PriceScope and Pearl-Guide:

[BAS]

The question of why more pictures are being posted on PS rather than PG came up in the thread below and I wanted to address the differences in the forums, and hear what others think:

https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9413

I discovered PS first when googling something-or-other pearl related (I believe it was fireballs). Pretty soon that lead me to Pearl_Guide. I'm a member of both and active on both boards, but post far more on PS. This is how I view the two boards:

PriceScope = my peeps. The members are mostly pearl enthusiasts/consumers. We share pictures of our pearls with abandon and pleasure and ask any and all questions and give our advice freely. We're sarcastic, funny, friendly, not-so-friendly -- in other words, we're a comfortable, super chatty community who just adore posting and looking at pearl pictures. I assume the professionals peek in on what we're doing, but post less-and-less often (which is a real loss).

Pearl-Guide = The Professionals. The members/moderators are super knowledgeable Kings and Queens of the industry. They buy/sell/grow/distribute/design/create pearls that I find endlessly fascinating and give me so much pleasure. Though I am active, I post here less often. When someone asks about a pearl -- I wait for a professional to answer. When I buy a new piece, I generally show it to PS rather than PG. I don't want to inundate the professionals with my chatter and cell phone pictures when they see the best-of-the-best and have professional photographers to take their pearl pictures. Sometime a piece is so special (little h geode earrings) or fits into a thread (madama) that I do share.

In other words, I am "better behaved" when posting here. I feel fortunate to be part of the PG community and respect that the tone here is professional, respectful and thoughtful.

How do others experience the differences in the two boards?!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

To me P-G is a great source of information/education and pearl news. It's the perfect place for the "what sort of pearls do I have?" questions, for example.

The Lowly Beaders Club is a great hangout for those who like to make their own pearl / gem jewelry, to share ideas and techniques and encourage newbies to try their hands at DIY. There are lots of us pearl enthusiasts who are non-professionals on P-G.

The Show Us Your Pearls forum used to be more active at one time. Seems like more of us used to post there when PP had its specials. Now, not so much-- the photos are on Pricescope. No matter, many of us are members of both forums.

 

[lisa c]

Awwww, criminy. I can barely keep one window open on my phone... I guess I'll have to figure out how to keep two open. If my brain starts smoking and my phone spazzes, someone tell my kids I love them.

Thanks for the explanation BAS. I felt awestruck when I joined PG, but realized, to my great relief, that the Experts (Real, and the complimentary ones like me) were pretty openhearted, regular folks. Busy, but fun loving.

so, you get mean over there, do you? That could get interesting (eyebrows raised, big eyes)...as long as no blood is shed.

 

[BAS]

lisa c -- these are my personal views and opinions, not an explanation.

If you haven't visited PS, you are going to LOVE the pictures. And yes, your phone may explode!

(I also feel posting the same pictures on both forums is too much, since many of us are members of both. So if I post them on PS first, they usually don't get posted here.)

 

[lisa c]

lisa c -- these are my personal views and opinions, not an explanation..)

LOL, is this you being on your careful, best behavior :-D ??? Hehehe....

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Also, P-G is an older forum. For years, Pricescope didn't allow any pearl discussion. They only created the pearl forum there in 2009.

 

[BAS]

LOL, is this you being on your careful, best behavior :-D ??? Hehehe....

Careful -- not bestest.

 

[newberry]

Great explaination BAS in the differences.

Here is my 2 cents....It is a shame that the most educational site on pearls doesn't have all the pictures that PS does for what ever reason. Let's encourage double posting of the wonderful pictures that we see on PS here on PG. Several years ago I felt funny posting my adventures at the ruckus for all of the pearl scholars to read because I am just a little old lady who likes pearls but with no special knowledge of them. But my silly posting have been well recieved and not criticized and even enjoyed by some in the spirit they have been written.

So BAS post away with abandon because you have amassed one of the finest collections that pearl scholars should see.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Newberry,

I've enjoyed your Ruckus threads so much since I have not been able to attend, due to family obligations (maybe someday....)

