How many of you have actually clicked on the BMW pop-up? If you do, you get into a rather nice website telling you all about the new E60 5-Series and this is worth a visit in itself.
HJ
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I have never actually seen this pop-up that people are talking about? Where/when does it appear?
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How many of you have actually clicked on the BMW pop-up?>>HJ>>
Yes I have. Even though the site is on my favourites (because I am an owner), I find it convenient to click thru to BMW via HJ.
I doubt whether the BMW & Bangle haters will visit, though ! ;-)
Aprilia: you are missing out probably due to your software security setting blocking ads.
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{P} = advertising profile is ON. Backroom photos groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pictures
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Like Aprilia I haven't seen the pop up but as I'm looking forward to the UK launch of the new 5 (Sept 17 or 18) I'd like to visit the website.
Why does everybody give Chris Bangle such a hard time? If no-one innovated we'd still be in horseless carriages and living in (not mock) Tudor houses. Anyway BMW's a German company so who cares if the five flops? There's always Mercedes or Lexus, or Jaguar in the same sector. Personally I'm going to wait to see it in the flesh and drive it before passing judgment and deciding whether to buy one or not.
Can you supply the website address please, HJ?
8 ball
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Some of us have software to prevent pop-ups (it's a configurable option in Opera) because they are so annoying. Nothing subversive, HJ - it's just that the mechanism get abused, so perhaps BMW should look for another method of grabbing our attention...
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It is possible that later we may have to reconfigure the site to force visitors to see ads before they get to the things they want to see, a bit like ITV. Nothing is for nothing. On the other hand we may be able to organise a less intrusive sponsorship deal for The Backroom. But money very definitely has to be made or the site (and me) are stuffed.
HJ
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It is possible that later we may have to reconfigure the site to force visitors to see ads before they get to the things they want to see, a bit like ITV.
Not really a problem as long as you do it so it works on all browsers. Daewoo's site for a long time tried to force people to go through a 'trailer' before they could get in, but this only worked on IE and their website people basically gave up in the end as they couldn't configure their software to recognise anything else.
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I'm afraid that after many run-ins on other sites and with spam emails, I've switched to Mozilla and told it not to open any unrequested windows, so like many others I don't get the pop-ups. I'm afraid that so many other sites are forcing people to go down this sort of route that if you want an advert to be visible to all you really need to put it on the main page.
Something I was wondering about all this advert and site revenue thing, do you get paid per click, or just for having the ads up? If we can help pay for the site by clicking on ads whether we are interested or not then I'm sure many others would join me in clicking away for a minute or so per day to help out.
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Mmm - I like it (the 5) that is - as my "old" style 5 is slowly growing on me, I may well get one when this one's up for replacement.....Can't win with some people though, they pontificate about how bland and ubiquitous BMs have become and hten moan when Mr B pens an uniquely daring design. Pop ups don't bother me.
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No, sorry. Aimless clicks don't really work. We can get paid by impressions, by click-throughs, on commission from sales from click throughs, or just as a straight monthly fee (which itself depends on success). Even though I can record large numbers of click throughs it does not necessarily mean that money has been made by the advertiser. Obviously I can't give details, but I was very disappointed by the results for Glass's Guide, probably because people who visit websites generally expect something for nothing and simply won't pay for anything. But I'm very pleased that big advertisers like BMW and Freeserve have come back because if they hadn't got something worthwhile out of it they wouldn't have come back.
HJ
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At the moment I am paying to supress pop-ups (combined might of AOL 8 and Zone Alarm Pro 4). I'd sooner pay for pop-up-free access than pop-up preventing software.
So, no I haven't seen it.
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We researched making this a pay-for site amongst Backroom members. It won't work. Has to be a free site supported by advertising.
HJ
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I dont mind pop ups, ones that are related to motoring are fine, some of them are a bit much on other websites but not this site.
What about a voluntary contribution idea??? Regulars and people who care about the site could send you a cheque or something to help out and people who just want to come on here once and ask a question dont have to pay anything? that way you wouldnt loose backroomers because it would be voluntary but you would get a few extra bucks from people who hopefully understand what its like trying to run a site??? Kind of like how you give the dustman a tenner at christmas!!! :-)
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That BMW weirdo is one of the most annoying things I've seen since invention of multiwindow porn spam. It uses the same technique - unrequested full screen window. You enter the page, bang up your face, what the... Please do understand, personally I am not against adverts - there is a very peacefull Citroen advert to the left, there is the freeserve banner on the top. But you have to draw the line HonestJohn, a pop up like the BMW one is like a Jehowa Witness on your step on Sunday Morning or telemarketer calling your cellphone.
I'm not quite sure what's BMW's attack line with this thing - are they trying to annoy poeple and NOT to sell their cars now?
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"are they trying to annoy people?"
They've been doing that for years, but it doesn't seem to have hurt sales!
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Sorry HJ,
But not using any MicroSoft software to browse the web many popups and external site simply crash my web browser. I havent seen the BMW ad (will look via DD\'s link though) but I must say that I have tried to support the ad campaign (the fixed ones that stay on the page) and I am unimpressed by the number of advertisers web site that simply crash or hang my browser. Advertisers really should check their pages against the www standards and not rely so much on wizzy gadgets that dont work outside IE6.
regards
Ian L.
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HJ:
Seen it, clicked it and it is, as you assert, interesting and worth a visit.
