Advertise and or sponsor, I think we are getting hung up some on the word sponsor
I am a vendor for a couple orgs that have to do with multi unit & commercial properties. I get no special treatment, I am not a voting member of the orgs. I am a VENDOR MEMBER, totally different from their regular members
Now I advertise and sponsor, I wouldn't worry about the actual words, its understood that I am a VENDOR MEMBER, just spell it out in the bylaws and it should be fine.
I pay to advertise in directory, newsletters and magazines for these orgs and then I also sponsor some events, such as local org meetings, small trade shows etc. All sponsor means is I PAY MONEY to the org to be present or have signage at meetings and or events. sometimes I am the only Vendor Sponsor, sometimes there's other Vendor Sponsors, banks, insurance companies are the other Vendor Sponsors usually
What do I get for my money? Exposure to many customers I want to target. I get maybe a couple minutes to speak before the meeting to try to sell myself & company to the org members.
They do usually say that I am a sponsor and that the members should at least give SPONSORS a chance to bid on projects or in the other sponsors cases talk to them about the services and or discounts they offer the Org members
I really think the word Vendor Sponsor , Vendor Members says it all. Don't get so hung up on the darn wording, like I said make it clear in the bylaws the difference is between Contractor Member & Vendor Member and its all good.
Vendor encompasses a lot of fields, not just PW distributors.
Do I think the Uamcc really should be screening, testing, evaluating vendors I just dont think so, a vendor is just a source of money and a way for the vendor to get in front of the contractor orgs Contractor Members. If the vendors have to jump through hoops or may be bashed or denied Vendor Membership for what a bad rating because of a product or two that someone doesn't like, the Uamcc will have very few Vendors and even less money to help run the Org
I don't know if theres a lot of hack Vendors out there, but I am sure there are many very good one, but even the good ones have enemy's and leave it to the contractors to spread the word not the Org. Of course if theres a pattern of abuse, then maybe the org should drop that vendor, but most I dont see a pattern of abuse
I know a real good distributor/supplier company that charges close to double than other companies, I know they charge what they believe they have to charge to stay in biz, I don't bash them, I don't like their pricing 90% of the time on stuff, but you know what 5-10% of the time I save money using them for a certain product or two. I wouldn't want them denied access to the Uamcc Org either. are they ripping people off 90% of the time NO, its their prices plain and simple and 10% of the time you cant beat their price, so I buy what I need off them happily. Others might rank then through the Uamcc contractor review as a rip off supplier and they could be marked throughout the industry wrongly. If I was a vendor hearing some of this I wouldn't bother spending my money on the Uamcc, on the chance I would be marked, IF thats what the org chose to do. I know this is just discussion, but just like I love PWing, I love my PM's I also love some of my suppliers and the ones I dont love or really no about
Tired, time to stop babbling so long
Jeff