or should I dispute it with my credit card company? I've given Astromart LLC plenty of opportunities to reply to my emails so this is kind of a last hope option to reach someone in charge.

Thanks!
-Jordan

I don't expect a free ride, in fact I pay $16/year for the basic membership here for the option to view and post classified ads. And I've done so for many years. And I agree with you (and my peers), in hindsight, the Astroscan parts probably qualify as an ATM manufacturer. I think the gray area was that I thought they were obscure and of such a limited scope that they would be fine. Honestly, I didn't even know "all 3D printing" would be considered blue vendor activity, I'm sorry I didn't read the fine print on the classifieds terms of service (does anyone?). I should have asked permission first. But to say there's no going back isn't fair at all, I've been a good member here for a long time, never rocked the boat. And I post one ad in error, and now my options are "pay $50 or get lost"? I thought you give people second chances? I don't want to lose my account, but I don't want to be stuck as a blue vendor when I have no intention of selling anymore 3D printed parts on here. I posted a similar ad on CloudyNights, and right around the same time I was blocked from here, they sent me a polite message informing me of their policy, which is similar (and I also wasn't aware of), but they gave me the choice; become a vendor and be treated as such, or delete the ad and continue as a member knowing that if I posted one again, I would automatically be converted to a vendor account. Very fair! That's the only treatment I'm asking for here. I've been polite, it was an honest mistake. Why am I being treated like a scammer? Does the hammer only see everything as a nail? All I'm asking for is just to go back to a regular account and the $50 refunded.

-Jordan

I think I'd like to hear from the peers, what does everyone reading this thread think? Should I be allowed to remain a regular member with a slap on the wrist? Or should I be banished to blue sponsor land, to forever pay for every ad, even though 99.9% of my ads have been occasional personal items?

-Jordan

I guess a refund or a discussion is out of the question then based on the responses. Fairly discouraging to be treated like this as a long time, full-price-paying, rule-abiding member. You've chose to dramatically change how I interact with Astromart, not the other way around. I guess I will list my 10 ads, then when they expire, I will bid Astromart goodbye. There's a fairly obvious amount of atrophy I've noticed over the years of Astromart, I always had several theories as to why, but now I have a pretty good first-hand understanding of the conditions that lead to people abandoning this site for other platforms. I hope the powers that be will see the common denominator for what it is. And I'm sure this post will stress the tolerances of open speech in such censored environment, but nuking this post and/or my account just proves my point 1000%. All attempts to open a polite conversation have been met with either silence or contempt. I won't post anymore on this thread.

-Jordan