Users Committee

Question

I read the thread here http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19308471/19607059.aspx#19607059 but I thought it was important to start this thread with a clearer title to this subject, because I find it odd that there doesn't seem to be a thread for members to communicate with this Users Committee. I only found a thread or 2 that even mentions this Users Committee. If your truly a Users Committee then users of this forum need to be able to talk to the members, but that seems almost impossible right now. They represent the forum so why not openly communicate with the users? We are not a bad lot, who knows you may even get along with some of the members.

I used the search engine but there are no threads related to the subject. No mention of a Users Committee in the list of groups. Zip, Zero, Nada. I don't get it. Is there a secret password, handshake? How long has this Users Committee been in existence? How do you inform members of an issue? Smoke signals, carrier pigeon? Is there a gag order that the Committee can't talk to members? Right now it seems the only way members know what is going on is when information leaks out and that doesn't happen to often. The Users Committee needs to be a lot more User Friendly.

Thereal-dbk4297 · Answer

Hello, and welcome,

Look for users here with a high number of posts, and also a high number of points. These are the 'regulars' here.

The closest thing to what you are describing as a community, would be the VIP users forum. The VIP board is locked out from all users here until some threshold is reached. Answers, points, accepted answers? I don't know the details of getting in since the forum Upgrade last year.

But welcome, and ask whatever you wish. Someone is sure to reply. :emotion-2:

rileyriley · Answer

Hi Thereal-dbk4297

Thank you for the welcome.

The reason I know that the Users Committee exists is that firebird mentioned it in the thread I posted the link to. I apologize for the link not working earlier, I just figured out how to fix it a minute ago and have corrected it.

The fact that you don't know that it exists, shows they don't want people to know about it and don't want them to find it on the forum. Why is anybody's guess. The title says Users Committee and every member uses the forum, yet not many know of its existence. Go figure. Some sort of secret society perhaps?

Thereal-dbk4297 · Answer

The fact that you don't know that it exists, shows they don't want people to know about it and don't want them to find it on the forum. Why is anybody's guess.

Oh, I see.

Looks like Dell, with the help of this User Committee will be trying to break upgrade the Dell support forum again. :emotion-40: This happens after and sometimes before most major forum changes. This one year old version of the forum is setup to be a chat, social networking, site to copy popular 'Friend' sites. It replaced a working, consistent, intuitive tech support site that helped thousands of Dell Customers.

I like some of the Regular users here have been answering questions on the Dell support forum from the very beginning many years ago.(I am not a committee member) Every so often Dell either promotes, demotes, or transfers whoever is in charge here. That being said, the new king, or queen of the kingdom spend a bunch of money to make this site look like their version of 'Today's Web'. Interest and budget to fix forum problems, add or improve forum functions wane quickly, and customers have to wait for the next kingdom cycle. Either Dell forgot the customers need for quality online user to user support, or are using the cost benefit of non-support online, to fund the pay per incident model today. (See why I'm not a committee member):emotion-15:

These committees in the past have been vowed to secrecy until the upgrade goes live. If the committee views and suggestions are used, I hope that better online support for Customers is moved to the forefront.
This is Dell's playground. Whatever committee, point system, or forum software Dell decides to use, we have to respect their rights.

... yet not many know of its existence. Go figure. Some sort of secret society perhaps?

You know the secret now. Ask your contacts if you can help improve the forum from a new user point of view.

Davet50 · Answer

What Fireberd is refereing to is there is a new build of the forum comming soon. Select persons, most VIPS will be beta testing this new upgrade to lesson the impact of the change like what happend when Dell switched to the current layout.

There is no Secret community or users here. There is like The previous poster stated a VIP group that is where this user community will be drawn from.

1234h · Answer

Good idea to start a separate thread on this subject.

About the idea put forth in the post above that this Users Committee is a future endeavor, it's clear in 's post that the committee already exists and has already submitted recommendations. I think he wrote they met with Dell corporate officials back in October.

Which takes me back to those questions I asked in the other thread. Basically, the general membership seems to be completely in the dark on all this and that seems very strange.

Davet50 · Answer

Strange? not hardly When dell initially rolled out this new design they only let it out when they were ready. There are always things going in the background that are not for public release until the time is right. This is the nature of corporate dealings.

So no matter what you think there is nothing underhanded or secret that is going on. When Dell is ready to provide info they will.

1234h · Answer

I do not dispute that anyone upgrading a forum has the right to keep all infomation confidential until the actual upgrade, although I wouldn't do that on any of my forums.

What I find "strange" is the idea that you can have a committee that is supposed to represent a certain group of people, but the people being represented are not informed and not asked what they may think of what the representative body is doing in their name.

