How do you know angelcrazy2 is a business not an individual? If she is an individual she fits perfectly into the catergory the classified section is a place for private people to buy/ sell/ trade/ swap things - she is selling her service, as a private person.
Who mentioned angelcrazy2???
As far as I understand Chinese law as it relates to this, anyone offering travel services such as car rent and tour guiding would need to be part of an accredited and bonded travel company. On top of this, a tour guide offering guiding services would need to also have a tour guide licence, and the driver would need to to be a qualified to take tourists.
The qualifications and accreditations are different and generally more complex as they relate to taking foreign tourists.
This means of course travel companies can also issue tax receipts on request, and more importantly if there is a service related issue then complaints can be made to the local or national tourism department, stating the companies tourist registration number, among other details, and a remedy can be sought.
Individuals without these qualifications are not allowed to legally offer and charge for such services.
But that is besides the point...
If a point is to be made about this then I guess its that before one takes issue with another companies business model, the maybe one should get ones own house in order....especially if one is trying to get something out of that said company for free....
exactly, way off the point!
I reserve the right to make multiple points! Let me know if you disagree with any.....as long as we keep it friendly.
@angelcrazy2: In the past, GoKunming has had exclusivity agreements with two companies. These agreements have since expired. GoKunming no longer has exclusivity clauses with any companies or individuals, nor will we in the future.
Observations.
I am disappointed with Go Kunming to hear that commercial exclusivity has existed.
Paying sponsors on other websites buy banner ads. They do not get exclusivity.
Exclusivity would be illegal in many markets. It is considered by many as unfair business practice. Imagine if Microsoft was the only company allowed to advertise their software, what an outcry there would be. One thing I was taught in business, 'never do anything that you may later have to justify', because it may come back to bite your tail. Monopolies are also anti-competition and that is not in the interests of the readership.
Classifieds in my home market fall into two groups, commercial and private. Commercial includes jobs and services. Commercial classifieds are not always paid for.
By offering exclusivity you are also closing the opportunity for more advertising revenue from others in that sector.
There is normally no exclusivity in classifieds. Banner ads give advertisers an advantage that is seen as fair by all. And they are paid for. IMHO exclusivity should never be offered to sweeten the deal.
Thanks very much for your concerns about my suggestion.
I had put my ad. on classifields for almost one year when suddenly my ad. started to be deleted always. I was confused so I wrote to Gokunming. They explained it's because someone paid for his car rent sevice on the website so I couldn't mention such words as "driving, car, driver" any more, and if I wanted to also, I must pay for my ad. But the truth is that I am an individual, not a company. I have a full time job. This driving/tour guide job is only part-time. Some of the visitors here might have been my customers. I did not break any rule of the website. In fact, I included in many of my ads. before, that I only worked part-time so I hoped the customers would contact me a few days earlier.
Oh well, I could do nothing except obey their rule that I can not mention any words like "driving, driver, car."
Actually I talked about this ad.thing with a few of my friends who are regular visitors of Gokunming. They didn't expect Gokunming would do this, and they advised me to write about it on Forum. but I gave up. Here I'm still thankful to Gokunming for giving me a chance to say something.
Credit new management for being forthright and allowing angelcrazy2 to speak. I guess the exclusivity arrangements were under old management. Credit again to the new management for not entertaining exclusivity.
If you don't find exclusivity worrying, then think about this example...
How would you like it if the next time you search for "heart medication" on Google, only links from Pfizer came up.
@angelcrazy2
Ah, this is slightly different.
It sounds like there is no exclusivity in operation, as you have not been excluded from advertising. You have been told that you can, but you must pay a fee.
If this is a new policy it should apply to all commercial entities advertising, if it is to be fair. However, if that was the case, then all the job adverts from schools should attract a fee. You are technically offering a commercial service. However, as you are not a commercial entity you do not fit this category. Even if you are offering something for sale, as do many other people. For the Webiste there is always a desire to control 'carpetbaggers' (people who want something free when they should be paying).
The only other issue I can think of is legality for the 'angelcrazy' service. Normal car insurance is invalid. If there was an accident you and your passengers would not be covered. Perhaps the Gokunming team cannot allow you to openly advertise an illegal service using the words 'car, driver, driving'.
If the GoKunming staff are worried about carpetbaggers, then they need to develop a clear policy. This is especially true if they are going to develop a more commercial face to GoKunming. Any policy does not have to posted on the website, as policy changes to meet changes in the laws and environment. However, any policy should be consistently applied.