Thread: Rules for Classifieds - discussion

There's been some action on this front lately. I wrote, and the mods agreed on, the rules below for the Classifieds section back when this forum started up. The announcement expired quite a while ago and due to some discussion in OT I re-posted it, but it's been asked that the rules be posted here for discussion.

This is the original posting:

Rules for the Classifieds:

-The Classifieds forums are a favor to the users, allowing them to buy and sell items amongst themselves. SR20-forum.com takes NO responsibility for ANY transactions made by its users, and advises users that the principle of 'caveat emptor' (let the buyer beware) is very much in effect. Some users aren't reliable, and it's the buyer’s responsibility to ensure they don't lose their money.

-You must have a minimum of 15 posts to be able to list items for sale on SR20-forum.com

-Required information:
1. Your real name
2. Your location (City, state is sufficient)
3. Whether you’re willing to ship or not
4. Contact info (email, AIM, whatever you prefer)
5. PRICE - I don't care if you want offers or if you're trying to start a bidding war. SET A PRICE. You can always put OBO after it.
6. Payment options (paypal, money order, whatever)

-You MUST include a picture of your item. At this point pretty much everybody's got a digital camera or a phone with camera, or you can borrow one. Therefore, no more 'Email for pics.' If you have pics of the items you're selling, put them online and link to them or hotlink them in the thread.

-Do not bump your topic more than twice, and please only bump your item when it’s at the bottom or off the first page. Any items bumped more than two times will be closed. If you need to bump it more than this, then re-evaluate the item being sold and post it again.

Do not reply to your own post saying:
"Replied to emails"
"Replied to PMs"
"Added pics"
or anything else that a viewer of the thread can figure out by looking at the thread. These are all blatant forms of bumping.

-Additionally, no “free bumps” of any type will be tolerated. These are defined as bumps from people other than the seller which don’t have any real content or questions about the item.

-Acceptable bumps: "Item(s) sold" - "Prices lowered"

-Commentary: do not trash someone's item because you don't like it or them and do not flame a person because you think they are asking too high a price. Use a Private Message. Your post will be deleted if you can’t post anything constructive. Simply do not post if you’re not interested in the item that’s being sold; if the price is too high for the market to support, the seller will find out soon enough. The classified section is also NOT your forum for airing grievances - we have a feedback section for that, so keep it there. MODS WILL BE COMING DOWN HARD ON THIS.

-If your thread has been updated, edit the title to say *updated*.

-You MAY link in the classifieds to an Ebay auction you are running.

-You MAY NOT link to sale topics on other message boards. Just copy and paste here, very simple.

-No “Gauging Interest” or “Testing Waters” threads. If you're looking for a value, post in the appropriate section elsewhere on the board.

-No "selling for friends," listing for friends, etc. Tell them to sign up and post themselves (after they've been here a while, that is).

-No annoying, distracting symbols in thread titles!

-NO CROSS-POSTING.

-No Commercial Selling

-No group buys in this forum please, use the Group Buys Forum. If you wish to post a group buy, you must contact the Admin (Crim) first! All un-approved group buys will be unceremoniously deleted.

-Spam will not be tolerated in any form.

-Topics will be moved/locked/deleted without warning at the moderators' discretion.

Some of these things I am sure will not be subject to change, but if you have helpful suggestions please post up!

(For the most up to date rules, please see this post: http://www.sr20-forum.com/user-feedback/announcement-rules-classifieds.html)

Thank you Rittmeister for posting the rules up in a place we can find them easily. =]
I guess I'll start us off.

Firstly I don't think there are any real major issues with the rules you posted. However, obviously many of them have been ignored and it would be nice to know from the mods which they think are worth enforcing. For example, what can I expect to be different if I am going to post a new "For Sale" thread in the near future?

I'll point out the ones I think currently aren't being enforced and we can talk about whether or not they will be from now on.

I didn't realize we had this rule, nor did many other people I'm sure. Right now I don't believe this rule is being enforced. I know we've had discussions about limiting new member's ability to sell items on the forum. The existence of this rule might make all that talk moot, since there it is in black and white (blue).

So can we expect this rule (50 min posts to sell) to start being enforced?
Should the members start reporting the offending threads?
Is that likely the first line of defense against this or will there be restrictions put on member accounts to automate it?
Are we prepared for the occasional member covertly spamming posts just to get over 50 to sell?



All great things to require I figure. Especially with the recent talk of scams and such. I know other people have proposed these requirements recently in the past. Apparently they were requirements all along.

Can we expect this rule (contact and price info mandatory) to start being enforced?
Should the members start reporting the offending threads?


Great rule, but obviously slightly problematic if only because of one of our very well trusted members (moderator even) who sells a lot of things but has no digital camera.


Can we expect this rule (pics mandatory) to start being enforced?
Should the members start reporting the offending threads?
Can we expect exceptions to be made in certain cases?


Slightly jarring at first read, but understandably strict. Obviously hasn't been being enforced. I do think it legitimately takes more than two bumps to get an item sold in these bad economic times (but maybe not needed if everyone else isn't bumping too).

Can we expect this rule (tight limitations on self-bumping threads) to start being enforced?
Should the members start reporting the offending threads?


Obviously hasn't been being enforced.

Can we expect this rule (tight limitations on others bumping threads) to start being enforced?
Should the members start reporting the offending threads?


This one I think we all remember! Funny how that works. =D

I know other people have proposed this requirement recently in the past due to the recent scams and such. Apparently they were requirements all along.

Can we expect this rule (no selling for friends) to start being enforced?
Should the members start reporting the offending threads?






Cheers!

Ben raises some good points. The one I was most concerned about was the uber-tight bumping rule, which Ben already addressed. I completely agree with Ben that it requires more than 2 bumps in today's economy to get rid of an item in most cases. I also feel that the "Replied to ___" posts are helpful and a good sign that the seller is still trying hard to sell their item. Whether it be a shameless bump or not, at least they are actively trying to get rid of the item and not just abandoning the thread.

Yah I was going to say, some people sell a lot of items in one thread. Allowing them only 2 bumps is a bit rough.

I too always felt the "Replied to PM" and whatever style posts were more than just bumping the thread. Yes, they are maybe shameless bumps on one hand, but on the other hand it lets other people know you haven't left anyone hanging. If the potential buyer said "PMed you" in the thread I like to see that they got a PM back. Sometimes it communicates other things too.

I kind of wanted to see what the mods were planning to enforce before getting into specifics.

I think:

1- Selling sometimes is easy other times is hard, depending on the item/price in question, I think allowing only 2 bumps is a bit harsh, specially since Benfenner pointed out that sometimes people open one thread for multiple items...
I think that more than allowing only 2 bumps, its more about time. For example, bump the thread when its on the bottom or out of the first page, and bump it as many times as needed to sell item but following the mentioned rule.
bumping an item that is halfway down the first page or upper is just pointless and should be punished...

2- Pics shouldnt be mandatory, I think its up to the seller... Really interested buyers will shoot the person a PM or an email requestin pics...
And the seller will realize soon enough that without pics it will be really hard for him to sell the item

On the Dutch Nissan100NXClub, we have the policy of bumping 1 time a week. Anything before that gets removed.

This makes way more sense. I think it is retarded when people do daily bumps.

I think a bumping restriction is not a bad idea - I like the bottom of the page/next page. But what if that were to happen in less than a week? I personally find that to be a bit harsh still.

I also agree with the pictures being optional. I think it should be heavily recommended, but, if a user does not want to post a picture because "everyone knows what it looks like," so be it. Pics upon request is not any issue in most cases.

1 bump a day, is probably the best. That way it shows up under New Posts.

Bump