How About Some Prerequesists To Be Able To Post In 'Buy/Swap/Sell'???

[Duk]

I'd like to make the suggestion that there be a change made to the forum before people are allowed to post in the 'Buy/Swap/Sell' section.

On another forum I'm on, you have to have made 30 posts in other discussion areas, before a new member is allowed to post anything for sale in the Buy/Swap/Sell sections. This helps to stop people from joining the forum simply to advertise their stuff to a focused market.

[rowan_bris]

What if the first time poster has a bargain for us?

[colcol]

Yes he might think that what he is selling is worthless, and we could snap it up, some persons that put things up for sale are wreckers and professionals, but if its too expensive, you don't buy it, Colin.

[Evan Bottcher]

Hi Duk,

It's possible to configure the forum to do this, and we've discussed the idea before but decided not to do it.  But I'm interested to hear more.  Can you talk a bit more about what bothers you about that behaviour (registering just to make a single 'for sale' post)?

thanks,
Evan.

[Duk]

1st of all, I want good cars and parts to go to grateful owners.

But when you see someone who has made 1 post and they've just posted in the Buy/Swap/Sell section, it's clear that they've only joined the forum to sell something.
So if they haven't even had the decency to introduce themselves and contribute to the forum community (right, wrong or indifferently  ), then I really don't care if what they have to sell is an absolute bargain, put that sh!t on eBay, Carsales or Gumtree!

Obviously this is a small forum community compared to other forums. And maybe 30 posts is more than is needed, but the number of '1st posts in the Buy/Swap/Sell section' must be pretty disproportionate compared to other 1st time posts in other areas of the forum.
Even if that number was 20:1 (20 1st posts in other areas to 1 1st post in Buy/Swap/Sell), I think it is BS.

[Evan Bottcher]

I'm still not getting it. What's the harm that you feel these people are doing? Using up all the available usernames?

[aggie57]

Duk - I think your trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

[extraball]

Duk is prob saying that, these fly by nighters add little value to the site, and just "use" us as a freebay. It's a fair point being made, and on bigger/busier sites it could be an issue, but certainly not here at the moment.

[MD]

I wouldn't say it's not an issue for a number of reasons:-

1.Every new ad reduces the time exposure of the previous ad in the front summary.    This is not helpful.
2. We sell stuff to each other on a "family" trust basis. We know each other and build trust amongst our fellow Forum members. Personally, I go out of my way to fully explain to a potential buyer the pros and cons of the item in question. If that means I do not make the sale, so be it. My conscience is clear and my reputation on the Forum is intact. In the same vein, my purchases from Forum members has transpired along the same lines.
3 A person making a single post has not established any credibility nor trust and such a post is just an opportunistic and free exposure. This is akin to a roadside impulse buy of a car based simply on price and when the shit hits the fan and the vender is long gone, you will be kicking yourself for failing to do all the necessary checks.

I don't necessarily feel that Forum facilitating such postings is acting in the best interest of the members and the eligibility to post in this section should be reviewed.

I see and know exactly what the Dukster is talking about. I am not having a big dummy spit about it but I do support his position.

[Evan Bottcher]

Useful input thanks MD.  I can see the arguments, even if I don't feel strongly about it.  All I was understanding was "it's not fair" but you've added some reasonable points.

Anybody else got some thoughts for or against?

[Craig_m67]

Myself, I think it should be mandatory that a for sale ad should list a price or range. Otherwise it's just fishing and a discussion (via PM given replies are turned off). The board has multiple forums to discuss or research what something is worth.  If you want to sell it then state clearly what it is, the condition and name a price.

[aggie57]

Evan - my counter is a question. If someone has something to sell that is of interest are we saying we don't want them to let our members know just because they aren't part of "the family"?  Wouldn't we prefer to have such things "bought into the family" than actively kept out??

Or maybe we ban the "I've just bought a..." post because they haven't actually contributed yet.

[DHDamo]

As a new member (and I realise exactly what that is worth), aren't we the people most likely to be interested in these Alfas and parts going up for sale? I agree that we don't want clowns posting junk (can't our moderators just delete these), but by shutting this type of post down, are we denying ourselves bargains and great opportunities? Those posting as a one off may not know exactly what they have or they may just want to offload some stuff quickly (ie selling their mums mint old alfa now that she drives a yaris, deceased estates or just time to clean out the shed) for example. It doesn't appear to be overtaking the forum at the moment (from what I've seen) but maybe some concrete rules now will prevent issues later. Maybe for a first time poster, they send their message to a moderator and the they upload the add - if they approve - could be pasted into the sticky thread on by/sell rules) otherwise they earn their stripes with 5 or 10 posts first. My 2bob.

[Duk]

As a new member (and I realise exactly what that is worth), aren't we the people most likely to be interested in these Alfas and parts going up for sale? I agree that we don't want clowns posting junk (can't our moderators just delete these), but by shutting this type of post down, are we denying ourselves bargains and great opportunities? Those posting as a one off may not know exactly what they have or they may just want to offload some stuff quickly (ie selling their mums mint old alfa now that she drives a yaris, deceased estates or just time to clean out the shed) for example. It doesn't appear to be overtaking the forum at the moment (from what I've seen) but maybe some concrete rules now will prevent issues later. Maybe for a first time poster, they send their message to a moderator and the they upload the add - if they approve - could be pasted into the sticky thread on by/sell rules) otherwise they earn their stripes with 5 or 10 posts first. My 2bob.

This along the lines of my thinking for people who join the forum for the purpose of moving on cars and/or parts.
A prerequisite of a common courtesy introduction of themselves to the forum group and if they are here only for the purpose of selling stuff, a clear statement that that is what they are here for.

It seams to me, to be a bit strange when we allow any ol' Tom/Dick/Harry (no offense intended) to post in the 'Buy/Swap/Sell' section, but producers and parts importers, who ultimately do more for the community (and may not be able to run or keep up to date a website) aren't permitted to post in the section, because it's private sales only.

[extraball]

IMO price should be stated (can be negotiable), and condition. Do this to save forum fights, and more importantly to help protect members from anything dodgy. It would be risky to buy from a new member, unless you can inspect/take delivery of items in person.