I'm grumpy and probably wrong...

Bridgehouse

TTony said:

Stavros said:

I can understand the wariness of buying something from a new member, but at what point do you become ‘trustworthy’? 

I think it's when others here have got to know  you from your posts elsewhere on the forum, which demonstrate that you're (a) interested in guitars in some way (rather than just aiming for quick/easy/free sales) and (b)  have shown some sort of interest in contributing to the wider community.

The Classifieds are intended as a service for the community, rather than a separate section in its own right.

Yes, there's a difference.

A service for the community enables members to buy/sell stuff when they want/need to without the various hassles of eBay.  The community establishes a level of trust, and members who know each other will often do mates-rates deals.  They know that what goes around, comes around.  The community also has a great watching-your-back spirit in which errors (innocent of otherwise) are called out.

A separate section in its own right is just a smaller version of eBay (without the selling fees, and buyer protection) in which sellers can buy/sell stuff.    It's freeloading in that they're not contributing anything to any other part of the forum.  Sellers win because they can sell without the safeguards and costs of eBay, and can disappear if things go wrong (they've not made any investment in the community).  Buyers might win in being able to buy more cheaply, but buying from a new member who makes no effort to establish themselves in the rest of the community carries a higher risk.

IMHO of course.

Not just that @TTony - every ad that's posted has a hosting cost - no matter how small. Someone has to pay that cost. Regular members contribute in various ways to those costs, whereas members who only use the classifieds do not - they get their advert for free.

rustneversleeps

I disagree to a certain extent.Ive been on the forum for a few years ish as I haven’t bothered o check.But moving house etc I thought time to cut down the collection.So put my guitar up for sale
which was convenient and it did sell,but not from a forum member.,but due to the www.The first enquiry was from a member and a silly bid.When I checked this guy history he had no posts but plenty of action the classifieds.So yes they are there but not in great numbers.

TTony

rustneversleeps said:

Ive been on the forum for a few years ish as I haven’t bothered o check

December 14th, 2015 @rustneversleeps.  8.06pm.  Roughly

rustneversleeps said: and it did sell,but not from a forum member.,but due to the www. Which is another example of how the rest of the community supports the Classifieds, and why the latter would be lesser without the former.

Google loves our content.  That's because of the volume of traffic/posts, the spread of topics, the number of people that get involved, etc, etc.  So, if you're looking for a particular guitar and Google it, you'll get a link to a FS thread here (assuming that there is one, of course).

Without the ranking points that the rest of the community earns with Google, that FS thread wouldn't get ranked by Google.  That's a massive benefit to sellers.  People sometimes comment that Google is a better place to sell because it's a bigger shop window and better recognised as a marketplace (true), but that fails to recognise the power of Google, and the ranking that Google gives theFretBoard.

rustneversleeps said: The first enquiry was from a member and a silly bid.When I checked this guy history he had no posts but plenty of action the classifieds. And that's exactly the sort of freeloading, I'll-take-but-not-contribute, "member" activity that doesn't sit comfortably with me.



But perhaps that's just me being an old naive socialist who thinks that you should contribute what, where and when you can, rather than just take what, where and when you want.

Heartfeltdawn

Teyeplayer said:

Let’s be honest a lot of us joined as a result of wanting to buy or sell something (I know I did), some of us stay. I think that’s the very nature of the place.

However, there has definitely been a bit of an influx of bedroom sellers over the last 6 months (they’ve filled and run out of space on eBay so they are looking for new outlets) but I cannot imagine many of them are making sales -mainly as a result of their poor fs posts and lack of engagement with the wider community.

We might even find a few stay and contribute in the end.

I don't think so with regard to the first paragraph. For me with forums, it'#s virtually always been trying to find some other opinion on items and music. 

No coincidence the bedroom sellers have increased on forums and Facebook since Ebay started clamping down the off-site rules. 

Alnico

prowla said:

Well, I browse the ads and if I see something interesting then I'll have a look.

You have the perfect username.

rustneversleeps

Sorry deleted 

rustneversleeps

Deleted 

randella

I joined up (not joking here) because I wanted to know the distance between the end of the neck pocket and the start of the humbucker rout on a Charvel San Dimas. There was a reason for this only, for the life of me, I can’t remember what. 

Needless to say I still don’t know. 

At what point you turn into a "valued member" I’ve no idea, but I do try. 

prowla

Alnico said:

prowla said:

Well, I browse the ads and if I see something interesting then I'll have a look.

You have the perfect username.

Hehe - actually, its origins are a bit more mundane (initial + first few letters of surname)...

Sassafras

I only come on here to bait people.

Skipped

I think it is a bit thoughtless,to dive into selling here, without chatting with anybody......but it is not the end of the world.
There may be the odd seller who really has nothing to say, no opinions whatsoever on Guitars, music, Life, Politics, everything.....but I doubt it.
I think that people have simply not clocked that it might be a bit rude (not to chat) because they are anxious to get their guitar sold.

Could it be part of the forum registration?
"You are free to post in any forum section including the Classifieds.....but you may get a bettter response if you introduce yourself first, maybe in any of the Gear sub-sections."  

Bridgehouse

Sassafras said:

I only come on here to bait people.

And you are a Master at it

midlifecrisis

maybe you've all got it the wrong way round. You should have to buy or sell at least 12 guitars before you're allowed to comment on any threads?   just a thought.

Nitefly

Bridgehouse said:

Sassafras said:

I only come on here to bait people.

And you are a Master at it

Are you saying he's a master baiter?

Bridgehouse

Nitefly said:

Bridgehouse said:

Sassafras said:

I only come on here to bait people.

And you are a Master at it

Are you saying he's a master baiter?

That was my implication, yes..

Alnico

midlifecrisis said:

maybe you've all got it the wrong way round. You should have to buy or sell at least 12 guitars before you're allowed to comment on any threads?   just a thought.

I love that Idea.

"Don't you question my theory knowledge! You've only bought 3 guitars this year, what do YOU know?"

"Oh,.......What's that?.........When are Marshall bringing out a 20w JCM800?.........Sell another guitar and we'll tell you!"

Strat54

I also get grumpy when I see guitars 'taken in a trade' then advertised for more than the previous owner had them on for. There's a PRS like that on now, it was a good few hundred less on ebay from the last owner too with a best offer option.