When your sale, or want-to-buy, or trade is complete, leave the original content of the ad intact.

This serves as a record of the transaction, and makes it easier for staff to assist you if necessary.

We don't delete completed ads. Do not edit the content.

Thank You!

I removed the link to the photos of the firearms I sold, in order to conserve bandwidth. Should I re-post them to the ad?

Links and photos aren't hosted on Sigforum servers, so they do not use Sigforum bandwidth.

The only thing you should change about a completed ad, is the title. Add "SOLD" to the title, but otherwise leave the information, including photos, intact.

Does that rule also apply to the listed selling price?

Yes. Absolutely.

As I said. Leave all the information in the ad intact.

Playing Devil's advocate

(I am aware of the reasons why you don't want them deleted)

The Firearms Owners’ Protection Act, signed into law in 1986, specifically forbids registration of firearms records at 18 U.S.C. 926(a):

“No such rule or regulation prescribed after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or dispositions be established.”

I know this site is not the US government or any state, and you have the legal authority to maintain such records of buyer/sellers and weapons, but why would you? Many people complete legal private sales of firearms specifically to "stay off the radar" for fear of future government intrusion into their lives.

Wouldn't it make more sense for privacy for the buyer and/or Seller to just print the screen if they want to keep a record of the transaction rather than keeping an electronic record that is searchable by anyone?

Your site, your rules, I'm just asking.

There's another reason for not editing the content of the ad once the deal is made. Forgetfulness! I agreed to buy a holster on Monday . . . a rather busy day for me. Told the seller I'd head out on Tuesday to get a MO or certified check. Tuesday turned into another crazy day. Well, today I finally was able to get away from the office. I went to the ad and he had deleted the amount. Arghhhh . . . I couldn't recall if it was for $85 or for $65. A quick e-mail confirmed that it was the latter amount (what a great deal!!).

Guess I like knowing I can turn back to the ad to see what the price was. Just my two cents -- from an aging ol' fart!

Reg

quote:

Originally posted by evlgreg:
Playing Devil's advocate

This isn't a discussion.

I'll make it simple for you. The Classifieds is routinely the most troublesome area on the board. When a problem does occur, we need to be able to sort through it. We deal with everything from sluggish transactions, to misunderstandings, to outright fraud.

The goal is to solve problems quickly, and ultimately provide a good place to do business for our members.

I heartily recommend that you help us, so we can help you. If you don't like this policy, you don't have to do business here.

Playing Devil's Advocate typically means it's a hypothetical discussion. I'm not asking you to change your rules, nor am I protesting your rules.

evlgreg, the sticky is here for clarity, not debate.

And when I say it's not a discussion, don't tell me it's a "hypothetical discussion."

"Devils Advocate" means taking a contrary position purely for the sake of argument. Really, this isn't the place for that.

The reason the sticky is here, is for legitimate questions, like the ones other members have already asked. Not so it can be challenged for sport.

OK then, I will ask a couple legitimate questions.

Can you lock each thread so that only the original poster and previous responders can see it?

Do people need to be members in order to read other people's contact information?

When do the posts become archived (1 year, 2 years?) and inaccessible to the general public like they do on other legitimate business sites like ebay?

Perhaps I just need some clarity.

quote:

Originally posted by evlgreg:
OK then, I will ask a couple legitimate questions.

Lovely.

quote:

Originally posted by evlgreg:
Can you lock each thread so that only the original poster and previous responders can see it?

No.

quote:

Originally posted by evlgreg:
Do people need to be members in order to read other people's contact information?

Yes.

quote:

Originally posted by evlgreg:
When do the posts become archived (1 year, 2 years?) and inaccessible to the general public like they do on other legitimate business sites like ebay?

Threads are automatically locked after 6 months and purged after a year.

This site isn't a business, and the classifieds are a courtesy to members. It is free for everyone. It's a public board, and if you want to do something in the classifieds you don't want the public to see, then don't do it.

The owners and staff don't get a thing from operating the classifieds, except headaches from problem transactions. In order to better serve those who have a bad transaction, and ease the process, that is why this very simple directive is stickied.

If you are concerned that your rights are being compromised, or that G-men and black helicopters are perusing the classifieds, it's your cross to bear. Additionally, if you've made a lawful firearms transaction, there are more records than a simple WTS, WTB, or WTT ad on an internet message board.

Thanks, (really)

Luckily, local transactions in Colorado are 100% legal face to face and there are no records.

...and the black helicopters have trouble flying in the mountains

Have a good night.

Watch out for Ninja Pirates.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
Watch out for Ninja Pirates.

Damn those Ninja Pirates.

Good plan.