How commercial paid section works?

[daliye]

Hi,
Please, may some more clear about how it works?

[6StringJazzer]

Please start by reading the FAQs then come back if you have specific questions.

[daliye]

Thanks for replying.
The top FAQs link does not include anything related to it.
Also, the link you thankfully mentioned reports an error:

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[6StringJazzer]

Sorry about that. I thought the post was publicly viewable.

(Note: All references to $ are for USD)

There are three roles in the Commercial Services subforum:
1. Request Originator - The user who asks the question
2. Request Solver - The user who solves the question
3. Admins - The users who ensure the smooth functioning of the subforum and resolve any issues

The following are some questions and answers from the view point of a Request Originator (RO) and Request Solver (RS)

A. AS A REQUEST ORIGINATOR (RO)

1. How do I post a question in the Commercial Services Subforum?
To post a question, do the following:

a. Buy points using Paypal / Credit card to be able to post a question
To post a question, buy points by making a payment through Paypal / Credit card. You must purchase a minimum of 10 points by paying $10. The options are $10, $20, $30, $40, $50, $100, $200. Points are valid for one month from the date of purchase. To purchase points, go to your UserCP, on the left side under My Account, you will find Paid Subscriptions. Click on it. You will see your Active Subscriptions, your Subscription Point Summary, and then the option to buy points under Available Subscriptions. Select the $ from the dropdown and click on Order. On the next screen, click on Buy Now. This will take you to the PayPal site through which you can purchase the points.

b. Assign a budget for your question
Specify how many points you will be giving the Request Solver who solves the question, depending on its complexity. Keep in mind that the Solver will get 75% of the points with the remaining 25% going to the Forum as a commission to help finance this otherwise free resource. These points will be transferred to the Request Solver once your question has been solved and you click on the Appreciate button. If the Request Solver picks up the question and feels that the question has been allotted fewer points than it deserves, the Request Solver will PM you to allot/purchase more points. If there is any dispute, refer it to the Admins by clicking Report under a post.

The process of creating the thread / raising the question is the same as in the regular subforum, the only addition being the allotment of points.
Please ensure that the thread is created in the Commercial Services subforum itself. Do not post the question in both the free forum and Commercial Services; duplicate threads are not allowed. If you have posted in the free forum and would like to post the thread in the paid forum, then "Report" your post in the free forum (Report icon below the post) and request that we close the thread in the free forum so that you can repost it in the paid forum.

2. How do I transfer the points to the Request Solver?
Once you have received the solution, all you need to do is click on the Appreciate link in one of their posts and the points that you allotted will be transferred to the Request Solver. Please do this promptly or the thread will be reported to Admins. If you do not Appreciate the Solver or respond to a solution within a reasonable time, an Admin will transfer the points on your behalf.

3. Where can I see the points remaining in my account?
Go to your UserCP, on the left side under My Account, you will find Paid Subscriptions. Click on it. You will see your Active Subscriptions, your Subscription Point Summary and then the option to buy more points if required. The Subscription Point Summary also has the Last 10 Points usage so you can see the last 10 transactions.

4. How long will it take for my questions to be answered?
The time for a solution to be provided will of course vary with the complexity of the request, this might be within a day or it could be weeks for a complete turnkey solution. If you feel that an inordinate delay is taking place then advise Admin at [email protected]

5. What should I do to ensure my question is promptly answered?
There is no system of assigning questions to members. Members will review your question and if they have the appropriate skills and time to solve it, they will Lock the thread to gain exclusive right to claim the points. To attract attention to your question:

• Provide a complete, detailed description of the overall problem you are trying to solve. If something isn't working the way you expect, the problem may not be where you think it is. Provide full context.
• Describe what result you want. The best way to do this is to attach a desensitized sample file to make it easy to see and help. Show sample data, mock up a result, and describe how you got that result.
• Allot points wisely. If someone will spend 2 hours on your problem, 5 points will not be a sufficient incentive.
• Respond to your threads promptly. If the Solver asks you a question, there won't be any progress until you respond.

