quote:

The bigger issue, IMO, is guys who don't monitor their ads or their email and don't ask for the ad to be closed or mark it SOLD.

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My frustration with users cross posting would be with those that sell elsewhere and not closing or marking as sold their post here.

I concur w/ the above. It doesn't bother me if a seller cross-posts on multiple sights, as long as he's upfront about it, "This item is cross-posted," and promptly updates or removes his ad once it has sold.

The hard feelings come when a member posts, "I'll take it," then the seller say, "Sorry, sold it last week. Forgot to update my ad."

If it's too much of a bother to update your ad, then you should be barred from the Classifieds section. Common courtesy like common sense is not so common.

I also agree that a modest prerequisite such as ten posts outside of the Classifieds and 30 days of membership would discourage scammers and people who have little-to-no interest in the forum outside of using the Classifieds.

I browse the classifieds regularly, have bought a few things & done a few straight trades, can likely count both combined on 1 hand. Don't think I've sold anything here.
In every case, it's been transactions with pretty established members & gone off seamlessly.

The other side of eliminating the classifieds, I could see an increase in posts of BST nature in other sections of the forum, leading to further moderation needed forum-wide.

Charge 20$ a year for personal access to the classifieds, $150 year for dealers, and 20$ for each listing, want to sell stuff and cross post then step up and pay the $150 otherwise follow the rules. Or get rid of classifieds all together. Your time is valuable.

It sounds like the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. Go hands off. If problems arise swing the ban hammer. It ought to be fairly obvious who the otherwise non participating sellers are and they’re here at your discretion. Get noticed in a bad way? Get removed.

quote:

Classifieds

Para I think its a good rule but I also think you should do whatever makes your life easier.

Imo its a good rule and any participating member knows of this rule.

I also wouldn’t want to police the rule either.

While I haven’t bought or sold in many years this for the most part is the best and simplest site to buy and sell items on.

Its one thing I guess if someone hasn’t kept up with the rules but when you get repeat offenders its just not giving a damn about the rules or who it inconveniences. No excuse for repeat offenders.

It appears you are heading the way of abandoning this rule because you are tired playing the "tough SOB" enforcing it. If it remains, I'll continue helping out what I can. If it goes away, then one less thing to monitor. I don't really favor one or the other.

I like the Classifieds. I'm not a frequent purveyor but I've bought a couple nice things from Sigforum members over the years. I like the way members sell their stuff - straight up, friendly, and honest as the day is long. I can't explain it but the SIGforum Classifieds is better than a brokerage for me. When I am looking I start with SIGforum Classifieds before other online sources. SIGforum members have very good stuff with fair pricing, honest dealing, and buying and selling with them is very stress and worry free. It's special. The SIGforum Classifies is unique.

If you can keep it while reducing your level of hassle my hope would be to keep it. It's a one of a kind place, with longstanding history of friendship and trust. I MUCH prefer to buy and sell among trusted friends, above any other number of otherwise competent brokerages.

I'm very close to begin unloading, and I would prefer to start and finish here, if my stuff would find a better home with other members.

I don't believe there is a need for the exclusivity rule, as long as an ad is updated promptly when an item is sold.

If a seller has an item listed here exclusively, and his neighbor or coworker wants it, he can take it down and sell it to the neighber or coworker. I just don't see how listing it somewhere is the problem. Not marking it sold is the problem.

On a separate issue, which you haven't asked about, but others have mentioned--probable a good idea to have a minimal length of time on the forum to gain classified privileges. This seems the easiest way to cut back on people who just want to sell things. I think a minimal post count is probably not the best idea, as it could foster a bunch of worthless posts just to get the count up.

I do appreciate all the effort to keep things running smoothly.

I think the rule works well if shills abide by it, or people who only haunt SF as a measuring stick, but like mentioned before if you have decent people listed here and elsewhere, honestly, then it’s a good thing. I’ve thought about listing here in the past, but didn’t because the ease of locality of Calguns. I honestly would have have taken less money with a SF member in good standing over anyone on CG or elsewhere, but that’s a lot of confidence to get from the internet and to bestow it (me). Most of my buying and selling has been done on Calguns, but I’ve had some great deal both ways here when I could. I sold an AR pistol brace here for half the money and bought a P229 for nearly half the money and both situations I had zero issues sending the product or money to the person because their rep with SF and the fact Para hadn’t got rid of them. I’m considering not selling shit of Calguns anymore and selling for a lesser price to my SF friends because of it but I will make sure the person has a legit history and not just the classifieds.

para, it is a very thoughtful policy, but if monitoring it is a chore, then it isn't worth it. It may be time to remove the classified section, or just let it operate caveat emptor. People here are pretty savvy.

