For Sale section
10-05-2005, 06:02 AM
#1
Does anyone think it would be a good idea to have two "For Sale" sections; one would be commercial, and the other personal?
I currently see people posting item's related to their business. I personally don't have a problem with this at all, but if there's anyone out there that feels this is spam, then maybe having two "For Sale" sections will alleviate any problems. This way if you don't want to see ads from businesses, just go to the personal "For Sale" section.
People would only be allowed to post in the commercial "For Sale" section if they contribute at least one post every couple of days to the other sections of the board. This would get rid of any fly-by-night spammers. You could also put a limit of one post per week in the commercial section.
What do you guys think? I personally picked up some amazing deals from people selling for commercial interests. That's why I wouldn't want to see these guys disappear.
I currently see people posting item's related to their business. I personally don't have a problem with this at all, but if there's anyone out there that feels this is spam, then maybe having two "For Sale" sections will alleviate any problems. This way if you don't want to see ads from businesses, just go to the personal "For Sale" section.
People would only be allowed to post in the commercial "For Sale" section if they contribute at least one post every couple of days to the other sections of the board. This would get rid of any fly-by-night spammers. You could also put a limit of one post per week in the commercial section.
What do you guys think? I personally picked up some amazing deals from people selling for commercial interests. That's why I wouldn't want to see these guys disappear.
10-05-2005, 08:52 AM
#3
These people aren't advertising as if they're dealers. Basically what they'll say is "I have a Phoenix Gold X200.4 BNIB for less than retail. Won't last long. PM me for exact price."
That's just one example. I don't want to give names, but I think it's pretty obvious. Alot of times these people will simply reply to people looking for products in the Wanted section. I don't see anything wrong with any of this, because in the end it benefits all of us. But what I don't like is the fact that these people have to be sneaky about it. Adding a commercial section will give them an area where they no longer have to hide about what they're doing. I think alot of these people are just running a small operation from home.
Sometimes the only way you can really tell that they're running a commercial operation is by sending them a PM and simply asking. Most people I've talked to had no problem telling me they were either resellers/wholesalers/distributors and so on. I personally don't care what these people do, as long as it's related to our hobby. For example, I don't want to see people trying to sell poker chips.
[ October 05, 2005, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: Luckyman ]
That's just one example. I don't want to give names, but I think it's pretty obvious. Alot of times these people will simply reply to people looking for products in the Wanted section. I don't see anything wrong with any of this, because in the end it benefits all of us. But what I don't like is the fact that these people have to be sneaky about it. Adding a commercial section will give them an area where they no longer have to hide about what they're doing. I think alot of these people are just running a small operation from home.
Sometimes the only way you can really tell that they're running a commercial operation is by sending them a PM and simply asking. Most people I've talked to had no problem telling me they were either resellers/wholesalers/distributors and so on. I personally don't care what these people do, as long as it's related to our hobby. For example, I don't want to see people trying to sell poker chips.
[ October 05, 2005, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: Luckyman ]
10-05-2005, 03:40 PM
#5
Now if I were a dealer then your comments might actually have merit. Just because your member number 100, it doesn't mean that you can trash the ideas of newer members. It's not for you, or I, to decide this matter. It's for all of us, as a whole, to decide. Maybe you should re-read the first line of my post. I specifically said "Does anyone think it's a good idea to have two for sale sections?" Does that sound like a demand to you?
What I'm proposing is a completely different section called "Commercial Sales". If you don't want to read that section, then that's your prerogative. It won't make other sections of this board any worse because companies will only be able to post in that section. I would have no problem with the board charging them a fee every time they posted. For example, $5 dollars per post.
This way we also wouldn't have to see the advertising that goes on in the non-commercial section.
Please forgive me for my extremely controversial ideas. It feels like we're back in the 60's when corporations were nothing but evil.
What I'm proposing is a completely different section called "Commercial Sales". If you don't want to read that section, then that's your prerogative. It won't make other sections of this board any worse because companies will only be able to post in that section. I would have no problem with the board charging them a fee every time they posted. For example, $5 dollars per post.
This way we also wouldn't have to see the advertising that goes on in the non-commercial section.
Please forgive me for my extremely controversial ideas. It feels like we're back in the 60's when corporations were nothing but evil.
10-06-2005, 05:44 AM
#6
Let me try and get in here before DW goes off.
His answer has nothing to do with the fact that he's member 100 but has everything to do with the fact that he's an admin of the board. Meaning, he runs the show. (with the help of others!)
You can ask in your message for an opinion from everyone, but really it's up to the people who own/run the site to decide what they want to do and how they want to do it.
There has already been discussion about whether or not to create a special section for retailers to advertise. The only problem is that the site would not be making as much money as it does now.
See the banners on the left hand side there? Those are all paid advertisers. In fact, I happen to be one of them.