I understand the need to have the advertising but it would be nice, once I have visited the site, if the bombardment would cease.
Andy
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As Mark(RLBS) has promised to zap discusions of pop-ups, I shall not say anymore about that. However, on the question of making some money for HJ from this site:
a. IIRC, it has previously been said that HJ would not say no to any donations either from visitors who feel they have gained from the advice given here, or from regular addicts who do not wish to see the demise of this excellent forum. So, feel free to send him a tenner every now and then. (A system of making these donations exists on other free sites, as has been discussed previously.)
b. HJ indicates that the Glass's ad has not had as much success as he would have hoped for. That could be because some posters give out free valuations, or because the autotrader ad allows you free research, or because as HJ suspects people want things for free on the internet.
I do have one question about the "usedcarchecks". Why should one want to get their inspection for £99 if they only get a 45 day warranty, when there is a free 6 month statutory warranty? Now, if usedcarchecks said instead that their warranty would run 45 days additionally after the expiry of the statutory 6 months, then I can see sense in it.
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{P} = advertising profile is ON. Backroom photos groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pictures
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a. Not unreasonable; PayPal lets you do it but I can see why HJ might feel that a voluntary donation system would put off advertisers who would see the site as distinctly amateurish.
b. Glass's guide valuations are still much more useful as a bargaining chip in negotiations than being able to say that 'I can get this car £75 cheaper 200 miles away' - maybe we should stress this more.
c. Well you didn't call it c. but I think it's a separate point. Why would you want a warranty from an inspection firm? Firstly, it's a question of whom you would rather sue and/or enforce against - a national company with a certain amount of insurance backing, or a dodgy dealer who takes things personally; secondly there is not a six month statutory warranty but a duty on the seller to show that any beach of the fitness terms of SOGA was not present at the time of sale - of which a clear inspection would unfortunately be very good evidence; and thirdly, this company is at least as cheap as its rivals and is the only one without even more onerous exclusion clauses.
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>>>> secondly there is not a six month statutory warranty >>
I know, not strictly. All but in name, and easier to refer to it that way.
but a duty on the seller to show that any beach of the fitness terms of SOGA was not present at the time of sale - of which a clear inspection would unfortunately be very good evidence
So, if you get it inspected, you lose out on the 6 months free SOGA protection, and you have paid £99 to relieve the trader of that risk. I can understand why the trader might want to pay for the usedcarcheck to protect himself. I would rather not have the car inspected, because then if something goes wrong before the end of 6 months, I can use the statutory SOGA protection.
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{P} = advertising profile is ON. Backroom photos groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pictures
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usedcarchecks: perhaps the a wise tactic to use is to get the car inspectred 25weeks after you have bought it, and get any defects repaired under the 6month SOGA rules, and you then still have the benefit of 45 days warranty from usedcarchecks.
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{P} = advertising profile is ON. Backroom photos groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pictures
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Exactly - as long as you are only keeping the car six months and are 100% confident of being able to enforce the implied warranty against the trader. In my opinion, that loophole is a minor disadvantage in the risk profile though.
If the seller won't play ball and you don't have the time or energy to sue, or can't pay up front for the repairs and then sue to get the money back, or he can still somehow show that the fault wasn't there (admittedly, the burden of proof is deliberately high for the trader), or you are out of the six month period, the implied warranty isn't worth the paper it's not written on.
Unless you feel that your car inspection skills approach that of a professional - and you might, but lots won't - then I think you're still better off with an inspection than the SOGA protection. Most people would rather know that a car is a good one, and be able to get minor faults that are found fixed at the time of sale as part of the deal, than knowing you'd be able to sue if the car goes bang three months down the line.
Also an inspection should pick up on things like repaired accident damage (that might not cause a write off for HPI to find) and possibly mileage inconsistent with wear that would be completely irrelevant to the SOGA without further evidence.
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In answer to eMBe, donations are fine. I need £250,000 + VAT, so if anyone wins the lottery tomorrow please remember me. A few quid here and a few quid there will not pay back my investment of time and money. But ad revenue looks like it might, albeit slowly.
I've e-mailed Glass's about the stupidity of giving free valuations on some sites and expecting people to pay for them on others.
But you've got usedcarchecks wrong. No private individual selling a car has to give any sort of warranty at all. And the new regs have yet to be interpreted by case law. Until they are the trade will put up two fingers to them. So as well as being cheaper than any of the big boys, and actually doing a proper inspection on a ramp instead of a trolley jack, usedcarchecks are the only ones to warrant their inspections. I'll now try and answer the other questions one by one.
HJ
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In answer to eMBe, donations are fine. I need £250,000 + >>
Sorry HJ, I was only trying to help. Obviously I had no idea of how huge a finacial burden this site was to you. Even so, personally I wouldn't say no to pennies to make pounds. Anyway, I shall look forward to and certainly welcome all the improvements you (HJ) are planning to introduce to this site.
But you've got usedcarchecks wrong. No private individual selling a car has to give any sort of warranty at all. >>
Thanks. That was the point that I had missed, as I had completely overlooked the private market. Of course, usedcarchecks is ideal then, especially as it is so much better value all round (from the comparision chart on their link). In fact, it would seem that any seller, private or trade, who has confidence in the car they are selling, would be well advised to offer a free usedcarcheck as part of the deal.
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{P} = advertising profile is ON. Backroom photos groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pictures
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just seen the advert on the site very impressive.
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