Should Classifieds Allow Replying?

[firworks]

There was just a discussion about how the classifieds section was negatively impacted by removing the ability to reply to threads. There are a lot of issues that replying could bring, and I think it's a good idea to at least talk through and discuss these things from time to time. I've included a poll to see on a whole what people think. Obviously Ryan and the mods get the final say though regardless of what the poll says. Also I would expect that if we're talking about reopening replies for Classifieds, that would also carry over to the Wanted sub forum.

Mods, if you want this in another area please move it.
It makes the most sense to me that it would be here since it's really about tools, generally, trading hands.

 

[hautpot]

What about something like:

□ Allow Replies to your sale ad
□ Disable replies to your sale ad

That way the seller can choose.

 

[scissorman]

I voted yes because then there is PUBLIC viewing of transactions and IF a seller or buyer flakes out then others can see and make a decision on their own about whether to do business with them in the future or not.

 

[PugetDude]

Replies to Classifieds should be just like the newspaper classifieds- via PM.
Otherwise, move them to Free Parking where the inevitable goofy, irrelevant, and uncalled for replies would be more appropriate.
I would pity the poor ******* that posted a HF tool for sale in a GJ classified ad with comments enabled.

 

[1950mercury]

Replies to Classifieds should be just like the newspaper classifieds- via PM.
Otherwise, move them to Free Parking where the inevitable goofy, irrelevant, and uncalled for replies would be more appropriate.
I would pity the poor ******* that posted a HF tool for sale in a GJ classified ad with comments enabled.

Yupp use the pms

 

[Shiftless]

replies to classifieds should be just like the newspaper classifieds- via pm.
Otherwise, move them to free parking where the inevitable goofy, irrelevant, and uncalled for replies would be more appropriate.
I would pity the poor ******* that posted a hf tool for sale in a gj classified ad with comments enabled.

^^^^^^^^^^^. ^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Mazdaratti3]

I never had a problem with the way it was before.
I think items got a lot more exposure that way.
That said I still look at the classified section and still buy but it seems as if classifieds are no where near what they used to be.

 

[four.cycle]

from one of the newbies here:
I'm a long-time member of another "forum" site where there's a "for sale" section, and there aren't many problems there with people being able to interact with the sellers in the open forum, but: it's made clear that the "for sale" section (as well as the "lost and found") section is exclusively for the purpose of engaging in the transaction (or finding lost items, in the second case), and not a venue for superfluous comments or discussions.

I suppose it all depends upon whether people choose to act like adults or not.

 

[jvitez]

I never had a problem with the way it was before.
I think items got a lot more exposure that way.
That said I still look at the classified section and still buy but it seems as if classifieds are no where near what they used to be.

I agree. I bought a lot of items here several years ago and found that certain desirable tools would get snapped up the day of posting. Now I see classified posts with over 20 bumps and nothing sold.

I don't really know why not being able to post should affected the classified's at all, nor if that was the actually the cause, or if it's simply coincidence, but it certainly does seem to be related time-wise.

 

[Bighead38]

I think replies should be allowed.

 

[Jarhead0408]

For you guys voting nay, look at how much less traffic there is in the classifieds section now. There used to be a ton of tools changing hands with very few complications. Now? It's a freaking ghost town.

Not to be flip, but if you're not interested in the tool anyways, it's no skin off your nose anyway right?

I mean let's break it down here:

Scenario 1:

You ARE interested in the tool. You then:

1. Ignore everyone else's comments and post that you'll take it.
2. Pm the buyer
3. Complete Transaction
4. Receive the tool.

Scenario 2:

You AREN'T interested in the tool:

1. You open the ad long enough to realize there is nothing of interest and ignore everyone eles's comments.
2. You leave the ad.

If you aren't going to buy anyways, what's the harm?

 

[Jarhead0408]

What about something like:

□ Allow Replies to your sale ad
□ Disable replies to your sale ad

That way the seller can choose.

