Reflections on LXOM - please take a moment.

**Junior** · 08-31-2007, 05:28 PM

I want folks to take a moment and reflect on what the precedent of a vendor winning LXOM honors would mean.

There should be an award for the superb vendors among us. That's something that needs to get worked out amongst us in the time ahead (and soon). There are lots of vendors here, and there are some of those that stand head and shoulders above the rest. There needs to be a way to recognize their contributions to the forums as a group, as well as their contributions to our beloved cars themselves. I can't think of another vendor more deserving of such an honor than Billet Tech.

But if BT wins LXOM this month, not only does that raise issues of fairness (which I'll try to voice below), but it also makes the creation of an appropriate award that much more complicated. Can a vendor be awarded both LXOM and Vendor of the Quarter (or whatever) in the same period? Wouldn't both be diluted by that happening?

Let's make the example different. Let's superimpose a different vendor into this discussion. Let's say that DiabloSport, Inc. was in the running (and let's not pretend that's so far-fetched, once these things come out and everybody's stoked on them). They own an LX, so they qualify there. They have made a huge contribution to our cars and to the forums as a whole. But they are an entity created for the purpose of making money off of us. Nothing at all wrong with that, but I personally feel that LXOM was created for the purpose of honoring those contributors who had nothing but a love for the contribution, i.e. no further motive.

As for fairness:

It's such a blatantly lopsided competition from the start. Members don't have their own forums where folks can sing their praises. The plaudits are spread all around the forums, and it takes "time in service" to come to know a person and their contributions. As has been said before, there are plenty of new folks or casual browsers that are familiar with the name of a vendor, and familiar with their works. There's such an easy knee-jerk reaction to seeing their name, and it's deserved. We know the good vendors from the lousy. But it's much harder for the casual member to discriminate from among the many contributors to this place we love, and LXOM was created with the expressed purpose of honoring those members!

Please consider what it would mean to LXOM as a concept before casting your vote.

**Cam** · 08-31-2007, 05:32 PM

Excellent point Jr. I hope the powers to be take this into account.

**1FST4DR** · 08-31-2007, 05:34 PM

What makes a good candinate in your eyes for LXOM???Not just a car right?But also the person behind the car.As of right now there are no Vendor of the month awards..So with that being said

BILLET TECH FOR
LXOM!!..Good Luck to both candinates

**CoolVanilla** · 08-31-2007, 05:38 PM

I haven't talked about this at all with the other guys yet, so my comments are my own and as a member, not as a decision maker:

I understand what you're saying Junior, but if I understand correctly, you're concerned about the knee jerk reaction of seeing a familiar name up for vote, yes? But, how did that name get there in the first place? They were nominated by enough people to make the list, which means that there is a very large group of folks that feel affected enough by a vendor who do in fact know the names of many other members.

Not sure I have an opinion yet. The above is just maybe another morsel to chew on in the fairness debate?

**armadillo** · 08-31-2007, 05:49 PM

The requirements for the LXOM are that the person drives an LX and has the support of many friends and feels that the person contributes to the forum. I feel that being a vendor should not preclude you from being LXOM, Rev Hammer and Grinner both have been LXOM and both derive income from the members here. All are deserving. I voted for Billit Tech as they have been a great contributor to the site and have added much to our community.

**Junior** · 08-31-2007, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by CoolVanilla

I haven't talked about this at all with the other guys yet, so my comments are my own and as a member, not as a decision maker:

Understood.

I understand what you're saying Junior, but if I understand correctly, you're concerned about the knee jerk reaction of seeing a familiar name up for vote, yes?

I'm more concerned about how a name becomes familiar. Vendors have the deck stacked in their favor from the very outset, in terms of publicity.

But, how did that name get there in the first place? They were nominated by enough people to make the list, which means that there is a very large group of folks that feel affected enough by a vendor who do in fact know the names of many other members.

Vendors are created (their businesses are) for the purpose of selling a product. Their business model is dependent on "affecting people". The individuals among us do it for the love of the thing entirely. I don't mean to suggest that vendors don't have that love for it, or for us. In the case of BT, we know they do. Nor do I say that there are not members who do it for the plaudits - we all know a couple who do.

