i really dont understand how lack of visability is a problem, no matter what thread you go to on geekhack, there are like 18 signatures pointing people here
and as an fyi, i just ran a gb which i didnt even post a thread about in the gb section, and it sold double the numbers i wanted to sell of it in 2 days
look at the numbers some buys matteo has done on this platform, people are aware of pmk, and this subforum, as much so as the gb section
many factors go in to running a successful gb, but the thread in which it is posted in will barely make a difference, providing a great set, that appeals to a lot of people, and providing good service and updates is the most important thing, also, a much larger part than people think is simply who is running the gb
i think what people need to understand is how this should be categorised, and what is happening
people are picking some colours and a profile, maybe the odd custom image or 2, and sending them to a company, who is then selling that idea as a product, but putting a gate as to the minimum amount of orders as to make it profitable for them with there large set up costs
what sp have done is a great business model for them, the reason things are struggling to hit MOQ is because it isnt the best business model for out community, on paper it may seem great, but in practice there are many issues
forgetting how the traditional definition of a gb is, how i define it within our community is that a member or members of this community get together, to host a group buy, where we handle everything besides manufacture, it is then ours, we have an idea, and we see it through to completion, and each time, it is something the community can get behind and feel proud of, we band together to get something done, and support each other through issues along the way
through all the benefits of this system, it removes all the soul and achievement of doing that, and therefore removes a lot of the will of the community to push it, support it and see it through to completion
the truth is, groupbuys are hard work, but that is part of it, and part of the reason so many of us support them
as JD mentioned, another issue here is market saturation, because now people see running a "gb" as little more than sending an email, and occasionally replying in a thread, anyone and everyone is trying it, because there is little to no repercussion for failure, and slim to no barrier to entry, when these buys dont go well, people cry out, looking for things to blame, like it must be the thread the gb was placed in etc, the fact is, it takes work to drum up demand and interest, and thought as to not just what you want, but what the masses want, a lot of people listen either just to themselves, or the vocal minority, too many gbs are layed out in such a way to please the 10% at the expense of the 90%, rather than please the 90% but facilitate that vocal minority
what i see is ultimately happening here is, people are now being put off from running their own gb in favour of using this system, but that this system sometimes struggles to hit the numbers we are used to seeing because of a combination of too many too soon, and the reason the listed above
im not saying this system shouldnt exist, but that people shouldnt have the same expectations or think of it the same way as we think of community run gbs, i do however think it should be refined and restructured slightly, making the barrier to entry higher, perhaps having an on site interest check, where the gb doesnt go live, until each kit hits x number of votes, making it the organisers job to show they have the demand to justify the buy being there potentially taking or splitting orders from other buys, the site can then email everyone who showed interest when the buy goes live, part of the issue i feel is also how unclear pricing and payment is, and because they start with such low numbers etc, people are hesitant to commit, and because they dont commit, that cycle continues