Might be the best option out there. Then the seller can choose how he wants to play the game. I bought over $500, but less than $1,000 worth of tools my first year here. Once they changed it I've only bought a handful of things here and there. Definitely less than $200.

 

[nine4gmc]

Scams went up and sales went down. It takes weeks/months to find out the seller took the money and ran with NO replies like it is now. The buyer sits around waiting for a package meanwhile no one knows wtf is going on and they send money to buy it as well. next thing you know, someone ran off with 10 members money for an item they never sent to anyone.

With replies ON, buyer can post PAID and a date that way no one else gets burned.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Classifieds **** here now, both as a seller and buyer. More time should be spent booting the numbskulls who put mindless dribble on here than simply banning replies to classifieds. Useless responses to classifieds should go up there with talk of politics or religion.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Scams went up and sales went down. It takes weeks/months to find out the seller took the money and ran with NO replies like it is now. The buyer sits around waiting for a package meanwhile no one knows wtf is going on and they send money to buy it as well. next thing you know, someone ran off with 10 members money for an item they never sent to anyone.

With replies ON, buyer can post PAID and a date that way no one else gets burned.

Ah! I was confused for a moment. So you're saying all that happened once comments were disabled and that you are in favor of allowing replies now.

 

[Strouty]

I think Ryan should make it so members must request permission to post in the classified section, that would keep people from just randomly posting and if you become an issue you lose that permission. Anyone could still PM the seller, so it would not change that aspect.

 

[Squddle]

What about something like:

□ Allow Replies to your sale ad
□ Disable replies to your sale ad

That way the seller can choose.

.
I like this idea

 

[Stooge]

I don't think I was around here when there were open comments allowed in the classifieds, I have bought and sold a few things on here but I honestly don't remember the last time I looked in the for sale section. something I could see with a forum as active as this one, could be an issue of one of those people who are just here to sell their wares and wants to keep their ads on the first page and would just ad little comments to bump the thread and keep it at the forefront if interest wasn't there, and subsequently someone else's ad just ends up getting shuffled off to the 2nd or 3rd page after an few hours. disabling comments and keeping it to PM's just seems like the simplest way to handle a forum this large and active. the only other forum that i'm on daily that has a classified section,is a lot smaller so open comments in the classifieds don't really matter as much since the first page has ads from a month ago.

 

[warmpancakes]

might as well removed the classifieds section nobody buys here anymore, unless its way underpriced

 

[Buckgnarly]

might as well removed the classifieds section nobody buys here anymore, unless its way underpriced

x2...you used to have to be on the ball to score the stuff that used to go up on here, now I cannot believe how long some of the quality stuff sticks around, maybe if it sold for a penny it would go faster. GJ classifieds might as well merge with Slickdeals....

 

[AA/FC]

What about something like:

□ Allow Replies to your sale ad
□ Disable replies to your sale ad

That way the seller can choose.

I like this idea too. It would be nice if buyers could leave a little feedback about the transaction in the sale thread.

I have just recently started using the classified section as a seller. (never bought anything) I've had decent luck so far.... Thank you GJ for the ad space!

 

[Hiball]

IMO the Classifieds are better off without the ability to reply, Did you guys forget about all the price bashing, sellers manipulating the bump policy by randomly posting "list updated" or "sold items removed" every time there ad made it off the front page? It was a babysitting nightmare for the Mods, even now with Replys Off you still can't get people to follow the rules. In regards to the Smamming chatter, Plain and simple... If you protect yourself by not paying with unsececured funds, you are prone to being taken advantage off. Regardless if you have the ability to scream and keyboard mash at the Seller. I don't have any problems selling on the Classifieds, then again, I don't generally list at full EBay price, I take the savings and pass it on to the Members. Do I think the classifieds genre has changed? Yes, there are less people looking for a 1980 ratchet to fill a hole.

My 2 cents.

 

[SMKS]

I was one of the people who supported eliminating replies in the classifieds.