Would you approve of your city council, your national government legislative body being chosen in secret and deliberating issues that concerned you without asking for your input?

In this case, it's not a "Users Committee" if there is no interaction between the users and the committee. It's a select committee. Selected by somebody and only answers to that somebody.

Davet50 · Answer

If you think that the governments dont do things behind closed doors your sadly mistaken. so much of government is behind closed doors and decisions are made that affect your way of life without your consent.

So no matter what you may think the issue is mute. Things like this will continue to go on

And despite what you think it is interaction between users ie the community and Dell. Whom ever is chosen to be on the group that is chosen to help beta test is chosen by their experience. Perhaps the term "User committee" is not really a good choice but that is what it is. Users just like you and me who have been around for a while and do have a lot to offer.

If you feel slighted that is your issue and not the general consensus

rileyriley1 · Answer

This is the nature of corporate dealings.
If you feel slighted that is your issue and not the general consensus

Corporate dealings only go so far. The bottom line is that public acceptance can make or break those deals. Can't make money if the public doesn't like the product.

I'm curious about your "general consensus" statement and the attitude behind it. Is there a poll that the users voted on, where can I find it? I would like to have my voice heard. Customer Service is a huge part of a corporation and if customers feel ignored, talked down to it can kill a business.

A forum should be user friendly and value it's customers. For example, how do you find someone in charge to help you? Where is a contact list or thread? Who are the mods/admins?

Whose bright idea was it to hide the SIgn Out button? Do you get a reward for finding it after a member is fed up looking for something that should be easy to spot? Hiding it inside the Expand User Panel is not making it easy.

How about a thread where members can list what features they like/dislike. Give them a voice and in the end helps make a corporations forum a lot more user friendly.

fireberd · Answer

I don't know where the 'committee' came from.  I only mentioned that I was asked to participate (if I wanted to) in testing the new forum before it goes 'live'.  Why I got selected ???? I'm a retired 'computer specialist' with hardware, programming, help desk and management experience and have extra time to spend testing and maybe that is why they asked me.  I was also a 'forum moderator' on another (non computer) forum.

Thereal-dbk4297 · Answer

... Corporate dealings only go so far. ... And a lot of other things that can be readily found by reading the forum Please don't feed the troll. :emotion-50:

Davet50 · Answer

Amen I am done here. let em rant

TheRealFireblad · Answer

Is there a poll that the users voted on, where can I find it?

How about a thread where members can list what features they like/dislike.

See here for all hits from a forum search - using 'poll' as the criteria :emotion-55:

... how do you find someone in charge to help you?

The choices offered in the 'Support' section on the Dell website are your only options.

If you're unsatisfied for any reason, there's an 'Unresolved Issues' link at the very bottom (middle) of every forums page.

Who are the mods/admins?

Official Dell reps do occasionally manage to find time to look in on the forums, and respond to questions.

But these are 'community' forums - not official 'support' forums. As such, there are no official MODs or Admins among its members.

And finally... re the 'User's Committee': It's obviously by invitation only - hence why it's existence is not made transparent to the public at large.

Fireberd met the criteria required for membership of the committee, and now you know that he's well aware of the various shortcomings of the forums.

As a long-standing and very active community forum member himself, there are few better qualified for the job, and I for one am confident he'll voice his opinion if/when necessary, regarding beta testing the new forums.

But I'd like to think the new forums will already have taken poll results and opinions of forum members into consideration :emotion-5:

rileyriley1 · Answer

Thereal-dbk4297Davet50   Excuse me but where do either of you get off calling me a troll? :emotion-12: I had comp trouble with the rileyriley ID so I switched.and then I'm labeled a troll and I'm ranting.  What did I rant about? I was asking some questions in a civilized manner, no swearing, no name calling and suddenly I'm  a troll who rants. Grow up Gentleman, I assume you are both men.  Did I ask unreasonable questions?  Did I strike a nerve?  There was absolutely no reason to call me a troll based on the ID switch.  If this is how you two treat new members, they wont be staying around too long.  If my switching IDs due to a comp problem is your definition of a troll then you both need a new dictionary.  Sorry if this rant post bothers you two but I will defend myself when I am insulted.  If my posts are your definition of a rant then I will gladly rant on and ask as many reasonable questions as I please. One last thing Thereal-dbk4297:  If your going to quote someone, get it right the first time.  Don't manipulate what a member has written to suit your pitiful needs.

rileyriley1 · Answer

TheRealFireBlade

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my questions. It is much appreciated and It's nice to see that some here are willing to take the time to respond in a polite manner.:emotion-2:

New to Dell Community

Users Committee

Was this post helpful?