Only 75 Pieces - The WatchUseek Edition Rattrapante ‘Challenger’ by TNT

Since I am the poster of the first article (which is really an automatic feed, thanks dsio), I would like to chip in. Despite the n00bs and frustrations/beef you might have with WuS, I would only like to add that I know the owner of WuS (Ernie Romers) personally for over a decade and have to say that he is a great guy. A friend even. Whether he runs his business (which is still his side business, being a teacher at a school) the way you like it or not is not something I want to judge. His website is probably the biggest on-line watch community out there, which requires dozens of moderators. I think he even pays them an amount of money to do the job, give them some extra with Christmas. Ernie doesn't get involved in all projects and things running on his website, it is just impossible to do so.

What I am saying here, is that Ernie himself shouldn't be questioned imho.

Of course you are free to nit pick my post 😀 However, it is all quite subjective so I don't bother discussing this here. Also, I have been away from that forum for too long ( I was an Omega mod once at WuS, back in 2000 or 2001) and only can tell you things from my own experience. I have worked for Ernie's WuS in 2010 (I think) as well, as contributor for his blog and he paid me accordingly.

In any case, you are right that he makes the final decisions. However, he also trusts the input of his mods to make a decision. I know that he doesn't bud-in every thing that's going on there. I know, because we often discussed these things as we travel together sometimes or visit events/exhibitions together (we are both in NL). But still, you are right, he's calling the shots. As he should.

I have been away for too long on WUS as a contributor (I think 2011 was when I actively did some posts in their Omega forum, when I had an invite by Omega to join the launch of the new PO in Capri, Italy) but I only have good experiences so far. I also was a mod for the LW forum at some point in 2009, but quickly had to quit doing so as it was too time consuming. I noticed the heavy traffic between mods in the 'private' mod forum but I cared too little to get involved.

I thought it was funny reading the TZ-UK posting by the owner stating he pays 3k a year in server fees not to be questioned by people.... what does that have to do with anything given a healthy exchange of discussion trying to authenticate a rather difficult piece. I mean I could understand if someone posed a rather crude single word comment such as "FAKE" with no other follow up. Hell if I had a piece and someone told me it was fake I would be in shock and want to know exactly why it would be and then take it back up with the source I got it from. Ernie on WUS has been easy to communicate with (disclosure: only regarding becoming a sponsor) and to be fair it is a huge website to manage. That's all 😀

I have found WUS to be in the middle of the road when it comes to forums - not as strict as some, and not as open as others. Many forums that are larger, more commercial sites, are very hostile towards anyone who is "in the business" in any way, and does not want to pay extortion level fees to become a sponsor. I know this first hand I can assure you.

I was banned at one forum for one of my customers saying they were very happy with my service work on his Speedy, and I didn't even know about it until it was over (the post he made or the banning), but I was accused of prompting him to make the post to get more business. This is absurd since I am so swamped I don't know how to keep up, but still the person who banned me was insistent that I was behind it all. It was no coincidence that this same forum had just made a deal with a company to refer repairs to them through the forum's site, and obviously got a cut of each repair that came in that way...

That said I try to respect the rules of the forums I participate in. Before posting certain things on WUS for example, I sought approval of the mod team, and some of the decisions went to Ernie I was told. Generally speaking they have been very open to allowing posts that would certainly be interpreted as shilling on other forums.

I think people have to realize it is not a democracy, and there is no "free speech".

Very few forums are truly what they claim to be - people with passion for watches coming together to discuss. They are businesses run by people who profit from them (either monetarily or otherwise), nothing more really when it comes right down to it. Forums like that are really about a passion for watches are rare, and I count this as one of those.

The members at the bigger forums are what they are, and I don't blame the forums for that in terms of the amount of knowledge etc. that they have. Everyone has to start somewhere to learn these things.

And if you want to read a "moderator gone wrong" story, take a look at this one:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f34/caine-mccoy-k-rusty-shackleford-has-my-watch-854339.html

Here a WUS mod stole a watch from a member, and then disappeared. As much as I hate the way the Doxa forum is run (in the past virtually nothing negative about the brand was allowed, but that is getting better) if they are really stepping up to help get the watch back or replace it, I give them kudos for doing the right thing - many companies don't.

Cheers, Al

Oh yeah, I also think that frustrations and idiots (to say it bluntly) are something to expect when your site (forum, blog, portal, whatever) becomes bigger and bigger. I once in a while contribute (watch) articles to this site called AskMen.com and the responses some of the articles get are really upsetting.

A reason why I like it here on Omegaforums.net. Friendly people, lot of knowledge and no ridiculous censorship.

I just tend to mind my posts elsewhere but here it is always a fun group of guys who poke jokes and brighten up conversation. Kind of like joining a group of friends and having a good chat with a few drinks.