I do not see anything postive coming from posting the SNs of those VTDing our classifieds posts. I haven't asked for the SNs at any point, even while this was going on because I don’t need them to understand what was happening. There was a small consistent "core" of Z1 bashers involved in deleting all our classifieds posts. I'm going to refer to them as the "core" for the remainder of this post. Most members already know who they are and see through their biased propaganda based on nothing more than assumptions and ripe with double standards.
There are two primary reasons for the additional votes that resulted in all of our classifieds ads being deleted for several weeks.
Reason 1. The number of VTDs required to delete a classifieds ad started out very low. This core of Z1 bashers had obviously decided to get together and "conspire" and delete our ads which were no way controversial in nature. There is a "mole" in their group however because I am privy to the fact that they were IMing each other to organize these efforts. The fact that this group had been feverishly spreading false propaganda for several weeks meant they were successful in recruiting (brainwashing) enough other members to their cause so they easily had enough votes to delete out ads.I will try to entertain the high points of what I'm calling false propaganda. The main focus of this most recent wave of anti-Z1 preaching is relating to manifolds that none of the core knows the real story on. We are actively selling MS manifolds but haven't advertised any other ones. Z1 distributes products for literally hundreds of different companies. We happen to be a distributor for some of the AMS product line. The core has made attempts to make it as appear as though AMS and Z1 are almost the same business. Z1 is an AMS distributor, and that's it, we do not file our income taxes together. No different that Z1 is an active distributor for JWT, Wiseco, Greddy, Stillen, Powertrix, Garrett, Rotora, Labree, B&B, just to name a few. Of course some of the distributors in our product line have products that are similar to others on the market. The core isn't making an issue of any this regarding any of our other suppliers because some of the other vendors they support also distribute these very same products. They wouldn't want to step on any toes. A lot of our rift we've created with the core is due to the fact that we do not mind stepping on toes when it comes to offering our customers the best selection of quality products at fair prices. Yes ethics does come in to play here, but all things have to be looked at in fairness and moderation. If the core was truly unbiased and really took their radical stance on product development and rights in all circumstances then we would all be as guilty as the other. It's not like any of the vendors are creating water powered engines for our Z32s. Almost everything being produced is heavily designed based on something else. Whether it is a better design, more cost effective, or ideally both, product designers must consider cost effectiveness and level of demand when bringing a product to market. If all of you went solely by the strict theories being promoted on TT.net then quality Z32 parts would be several times more expensive than they are now and likely not as good, because vendors would never to look over their shoulder for competition. Competition helps keeps quality high and prices fair on respectable products. When a competitor comes to town it is usually catalyst for the OEM to improve design and features or to become more efficient and drop prices. I feel like I really should not have to explain all of this and that it would be apparent. Then enters the ethical factor. Z1 Motorsports does in fact take the ethical aspect into account when deciding to sell or produce a product. However just like any other vendor it's weighed against other factors. It's a balance of business and ethics that has to be maintained. Every business represented on TT.net compromises the two. It's just a matter of what all factors are involved in the decisions and how personally the ethical standards affect the individual conscience. Of course many vendors don't really have much of a conscience about buying products that are a more affordable version of that of a large company, or even some other vendor they don't know, maybe overseas. It usually just comes down to personal relationships and who knows who. Of course no vendors here including Z1 would sell a copy of someone's product that we know and respect. More discussion on all of that and the factors that go into those decisions here in this post: La-Z-Link We are the largest Z32 part retailer in the world. We also have the largest Z32 shop anywhere, in which we have several techs repairing, building, and tuning Z32s every day. Our operation demands quality suppliers. If suppliers drop the ball it reflects on us and costs us money sometimes a lot. If you produce a Z32 specific product and are interested in getting it to consumers, it seems obvious to have it advertised on 300zx.com as well as available for installation in our shop. If there is market demand we will usually take steps to fill it. Most households now have or desire a big flat screen TV. If you are selling big flat screen TVs to Wal-Mart and then you stop because you think Wal-Mart is unethical, Wal-Mart is going to just buy them somewhere else. But it goes further than that because Wal-Mart isn't going to keep buying your TVs for a lot more just because you claim to have created the flat screen TV; they are going to beat you to a pulp on price. Unlike a huge corporation like Wal-Mart, due to our size and the close knit community we operate in, Z1 supports and sticks with reputable suppliers who help us further the ultimate goal of satisfying our customers. We avoid going around our suppliers at all costs, however in the event that suppliers continuously cost us money and reputation because of lackluster service or if a supplier has created a demand and decided not to sell to us we will take measures to fill out demand. This doesn't necessarily mean flat out copying products it just means finding an alternative. If you consider that business mentality evil then you've got a lot of battles to fight out there and you may have so quit buying anything and survive alone in the woods on nuts and berries. Here is a post on that that SeedyROM instigated didn't any sensible answer for: La-Z-Link
Reason 2. Even though we never made a post about it or even complained to admin, there were members who made posts asking why Z1 classifieds were getting deleted. This was a response, which the core was looking for. This allowed the controversy to further develop and become the full spectacle that the core wanted. Now with so much attention on our classifieds ads, it would be no problem to still get the relatively few VTDs needed to keep all of this going. It had become a circus by now and some people were just voting (since they can do so anonymously) because a controversy had been fabricated and there is entertainment value in what will ensue.
The core was very aware of the sequence of events they were putting in place by VTDing our classifieds posts. Deleting our ads means relatively little to Z1 in the big picture as far as sales; it's really just an insult which gets left up for everyone to see. The core was simply asking for a reaction. I decided the best policy was not to react and try to ignore what was going on. During this time a few fair minded members posted asking the question; Why is this happening? Of course there were all types of responses but overall I think most people thought the whole thing was silly and probably should stop. However these posts were just what the core wanted; a reaction.
