Vendor Requirements Guide

Interested in becoming a vendor on 4Runners.com? You are in the right place! The site has laid out specific requirements for all vendors going forward. To earn the coveted vendor badge beneath your screenname, you must adhere to certain guidelines. 4Runners.com is a community, and it is important for all members, including vendors, to uphold a high standard of character and conduct themselves respectfully on the site.

NOTE: 4Runners.com is ad-free for members, and it is our goal to keep the atmosphere as such. This is not a website to simply shill your product or service to a captive audience. You will be a member like everyone else here and expected to contribute useful content, not spam for sale ads across the forums. Should you be approved for vendor status, your sub-forum in the vendor area will be where you may create ads for your product or service.

First and foremost, it is essential for you to adhere to the same set of rules and guidelines as all other members on the platform. You can review these rules at this link: 4Runners.com CoC

You will be expected to comply with the same Buy/Sell/Trade regulations as the rest of the community. These rules can be accessed here: 4Runners.com BST Rules

All vendors must actively engage on the site by making a minimum of 5 substantive posts per month. Superficial comments like "Nice build" or "Thanks for using our brand" will not be considered towards this post count. Our team will periodically monitor member activity, and if there is a lack of consistent engagement, your vendor status may be subject to evaluation.

Please confine promotional posts for your products to your designated vendor area. It is acceptable to provide product suggestions when responding to a post in the open forum but refrain from spamming advertisements. Such behavior will not be tolerated.

Be proactive in addressing any potential conflicts with fellow members. If you sense a disagreement escalating, get the staff involved by pressing the report button. We prefer to resolve conflicts peacefully rather than having heated arguments on the forum.

Respect your fellow 4Runners.com members, regardless of how they treat you. Our website caters to a diverse range of personalities, and not everyone will see eye to eye. It is crucial to uphold yourself with dignity, respect, and avoid engaging in arguments, insults, or criticism of members or products.

Maintain good relations with other vendors and non-vendor representatives on the forum. If a competitor posts something offensive, flag it for staff review by using the report button. Refrain from instigating conflicts or belittling other companies or their products. There will be no bashing of products or representatives of competing companies. List your features and benefits, and let the consumer decide.

Becoming a vendor on this site does not automatically grant you vendor status on other sites within the Bob family of forums. Each site has its own requirements, so make sure to abide by them accordingly. Depending on the site's activity and member engagement levels, post count requirements for vendor status may vary.

Vendors must stay active to maintain vendor status on a given site. If you do not log in to your account for a period of 60 days, your vendor status will be up for review and subject to revocation. This applies to each site individually.

Part of the vetting process often times involves hosting a group buy on the site. This will typically give your company/product great exposure in exchange for a discounted price to the consumer. This will give you a good idea of how sales will flow on the site, as well as give the forum staff an idea of how you handle your business. If you are uncomfortable with a group buy, let the staff know and other options can be explored.

Sure, I can complete those tasks. What should I do next?

In order to become a vendor on 4Runners.com, you must submit an application by starting a new thread in the "Chat With the Staff” sub-forum. Your thread should include the following details:

• Your business license number and/or EIN.

• Your website URL.

• The number of years you have been in business.

• A brief overview of the products/services you offer.

• Personal message to the staff explaining why you are interested in obtaining vendor status and how you can contribute to the forum.

Once you have provided us with this information, we will carefully review it and inform you of your eligibility status as promptly as possible. There is no timeframe on this, as a group discussion is had on the matter in a case-by-case basis.

Please note: The staff retains the authority to accept or reject any vendor based on various factors such as the information provided, feedback from other members, past performance on the forums, saturation of similar products or services in the vendor pool, and other relevant considerations. Vendors will undergo regular evaluations for their behavior and adherence to posting guidelines outlined in the rules. The process of determining eligibility is not fixed and may require some patience. It is important to remember that all moderators on this platform are volunteers.