[Closed] Is this a bit cheeky? (Asked for DIY advice off-forum.)

I don't get these, but my response would be to ignore them. You've no relationship with the poster.

They're laying laminate flooring, what do you expect 🙂 But yeh I would ignore or ask them if they would like you to give a quote for the work.

Bit cheeky really. Any 'professional' (i.e. what you do for a living) advice given here has to be taken as entirely voluntary & charitable so a direct mail is out (unless by invite).

[s]Bit [/s] Very cheeky +1.

Ask them if they want decking?

TBH, I'd be replying detailing your consultancy rates.

I call that you are being trolled via email.

Scotia beading - regardless of what its made from looks shit.

When ever i see it i think.....mmmmmmmmm bodge.

I've had a couple of emails in the past asking for parts to be made or modified, these have been STW users though and I've been happy to help out where I can. Where it's been more involved the work has been paid for.

I got a direct email following a post about 165mm cranks the other day. I replied but did wonder why they were emailing, and thought it was strange that someone would PM rather than posting on the thread.

I have helped out a few members with advice over the years via direct messages. But at least they were part of the 'community'so I saw it as payback for the useful answers to the questions I have asked on here.

I don't think anyone has an obligation to answer things like that especially when there is no association.

I had something similar a while ago. I have sold vans to peeps off here before. They just so happen to be STW members who have come into the dealership so its nice when you can have a convo about it and can do them a good deal.

Anyhow i have had peeps contact me with questions about other vans, other brands and sometimes things totally unrelated to my brand etc. What shocked me once was one guy getting pretty narky with me when i pointed out that what he was asking me about, i didnt sell, i didnt have access to the answers and tbh if he wanted to get the answers he should call up the other brand (He was buying something off ebay/autotrader). He pretty much put the phone down on me.

To the OP, i would just delete it the minute i found it wasnt a member of STW tbh.

Does anyone else (especially the other trades) get this happening ie direct emails asking for advice off-forum? Is it a bit cheeky? Suggestion for suitable response (given that you never know quite who's asking.)

I probably get an email a month about bike stuff on the back of posts on here/other forums, I've always replied with an appropriate level of detail, no reason not to, but maybe that's not different as its not a profession.

People don't always want to put a post up if they know a specific Person knows the answer. Can't see an issue with that myself.

I thought this was just me, I've had probably 8/10 random e mails from people asking Peugeot/citroen technical advice a few was off here so I helped as much as possible but most was "ive found singletrack from a Google search and I see you work for Peugeot/citroen can you Diag my car and tell me how much to fix it by my random guesses and the advice of what Dave down the pub says it may be... I try to help but the last one was "I think the turbo has gone because the light is on how much to fix it and are you sure it's that..."

Completely different Njee. The (especially other trades)comment is key. Someone emails you about your hobby and you are more than happy to help them. You are helping out your own so to speak.

Someone emails you about your trade/job and you are usually happy to help them, you are helping out your own so to speak (Unless they get narky in which case they can do one)

Someone emails you that isnt even from STW and is asking for info that really is the kind of info you get because you are an experienced craftsman, well tbh the OP shouldnt hand over his experience like that without charging

Miserable git. What's the harm in being nice?
😆

Miserable git. What's the harm in being nice?

What, in general, or just on this matter? 😀

I've had a couple of emails from people saying their coming to Tenerife but don't want to pay for a guide, would I send them a few GPS tracks! Maybe they don't quite get how I make a living 😯 They generally get a polite no and offered some guiding if they change their minds.

This is interesting..
I never get emails asking for medical advice, and TBH wouldn't given any advice via that.

But you're not alone in being asked for professional advice.
There's a chap (Julian) who set up the website www.stovefittersmanual.co.uk - a really useful resource. I used it.
He's now started charging for email and phone advice, as I suspect he was overrun by people asking questions 'for free'.
He charges per half hour, but refunds if you actually buy something from him or use his service.

Basically, I think it's justified NOT answering, but suggesting your advice can be had for £x per hour...

DrP

You advised me off line- please don't tell them I layed a cork floor- and for that I thank you

A generic one from a chancer I would probably just ignore

I never get emails asking for medical advice

I have this red mark on my Cock do you want a picture to help with diagnosis ?

Do NOT answer the email question directly ... as the rest of us will not be able to read your pearls of flooring wisdom. 😀

(I always have half a thought for the other people reading posts as well as the person asking question)

And as such DD, would you mind ??? As you are here, like 🙂

Prep of Vinyl tile

Sub floor is part wooden, (which is sound) and part uneven concrete/screed ... over board the wooden with 6mm ply and latex the concrete up to the same level... feathering over the board where it meets the concrete. Do you agree ?

And ... where there are deeper/larger troughs in the concrete can I sand and cement screed first so that they don't use up loads of latex ??