6. What should I do if my question is not answered?
Check if the points allotted are low, if it is then increase the points for that query. To increase the points, click on Edit Post (on your 1st post), then click on Go Advanced. You should see the points textbox where you can edit the points.

If the points allotted are adequate but the query is not resolved and you don't wish to continue waiting, then click Report to request that your points be returned.

7. How do I edit or increase the points already allotted to the thread?
To edit or increase the points, click on Edit Post on your first post of the thread, click on Go Advanced, edit the points in the points textbox available.

B. AS A REQUEST SOLVER (RS)

1. Who is eligible to answer questions in the Commercial Services Subforum?
To answer questions in this subforum, you must be a Guru, Moderator or Admin.

2. How do I answer questions in the subforum?
To answer questions in the subforum, you need to open the thread. You will find a Lock button next to the Edit Post button. Click on the button and the thread will be locked for you. This lock gives you an exclusive claim to the points offered. You may post to the thread without locking it if you wish to contribute without expecting any points in return; this is also appropriate if you need information from the Originator before you commit to solving it. Each Request Solver can work on only a certain number of threads which will be set up in the system. This figure will be changed based on the number of requests coming through.

3. What if I am not able to answer a question, even after clicking on the "Lock" button?
If you are not able to answer the question, you can click on the Unlock button and it will be unlocked. Another Guru/Mod/Admin may pick up the question then. However, please note that if you have provided even a part of the solution to the Request Originator, no points will be credited to you.

4. What do I gain for answering questions?
If your answer(s) solves the Request Originator's question, the Request Originator will transfer points to your account. Once you accumulate 100 points, you can redeem the points for $, gifts or donation to a charity of your choice. You will receive $0.75 for each point redeemed. The forum retains 25% for hosting charges and operating costs for the website.

5. What if the points allotted are not sufficient?
If the points allotted to the question are not sufficient compared to the effort involved, you can either post in the same thread stating that the points are not sufficient or you can PM the Request Originator to increase the points.

6. How can I redeem the points?
Once you have accumulated 100 points, you can redeem those points by clicking on the Redeem Points link. To find this link, click on your UserCP, then click on Paid Subscription under My Account. On the right hand side, you will see Redeem Points. Click on it to redeem the points.

7. What if the Originator does not acknowledge my solution?
If you lock the thread and post a valid, complete solution but do not receive a response, post a reply reminder in the thread for the Originator to respond. If they do not respond in a few days, go to your post with the solution and click Report, noting that there has been no response. An Admin will post a final reminder and if there is still no response after two weeks an Admin will transfer the points.

C. GENERAL QUESTIONS

1. Whom do I contact incase of any clarification / dispute?
If you have any questions, or in case of any dispute, click Report on the corresponding post. If there is a dispute involving an Admin as a RO or RS, another admin will arbitrate.

[daliye]

If the month ended, I lose the credit?

[6StringJazzer]

I am not sure that is true. I will check for you.

[6StringJazzer]

The points do not expire in a month. The post has been updated to show that they are good for 30 years.

[daliye]

Long live the king!

[Mohamed_Adel_]

The points do not expire in a month. The post has been updated to show that they are good for 30 years.

could you please explain in more detail, the validity of the point? I'm confused about (the points valid for 1 month from the purchase date & points valid for 30 years).

Thanks in advance,,,

[6StringJazzer]

When you buy points, they are valid for 30 years. There was a post that said something different but it was wrong.

[Mohamed_Adel_]

When you buy points, they are valid for 30 years. There was a post that said something different but it was wrong.

I read a previous post that said that the point is valid for a month from the purchase date and at the same time it is said that the point is 30 years.

[6StringJazzer]

The final word on this is that they are valid for 30 years.

[Mohamed_Adel_]

The final word on this is that they are valid for 30 years.

Thank you so much for that ,,,