Buyer/Seller forum feedback please

[Shane and John]

Well here is just my quick take....If this were up to me I would definatly make some changes...I would up the post count to 200 posts and/or 90 days of membership...This would eliminate the 1 liners to get posts..I would keep the classifieds the same with the addition ,Like Don has mentioned in post 16...I love RF And honestly look here every day...I didnt join to buy or sell..I joined to learn and seek advise ..I knew no one who shared this hobby so I was guided by my lfs....UGG...spent lots of hard earned money on useless stuff...I have met many really great people here and have made life long friends because of this site...If I would have had to pay to become a member here,I Just might not have and would have missed so much...R/F has also had a great impact on the way my son has been Raised..He has learned many life lessons because of this site.The goodness and the hearts in people..The way life should be...Carma...anyway...My 2 cents

 

[mojoreef]

Thanks for the input so far I do appreciate. Let me clairify a few things. Were not talking about charging to be a member at RF by no means, it will always remain free. All we are looking at a way to enhance the classifieds.

 

[King_Neptune]

The short answer:
I'm not willing to pay a fee.
Not a chance.

The winded version:
If you feel the need to introduce a profit making element, to the forums, I vote no.
Keep it the way it is. I don't mind a minimum post count, or something that insists you have to have "X" number of months membership to put up a sale. Thats ok with me. It keeps things a little more honest and trustworthy.

But I'm already getting lowballed bigtime as it is on the few transactions I do.
It seems 75% off isn't enough for people. Disgustingly, they want even more saving... and aren't ashamed to make you drive an hour each way to drop off something that they shaved an additional $50 off your already low asking price. So paying even more out of my pocket is totally uncool.

Not to mention I feel completely uneasy about lining someone else's pockets outside of Ebay. Craigs list is free, but Id rather come here. Charging a fee per sale, or premium member ship will severely deplete this wonderful resource. Absolutely no question, it will happen.

 

[King_Neptune]

...I would up the post count to 200 posts and/or 90 days of membership...This would eliminate the 1 liners to get posts.

What he said.

 

[mojoreef]

If you feel the need to introduce a profit making element, to the forums, I vote no.

Really?? Thats what you got out of my post?

 

[King_Neptune]

I didn't see much for mistranslation. ^_^
You proposed the possibly of charging a fee for using the classifieds.
I'm willing to re-read it again and recant if I was wrong.

 

[mcoomer]

As some other folks have said, I wouldn't change the current Buy/Sell format. I too have bought stuff, sold stuff, and given stuff away on here and don't think the system is out of whack. It works well as it stands. The only change I'd make is requiring a certain level of monthly activity in order to post in those forums. If you can't make 10 contributing posts a month you're not really doing much to further the hobby or the forums.

Mike

 

[mojoreef]

WHat we are trying to do is to offer members an enhanced software for the classifieds. This software and the hosting of it cost an ammount of money. IF the members like the idea of having this we would need to cover the cost of it (few hundred a year total). Not to make money but to cover the cost. Thus instead of just doing it we threw up this thread to see if folks would be interested in it or not. Simple as that.

mojo

 

[jrgilles]

Thanks for the input so far I do appreciate. Let me clairify a few things. Were not talking about charging to be a member at RF by no means, it will always remain free. All we are looking at a way to enhance the classifieds.

Yes. I think the rules are great. The discussion is about how to get a sweet tool for the classifieds to make it way slicker, according to mojos interpretation of the tool.

Maybe if there were some of the other percs for premium members as have been discussed recently, enough would become premium users to make the classifieds feasable without changing anything? Just move them in to replace the buy/sell forums and leave all the same?

That seems like the easiest solution, but it all depends on how many members sign up for premium access, and how much this classifieds tool costs, which I have no idea about. Seems from what I've heard before, they start around a grand or something, and not sure if it is per year, or one time cost.

I also see some problems with the per sale fee. First, some people will get pissed off. No matter how much sense it makes and however much you try to avoid this, it will happen. Second, it could end up being a huge pain in the butt to set up billing, parsing your percentage out, etc.

Anyway, I guess a simplified version of what I'm thinking is (all depending on cost/billing of the actual classifieds program):
1. Set up premium membership for OTHER reasons, and take some of the money gained and apply it to the classifieds software.
2. Start a thread asking for Paypal DONATIONS to help fund it. Totally not manditory. I bet you'll be surprised how many people will throw a couple bucks your way to help cover the overhead of this. There are a lot of users here.... you can put me down for 10 bucks. Might even get more cash to put towards it by asking people nicely to help out than by instituting a charge, as many people are resistant to that.

Anyway, just my 2 cents

 

[bigblue141]

I think another option that would be nice is to allow the "poster" to be able to delete their post for the items they have for sale.