If there were a special section for companies to advertise for free, or even a very minimal cost, I wouldn't be very happy. I've paid for the opportunity to advertise here so why should others get it for free?
Also, you mention that there is all this spam happening on the board, yet I see very little of it. Someone sending you a PM about a WTB thread is fairly harmless as it's not really advertising. It's just someone attempting to fulfil someone elses request for equipment or service.
His answer has nothing to do with the fact that he's member 100 but has everything to do with the fact that he's an admin of the board. Meaning, he runs the show. (with the help of others!)
You can ask in your message for an opinion from everyone, but really it's up to the people who own/run the site to decide what they want to do and how they want to do it.
There has already been discussion about whether or not to create a special section for retailers to advertise. The only problem is that the site would not be making as much money as it does now.
See the banners on the left hand side there? Those are all paid advertisers. In fact, I happen to be one of them.
If there were a special section for companies to advertise for free, or even a very minimal cost, I wouldn't be very happy. I've paid for the opportunity to advertise here so why should others get it for free?
Also, you mention that there is all this spam happening on the board, yet I see very little of it. Someone sending you a PM about a WTB thread is fairly harmless as it's not really advertising. It's just someone attempting to fulfil someone elses request for equipment or service.
10-06-2005, 08:14 AM
#8
Originally posted by FurleyII:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Luckyman:
It's not for you, or I, to decide this matter. It's for all of us, as a whole, to decide.
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Luckyman:
It's not for you, or I, to decide this matter. It's for all of us, as a whole, to decide.
10-06-2005, 08:58 AM
#9
Originally posted by JordyO:
His answer has nothing to do with the fact that he's member 100 but has everything to do with the fact that he's an admin of the board. Meaning, he runs the show. (with the help of others!)
You can ask in your message for an opinion from everyone, but really it's up to the people who own/run the site to decide what they want to do and how they want to do it.
His answer has nothing to do with the fact that he's member 100 but has everything to do with the fact that he's an admin of the board. Meaning, he runs the show. (with the help of others!)
You can ask in your message for an opinion from everyone, but really it's up to the people who own/run the site to decide what they want to do and how they want to do it.
We all know what happens when the advertisers leave. The administrators, or the so-called owners, will no longer have a show to run.
Business owners are nothing more than well paid administrators. In many cases "poorly paid" would be a more accurate description.
The problem with the current banner advertising is that it's static. It's always the same 4 or 5 advertisers, with the same old product.
I've only been to those sites a couple of times. WHY? Because they never change. The advertisers never change. No change = boredom. People love to see new deals on products.
My proposed section with commercial advertising would be constantly changing. You would see new deals every single day. Instead of 5 advertisers, there would be 100 advertisers. Yes, the cost per ad would be low, but the monthly revenue for this site would be significantly greater due to the sheer number of advertisers willing to pay $5 per ad.
I can understand why you, as an advertiser, might feel threatened by the proposed increase in competition, but I honestly believe that your sales will increase due to the fact that people will actually read your ads.
In the brick-and-mortar world, most stores strategically place themselves close to their competitors. This benefits the entire group of stores because it creates variety for the customer. The only time you should fear your competitors is if you have a vastly inferior product. This is the only time competition works against you.
10-06-2005, 10:33 AM
#10
I think you're missing the purpose of the forum.
It's not here to be a business. It's here to give people with a common interest a place to chat about those interests.
The advertising to the side just helps pay the bills.
There are no "patrons" here as everyone gets to post for free, so the chance of losing them because there isn't an advertising section is pretty low. So far the only person that seems to be frustrated by the lack of the section is you, and you can't base your 'business' around the needs of a single customer.
You can say this place needs a commercial sales section all you want but hundreds and thousands of on-line forums are successful without one. What makes you think that CCA is so unique that it would die without it? (oh, and CCA has been around for at least 5 or 6 years... so they must be doing something right or they would have been gone long ago!)
Also, as a paying advertiser I wouldn't be interested in a section like you mentioned because it would change so often. I'd be afraid of getting lost in a sea of garbage.
It's not here to be a business. It's here to give people with a common interest a place to chat about those interests.
The advertising to the side just helps pay the bills.
There are no "patrons" here as everyone gets to post for free, so the chance of losing them because there isn't an advertising section is pretty low. So far the only person that seems to be frustrated by the lack of the section is you, and you can't base your 'business' around the needs of a single customer.
You can say this place needs a commercial sales section all you want but hundreds and thousands of on-line forums are successful without one. What makes you think that CCA is so unique that it would die without it? (oh, and CCA has been around for at least 5 or 6 years... so they must be doing something right or they would have been gone long ago!)
Also, as a paying advertiser I wouldn't be interested in a section like you mentioned because it would change so often. I'd be afraid of getting lost in a sea of garbage.
