Drive-by sales

I'm not very impressed (and neither do I feel secure on other readers' behalf) when someone signs up and immediately offers something for sale, or appears to sign up purely in order to sell something. Since the forum's purpose is not primarily as a market place, could we have an "anti-drive-by" rule, whereby it is stated in the AUP that one should have become known to members before selling, e.g., by having a minimum of 20 posts, and that 'for sale' ads not meeting this criterion will be deleted by a moderator?

 

Interesting point Steve. It's something that has come up before.

Of course the other side of the coin is that there are a lot of genuine HiFi enthusiasts who lurk here, but for whatever reasons, do not want to post their views. They perhaps decide to register only when they have something to sell. Not all of these guys would be dishonest but wouldn't be allowed to sell anything.

Conversely, a dishonest person can quickly rack up 20 (or whatever limit we set) posts and get a free pass to advertise. I don't really know what the answer is, but I can appreciate both sides of the argument because I found myself in the same predicament when I thought about selling some spare kit I have on eBay. I can't expect a good response form eBay because I have no feedback but can't get feedback because I haven't sold anything.

 

Many forums have instituted rules about requiring a certain number of posts in order to be able to sell items. I would consider it if it seems most people want that.

 

Hello folks,

Felt compelled to reply to this post as I suppose I could be classsed as someone who contributes very little but does advertise occasionally. I've also bought several items off the forum.

As Dev says there are probably others like myself who lurk here all the time, but generally don't post. Basically my whole system has been built off the back of the extremely generious and friendly advice that has been given to me specifically and the other threads I've read.

I'd love to give something back but, possibly like others, still feel too inexperienced compared to most on here and therefore a little intimidated.

If I sell something, I generally advertise on Zerogain first because I feel secure in selling to a member and also I'm selling the sort of item I know someone on this forum will have an interest in.

How on earth could a new member selling something on here make you feel insecure ?? - just ignore the post.
On the other hand Steve B, someone may be selling that amp you've been after for 6 months at a fantastic price with a genuine reason for sale - I take it you won't be enquiring ??
Or perhaps one of these 'drive by' lurkers offers you full asking price on an item you're selling and is prepared collect and pay cash. I take it you won't be tempted by that either !!

Obviously all IMHO.

Kind Regards

Steve

 

I'm quite happy for people to register purely to advertise something to be honest, in that if they're local to me and I'm interested I might go and check it out and possibly pick up something I'd other not have known about. For sellers further away I would obviously know the seller was new to the forum and so would have to make a decision on whether to trust them or not.

The only issue I can see for people becoming members just to sell is that this might possibly be a revenue source to run the forum, should this be desired. At present no-one pays anything to use this forum (thanks ), but if there were to be say a fairly nominal one time only joining fee, then those joining purely to sell kit would still be contributing something. Or possibly a fee to register as a seller, but still free for the rest of the forum. Just a thought.

 

Hi Plum.

I can tell the difference between a registered lurker and a drive-by seller from the join date shown to the left, under your name. It's not people like yourself I'm concerned about. Unregistered lurkers who become sellers would be inconvenienced, that's true. Do we want our community spirit to be shaped by this?

I can feel insecure on others' behalf basically from a sense of community: I don't like to think a member less wise than you or I might be taken in or be unjudiciously tempted by that special offer from someone who has only just joined and has no track record on the forum. I can see that some might feel that is the problem of the individuals concerned, not mine.

I feel the slight inconvenience this change creates for new members is offset by the improved community the longer term member gets--better trust in his or her fellows and more flexibility in deals when they do come along, such as kit-loans, sending kit before payment, etc. For example, if I start circulating a copy of Densen DeMagic CD for people to try, I like to feel that a recipient has more to lose in reputation in the community if they delay passing it on or just keep it, than they have to gain. Or I have been known to send an amp to someone on a sale or return basis simply on the strength of their forum reputation.

 

Who hasn't done a drive by? I sold my TV on tha AV forum and true I didn't help that forum any more than drive by's help this one, but quite often the buyer benefits so indirectly it adds to the forum IMO. On the security point, just be careful.

If you have a 10 post rule before advertising, people will just write crap posts before placing the ad, those posts will add nothing to the forum so why have them.

 

Thanks for the opinion. Any others?

Then of course there's always the "market for lemons" point that the presence of dodgy or poor quality offers in the forum (if there were any) would make it harder for honest and good quality trades to be made or to fetch a proper price.

 

some new users may use the forum to sell their gear,what's the harm in that as long as nobody gets ripped off,and it saves flea bay from clocking up even more colossal profits,you could ask sellers to quote their ebay sellers id when selling for verification,to put would be buyers minds at rest

 

That sounds good to me.

I'm firmly in the 'caveat emptor' camp. Any second-hand purchase from a private individual carries some element of risk. Personally I wouldn't regard the number of posts on a hifi forum as offering much reassurance, but a track record on e-Bay is to some extent an objective measure of reliability.

 

As is a track record on here under a similar system, which is why we implemented feedback.

 

Well, sure, but that only helps if buyer/seller are ZG 'regulars'. A new poster might have genuinely good stuff to offer and a link to ebay ratings could offer reassurance until he establishes presence on the ZG feedback system. Not that it would have made any difference in my case, as I've never bought or sold via e-Bay, but I've got an honest face.

 

Surely the problem with linking to eBay feedback is that there wouldn't be any way of verifying that really was their eBay identity? I mean what would stop someone finding an eBay seller with good feedback and then just claiming that username was theirs?

 

If it's not apparant from their e-mail/username or details in previous auctions, you can confirm someone's identity/e-mail by sending them a message through ebay to confirm the contact details.

 

Good point Mark!