Thanks vmuch .. Oh generous flooring god ... 🙂

I never get emails asking for medical advice

*emails photo of massively swollen nadgers** to Dr P.

**Nothing actually wrong with them. They're a couple of belters. 😉

chrisdiesel - Member

I thought this was just me, I've had probably 8/10 random e mails from people asking Peugeot/citroen technical advice a few was off here so I helped as much as possible but most was "ive found singletrack from a Google search and I see you work for Peugeot/citroen can you Diag my car and tell me how much to fix it by my random guesses and the advice of what Dave down the pub says it may be... I try to help but the last one was "I think the turbo has gone because the light is on how much to fix it and are you sure it's that..."

DITTO ^^

[i]You are a real doctor [/i]

Now, that made me laugh!!

(Puts Junkyard's recently received cock picture above Perchypanther's melon like scrotum...Chuckle... Nearly there on my STW man mosaic...)

You are a real doctor

Not 'THE Doctor', but yeah, I dabble in people every now and then...

DrP

If I had a penny for every time I got an email asking me to design a city wide 3G/4G/5G network from some random Mobile Network Operator.....

I'd have exactly 0 pence.

I dabble in people every now and then...

You're branching out in to people trafficking?

But yea, well cheeky. Thankfully I have a hard enough time explaining to people what I actually do before they glaze over.

I dabble in people every now and then...

Would that be a dabbleoscopy first or do you proceed straight to the dabblectomy?

3G/4G/[b]5G[/b][u]

I [b]KNEW [/b][/u]this would be next....

DrP

If I'm in a rush, I deal with two issues at once.
The [i]DrP patented double-dabble[/i].

DrP

Cheeky cheeky

[img] [/img]

Do you agree ?

Yes, but use a flexible latex if you have to stray over the suspended timber too much.

Sand and cement is fine for any patching, but there are sprcific patching products which you can use (Ardex P5 comes to mind) which cure as instantly as you could hope for and won't be as loose as s&c- might need to be able to get access to a specific flooring supplier if you're not "trade".

Do you agree ?

"Concur" sounds so much better. Here is DrP in action earlier...

The DrP patented double-dabble.

I'd pay good money to see you do that to this guy.....

[img] [/img]

I have, from people I know personally from here which is cool, & from general STW which is also cool, everyone else can do one, Pistonheads is the worst for it 😛

I'd offer them some work experience if I was in your position.

Hora gets a lot of emails asking for relationship advice, I bet.

DD ... Great

That was the extra detail/knowledge I was after.

You can now rest assured that you've done your STW "duty" and the emailer can be forgotten about

And from all of us at STW who have read your knowledgable post over the years

Thank you kindly ... legend 😀

I do and I have a auto reply set as 'use your common sense'

What's the harm in helping someone out?

Not exactly giving away the formula for super human invincibility.

[img] https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-rtTMeD3MOAUkgojA9ihRFG-4dWSfWkM5ZkvsRSDWwsXNKkmI [/img]

Are you sure they PM'd you via here DD?

It might be someone who swiped right on your [s]Grindr[/s] Sandr profile, what with them having wood and approaching you about getting laid 🙂

^^ 😆

Didn't think many people knew about Sandr.

You still never answered my email about those Western Union cheques 🙁

Off topic slightly but the picture of the cheeky girls above reminded me that my next door neighbour is the wedding photographer for one of the girls wedding, she is based in harrogate which i was surprised at.

OP - i wouldnt give advice to non stw members, very cheeky.

If I Google sandr someone might look at my phone history then I'd be single

If I Google sandr someone might look at my phone history then I'd be single

You need to be able to take the rough with the smooth

and the wet with the dry.

Its getting a bit dusty in here

(at least I think thats why my eyes are watering)

Ok, I once emailed the OP after reading a very knowledgeable post of his but the subject matter was a simple wax or oil on old pine doors. I don't recall a response but wasn't offended as we're strangers and I lurk more here than post. It's the only time I can recall doing so in a few years so he ought to have been honoured 😉 That said I've had c4 emails about my area of expertise (allegedly) and have always pointed the questioner in the direction of an answer.

So in response, it is a little cheeky but the banter and nature of STW can be read as suggesting it might be ok. No response gives no offence in my book. Although I haven't forgotten....

I have had a number of emails direct from here re work and happy to help where I can and feel it is appropriate for me to answer.

deepreddave, if I didn't respond, I wasn't intentionally ignoring you. I may have picked it up, meant to respond when at home and forgotten. I do try to answer any questions from STWers. Sorry if I didn't get back to you. If the question is still relevant, please email again. If not, and you need any help in the future, please ask again and make sure you remind me who it is. Can't believe I forgot to get back to someone from here. 😐

I get this at least once a week from aspiring photographers. And once a year I get inundated with schoolkids wanting work experience.