I was wrong. Eliminating replies significantly damaged the classified section. It shouldn't have, but it did. There's just far less interest and action in that section than there used to be.

Here's the original poll thread when they considered eliminating replies in the classifieds. Even by the end of the thread some people were noticing that the classifieds section was becoming less active:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150952

Did you guys forget about all the price bashing, sellers manipulating the bump policy by randomly posting "list updated" or "sold items removed" every time there ad made it off the front page? I

Eliminating replies does nothing to prevent sellers from violating the bumping policy. Will there be some stupid posts? Yes, but that's better than the alternative we have now of a classified section that's sagging and a lot worse than it used to be.

I'll respect whatever the mods choose to do, but I'll admit this is a change I supported that turned out to be a mistake.

 

[woody 73]

Fellows this is one can of worms that should be left alone...

Some of you do not remember all the problems that we were having and Ryan had to fix things which he did in his own way.
Unfortunately we had some bad apples that killed it for everyone else.

 

[SMKS]

Fellows this is one can of worms that should be left alone...

Some of you do not remember all the problems that we were having and Ryan had to fix things which he did in his own way.
Unfortunately we had some bad apples that killed it for everyone else.

I was active as a seller and buyer back then, as I noted above. Some stupid comments made by people in that section isn't the end of the world. I have realized that a few dumb comments are better than a stagnant classifieds section.

If some dumb comments means a section should be closed for replies, then every section of the forum would be closed for replies, because there are some dumb comments made in every section.

 

[CobraChevelle]

I wonder if anyone has sold anything in there not snap on or craftsman without "giving it away"

Trying to sell a new W7150 and its like impossible. better off asking for more on ebay and pay the fees, Come out the same.

 

[Hiball]

I was one of the people who supported eliminating replies in the classifieds.

I was wrong. Eliminating replies significantly damaged the classified section. It shouldn't have, but it did. There's just far less interest and action in that section than there used to be.

Here's the original poll thread when they considered eliminating replies in the classifieds. Even by the end of the thread some people were noticing that the classifieds section was becoming less active:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150952


Eliminating replies does nothing to prevent sellers from violating the bumping policy. Will there be some stupid posts? Yes, but that's better than the alternative we have now of a classified section that's sagging and a lot worse than it used to be.

Everyone is entitled to there opinion, as a Past and Currently Active seller I don't feel the comment ability or lack there of is the reasoning for the downturn of traffic. I believe it lies with the loss of some Members who are no longer active, and probably more so members trying to squeeze as close to full retail out of there items as possible.

Carry On..

 

[Beerman]

I agree, the classifieds have been SERIOUSLY damaged by the changes. I also am of the belief that a HEALTHY classified section strengthens the overall board as a whole. We are a niche hobby-tools that is. This isn't fantasy football, comics collecting, etc. etc. For every new member who stumbles onto this site and begins collecting Bonny or Plomb, that means there's someone else to trade with, seek these hidden gems at swap meets, garage sales, etc. Once they begin seeking Bonny or Plomb, they participate in other beneficial ways at the board.

That only helps the board, as a whole.


I have a few other niche hobbies and one of the other sites I'm on has totally changed their classifieds section too. The classifieds there have gone into the toilet as well.

Healthy and Active Classifieds = Health and Active Message Board.

BRING BACK THE COMMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[02camaro86]

i like comments on because it allows people to ask questions directly in the public view. which promotes an honest answer for other potential buyers to view as well.

ebay has a this feature.

 

[iScream]

I voted yes but don't really care much overall. I've bought a couple things lately and going through PM was fine. But I've been on a whole lot of forums and I think this is the only one I've seen that doesn't allow replies to classified ads.

By the way, some of the posts in this thread make it sound like sellers can't reply to their own threads. But it's easy to see that they can. Is there a wait time or something between when a seller can update their own posts?

Chris

 

[organ]

Only board I've ever seen that has the replies turned off... that, itself, says something...