I like the classifieds as you intended them. It’s a nice perk but its not why i come here.

I don't know that cross posting is as big of an issue as not updating the status of ads.

Maybe remove the cross posting rule and add an arbitrary rule that, in your opinion, if someone is not using the classifieds fairly, i.e. backing out on a sale to raise the price somewhere else, they lose access to the classifieds. Members will bring the issues to you, so it will ease your work load. You've been doing this long enough that you will probably figure out intent pretty quickly. And the easiest part, you don’t need to explain yourself to anyone here, so as access to classifieds get pulled, the people who should be using the classifieds will figure it out and the others will make it easy to be identified.

Suspect that using the number of posts required mitigates the risk.

Not sure that you can get cross posting to zero short of not having classifieds, which isn't a good idea, Classifieds are valuable resource to members of SF, such as WrightD who is contemplating thinning the herd. When I decide to do the same it will be posted here before any other location, and suspect many others would do the same.

Monitoring it, keeping the scammers out, making sure people aren't cluttering up or screwing up someone's post is IMO a most important task.

Just require that sellers post that an item is cross listed. Sellers should like that, it creates a sense of urgency to buyers.

Then just deal with the fallout of a buyer complaining a sale not posted as cross posted was missed, and watch for people here abusing the good nature of the place by not being participating members we can trust.

I use the Classifieds a lot and really appreciate the work that you do for it. That said, I'm firmly in the camp of "you do what you need to do" no matter if it's keep it as is, relax it, or remove it.

I really appreciate this place.

I see the value in the policy. I’ve been disappointed and frustrated on other forums with no such policy. “Is your _______ still available”

“No I sold that months ago on ______”

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Suspect that using the number of posts required mitigates the risk.

Not sure that you can get cross posting to zero short of not having classifieds, which isn't a good idea, Classifieds are valuable resource to members of SF, such as WrightD who is contemplating thinning the herd. When I decide to do the same it will be posted here before any other location, and suspect many others would do the same.

Monitoring it, keeping the scammers out, making sure people aren't cluttering up or screwing up someone's post is IMO a most important task.

Just require that sellers post that an item is cross listed. Sellers should like that, it creates a sense of urgency to buyers.

Then just deal with the fallout of a buyer complaining a sale not posted as cross posted was missed, and watch for people here abusing the good nature of the place by not being participating members we can trust.

I've had mixed ideas on this but I agree with HRK 100% after reading all the posts. You have run a good ship Para and whatever you do I'm good with the decision.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Suspect that using the number of posts required mitigates the risk.

One downside to this is that it can create pointless posts that clutter up threads just to increase post counts to reach the threshold. Of course, that could just make it easy for Para to weed identify and weed them out.

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Originally posted by SpinZone:
One downside to this is that it can create pointless posts that clutter up threads just to increase post counts to reach the threshold. Of course, that could just make it easy for Para to weed identify and weed them out.

I don't necessarily see that as a downside. Before I commit to buying something, I click on "View Recent Posts by...". It the seller is a contributing member of SF, then I feel more confident in buying. If it's someone w/ a bunch of throwaway thread-crapping posts who only seems to be using SF to take advantage of the Classifieds, then I strongly reconsider if that's someone I want to transact with.

quote:

Originally posted by iron chef:

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
One downside to this is that it can create pointless posts that clutter up threads just to increase post counts to reach the threshold. Of course, that could just make it easy for Para to weed identify and weed them out.

I don't necessarily see that as a downside. Before I commit to buying something, I click on "View Recent Posts by...". It the seller is a contributing member of SF, then I feel more confident in buying. If it's someone w/ a bunch of throwaway thread-crapping posts who only seems to be using SF to take advantage of the Classifieds, then I strongly reconsider if that's someone I want to transact with.

Good point.

quote:

Originally posted by Stlhead:
Charge 20$ a year for personal access to the classifieds, $150 year for dealers, and 20$ for each listing, want to sell stuff and cross post then step up and pay the $150 otherwise follow the rules. Or get rid of classifieds all together. Your time is valuable.

This seems, at first reading, like a good way for members to contribute to the bills of this place. I agree with it all.

OTOH, I’d also agree with banning people that don’t follow the policy. You didn’t pay for a membership here, it was free. Abide by the house rules or GTFO, or at least don’t sell your bullshit here. I’ve both bought and sold on here, and have treated either purchase top priority making sure my item is or was sold in the exact condition I stated and showed pics of. And when I’ve bought things, it’s the same on that end. Honor the house, and the other members, or go someplace else IMO, not for you.