I always used to reply to the schoolies but in recent years it's become far too time intensive so they all get deleted these days.

That is pretty cheeky. I would kindly point out that you don't work or give advice for free.

I don't get anything through STW but get loads of requests through LinkedIn. They usually go something like this:

Them: Can I get some help designing XXXX type of antenna please.
Me: Sure, where are you getting stuck? Send me your workings and I will have a look when I get a chance.
Them: Oh! I haven't done any I just want you to tell me how to do it all?
Me: Go away and make an effort on your own you workshy git and come back if you really get stuck.

Unsurprisingly they usually don't get back with some working.

*marks thread for flooring advice in future*

I get emails occasionally asking about route advice, normally along the lines of 'you said this in a thread 2 years ago, where did you mean etc etc' which I love to be honest. I'm no mtbing expert but I like to help out if I can. AND I have sent several emails to people asking about route advice so it comes around.

deadlydarcy - Member
deepreddave, if I didn't respond, I wasn't intentionally ignoring you.... If the question is still relevant, please email again...

Cheers and appreciated. I have read advice from you and many others on here so loads of positive karma for all concerned. Like I said no offence taken and totally appreciate the point you're making.

I get a lot of emails asking for advice on routes. I'm usually happy to help out but I'm not doing it as a professional so I reckon that's a bit different.

I have, though, occasionally been asked to fix/service/look at a friends or a friend-of-a-friends bike. I try not to make a habit of this as there are two good LBSs nearby and I do sort of feel I'm doing them out of business.

Then again, the same could be said for any thread on here where advice is offered that someone else is making a living from.

The key to this is future reciprocation.

There is none so no. I'd say 'not sure/you need to get a local professional in to see as it's hard to diagnose a problem through the medium of the internet mate/pal/duck/luv.

Nobody asks me nothing.

I've had quite a few emails asking about bike stuff (given what I do for a living!). Some of them have taken quite a while to answer.

The old "we're not staying with you, but can you tell us where all the trails are?" doesn't tend to go down to well (although I do still give some friendly advice!) but I've given some pretty detailed info to people planning long-distance trips passing through our area. Always love to help plan an adventure! Went as far as sending some marked-up maps to someone last year, but I don't actually remember getting a reply / thanks. Apologies to the perpetrator if I'm wrong on that!

The key to this is future reciprocation.

It's not even that. It's contributing to the community. People who can bring something to the table; strangers asking for help is a one-way street.

I've poured tech assistance (and, y'know, mod duties) into this forum with no expectation of a return, and I've received freely given advice and actual free shit in return, though that isn't why I did it in the first place. But it all balances overall. An unsolicited email wanting something without contributing back is just, well, parasitic. It's taking advantage of a mutual community and you can and should say jog on; if they want advice they should sign up and join in, it's not like it's hard to create an account.

Free advice should be restricted to Premier members.

Let the riff-raff pay!

I must fess up to asking DD for advice before. However if there is anything you ever want to know about Scottish Migration DD, you know where I can be contacted.

I have, though, occasionally been asked to fix/service/look at a friends or a friend-of-a-friends bike

All my wife's friends seem to think I am available for free bike servicing / repair work!

I've asked a STW'er to quote for a flooring job before now (not DD) - got ignored. Thought it was a "good thing" to do - obviously wrong!

Asking that level of detail (OP) and expecting answers for nowt is stepping over the mark - if he'd joined STW and asked then fair enough!

E-mailing someone for advice would not have occurred to me. Surely the point of a forum is that questions and answers are public and other people can benefit from/criticise any advice given.

Expecting a direct e-mail reply if you are not even a forum member ...... more than a bit cheeky.

Surely the point of a forum is that questions and answers are public and other people can benefit from/criticise any advice given.

I suspect where non-forum users contacting users is concerned I'd imagine that its people who are researching a topic and come across a conversation here. I've been in situations where I've been researching stuff online and the best lead thats come up has been an online conversation on a forum somewhere. However STWs forums are uncommonly busy with the bulk of the chat coming from a relatively small 'family' of frequent posters

When I've researched topics and found a conversation on, say, a pigeon-fanciers forum its a comparative ghost town. The post rate is low, the frequency that users revisit the forum is low, so if you create a login and join the conversation..... nothing happens.

So if someone stumbles onto a topic on STW they won't necessarily realise that to speak to DD you'd just have to join in on the tread and your question would find him - especially if a thread is month or years old

The other side of the arguement ...
I asked on the forum if anyone had to have a thumb joint fused and could they still ride / change gear with it.

I got an email from a hand doctor from london who reassured me and offered kind and friendly support.

Wasnt expecting that.