 

[ngk22r]

Believe it or not but its easier to track who is first, second, third in line for a item.

 

[Jacobson]

might as well removed the classifieds section nobody buys here anymore, unless its way underpriced

+1. Every PM offer I've gotten to sell me a tool was priced above the cost of buying it new. Die hards will always grossly overvalue their stuff.

 

[logical]

I voted leave it as is. I've had no problem both buying and selling through the PMs when stuff is priced reasonably.

It's unfortunate but there is just too much stupidity when replies are allowed and nothing that keeps a sale from happening without them.

If by "dead" we mean there aren't a bazillion posts in the classifieds I say ..so what? I seriously doubt sales have suffered.......what data do people claiming that have...how would anyone know such a thing even if it was the case?

 

[larry_g]

If my memory serves me correctly there were more members getting upset because of the bumping and multiple listings where some sellers who were pushing things consumed the whole first page and shoved others to the second or third page.

The rule of listing all your things for sale in one post came about at that time. So now it was a much larger hassle to keep track of what you had for sale and what was sold. The editing became a night mare so a lot dropped out of selling over that. As a buyer it takes some sleuthing to find new tools added to a members listing. especially if they have more than a few posts in their thread. So this makes it harder on both the buyer and the seller.

There were a couple of moderators at that time who were perty brutal at enforcing the 'new' rules which I'm sure got a few sellers to stop.

The comments were just a part of the whole conflagration.

I believe that more than returning of the comments will have to be addressed to make the sales section open, easy and friendly.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[JettaGetUpandGo]

The rule of listing all your things for sale in one post came about at that time. So now it was a much larger hassle to keep track of what you had for sale and what was sold. The editing became a night mare so a lot dropped out of selling over that. As a buyer it takes some sleuthing to find new tools added to a members listing. especially if they have more than a few posts in their thread. So this makes it harder on both the buyer and the seller.

I agree with the one topic per person to eliminate some of the chaos, but when items are added there is no way to edit the title of the thread to include them. Someone that looked at the for sale thread once and found nothing of interest will never know something was added.

I have been on other forums that allowed this in the classifieds section and it worked pretty well.

 

[AA/FC]

I wonder if anyone has sold anything in there not snap on or craftsman without "giving it away"

Trying to sell a new W7150 and its like impossible. better off asking for more on ebay and pay the fees, Come out the same.

I've sold 4 items in the classified section over the last few weeks. Matsterforce, Snap on, Fluke, and Gearwrench. All but the Fluke were new items that sold for roughly 65%-75% of new. The used Fluke meter..... how do you price a used item? I sold it for a fair price and I was happy. Hopefully the buyer was happy too.

 

[Davefr]

I'd say:
- Open it up to comments with rules that state that there will be no thread crapping or gratuitous bumps. Public comments that help clarify the item or condition are helpful to everyone. In addition sellers don't always check PM's.

- Open the classifieds to all users. (not just sr. members). I've seen plenty of newbies that want to sell a tool collection/estate but are forbidden. IMHO this silly rule was a solution looking for a problem.

- It's always up to a buyer to take proper safeguards when buying. Paypal funded with a credit card is pretty safe.

- Allow the owner of the thread to make full edits. (including the title!!)

- I'd also like to see a "Free Pile" thread. Buyers pays shipping only. There's a lot of parts and misc. stuff I'd like to find a good home for vs. the landfill.

Here's an example of an active classified forum that's done right and works quite well. We should "steal with pride":
http://www.arboristsite.com/community/forums/tradin-post.132/

 

[FJ 432]

I vote no.

I see this website as a place to knock around ideas and share common interests. The classifieds are peripheral function at best and the negativity generated is not needed.

There are other ways/websites that are better suited for selling.

 

[organ]

I vote no.

I see this website as a place to knock around ideas and share common interests. The classifieds are peripheral function at best and the negativity generated is not needed.

There are other ways/websites that are better suited for selling.

So you don't use it, don't want it, but still want a say in the matter...