Poll : B/S/T Forums - Op only Reply to Thread

[Trazar]

Ok,

I wanted to have a rough poll on this issue and to get some general feedback.

I can change the setup of the B/S/T forums so that ONLY ops (the original poster of the thread) can reply to threads.

Positives
-This would mean threads would stay clean except for bumps for activity and reply to questions via PM or other added information FROM the OP.
-Less clutter and would keep conversations on price, etc to PM's.
-Easier to Mod

Negatives
-As I see it, no way to discuss the item, which sometimes is fruitful and enlightening to others that might want to buy the item.
-Must rely on Op to edit the post with additional information for other users to see.


Neutral
-No I'll take it in thread, up to the OP to decide by timestamps on some items. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing actually.
-Must rely on PM's to question if an item is sold.

What say you?

[Derek8404]

I voted to leae it the way it is. It is nice if someone asks a question about the item, others can see the answer, chances are if somebody has a question then there are others that are wondering the exact same thing. This prevents the OP from having to answer the same thing 100 different times.

[Trazar]

I agree somewhat, though if you get tired of answering the same question, you can just as easily edit the original thread and put the answer in

[dipper]

Neutral
-No I'll take it in thread, up to the OP to decide by timestamps on some items. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing actually.
-Must rely on PM's to question if an item is sold.

Might as well have actions then.... that's what it would amount to.

I think you could have a "penalty" in place for unnecessary bumps.... other than that, I think ANY comment is OK including questioning the price of an item... I get tired of seeing things priced way high and think that it would be fine to question a price or alert others when the price is out of line.

[rantingredneck]

think that it would be fine to question a price or alert others when the price is out of line.

There's an old joke that circulates via email every now and then and the gist of it is "and that's when the fight started......."

In my experience that's what happens after those sorts of posts even in forums where they were in line with the forum rules.

[MarkG]

They recently did this over at OWWM.org, A site dedicated to restoring old woodworking machinery. I have no problem with it except that there is the problem of knowing what is still for sale.

Here is the give and take thread from mods to members.
http://owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=...t=byod+changes

In addition, OWWM.org has no feedback system that I have seen.

How does Rimfirecentral handle it's sales and feedback?

Just some addition thoughts.

Hope it gives some useful info.

I ,for one, wish that people would include photos, (in focus is a plus), a general location (driving 2 hours cuts out a lot of buying) and details to back up what your selling. think what is important to you as a buyer.

Off line discussions is not a bad thing. I guess if I had a question about something I was thinking of buying I might ask it here if the OP did not convey that info.

[dipper]

Yeah, I hear ya RR... and you are right... of course......still, I DO get tired of seeing prices on used stuff higher or as high than what it would be to purchase new.... I'm not talking about out of production or hard to find older stuff.... for example, I'm talking about the nothing special lever guns with $500.00 prices when you can get a new one for $520.00 or the overpriced AKs and such.

[rantingredneck]

Oh I agree. My typical response is to roll my eyes and move on to the next thread

[K Train]

you should be allowed to post any and everything unless the OP (himself only) reports it.

[alb]

I think this is an excellent idea.

I don't really think the listed negatives are negatives...
If the original poster doesn't see the value in adding the extra information that has been requested by one or more potential buyers to his own ad, then that is really his problem, isn't it?

As for your neutrals, if people properly edit and close their threads after the item has been sold, as they are supposed to, the second one is non-isssue, and personally, I would consider the first one to be a non-issue. Yes, we want to avoid the 'auction' mentality, but the fact is, that it's a private sale, it should be up to the seller to decide who he wants to sell to, and who he doesn't, if he happens to have multiple offers. The "I'll take it" publicly just leads to hard feelings.

I would even argue that the "bump limit" could be pushed out to longer than 48 hours under these conditions, because there really should be no reason to bump and ad except to remind people that your item is still for sale. Without all the nonsense discussion, it's not like your item is going to get burried pages deep before people see it.

[dipper]

Originally Posted by alb

As for your neutrals, if people properly edit and close their threads after the item has been sold, as they are supposed to, the second one is non-isssue, and personally, I would consider the first one to be a non-issue. Yes, we want to avoid the 'auction' mentality, but the fact is, that it's a private sale, it should be up to the seller to decide who he wants to sell to, and who he doesn't, if he happens to have multiple offers. The "I'll take it" publicly just leads to hard feelings.

