Surveyors Forum Section - Can we Add It?

[Alex F]

It appears that when it’s time to upgrade, many members seek for advice on good surveyors (hull and mechanical). There’re number of threads all over the site and it’s not always easy to find the answer. So, I thought it could be a good idea for CSR ADMIN to add to the forums “Surveyor” (or whatever name is more appropriate) section. It would be great if we can break it down by region, but most importantly it’ll help if we had something like “Recommended Surveyors” and “NOT Recommended Surveyors” sub-sections where each member could contribute his recommendations.

Just a though that surly will help our community.

 

[flarepoman]

Heres the MAN! for my area Central west side of FL:
Henry W Pickersgill & Co Inc

(352) 754-1777
26231 Mountain Lake Rd
Brooksville, FL 34602 28.4846 -82.3077

 

[Gofirstclass]

I agree. The only problems I can see with this is crummy surveyors getting their wife or friend to post a thread saying how great they are.

I've had three hull/equipment surveys done plus an engine survey. I'd like to be able to post the names and contact info on each of them.

 

[mwph]

I agree. The only problems I can see with this is crummy surveyors getting their wife or friend to post a thread saying how great they are. quote]

Perhaps a "Do Not Use" list would be almost as valuable as a recomendation list.

Just thinkin aloud.

 

[Alex F]

...Perhaps a "Do Not Use" list would be almost as valuable as a recomendation list.....

Yep, that's what I meant by stating ...it’ll help if we had something like “Recommended Surveyors” and “NOT Recommended Surveyors” sub-sections ....

It always helps to know who you should avoid. May be it's even more important.

 

[fwebster]

This is Jim's call, but it seems to me that having a published list or section for "NOT RECOMMENDED SURVEYORS" or a "DO NOT USE" list is getting in shaky ground as far as ethics and liability is concerned.

If a discussion in a Surveyors section happens to contain a post explaining problems a CSR member has had with a surveyor, then the forum administrators have no liability, other than to keep the discussion civil.

So far, CSR has been free for us to use and enjoy. The last thing need is for Jim to get in a legal tangle defending free speech due to a DO NOT USE SURVEYOR's section.

 

[AKBASSKING]

This is Jim's call, but it seems to me that having a published list or section for "NOT RECOMMENDED SURVEYORS" or a "DO NOT USE" list is getting in shaky ground as far as ethics and liability is concerned.

If a discussion in a Surveyors section happens to contain a post explaining problems a CSR member has had with a surveyor, then the forum administrators have no liability, other than to keep the discussion civil.

So far, CSR has been free for us to use and enjoy. The last thing need is for Jim to get in a legal tangle defending free speech due to a DO NOT USE SURVEYOR's section.

Agree!

 

[Alex F]

Frank,

I agree with you. But, I just wanted to clarify, are you saying that there's a difference between having a thread where a member says "don't use these guys...." vs. having a forum section where a member says the same thing?

If this gets rather complicated from legal stand point, then let's just skip this part and focus on more positive "Recommended Surveyors" section. After all this is what a member seeks as the end result.

 

[fwebster]

Alex,

I do think there is a difference. I am not a lawyer, but I have learned to avoid liability by being conservative and thinking ahead. In this case, the risk isn't losing a suit over the publication of a list, but rather CSR being forced to defend cease and desist letters and a defamation suit ....i.e. the attending legal costs for that defense.

I see a definite liability exposure for forum owners with any surveyor whose name appears on a DO NOT USE list of surveyors published in such a section on a public forum. On the other hand, this is a public forum where members may post comments subject to certain rules. If someone posts this: "Who knows a surveyor in East Jesus Co, Ark?", and someone responds: "I used Billy Bob Jones and he was clumsy, forgetful and missed a lot of things"........as long as the exchange meets forum rules, there should be no liability to the forum.

There is another factor here as well........Black-Balling a bunch of surveyors by publishing their name on a DO NOT USE list is not a very classy or professional way to get the message delivered. Just Publish a Recommended Surveyors list and if a surveyor doesn't show up on that list, then either nobody has used him or there is a problem with him. Down here in the south, his not being on a recommended list is what we call a clue.

And here is one final point.......try as hard as you want, you will never dumb down the boat buying process to the point that the buyer isn't responsible for his own due diligence and that includes investigating surveyors before you hire them by asking about experience, types of boats they are or are not competent to survey and for a list of references.

 

[Alex F]

.....And here is one final point.......try as hard as you want, you will never dumb down the boat buying process to the point that the buyer isn't responsible for his own due diligence and that includes investigating surveyors before you hire them by asking about experience, types of boats they are or are not competent to survey and for a list of references.

I just want to add to this that it's also important to interpret all information adequately. We can have “X” number of surveyors listed in “Recommended Surveyors” section, but it’s up to each member to judge how creditable this information is (meaning who recommended a particular surveyor). We all have different standards of judgment. So, there’s a huge difference when a very experienced member says “I’ve used Joe S. and he is very good” vs. a newbie boater saying “Bob G. is awesome”.

So, choose wisely.

 

[mwph]

I stand corrected. So in the spirit of Robert's Rules of Order, I hereby withdraw my motion.

Once again, I preheated the oven only to find out that ice cream should be served cold.

 

[Alex F]

I was just thinking that from marketing point of view having "Recommended Surveyors" section might be an insentive for some surveyors or group of surveyors to contribute to advertisement on CSR.

Just a thought....

 

[trit21]

I think if you have a Not Recommended Section then Jim is opening himself up to a defamation 'slander' lawsuit. I know if I found my company on a website that says do not use, my lawyer would be getting involved real quick especially if it was in list format.

 

[Alex F]

I think if you have a Not Recommended Section then Jim is opening himself up to a defamation 'slander' lawsuit. I know if I found my company on a website that says do not use, my lawyer would be getting involved real quick especially if it was in list format.

Well, if that's the case let's just forget the "Not Recommended Surveyors" section and just have "Recommended Surveyors" one.