Another option might be to give a couple members to the "For Sale" area mod control to help take the burden off ya'll having to spend countless hours monitering.

 

[returnofsid]

If you feel the need to introduce a profit making element, to the forums, I vote no.

I'd suggest you reread. Even if a fee were introduced, or this option was limited to Premium Sponsors, neither would equate to a "profit making element," but to a way to allow members to help financially support the forum, allowing finances to pay for upgrades that are not free. Currently, the only financial support available, is through our wonderful Sponsors.

But I'm already getting lowballed bigtime as it is on the few transactions I do.
It seems 75% off isn't enough for people. Disgustingly, they want even more saving... and aren't ashamed to make you drive an hour each way to drop off something that they shaved an additional $50 off your already low asking price.

There's a well known ability, that most adults have, to say "No."

Not to mention I feel completely uneasy about lining someone else's pockets outside of Ebay. Craigs list is free, but Id rather come here. Charging a fee per sale, or premium member ship will severely deplete this wonderful resource. Absolutely no question, it will happen.

Thank you for your opinion.

 

[jrgilles]

I see you posted the cost at a few hundred a year. Thats not all that much when you take into account the number of users here.

Twice a year you can refresh the sticky asking for donations. Should be easy.

I did this to cover costs on some software on a forum I used to run, and usually after refreshing the post for donations, we would have our hundred dollar fee covered within a few days, and there were way fewer users.

If people like the new software, they will be willing to help out I'm sure without being forced into it.

 

[King_Neptune]

This software and the hosting of it cost an ammount of money. IF the members like the idea of having this we would need to cover the cost of it (few hundred a year total). Not to make money but to cover the cost. Thus instead of just doing it we threw up this thread to see if folks would be interested in it or not. Simple as that.

mojo

I'm totally comfortable with a paypal donation tag. It would be neat to see a tally of total contributed for the year(maybe even a name listed of who contributed). If it was like that, even I would be willing to drop the occasional tip here and there to help keep things running.

 

[returnofsid]

Paypal Donation tag. Hmmmm, not a bad idea. Come to think about it, I've actually seen it on several other forums.

 

[King_Neptune]

There's a well known ability, that most adults have, to say "No."

Thats the best one EVER! :lol:
Ty, you made my day!

 

[jrgilles]

I'm totally comfortable with a paypal donation tag. It would be neat to see a tally of total contributed for the year(maybe even a name listed of who contributed). If it was like that, even I would be willing to drop the occasional tip here and there to help keep things running.

I think a lot of people will fee this way

 

[mojoreef]

Jr no one is going to force anything on anyone. The coverage cost could happen via donation/fee per sale/per month/per year or what ever. This is the reason we are asking for the memberships opinions.

Mike

 

[Myteemouse]

keep it free If I post stuff to sell and dont sell it now I'm out money!!
On lighter note, I know I am one of the few that "I know certain people out there with an amazing reputation, and incredible camera and photography skills can make a quick killing off some extra frags""" but as of late I have been selling else were..
So really It don't bother me either way.. if this site gets to COMMERCIAL. I will just leave.. the new MODS and stuff have already driven away a few old members and seems they are working on driving away more..
WHATS WRONG WITH THE WAY IT WAS???
This is why we liked it in the first place..
ITS NOT REEF CENTRAL

A few abusers are what the mods are for.. if you cant take the heat from a few bad apples then stand down and let someone else do it.

 

[jrgilles]

Jr no one is going to force anything on anyone. The coverage cost could happen via donation/fee per sale/per month/per year or what ever. This is the reason we are asking for the memberships opinions.

Mike

Yup, just trying to help brainstorm. Why I brought up donation tag instead of % sale or something. People are way more into giving when it is 100% up to them and not a condition of sale or something.

If you saw my post on the previous page, I used to admin a forum and we always had great success with that method (and it doesn't upset users.) Always got our annual costs covered within a week when we refreshed the donations sticky

 

[DonW]

Well I'm sure a donation link couldn't hurt but I really doubt there are going to be many donating. Sorry it sounds cynical but I just dont have the faith that people will donate enough to cover the cost. Commercial posters I'm sure will cover most but even with that its going to be a tough nut and counting on charity isn't a wise business decision.

I'm a bit discouraged by what seems to be a consensus that RF is a right rather than a privilege. The owners have been doing this service for many years and could easily shut down right now and add a few years to their own lives without the stress of RF. Well Mike would have to loose a few pounds first. But seriously the owners are only attempting to make a good thing better without taking food out of the mouths of their own families.

We need to get the input of some sponsors. I'm pretty sure knowing how VERY LITTLE it cost to be a sponsor of RF most would be willing to buck up a few bucks for an add or two every now and then.

Don