How does "I'll take it" lead to hard feelings??
Someone sees the add, decides he wants the item and says "I'll take it"..... should be a done deal......... how does that lead to hard feelings??
Seems like the "I'll take it" is the fairest way to go.

Yes, it's a private sale for sure but auctions are not permitted here.... and I agree with that.... if things are done " behind closed doors", sales WILL turn into auctions......... keep everything out in the open and fair says I.

I you WANT to auction off your item.... there are several well known places to do it.

[alb]

Originally Posted by dipper

How does "I'll take it" lead to hard feelings??
Someone sees the add, decides he wants the item and says "I'll take it"..... should be a done deal......... how does that lead to hard feelings??
Seems like the "I'll take it" is the fairest way to go.

Yes, it's a private sale for sure but auctions are not permitted here.... and I agree with that.... if things are done " behind closed doors", sales WILL turn into auctions......... keep everything out in the open and fair says I.

I you WANT to auction off your item.... there are several well known places to do it.

Because you believe in the "I'll take it" but I don't...
If I sent a PM hours earlier, but didn't litter the public forum with a "pm sent" or an "I'll take it", and the seller decides to sell it to me because I was first, then the "I'll take it" ends up getting bent out of shape, because he thought he was first.

Also, what if I just plain don't want to sell to somebody, because I don't like them, or because I don't feel like driving all the way across the state, or because they have a bad feedback history, whatever reason I want. They say "I'll take it" and people stop trying to contract me, even though I have no intention of sellilng to that person. That doesn't make it an auction. That's just how a private sale works. Think craigslist, newpaper classifieds, etc. It's not an auction site, it's not set out to become an auction site, but buyers can't publicly respond to ads.

[bnz43]

My main issue with not being able to post anything in the thread is the PM system seems to go on the blink from time to time and PM's have a way of not being sent or received by the intended person. jjwestbrook and I were trying to work out a deal on some ammunition and my PM to him was never recieved so I posted in the thread and we were able to work out the deal. I prefer to send a PM but also post in the thread to make sure the seller gets my PM.

[wmrawls]

Well since I do a lot of Moding on the Firearm section I say leave it the way it is. As a couple of more astute posters have indicated there is a enough good content added to many threads when there is some question regarding the item in question, especially the C+R type items. Many comments I leave alone because they are pertinent, at least in my simple mind and help with the community of the site. Over the last few days I have read a good many comments regarding the rules becoming so strict that we "may" push people away and while I don't think that's the case (see the new member welcome forum) we should remember that the site has all levels of ages, skill sets and experiences so the more we can help each other the better. Just my humble thoughts on the matter

[dipper]

Originally Posted by alb

Because you believe in the "I'll take it" but I don't...
If I sent a PM hours earlier, but didn't litter the public forum with a "pm sent" or an "I'll take it", and the seller decides to sell it to me because I was first, then the "I'll take it" ends up getting bent out of shape, because he thought he was first.

Also, what if I just plain don't want to sell to somebody, because I don't like them, or because I don't feel like driving all the way across the state, or because they have a bad feedback history, whatever reason I want. They say "I'll take it" and people stop trying to contract me, even though I have no intention of sellilng to that person. That doesn't make it an auction. That's just how a private sale works. Think craigslist, newpaper classifieds, etc. It's not an auction site, it's not set out to become an auction site, but buyers can't publicly respond to ads.

I see your point.
I have seen it stated different ways...like... first " I'll take it " posted in the thread gets it.... that's what I like.... it ends everything and litters nothing...
I have seen... respond by pm...don't care for that myself..... could end up an auction.

You should state everything in the add..... you could state " if I don't like you, I won't sell to you".... if you're concerned where your treasure will end up.... just man up and tell someone you don't like them in the thread.
As the seller, why would YOU drive all the way across the state??

I still say keep everything in the open.

[MyNewNCHome]

Originally Posted by dipper

Yeah, I hear ya RR... and you are right... of course......still, I DO get tired of seeing prices on used stuff higher or as high than what it would be to purchase new.... I'm not talking about out of production or hard to find older stuff.... for example, I'm talking about the nothing special lever guns with $500.00 prices when you can get a new one for $520.00 or the overpriced AKs and such.