There are those members who truly have no vested interest in this thing but the common shared experience. And of those, there are a select few who take the time to be on the giving end of that experience...

**Leadfootluke** · 08-31-2007, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by 1FAST4DR

What makes a good candinate in your eyes for LXOM???Not just a car right?But also the person behind the car.As of right now there are no Vendor of the month awards..So with that being said

BILLET TECH FOR
LXOM!!..Good Luck to both candinates

lol.

Nice writups Junior.

**sixsicksheep** · 08-31-2007, 06:00 PM

The fact that they make a profit off of us, and we still think they deserve more should make it quite clear that they are worthy of having the title "LXOM."

**Super T** · 08-31-2007, 06:08 PM

Billet Tech owns a Charger, it's out for custom work right now. They're not just a vendor. They drive the same car we do and share the same passion. And I can speak from experience that they go the extra mile and do help customers beyond just answering phones. There's no question that they are just as deserving as anybody else, vendor or not. That's all I got to say about that.

**Charg-um** · 08-31-2007, 06:09 PM

My decision to start the thread to nominate them was made first after I read the rules then thought about the kind of people they are.

I nominated them because I feel they deserve it.

And I don't even have any of their product !!!

(Yet)

Anyway, I am sorry you feel it was an injustice. Usually in a race such as this, the person in second place just wins the following month. I know thats not your point, but both are winners !!!

**bigal470** · 08-31-2007, 06:23 PM

In the long run its up to the member to nominate and vote its a fool proof way to pick who has made a difference to the community..when i nominate i could care less about what everyone adds to there signature I look at who I think made the difference and cast my vote. you can change the rules and make a vendor of the month but then your gona have people start in with well why should he get it his car is stock and so and so does just as much and his car is full of mods...so then people will want to have a car of the month, a member of the month, a vendor of the month why not throw in a moderator of the month......just keep it the same and let people cast votes for who effected them for that month! all i see is people saying who has been here the longest with threads from who knows when how does this relate to this months LXOM? anyway just my ramblings.....

**MattRobertson** · 08-31-2007, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by armadillo

Rev Hammer and Grinner both have been LXOM and both derive income from the members here.

Hold on there a minute. Thats a bad analogy.

Rev. Hammer got his LXOM right after the great experience we all shared when he got his Charger. He became a vendor long afterwards and was not a vendor when he became LXOM.

Grinner is one of the oldest of the old school, like yourself (you old geezer, you) and as you'll recall, he was a modder sharing his mods and posts with us long before there ever was a Moddin' Art. He became a vendor later.

I agree with Junior. Contributions that make LXOM should be made solely and exclusively as community contributions. Junior's comments about visibility and deck-stacking are spot on.

And I don't want to agree with Junior. The Billet Tech people are great people and great assets to this community. They don't deserve anything but praise -- which they get over and over for their products' on a daily basis throughout this forum (which goes to the visibility and deck stacking again).

They should not have been put in this position.

**1FST4DR** · 08-31-2007, 06:54 PM

Isnt our country great???The freedom of speech and the right to vote!!

B.T. FOR LXOM!!!!!

Bo · 08-31-2007, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by MattRobertson

Grinner is one of the oldest of the old school, like yourself (you old geezer, you) and as you'll recall, he was a modder sharing his mods and posts with us long before there ever was a Moddin' Art. He became a vendor later.

In all fairness to Grinner........ he can't be considered "old school" when members like Matt and Armadillo are around!

Good luck to both nominees!

--Bo

**MAGFX** · 08-31-2007, 07:19 PM

I think BT is one of the best run retail businesses that I have ever dealt with. The folks are great, the products are great and they go out of their way with great service.

Although ZMagnum's expertise and unselfishness is absolutely PRICELESS!

And no matter what the outcome is, this is all good. Maybe later, we can have a "vendor of the year" runoff.

7¢ - 4¢ = 2¢±1¢