For Sale ads becoming excessive

1235»

Comments

  • DBSDBS Los Angeles, CAPosts: 1,015MI6 Agent
    I love this idea of a separate area/section for "For Sale" and "Wanted to Buy" threads! I like the approach a number of forums have taken in this arena. For example, the RPF has a "Classifieds" section for members only. So if you're not a signed-in member, you don't even see this area. IndyGear has a similar approach with their "Cairo Bazaar." I think it's RPF that has a policy that you can't post in the Classifieds until you have a certain number of posts within the Forum. I think this is a great idea to weed out sellers who only come to the Forum to make a quick $ (or £) and then disappear. It encourages members to become active participants in the discussions and not just take some money and run. Of course, this minimum-posting rule applies only to selling, not buying. Anyone would be able to come on here and make a purchase - no need to reach a certain number of posts before you can contact a seller to buy something. I don't think it would be fair to a seller to restrict a possible sale.

    I think there should be established "rules" for buying and selling that can be a sticky at the top of the Sales section. Maybe that's an obvious point, but I think it's worth stating. The rules can pertain to the number of times a seller can "bump" their own sales thread (or a buyer their own WTB thread). I also think a seller should condense their items for sale to one thread (instead of creating one thread for every item they're selling). This will certainly help in the cleanliness of the section. One other thing I like about the Cairo Bazaar on IndyGear is that threads expire after 30 days and are then deleted. This definitely helps with the housekeeping! I've never seen the Cairo Bazaar more than two pages long (40-50 threads maybe). If a seller hasn't sold their item after this allotted time, they can just repost the items again. It puts the onus on the seller to maintain their thread, instead of the mods. It also eliminates those 3-year old sales threads from popping back to life from a new member asking "Is this still available?"

    Now I know these suggestions are just that, and it's ultimately up to the mods to implement what they feel is appropriate (and what's achievable with the software and time). But I think you're on the right track with a separate section. Any addition would be an improvement to the current set-up.

    Kind regards,
    Craig
  • Gadget MeisterGadget Meister Bicester, OxonPosts: 1,972MI6 Agent
    Sorry, still away and am late to the party. Broadly I agree with Mantis, actually amazed he put Props before Wardrobe
    For example, you could have Props, Wardrobe, Toys, MISC.?
    :D
    It hasn't been mentioned yet but I don't think we should go down the RPF route, where you have be a payment subsribed Pro user to sell. I fell foul of that recently and had an FS thread deleted. So my attitude there is 'Screw Them' I would rather offer things to you guys first, and then in time, put stuff on EBay at a slightly higher price. This offsets EBay charges and also gives members here a preferrential rate.

    Whilst you're talking to SiCo, could we also have play pen where we could send Higgy Babe and SnakeBoy to so they can continue their bickering........ I'm joking, I love the banter and it is one of the things that keeps me here, even if I have to run all of Higgy Babe's post through Google Translate to understand them :D
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 35,982Chief of Staff
    SiCo will be onsite tonight, and may comment here. And no, I didn't ask him for a playpen as well (tempting though the thought is).
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,449MI6 Agent
    Playpen? More like a padded cell :D
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    if I have to run all of Higgy Babe's post through Google Translate to understand them :D

    The name is HIGGINS! X-(
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • SiCoSiCo EnglandPosts: 1,371M
    Ok, this is a good idea and tidying up the stickies would also be good.

    I don't see that a group of topics about selling particular types of items would work as every offer would merge with another?

    I can create a new forum, but this in turn at the moment can't have sub forums / categories. It could have a user forced category system, i.e. tag your post at the start or end with [Prop] or [Wardrobe] etc.

    I can make it so a member must have x posts before they can post a topic but anyone can reply. I don't want to have a hidden forum unless you are logged in though.

    I won't have a payment system as the site cannot and will not actually start getting involved in these transactions.

    No play pen either....
    Simon
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 35,982Chief of Staff
    Thanks, Simon. The Mantis and I have a plan for tidying up the stickies.
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,449MI6 Agent
    What about the padded cell?
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • DBSDBS Los Angeles, CAPosts: 1,015MI6 Agent
    edited May 2017
    Here's a little down and dirty Photoshop of how the Buying & Selling section could appear -


    AJB%20new%20section.jpg



    And if you drilled down another screen -

    AJB%20For%20Sale-Trade%20Screen.jpg


    I think the eBay thread, as well as any "production runs" could live in this new area too. Maybe the Production Runs could be Stickies on this page? Just my thoughts. What do you all think? And from what you posted, SiCo, this seems doable.

