I was thinking about how much hobbyists like to compliment their ATF providers, and how much providers like to boast about their ATF hobbyists. And I thought to myself, wouldn't it be great if everyone in the hobby had the chance to have the same top-notch experiences we enjoy so much?
And so the ATF Trading Game was born.
It goes a little something like this:
Every hobbyist who wants to participate goes into the Locker Room and posts their top 3 or 5 ATF providers (whichever they choose.) In their signature line, they add the phrase "I'm playing the ATF Trading Game."
After they've posted their favorites in the Locker Room, the hobbyists go to the Co-Ed Discussion titled "ATF Trading Game" and state that they've added their ATF List to the mix. (This allows providers to verify that any hobbyist who wants to play the game is holding up his end of the bargain by putting provider names into the mix.)
Each provider who wants to participate adds "I'm playing the ATF Trading Game" to their signature line as well.
And then...
For the sake of explanation, we're going to use darling Whispers and Sixx as our hobbyist guinea pigs.
1. Whispers posts his ATF List to the Locker Room. He then confirms that he's posted his list in the Co-Ed Discussion thread.
2. Whispers sees my name on Sixx's ATF List. Whispers has not seen me before. Intrigued, he goes to one of my posts and sees "I'm playing the ATF Trading Game" in my signature line. He then PM's me and says something to the effect of "I saw you on Sixx's ATF List, and I'd like to see you."
3. I screen Whispers through whatever method I normally use, and then invite him to see me at a 25% discount off my usual hourly rate.
4. Because Sixx was the referring hobbyist, after I visit with Whispers, I PM a "thank you" to Sixx and offer him a 25% discount off my regular hourly rate.
By participating, hobbyists get an opportunity to see providers that are highly recommended by Locker Room participants, at a discounted rate. They may have the opportunity to see providers normally out of their donation range, or may simply discover someone they've never thought of before. In addition, they get to save cash for Christmas and/or hobby more than usual in December.
Providers get an opportunity to meet hobbyists they've never seen before, and have the possibility of increasing business during the month of December, which is traditionally slower in the hobby. The discount gives us the ability to thank new friends for trying us out, and thank old friends for the compliment of being on their ATF List.
The Rules:
1. Providers who participate must agree to offer AT LEAST a 25% discount off their regular hourly rate. Discounts on shorter sessions, or bigger discounts on hourly sessions, are up to the provider.
2. All participants must add "I'm playing the ATF Trading Game" to their signature line.
3. Participating providers must be verified providers.
4. Participating hobbyists must have Locker Room access.
5. Participating providers must agree to provide references for screening purposes for all participating providers and hobbyists.
6. Participating hobbyists must agree to provide screening information to their provider(s) of choice to schedule sessions.
7. The game will run from the day after Thanksgiving (November 26) until New Year's Eve (December 31).
We'll need a mod to volunteer to confirm that every hobbyist participant who posts in Co-Ed has actually posted their ATF List in the Locker Room.
Thoughts?