I used the site feedback form to complain about the admins moving two of our Roadster-specific threads to the "Stock Issues" forum (particularly this one about noises and squeaks and this one about wear marks on the tops) and got a wholly unsatisfactory response:

Ian,

The threads are discussing issues with the roadster, they turn up in front of more eyes of those who may not own roadsters but are familiar working with them and in front of vendors who may not frequent the roadster forum but may innovate and bring to market solutions; and more views of the technical minded individuals on the forum that are then able to help these users instead do having the threads wither in the roadster forum without much response. The same holds true for issues that occur with just a cooper engine or just an S engine or if a Clubman has an issue with the third door. Also for organizational purposes it is expected that if you have an issue you will search within the issues forum when seeking answers and it helps when using external search engines (and perhaps for those less familiar with NAM but no less worthy of having assistance with their car, when the type in roadster roof problem into a search engine, having the link structured into a proper forum matching helps increase the effectiveness of results.

-Drew

I looked at the two threads. Since the rattles and squeaks thread moved only Roadster folks and ECS who was already on the thread have contributed, and on the wear marks thread there were a couple of generic "I don't have a Roadster but..." responses from non-Roadster folks, and a bit more from the established members of the Roadster community..

If you agree with me that our threads should be put back where they came from so that new Roadster owners see them, please chime in below. If I get banned for this act of rebellion, it's been nice knowing you all...

 

Ian,

To be fair Drew is making some good points...

That all said I can't say that I fully agree with it. I think due to the fact that the roadster is not the most popular MINI, that alone to have roadster owners sign up to NAM, it is more likely that roadster problem will vanish very rapidly in the pile of other threads about the other models.
I know I personally will check first on the R59 section for R59 problems than I will to the problem section for that same reason that I have no confidence the answer will be more there than here...

I have to agree though that there is a diversity of answer and people that might help.

I think they are trying to do the good thing. So it probably doesn't help to be overly mad at them
I also don't know why it can't simply be copied in both areas...? Who cares if it's a duplicate post. Usually one will be a lot more dominant than the other anyway depending on if people feel they can help on x issue or not.

I know I have tried to post Roadster question on more general topics with very very mild response because I get the feel that when most of other MINI owners see roadster or R59 they tune out..


Lastly I think NAM is extremely business oriented. The amount of adds and aftermarket part companies browse and participate is almost annoying in my opinion.
I frequent an other forum for my other car. It is extremely different. It is a lot more active in terms of user participation, helpful, and knowledgeable DIY participation with hardly no influence from businesses. It makes a huge difference.
NAM is what it is... It's alright but one needs to understand on it works I guess and accept it to a degree...

But hey, if you get banned for expressing your opinion, I'll sign myself out for good in protest

 

I am in 100 percent agreement with you. It drives me nuts that the Roadster-specific topics are moved over into the more generic problem forums where most of the visitors there have absolutely no interest in them and they quickly become buried...and so the Roadster owners who logically come to the Roadster forum to hang out and seek information never see them.

In reply to Drew's comments:

"...they turn up in front of more eyes of those who may not own roadsters but are familiar working with them and in front of vendors who may not frequent the roadster forum but may innovate and bring to market solutions..."

Most of the additional eyes in the other forums don't have the slightest bit of interest in the Roadster. Every "look" serves to bury the thread deeper into oblivion. And OBTW, what vendor is going to invest in a "market solution" when the potential market (# of R59 owners or # of R59 owners afflicted with the problem) is so small? The answer has been, and continues to be, none.

"...and more views of the technical minded individuals on the forum that are then able to help these users instead do having the threads wither in the roadster forum without much response..."

Firstly, I'll get over the implication that none of us in the Roadster Forum are technically minded. Beyond that, I suspect that there aren't many R50 or R53 folks who are chomping at the bit to solve the R59 soft top wear marks issue -- and quite frankly, if they did, who in their right mind would trust their inexperienced opinions? Why would I want to solicit advice from people who know nothing about the Roadster?

"...same holds true for issues that occur with just a cooper engine or just an S engine..."

Excuse me...if I have an issue that is not Roadster-specific, such as with the engine or drive train, are we not all smart enough to look in the general issues forum for answers?

"...for organizational purposes it is expected that if you have an issue you will search within the issues forum when seeking answers and it helps when using external search engines..."

So the real answer is revealed here -- that moving the threads makes it more convenient for them. The external search engine argument doesn't really hold water, unless one used generic search terms that would return mostly unrelated (and unusable) results. At least in Google, if I include the term "Roadster" in my searches (and who wouldn't?) it manages to turn up threads that exist within the Roadster forum. Isn't it odd that their primary concern is focused on serving potential, anonymous searches for information rather than serving the registered members of their site who are clearly dissatisfied with this practice?

I support you in your endeavor spiney.

 

It seems to me like some people think the Roadster is a different car from other Minis.

Roadster-specific items are just the roof and windscreen (OK, and rear bulkhead and trunk/boot lid) as everything else, every other single part, is just the same as any R56.

 

I would agree with you, which makes it even more nonsensical that the two threads that were moved recently were one about wear marks on the Roadster-specific top, and one about roof squeaks and rattles, again Roadster specific. If they had moved the thread we have going on at the moment about mudflaps it would have been fine, as they are applicable to all cars.

 

Not to spin this into a conspiracy theory like thread but I wouldn't be surprised that NAM is heavily promoted by MINI business related people and they may be trying to remove most negative issues to the "problem" zone... to which point it is labeled has unhappy people section, if you see what I mean.
I'm telling you guys, NAM is not that independent of a forum. That's just my gut feel from browsing the forum...


I wouldn't have made such statement. I think that's being a little close minded I have to say. You'd be surprised how much resourceful people can be in the right context...

+1

But I still agree it does make a lot of sense in the current context

 

Probably best to start your topic with "R59" to insure you can find it later.

 

To me, the subject title needs be the most descriptive. I hit 'new posts' and anything of interest will get my attention. Same with searches.
I do think it should stay in the model specific forum too, I browse the R56. I tend to avoid the mini general forums like 'stock issues' because 9 out of 10 times it's a different car than mine.