Do we need the BKB?

[Julian]

Ha, bet you thought it was a thread about politics.  Sorry to disappoint!

There have been suggestions that we compile a resource page or Biopowered Knowledge Base.  Not all admin have commented, but I think the idea of a page listing where to find various bits of kit would be universally acceptable.  One issue we have is that it rather contradicts our no advertising policy.

So, soliciting views of members ...

Do we want it?
Should it be located on the wiki or forum?
How do we stop it becoming too much of a shop window?
Should entries be allowed from the actual vendors or should they be by member (perhaps long standing or above 50 posts) recommendation only?
How should it be organised/indexed?
Should entries include prices, with or without a date, if so would something like chemical supply become outdated too quickly?
Should chemical supply have a separate section where we dictate the format and invite suppliers to update their prices so they are presented in a nice comparable list for members benefit (might serve to keep prices competitive) ... would they even agree to such an "auction"?

Your thoughts are, as always, welcome.

[Tony]

Can't see Meth suppliers being too happy with it, especially as some of them do us special deals as homebrewers.

I'm thinking for bits though, it would be very useful, seals, pipes etc.

Not that long ago someone pointed out a screwfix pump suction kit where the pipe part of it worked out cheaper than buying the pipe alone, which was very useful.  Things like that invaluable when building kit.

Edit: Found it, one of julianf's:
http://www.biopowered.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,715.msg5608.html#msg5608

[Julian]

Can't see Meth suppliers being too happy with it, especially as some of them do us special deals as homebrewers.

I can't either, but isn't there a similar thread somewhere on the VOD that occasionally rears it's head from time to time.

I was aware of that and I see it as one of the drawbacks.  We'd be promoting ... read listing, companies that perhaps won't do special deals.  Probably needs further discussion or we don't list chemicals, although on an on going basis that's probably the most costly part of what we do.

 

Not that long ago someone pointed out a screwfix pump suction kit where the pipe part of it worked out cheaper than buying the pipe alone, which was very useful.  Things like that invaluable when building kit.

Deals like that may only be a "while stocks last" affair and as such might be better placed in a forum thread.

Lots to think about!

[Rotary-Motion]

i think for the most part not a bad idea, maybe if you separated the chemical side from the items side it maybe easier to get going, a page of pipes/pumps/gauges/tanks/valves etc everything in one place would make it easy to get all items needed to make a processor. hmm a question has just entered my head which is do we want to promote an easy life of the build process? as with this comes the need for oil, we all talk of loosing supplies of raw oil to process and it being scarse, i guess thats a selfish approach or thought by me, but still something to mull over for all of us, i guess if oil was plentyful there would be no issue to think of.

also on the other hand its good to share the cheaper prices found for items and chemicals, and all this is out there so i guess putting it here doesnt loose much...

[Julian]

That's a good point, Paul.  But it's not just the procurement of parts, the whole wiki has the same effect.

[Tony]

It is a fair point but really how many people would use it?  Just the homebrew community I'd guess.  We know how many new people buy the off-the-shelf plastic monstrosities on eBay, I doubt those people would be interested in building their own and hence our list of parts/suppliers.

In my mind if you're up for building your own processor then you're very much welcome into the fold here.

[Rotary-Motion]

true - i say go for it at the end of the day its not a runaway train, it can be pulled at any time by admins.

[Rotary-Motion]

plus tony if someone is dediacted to going for it they will, like we all have, yeah i vote yes...

[K.H]

Oooh fantastic idea!

[K.H]

My views 
I wouldn't bother with prices as we cant guarantee they are current and we know methanol prices are seasonable, dated yes with maybe just a note saying why they are recommended? ie good prices, good service, low minimum quantities etc, i would allow members with a decent post count to list there products as we already allow that in the sigs'
"Special offers and while stocks last" just post them up in a normal thread so they get seen and then just naturally fade away.
I cant see any reason for trying to protect the oil supplies, the big collection company's are the problem not a guy who has done his research and ended up here.

[nathanrobo]

Just playing devils advocate... but could it result in little differentiation vs. VOD for example?

[Keef]

I like the idea of personal recommendations from seasoned members for good service and products and can't help thinking that it could be balanced with warnings of poor service or products too, but I can't see the point of prices as they are too liable to change.

[K.H]

Just playing devils advocate... but could it result in little differentiation vs. VOD for example?

Its something that has been asked for many times on there but has never happened

[greasemonkey]

I think a "Where can I get this from?" section could be a good idea.
Be strict about the title of the thread, to make it an easily searchable archive, so put something like,"Half inch Copper washers", so if someone looks through, its easy to see.

Different users will have used different places to obtain goods from. If its something like electronics goods, then a quick search on E bay will show up the options, but peeps who have used a good, or bad supplyer could comment.

Be strict about moderation, if a supplyer said three day delivery, then took three weeks, state the fact and leave it at that. Make sure a supplyer doesn't get into a slanging match with a disgruntled cutstomer, other wise there would be potential for threats of legal action. maybe make negative comments about supplyers PM only, keep them off the board.

If a supplyer can supply. limit them to one comment per thread, don't let them dominate the thread.

The date is already at the top of the post, so thats not an issue. To avoid a Chinese auction, make the prices PM only, if the buyer wants to post up how much they have paid after, then thats up to them.

Keep it on the forum, not the wiki, its basically just a sub forum, and not really that far away from what happens anyway, it will just be putting it all in one place.

Make it questions only, no on spec posting of other stuff seen for sale.

Good rules and moderation will be the key to stop it getting out of hand.

A few scattered thoughts.

[McDuff]

I agree with Keef - why not have it so that 'McDuff found ABC chemicals to be friendly & competitive' and a link to the suppliers web site. No advertising, just passing on good service