The following quote is clearly wrong (at best) and Obfuscation, if I was less generous: "Suddenly, The PuristsPro decided to charge the brands for a significant amount of money otherwise they would close the forum." - FPJ HQ.
NO....NO....NO.
We get a lot of complaints about FPJ watches construction, failing, manufacture faults, after-sales inefficacy etc. Not as many as one other brand but still enough to "defend".
I wrote the original e-mail reaching out to FPJ because of our concerns about the 3 criteria for all brand fora on PuristSPro:-
"A closer collaboration between PuristSPro and Montres Journe will help you defend the internet space and make it the best tool for instant market communication. Brad needs more information and access to new developments.
Obviously, to continue the forum, and for Montres Journe to continue to develop and expand your brand reach we would need three things. We already have the enthusiastic volunteer moderator in Brad Schwartz. We need two further commitments from Montres Journe in the form of:
1) regular information and material or access to technical and historical answers.
2) financial sponsorship but maintaining our editorial independence, as that is our unique PuristS credibility.
[Confidential business details edited] As a 'legacy brand' and a long time supporter, we are ready to discuss these terms with you and prepare a plan with clear goals and levels of user reach."
NO mention of forum closure; just asking for a discussion of options. No reply.
Subsequent follow-up e-mails added lesser options like banner adverts and pleas for at least, acknowledgement of receipt of the mail.
No reply.... thrice.
Brad wrote a personal e-mail asking whether mesages were received. Finally - a reply told us "where to go" as FPJ had "no reason to intervene".
Enough said!
MTF