Why isn't there an option in PMs to include a picture? Much easier using picture icon then posting the link and having to click on it.

Just wondering.

:iagree: It would be nice to have that same option that is in the posting fromat.

I don't know the specific logic, but sending photos back and forth privately would impact the SD servers resources and network bandwidth.

Possibly Slickdealers who PM a lot might consider using another instant messaging methodology that doesn't impact SD resources?

I don't know the specific logic, but sending photos back and forth privately would impact the SD servers resources and network bandwidth.

Possibly Slickdealers who PM a lot might consider using another instant messaging methodology that doesn't impact SD resources?
How is it different than posting them in the forums? I am not being sarcastic, I truly don't know.

How is it different than posting them in the forums? I am not being sarcastic, I truly don't know.Posting in forums shares info with all who wish to see it. That provides a group service, which is what Slickdeals is about and is the basis for their business case.

Private PMs do not provide that group information sharing service. Slickdeals benefits very little from PMs. They're a necessary feature to support the other activities of the site, but they aren't the core reason the site is here.

There are other firms that specialize in (and have a supporting business strategy for) instant messaging.

Instant messaging can consume a lot of SD server and bandwidth resources, especially if people are firing messages back and forth at a rapid pace - and quoting previous images in their replies.

Essentially, PM activity can consume considerable resources without yielding a corresponding benefit to the site.

I'm just guessing at this, I don't really know the SD reasoning.

Posting in forums shares info with all who wish to see it. That provides a group service, which is what Slickdeals is about and is the basis for their business case.

Private PMs do not provide that group information sharing service. Slickdeals benefits very little from PMs. They're a necessary feature to support the other activities of the site, but they aren't the core reason the site is here.

There are other firms that specialize in (and have a supporting business strategy for) instant messaging.

Instant messaging can consume a lot of SD server and bandwidth resources, especially if people are firing messages back and forth at a rapid pace - and quoting previous images in their replies.

Essentially, PM activity can consume considerable resources without yielding a corresponding benefit to the site.

I'm just guessing at this, I don't really know the SD reasoning.
OK, I know that PM's aren't providing any benefits to others and doesn't help SD. I was wondering how posting a pic in a PM would be any bigger of a burden on bandwidth than putting it in a forum. There are tons of pics in the lounge that are just posted for fun. So I would assume that if they were putting a big burden on bandwidth then they would also show up as links. It's not a big deal to me to have the ability to add a pic to a PM but it almost looks like the link to do so was accidentally omitted.

OK, I know that PM's aren't providing any benefits to others and doesn't help SD. I was wondering how posting a pic in a PM would be any bigger of a burden on bandwidth than putting it in a forum. There are tons of pics in the lounge that are just posted for fun. So I would assume that if they were putting a big burden on bandwidth then they would also show up as links. It's not a big deal to me to have the ability to add a pic to a PM but it almost looks like the link to do so was accidentally omitted.First, the difference is that images posted in the forums benefit more users than just those doing PMs.

Second:

Forum user posts an image - 1 upload.
50 forum users view that image - 50 downloads.

PM user #1 PMs an image - 1 upload
PM user #2 views the PM - 1 download
and then PM user #2 responds, quoting the image and adding 1, doubling the bandwidth and server resources = 2 uploads
PM user #1 views the new PM = 2 downloads and responds, which triggers the equivalent of 4 uploads and 4 downloads.

After a few exchanges, the total resource consumption of the PMs accumulates pretty fast.

Pretty soon, with images flying back and forth, two users have consumed as many server resources as one thread post consumes, and only those two PM users benefit, not the 50 users in the thread. Add in the possibility that the PM is CC'd to several people, and very quickly PM resources would be greater than forum resources.

Third, there is not guarantee that the recipient of a PM has broadband internet access. One could harass or merely inconvenience a dialup user merely by sending a 1MB image to him (which would take 3 minutes to download on a dialup line).

I'd be willing to bet that the omission of images in PMs was intentional - maybe we'll find out here?

you can always go to a site like www.imageshack.us and host the pic. you'll get a link to the photo the person pm'ing can click on and see

you can always go to a site like www.imageshack.us (http://slickdeals.net/?t=208532&u2=http://www.imageshack.us) and host the pic. you'll get a link to the photo the person pm'ing can click on and seeOP acknowledges that alternative: ...Much easier using picture icon then posting the link and having to click on it...