lloydsteventaylor wrote:
Do the guides get paid or otherwise compensated like free listings or free ebay merchandise? Is this position something that we all should strive for? Why are the rules on how to become a guide so hidden? Are the guides the only ones who can respond to a member to member question? Any if so then why this restriction? It seems like the community should be able to respond to all member posts?
@thebookee :
First, notice the "@" symbol above - placing this in front of anyone's moniker - whether a "pink", a "blue" or other user of the boards, will send them a message that they have something to read specifically intended for them (see the notification bell to the right of the envelope of your opening page - it will turn red and will have a number beside it - click it). Perhaps this is how you got to this page - 🙂
@lloydsteventaylor : to respond to your specific questions ... and to help the OP too...
The only ones who get paid (employees) are the ones that have "eBay" in their moniker - as already mentioned by another responder (which the rest of us are volunteers who just offer our time, knowledge and experience are known as). Two of these employees from Canada were mentioned in a previous response - some others on the US side are Alan, Trinton, Brian, Heidi, and a couple more whose names escape me at the moment (sorry guys, please forgive me). Griff will occasionally pop his head in too.
Griff is the radio show host and is commonly known as our liaison between upper management and we "the little people". Of course you can call into the radio show too about whatever issue is on your mind.
Most of these employees (though not all) have graciously made themselves available to us through the envelope icon - just send them a message. Others have made their private email public on these boards and can be reached that way.
And if you see a particular topic posted that you feel 'management' needs to address for one reason or another, just use their contact in the thread - for example "@....@ebay" - they will get the notification to look at it - and often they will respond to it within the question itself. I give them much credit for being responsible and attentive. Their reply may not be what we want it to be, but they do their best to keep it honest - and I appreciate that personally - a lot.
In any case, this is a HUGE improvement over the last admin who did all they could to hide from us and would not reply to us at all publicly in many cases.
Now, Do the guides get paid or otherwise compensated like free listings or free ebay merchandise? "Guides" is only a tag which has been earned by the user - no one knows the exact criteria required to achieve these tags - but they are simply an attempt to let the world know of their personal eBay experience - such as age on the boards, how many posts they have started and answered, how many OP's have selected their answers as being the 'right' one, etc.
As I understand it, these tags are: Adventurer, Enthusiast, Trail Blazer, Guide, Rockstar and Visionary. I feel like I am missing one somewhere between Blazer and Rock, so I am not positive of the 'rank and file'. Visionary is the highest and only 3 or 4 have achieved this level - so it is very rare - and while these tags do seem silly (as others told you) many consider them an 'honor' - as there were designed to be. Now having explained that, NO - none of these volunteers get a paycheck. There is no regular compensation, no free listings or such like that. We are simply volunteers who have the soul of a giver and just want to help. Yes, a perk would be sweet, but not expected.
As I understand it, discussions have happened along the guidelines of some sort of occasional reward program being put into place, but nothing is conclusive or has been decided upon. As said, we do this for the self-satisfaction, not to be 'given anything' (not to say we would not accept it - lol). And naturally, if anyone has received any token, no one will admit to it as to eliminate jealousy and hurt feelings of others. Gifts are of no concern other than the giver and the receiver - so please do not expect anyone to 'go there'...
Is this position something that we all should strive for? - Again, if it is in your nature to help others and it makes you feel as if you are a better person for the effort, then go for it.
Why are the rules on how to become a guide so hidden? - As I mentioned, the specifics are not made public, I don't know why. But when your efforts meet the goal, you will see a change in your tag.
Are the guides the only ones who can respond to a member to member question? This is a tricky one. Most anyone can respond to a question, but there are certain boards where only those appointed as "experts" can respond - because of their level of expertise.
During the last Admin, Jeff, hand-picked a small group of the top responders and labeled us as "experts" due to our success rates of being accurate with our replies and the number of posts (which exceeded 5000 as I recall) . Most of the ones selected then are now known as Rockstars and Visionaries - and so YES, the only ones in this group are allowed to make replies to certain questions. This Admin (Alan) has now opened the door for others so qualified so they can be appointed - if interested, you may apply for this - just open the M2M board (Member to Member) for the details posted in the heading of that thread.
Any if so then why this restriction? YES, restrictions apply - keep reading the rest of this note as to discover 'the rest of the story'.
It seems like the community should be able to respond to all member posts? NO.
This is so that the responses can be counted on as being 100% accurate and within policy. No guesses or apologies for misinformation allowed here. One has to consistently prove themselves as being able to meet the needs of the OP (Original Poster - the one asking the question).
Before applying to be acknowledged as an 'expert', it is recommended that you study the A-Z Index (the eBay encyclopedia) - then, when you feel that you know everything there -- forwards, backwards, inside, outside, upsidedown, and sideways - then you may be ready. If you don't know already how to access this information - that may be the first clue that you might not be ready just yet 🙂 (But, FYI - click on the link below Site Map, now click Help & Contact, Now click on the Index ... and study.) I spent hours, daily for 6 months learning before I responded to the first question.
I am a founding member of the eBay Community Expert Group: a USA volunteer mentor with over a decade of experience. I am not an eBay employee.
Live simply. Care deeply. Love generously. Speak kindly. Laugh loudly. Act responsibly. Rejoice daily. Help cheerfully. Plan carefully. Criticize sparingly. Invest wisely. Forgive willingly. Shop seriously. Play fairly. Learn graciously.
kh-missy
Hey, that's what I wanted to say!