Editor Application Status-'coinmech'

I applied under the chosen name 'coinmech' to edit a vacant category about 4 or 5 weeks ago. The confirmation came back by the auto-responder.

The category is a small one and still vacant:'Vending Machines Manufacturers'

What is the average turnaround on an editor application? Will you even be contacted if you are refused/declined? Thanks <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

All I can really say is that you are still in the queue. It's almost impossible to give a time frame on when any app will be reviewed. Somewhere between a day, to any number of months. How's that for vague? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Just got the most generic and vague turn down notice DMOZ uses I suppose. The one with no clue as to why.

Safe to say DMOZ wasn't interested in my becoming an editor and is not impressed with me.

I would lie if I said I am not impressed with the ODP however.

Odd, I handled your application and I gave you very detailed feedback. The main theme of it was that we are looking for editors who are interested in improving and adding to the directory and not their site's listing. From the application it appears the latter was more important to you. Also, although the application asks for 2-3 URLs when you're applying with your own site as one of those URLs it's best to complete the other two URLs.. in fact it's best to just give your affiliation and then provide three other URLs in the rest of the application.

We're very concerned with maintaining the quality of our listings. The first way we can do this is to be relatively cautious in who we give editor access too. You're site's content and it's URL (the 123 part) seriously give me the impression that you're concerned with making money and not on what may be best for the directory.

Prove me wrong though. Apply with three unique URLs, heck, apply to a category you have no professional interest in. We need to be able to trust you, right now we can't.

Good luck. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[added] You're description skills were good by the way. Being honest about your affiliation was also good. Applying to something apart from vending machines might be an excellent idea for you, you could be a good editor.. and in time, with a good editing record there is nothing to say we wouldn't trust you to edit in vending machines in the future.

http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum17/1355.htm somewhat explains a thing or two, enarra.

Thanks, though that thread doesn't effect my opinion or post in regards to his application. Unless I'm missing something?

What about applying somewhere around Monroe? I'm sure there are lots of small localities in NC that could use some loving care?

This statement should actually be read by anyone who has applied to be a new editor...

When you get a rejection notice, usually the email is pretty long, make sure to scroll to the bottom of the email <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" alt="" /> to see what the meta who reviewed your app had to say.

I am by NO means trying to be insulting or hostile or anything, but I have spent enough years online to know (from experience) that often people do not read more than the first few lines of any email that comes in. <img src="/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" /> (Myself included... from time to time).

Guilty as charged about being a website owner that does like to turn a profit.

However I can proudly say we are in the Better Business Bureau without any complaints and no complaints with SquareTrade.com as well. We hold the highest Yahoo Customer Service award as well with 5 stars. We are ebay powersellers with outstanding feedback too.

My success with an e-commerce site doesn't impair my objectivity though.

I did do another company along with my own company for the sample URL additions. There are not very many vending machine manufacturers that are not already in the ODP.

I can say that should I become an editor persons whether in competition with me or not would not wait 7 or 8 months for review.

Hey Motsa <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> I may just do that application for my area. I am native to here and graduated from the local college with honors. I attend church and I am active in many civic groups as well. That may be a good niche for me to edit afterall.

I still say I am waiting too long on my site to be included or reviewed. A site domain name registered around Thanksgiving of last year has been in the ODP for over a month now.

I don't understand the pecking order.

The email I got was a very lengthy one that was like a FAQ of pick and choose among the subjective topics you maybe were turned down over.

I read it again and don't see any personal input although I appreciate your public criticism here in the forum.

Good day to all and if I am suspected as a bad guy I hate to see what happens when a real jerk applies to ODP.

I sit here waiting already knowing that when my query comes up for my site that some reason will be sought out to exclude me because I got restless after 7 months wait. It's just hard to be optimistic about the ODP at this point.

Thanks for your time though.

I maybe don't have thick enough skin to be an editor.

The fact that I do take things with passion is what made my company work well though. The great customer service means that I lose money many times to do right by my customers when things go wrong.

My intentions being misread as not in best interest of the directory bothers me more than it probably should.

Just a little comment regarding wanting to add your site to the vending machine manufacturers category: I know you told me that you assemble some of your own machines but as far as I can tell the category is for companies that actually manufacture parts (or entire pieces) for vending machines, not ones that assemble parts created elsewhere. I also couldn't find anything on your site that gave any kind of information about that aspect of your business so I don't think the site would be listed in that category.

Hey Motsa,

Was that denied editor application also the denial of my site URL to the ODP in any category? As covered before it was submitted long ago in the business opportunity category and more recently in the general merchandise retail category since we do sell a lot of gifts and things.

I'm basically asking have the quiries all cleared off and can I start again waiting from scratch with a new URL submit?

I'm not motsa, but no, the rejection of you application has nothing to do with your site. As far as I know it's still in unreviewed, I didn't touch it.

There is also no "pecking" order. It's very random, some categories have more interest than others. In the area I am current editing (a non-english language) there are unreviewed from 2000.. yes they have waited 3 years, but there has been no editors in those categories in those 3 years, what can we do, not much. When we are relying on volunteers for expertise some areas just aren't as well represented than others. Often sites are not added in order of date either but sorted by other ways (alphabetical by title or URL usually).

I'm sorry that it appears that we are untrusting but you need to try to see this situation from the perspective of someone who is trying to protect the reputation and quality of the directory. There are lot of people who join ODP for the wrong reasons (or try too), the less people we have to fire for those reasons and clean up after the better right? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Motsa's idea of your hometown is a good one. I'd encourage you to apply there. Like I said, prove me wrong about you.

Hey Meta/Kmeta...

I know you are not Motsa LOL...I was just recognizing that she had offered that suggestion and saying hello.

Obviously there is no reason to the order of submissions being reviewed. I see that you are working hard and knocking out a lot yourself though and I admire hard work in any field.

I assure you my addition to any community would not harm or lessen it's integrity. Having said that, I don't need to prove my character to anyone. I just need to do some good reviews and not include my own site.

Thanks for your time with me today. I kinda had hoped it did mean I was scratched from the holding pot. Then I could do a clear and consise submission and make darn sure of my submission date and keep an eye on things better than before.

If there were no editor in my category I would agree that 7 or 8 months isn't long to wait on a volunteer to come over and do other work outside their spot.

Hoping my submit will not be like those non-English sites that waited 3 years...

In that case there is an incorrect directory site

I agree Motsa that the manufacturing category was not the best fitted for my site. The proper interpretation of a manufacturer is as you view it is the strict one.

The listing of vending123.com is not qualified to be listed as a manufacturer. They 100% import their machines from other companies in the Orient.

There has even been an FTC complaint filed against the parent company because they claim made in USA when the machines are not domestically produced.

Just offering this critique of the current listings hoping to solidify it's integrity.

Re: In that case there is an incorrect directory site

I just checked, and vending123.com redirects to http://www.ashlandcorp.com/. This is an issue. However, knowing where a company makes or obtains vending machines from is beyond an ODP editor's ability to determine.

Re: In that case there is an incorrect directory site

You may want to also know that same company is mirrored on about 50 other sites including http://www.bulkvend.com