A reaction brings attention to the controversy and ultimately a degree of entertainment. We all know that a lot of TT.net members seem to thrive on controversy and love the dramatic entertainment that comes with it. Now that such a spectacle was being made of this situation, the views on our classifieds ads skyrocketed. With all these members viewing our ads and with the chance to vote anonymously to extend this controversy providing even more entertainment, why not just go ahead and click? Obviously not everyone followed this thought process but a large enough percentage did. So even though the number of votes required to VTD a classifieds post were raised "somewhat", with all the attention and entertainment the controversy was generating our ads now didn't stand a chance. IMO opinion this mob mentality that mobilizes people to a cause, by a few convincing but biased and deceptive leaders, means that the unbiased and fair that govern the site must step in and restore reality and fairness. We sat back and watched this take place for a while, hoping that the administration would realize the circus that was taking place and put a stop to it. The owners did decide to raise the count to VTD a classifieds ad, but as stated above it had already become too popular for this to have an effect. Relative to actual site membership, there were still a very small number of members able to keep this all fueled. I was basically told that the number of VTDs had been bumped up and there was nothing else that could be done. So instead of just putting a stop to this senseless nonsense I was told the VTD system was not being abused. Z1 had been poked with a stick and bitten by mosquitoes for weeks and now I'm told by someone who, I thought we were supporting partner with, that they felt this honestly wasn't just a circus but some insight into reality. Maybe they live in the reality created by the core, however just because I have more important things to do than sit around and defend Z1 against nonsense like manifolds doesn't mean that I don't have fair defenses and explanations. The fact that I can't sit around and thoroughly explain their posts and accusations all the time seems to lead a lot of members to think that the picture that the core paints is in fact real. In retrospect the correct thing to do at this point of anger would been for me to formally pull Z1s ties to TT.net and move on. However Z1 is very personal to me and my often emotions get in the way of the best political decisions, a flaw of my personality that the core often exploits. I had been told in so many words that the VTD system was not flawed. We knew it could easily be exploited and had been already for several weeks. With just the help of a few friends along with a couple Z1 employees creating accounts we quickly and easily figured out how many VTD were required. We never made any accounts for people who do not in fact exist or do not have an opinion. Z1 has 15 employees who are all obviously Z32 enthusiasts. Many here did not have existing TT.net accounts but they felt strongly enough about the foolishness going on here to sign up and vote. In order to make a statement about just how deeply the VTD system was flawed and how easily it could in fact be manipulated we chose to focus on SeedyROMs infamous post or bookmarked misunderstandings, flat out lies, and even a few mistakes on our part. We knew exactly what would happen once the posts were removed by VTD. Hundreds of red boxes would pop up to a lot of members telling them their post or just even a post they were involved in had been removed. We figured with-in a few hours that admin would figure out what had happened and exactly who did it. We made no attempt to hide screen names or really hide anything that was going on. We also knew that the posts would be promptly reinstated. So to all those out there who claim we were trying to put together a clandestine operation to censor the forum, you couldn't be more wrong. We simply made a statement about the potential for abuse of the VTD system. In retrospect and thinking more clearly we would have made almost the same statement by just temporarily wiping out basically all the posts in classifieds as they of course have nothing to do with Z1. The fact that we went after the bookmark post was aimed at the core but a likely a mistake as many members viewed it as an attempt to censor the forum, although we knew that ultimately would not be the case. So for better or for worse we made our choice to do what we did in order to prove a point and force the site owners to make a call on the Z1 vs. Core enigma. We were curious to see what the decision would be based on the actions of the core over the past few weeks. However I was already fairly confident as to what their decision would be. I would really rather they be the ones to walk away from our relationship than Z1. Of course it is my opinion that it was the wrong decision. We had been pushed, prodded, and poked for a long time and it should be clear to an unbiased outside observer that has watched this drama unfold over the last couple years that the Z1 Motorsports name is constantly flamed, hijacked, and abused by the core. We reacted not to the core or the members but to the administration to force a call. A call was made and based on our actions performed in the heat of the moment. I can't and won't blame the administration for the decision they made. They've been in a difficult situation for year with this; some of their most loyal active members pitted solely against on of their most active sponsors. I do wish we could have avoided all of this and the problems and challenges it has presented the owners of this site. It is not my intent to justify our actions but rather explain the emotional reasons behind them. We were wrong and if given the chance would have taken a different approach. I apologize to all the members for our actions and assure them that none of this was aimed at devaluing the experience of this forum for them. We do value many members of this site as our customers and we do care what they think. We simply want the foolishness to end. The fact is that Z1 Motorsport's unbeatable selection of quality parts and services for the Z32 along with an ever increasing level of service, love for the Z32, an deep drive to satisfy our customers will soon cast a shadow all of this. We will be of course be heavily involved in the community and major sponsors of many of the events you attend this year, as well as the other major 300ZX forums. We will be offering incredible pricing on great products throughout the year. We would like to hope that the site owners would reconsider our value to TT.net and the Z32 community vs. permitting SeedyROM and his crew’s continuous flaming at some point.
Russell Floyd Z1 Motorsports
www.300zx.com
1990+ Nissan Z specialists Used Parts, New parts, Service/Repair and Performance
Z1 Motorsports Exclusive Parts Line 2877 Carrollton Villa Rica Hwy
Carrollton, Ga 30116 770-838-7777
770-832-9253 (fax) 
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