    Kind regards,
    Craig
  • SiCoSiCo EnglandPosts: 1,371M
    DBS that could work yes, I didn't consider creating the forums in a new overall section.

    Do we need a wanted forum at the moment, I fear more than one forum dilutes the content and makes it harder for the moderators.
    Simon
  • DBSDBS Los Angeles, CAPosts: 1,015MI6 Agent
    If separate forums within the Buying & Selling section is a harder approach, perhaps it could be addressed as part of the "RULES" to include one of the following IDs in the thread header:

    FS: or FOR SALE:
    WTB:
    WTT:
    PRODUCTION RUN:

    So an example would be -

    PRODUCTION RUN: The SOLDEN Jacket is back!! (ROYALE Filmwear)

    That way, if a member wants to look for all the Production Runs, they could go to the Search feature, and just type in "Production Run" and select the "Buying & Selling" section. In theory, if every post/listing has that in the title, the thread should come up in the search, and BINGO!

    Yes, it requires more mod activity to ensure that users adhere to this policy, but it would then eliminate the need for the sub-forum sections.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,378Chief of Staff
    I like the idea of another Forum just for sales/wants/trades/production runs that DBS suggests...especially the

    FS: or FOR SALE:
    WTB:
    WTT:
    PRODUCTION RUN:

    part... -{

    That shouldn't be too difficult to moderate...well, until our Teutonic friend stops by :v :))
    YNWA 97
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,378Chief of Staff
    Please note that some threads from Memorabilia & Collecting Forum have been moved to the new Memorabilia For Sale/Trade Forum...and more will be moved when time permits...thank you -{
    YNWA 97
  • MrZarebaMrZareba Krakow, PolandPosts: 1,775MI6 Agent
    I'm definitely for DBS's idea! It's true that the memorabilia section transformed into eBay and it's less about showing off your collection nowadays.
  • SiCoSiCo EnglandPosts: 1,371M
    Ok I have created the forum (I have chosen to have one forum for the moment for both selling and wanted posts, I am open to ideas on this if it gets messy again). Sir M has already started moving posts into it.

    I think you will need to come up with the relevant tags for the tagging system as it is a little outside my knowledge. Just bare in mind that anything under four letters long will not be searchable with the current on site search (This may or may not matter!).

    -- Edit --
    Having said that if you include [] around that tags that could make most of them four letters...
    --

    Hopefully this will help, I suggest trying to steer away from sticky threads as they eventually just get overlooked. I will see if there's a way I can add some rules (i.e.e the tags etc.) to the top of the page.
    Simon
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,378Chief of Staff
    And if you think I've moved some thread I shouldn't have - or not moved a thread I should, then please let know via PM -{
    YNWA 97
  • JTMJTM Posts: 3,027MI6 Agent
    Brilliant work SiCo and Sir Miles, I think the new set up will work very well -{ I also second DBS's idea, would be a very simple way to categorise the topics and navigate the FST subforum.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,378Chief of Staff
    JTM wrote:
    Brilliant work SiCo and Sir Miles, I think the new set up will work very well -{ I also second DBS's idea, would be a very simple way to categorise the topics and navigate the FST subforum.

    The work is all done by SiCo... -{

    Everyone please feel free to comment both here and via PM - whichever you prefer - whilst this new forum takes shape...suggestions are always welcome, I've had several already...all from Higgybum...but I've told him "no, I'm staying" :v
    YNWA 97
  • DBSDBS Los Angeles, CAPosts: 1,015MI6 Agent
    Looks great so far!! Well done on taking such quick action too! It might be good to move SiCo's sticky re: Counterfeits to the new section as well -

    https://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/37849/counterfeit-goods-and-usage-of-trademarks-copyrighted-material/
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,378Chief of Staff
    DBS wrote:
    Looks great so far!! Well done on taking such quick action too! It might be good to move SiCo's sticky re: Counterfeits to the new section as well -

    https://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/37849/counterfeit-goods-and-usage-of-trademarks-copyrighted-material/

    Good idea -{

    I do like your idea of using prefixes...

    FS: or FOR SALE:
    WTB:
    WTT:
    PRODUCTION RUN:

    It really does simplify things and make clear what the thread is after...I think we should this (or similar) moving forward...
    YNWA 97
  • canoe2canoe2 Posts: 2,007MI6 Agent
    Great work, gentlemen! Congratulations! -{
Sign In or Register to comment.