[peterska2]

Thinking out loud here (I know I do that far too often ) Now do you remember (how could you forget?) all the problems that were had with insanctus and the huge thread that ended up about him?

Now what if something like the usernotes system was implemented whereby people can post usernotes about the person who has done something for them and leave a review of the work that way? It could be done that only licenced members can post them and view them.

There's the other side as well where you slog your guts out doing hours and hours of work for someone who then ignores your emails when it is done even though you have been keeping them updated, doesn't respond to Pm's saying that it is completed, then even more annoyingly posts another request for the same modification to be made with a couple of extra bits for double the money. [insert angry smilie here]

A notes system could also be used for people who make requests so that other people don't get stung by people who either don't pay, or simply cut off all contact with the coder leaving them with a major custom job which is not likely to be of any value to anyone else so is not put on public release and even if it was it wouldn't be put on piblic release becasue you just know that the person that you have done the work for will then download and install it for free instead of for the $$$ that was originally agreed. (Sorry if I'm ranting a bit but this has happened to me last month to the tune of $200 and again for $40 so I'm well out of pocket for work done that sat nicely on my desktop in the folder called - awaiting release to client)

A feature I would like to see in this if something can be implemented is a compulsary link to the request that was carried out by the coder or the request that the coder is posting requester feedback on. IMO this should be auto populated by using some form of link in the service requests forum in post #1 for each thread.

On the requesters side this would be something where the requester can click to a list (perhaps dropdown-ish or member list-ish) where all licenced users with over x posts are listed. They then select the correct username and this takes them to the commenting system where they leave their comments. A simple save would then add the comments to the coders profile. There should also be something as simple as some predetirmed fields including 'coder hired', 'work completed', 'work not completed to deadline', 'coder fired', and 'job withdrawn'. These would be used to keep the system upto date with feedback and no comments would be needed for these although an optional text box should be available for freetext comments on the pre-populated set fields as above.

On the coders side there should be a link in post #1 of the service request whereby the coder can rate the requester. This again should have pre-detirmined fields such as 'clear consise specifications issued', 'access required granted', 'modification completed - approval pending', 'payment pending', 'payment recieved' and 'modification installed'. Again these should have optional free text fields where additional comments can be left. The page when clicking onto the link in post #1 should be prepopulated with the requester's username and the link to the request. Again these would be used to keep the system upto date with the status of the work.

As a potential add on to this, there should be set routes where the thread autocloses. Upon the thread closing no further comments can be posted for that thread. I would like to have these set at 'coder fired' if selected by the requester, 'hack installed' by the coder, 'work completed and installed' by the requester, 'payment not recieved' by the coder but this should happen 7 days after that message is added to the requesters profile to enable time for the payment to be recieved or negotiations between the requester and coder to take place. If the status is not changed in that period of time then the thread should close but if it is updated then it should remain open unless the new status is one where the thread is to close. The ability to close own threads would not then need to be required for that forum.

Another nice little add-on that I would like to see is where the most recent status applied to that thread appears under the thread title so that anyone who browses that thread can see where it is up to. This would then potetially prevent people sending PM's applying for the coding work after someone has been offered the job and already commenced the work.



Ok so I know that sounds like a coding nightmare to write but it would be nice if something along those lines could be implemented as it would take care of a lot of current issues and also add details about the work completed. Even if no comments are added by either user involved and just the pre-determined fields used then you still get information as to if a coder completes the work or not and if the requester pays or not. These are the two most important things IMO that should be logged somewhere. After all no-one wants to hire someone who doesn't do the work or do the work and then never get paid for it.


[off topic]OMG that's my longest ever post on any of the vB sites[/off topic]