Hey, I am thinking of putting my 870 up for sale with a feeler for the low, low price of $450, whatcha think? Now, what you might not know is both my 870's have both bird barrels AND deer barrels, pushs the price up a little now doesn't it....it's all in the description. LOL...had to rib ya a little on this one.

Value of an item is subject to the owner's interpretation, if others think it is too high, just kindly move along. It kinda goes with the old saying of:

Be quick to listen, slow to anger and slow to speak.

I think it should be just the way it is now. I like being able to go to a thread and see the interaction about an item and use that to assist me in making a decision. Someone who posted a question before me might be more knowledgable about the item or ask a question I didn't think to, so it helps sometimes.

One thing I DO get tired of seeing is G30 for sale (don't even know if that is a real model, just pulled it out of my head) and then the explanation of everyone knows what a G30 Glock is....well, no, no I don't....don't own any, never have and as along as an ad is placed that way, won't own that one either...LOL.

I think the system is working fine as is, as long as everyone remembers the rules.

[dipper]

Originally Posted by MyNewNCHome

Hey, I am thinking of putting my 870 up for sale with a feeler for the low, low price of $450, whatcha think? Now, what you might not know is both my 870's have both bird barrels AND deer barrels, pushs the price up a little now doesn't it....it's all in the description. LOL...had to rib ya a little on this one.

Value of an item is subject to the owner's interpretation,

Well, I WOULD know about both barrels if YOU stated that in the add, and of course, I think most guys would get the fact that having both barrels would raise the price a bit over a "one" barrel shotgun..... so, I don't really see what you're saying.... I would think that you would include both barrels in the description of the item??

Actually, value of an item is what the public will pay...... I prefer an educated public as opposed to an uneducated one.... buts that's just my opinion!!

[Virtuaguyver]

I say leave it the way it is. I too have been screwed by PM's not getting through.

[alb]

I see that I've been heavily out voted here, and I don't have quite enough complaints about the current system to care...

But I can't help but wonder how people have problems with PMs. That has GOT to be a user error on one side or the other. The system isn't going to just eat your PMs.

[K Train]

Originally Posted by alb

I see that I've been heavily out voted here, and I don't have quite enough complaints about the current system to care...

But I can't help but wonder how people have problems with PMs. That has GOT to be a user error on one side or the other. The system isn't going to just eat your PMs.

PMs get messy and you're only allowed so much space to store them. your pm box can get filled up pretty quickly, also if you receive 10 PMs it can get pretty crazy in your inbox replying to them all. allowing content in the b/s/t will result in less clutter for the OP.

user error is huge, most gun nuts aren't computer savvy

[dsmjon]

Originally Posted by K Train

PMs get messy and you're only allowed so much space to store them. your pm box can get filled up pretty quickly, also if you receive 10 PMs it can get pretty crazy in your inbox replying to them all. allowing content in the b/s/t will result in less clutter for the OP.

user error is huge, most gun nuts aren't computer savvy

This.

Arguments for both ways make excellent points, either the PM box gets filled up with questions, or a thread gets filled up with questions. Cleaning out your PM box is either simple (if you don't save old PM's for contact info), or complex if you do save old PM's.

Being that most folks can't post a properly focused picture, or even post a picture to begin with, it might be best to leave the forums as-is.

[btwiceborn]

my opinion is that the ads shouldn't have anything in them unless they
specifically deal with the item being sold. why should someone post "pm
sent" in an ad? there are at least 3 ways in which this site will automatically
alert you to a pm in your box.

The same thing for posting "pm replied to," if you want to be sure that your
message is read, click the "read receipt" box before sending.

I do think that having folks post relavent questions is necessary.

I dont think that it is necessary to answer the question as a reply to your
own ad bumping it in the process.

I do think that posting "i will take it" is a reason to allow posting in others' ads.

I dont think that "bump for a good guy," "free bump," "wish you were
closer," "i used to have one of those," "your price sucks," etc are reasons to
allow posting in other threads.

[NCXD40]

I didn't read this whole thread, but this forum is great as is! Don't go changing stuff that isn't that big of a deal one way or the other just for the sake of changing things.

[MyNewNCHome]

Wow...PM's sure can be fun.....all I asked was a question.

[tigman]

I voted to leave it the way it is. I think people who misuse the B/S/T section should be notifed.