 

[newberry]

Thank you Pearl Dreams. They were never written for PG but another forum of silly girls who likes pearls. I was their guinea pig sent to slaughter and wonder of wonders...I'm still standing and several from there have joined me here

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Ah! So you migrated here from there? That was very fortunate for us.

 

[newberry]

No not there but the QVC Pearl Queens

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Oh, I didn't even know QVC had forums!

 

[pattye]

Peeps in the 'TRADE'

Peeps in the 'TRADE'

Excellent topic for discussion, pearly friends! There are fundamental differences in how peeps in the TRADE are treated.

One needs to remember that these are private forums and as such there are guidelines members are to follow. Like many of you I have dual membership.

Pricescope requests jewelry/gem/ pearl sellers to identify themselves, so on each post TRADE shows up, including myself because of my etsy shop. On PC as someone in the trade, I am not allowed to post photos of my personal pearls, pearl items for sale or make critical comments about other vendors pearls. In a situation when pearls were clearly misrepresented and several of us in the trade spoke up, we were firmly reminded such remarks were unacceptable and the posts removed. If a PC member specifically asks a question of someone in the trade, we are then allowed to comment. For example, on PC there is a discussion of pearl knotting techniques using Beader's Secret thread started by NacreLover, who has dual membership, and has requested my input several times.

A few times weekly is about as often as I check into PC~the photos are wonderful and the chatter entertaining now that I've met and"ruckused" with and figured out others with dual membership. (Special thanks to you who use the same name on both forums!)

Pearl-Guide is where my heart is. I've been a member for 9 years and reading here closer to 10, almost from its beginning. Pretty much the only restriction is openly selling in our posts, however we are encouraged to link to our websites. The focus is more on education here, with participation from those in all areas of pearl production.

Numerous warm friendships have developed because of the interactions on P-G and PC. As Dr. Seuss says, "Oh, the places you'll go!"

 

[dkan 168]

I have been active on PG a lot longer than I have been on PS, and started as a lurker on PS long before they finally decided to have a section dedicated for Pearls.

I frequent both nowadays, and tend not to venture into the Pearls section on PS unless a subject matter catches my eyes.

To me, PG is more educational on a specialist subject, where PS is more consumer focussed.

DK

 

[Katbran]

Certainly PS is pretty much all customers who like to show what they have bought. And that's great..PG is more information based and that's great! I think it's good to keep it centred around education. But we all love the photos !! lol There is a section here for that but it seems like people have started posting the photos all over the place. It's easier for people to find them if they are all posted in the 'show us your pearls' etc ..than randomly posting the photos in Tahitians or Freshwater . I find things a month later as they are hidden away or dropped in the middle of someone's thread. I hate missing out on the photos!!

 

[Caitlin]

I can't compare because I have never been to PS. I am kind of disappointed that PS swooped in later, and took over the showing of photos from nowhere, when there was already a great place, here, to do so!

I am really sorry people like BAS feel more comfortable putting up photos over there in deference to the 'professionalism' of this forum. It is the first I have heard of this kind of belief or attitude, that there are professionals here and there are "peeps" there and they are on different forums for good reason! I don't quite understand why people would think their pearl photos were better off on another forum!

 

[KarinK]

I'm missing out on the photos too. I'm only at PG.

- Karin

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Sometimes it's hard to upload photos here. Even adding photos to my albums can be difficult. I think this is off-putting to people-- waiting for attachments to be approved, etc.

 

[GemGeek]

I am on vacation and having a hard time keeping up with the posts, but i had to comment. I enjoyed the pearl queens on QVC while i had a job that let me peruse posts while I ran equipment. Back then pearls were frowned upon at Pricescope or I would probably have spent more time there. Let me say for the record, that while we like education, we want to celebrate pearls. I love seeing people's treasures. It's a vicarious thrill that never grows old. I love the sense of community. Everyone cheered me up when I had problems and I will never forget it. Hugs to ALL!

I hope people enjoy both forums and will share photos freely. I have very little free time, so I only go to PS when someone let's me know there is something special to see.