Originally Posted by
Sam Drucker
I agree. The nature of the posts from the moderator just did not seem to be in the spirit of what Flyertalk is about. The timing of the initial comment seemed opportunistic, especially when the subsequent comments sounded like the moderator has had some prior axe to grind with KVS.
Indeed, I have previously made "contributions" to KVS and used the tool extensively. I no longer pay for it because I found that the support was not to my liking (too much RTFM without even a pointer to actually where in the FM to read) and because I found that I could get access to the same information for free. What really put me over the edge, however, was when certain features that were once included at price X suddenly became only available at price Y. The reason given was the fact that the data source changed. That's fine, but it isn't like KVS is incurring additional costs to get the data from the new source; the information is all free. And it isn't like the "contributions" were a one-time deal. Every subscriber pays regularly. IMO the costs of the additional development to scrape the data from the new source website should have been borne by the developer, not the subscribers. The tone that discussion followed at that time was enough for me to write off the product completely. Not because it doesn't work but because I do not want to support the person behind it. At no point have I claimed that the product is bad or doesn't (generally) work.
As for my status as a moderator, all moderators are members first. Moreover, I am not a moderator in the TravelBuzz! forum. I am speaking as a member only here.
Originally Posted by
Sam Drucker
And since Randy Petersen has come out supporting KVS and others, is there any question about KVS's right to be here?
I've never disputed that and have even privately counseled others to that point. I have no problem with KVS posting here and bragging about all the benefits of the product, but the conversation should be open to reasonable dissent where such is offered.
Originally Posted by
Sam Drucker
I'd never heard of the Wandering Aramean before, and checked out the site. I really was not impressed.
No skin off my back. As you said, if you don't want to use it, don't.
Originally Posted by
Sam Drucker
The KVS Tool is very relevant to the interests of many Flyertalk members. For those that want it, they can pay for it. For those that don't want to pay for it, don't! But respect that some of us do find it a suitable and efficient tool.
I absolutely do respect that. What I do not respect is misleading comments from the tool's vendor with respect to what it or competing tools offer, where the data comes from or how it is provided to customers.
Originally Posted by
jarusoba
What would KVS have done to please you? Put a big footnote to its every feature and say something like: you could get this info for free at so and so website?
Nope. But when someone states that the data is free and that he's scraping it and presenting it to users he shouldn't deny that. When the product is mentioned by a rather well respected industry expert on CNN he shouldn't edit the clip to exclude references to any other products and pass it off as the original. When users have questions about where to find something or how to use the tool I'd generally prefer more than an RTFM response.
Read my history in this thread. I actually help people using the tool a LOT. I'm all about making sure folks can find the information they need and being as transparent about it as possible.