post count and the classifieds

[partsman]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

There's no "wrong" way to think - we all have different opinions. I've seen several threads pop up on this very topic, so you are not alone in thinking that people with low/no post count shouldn't be allowed to sell here.

I'm just not seeing how one is taking advantage of anything by placing an ad and not posting.


As for the "allowing/not allowing" part - Dan has made it clear in the past that he'd rather have someone join to sell something and perhaps become a contributing member, than deny access based on post count.

my wording was probably wrong, the long version is that i looked into starting a message board at one time and it is not an easy task. for a message board of this size there is a small team of people that are busting there asses to keep things up an running, and if you have been a member here for several years and cannot contribute in the thousands of threads either in help of info or just something but you post regularly in classifieds.
sorry but to me thats just wrong, thats just taking advantage of the lack of rules.
thats what i mean by taking advantage of the system.
from what i have seen there is like 6-8 members that do this some are worse then others..............

[GrumpyBear]

I initially found the forum when I was searching for a gun or gun related item.I didn't join right away,but read alot of threads and learned a lot,then became a member.I have purchased several firearms,cases of ammunition,scopes etc.I have really only had one questionable experience (knock on wood).Some of these purchase were as a non member,some as a new member with a low post count.I have been treated with respect in all but that one case(the warning signs were there)but sometimes,well you know.I am proud to be a member and think that we should keep things as they are.IMO.Thanks to all the members that I've had dealings with,and hope to have future dealings with.

[gnbrotz]

Originally Posted by partsman

from what i have seen there is like 6-8 members that do this some are worse then others..............

From a Staff standpoint, these "non-contribution, mass ad" members create less work in the classified forum than the general all-around users do. Other than my Staff duties, I rarely visit the Classified forums, so I actually have no idea what users you might be referring to, simply because from my perspective, they have no impact on the "work" that needs done here.

[eddyb74]

Originally Posted by soberbyker

When you have a minimum post count requirement you end up with a bunch of one word comments to raise the count. Raising a post count is pretty easy, don't see how that would make a person more reliable.

It's been mentioned before that the classifieds here are just a little bonus and not the focus of the forum, so I don't see any more "requirements" being place upon posting in them.

Free enterprise, it's a supply and demand kind of thing, like what somebody has, make an offer, don't, move on.

.

+ 1.........

[Connal]

Originally Posted by partsman

my wording was probably wrong, the long version is that i looked into starting a message board at one time and it is not an easy task. for a message board of this size there is a small team of people that are busting there asses to keep things up an running, and if you have been a member here for several years and cannot contribute in the thousands of threads either in help of info or just something but you post regularly in classifieds.
sorry but to me thats just wrong, thats just taking advantage of the lack of rules.
thats what i mean by taking advantage of the system.
from what i have seen there is like 6-8 members that do this some are worse then others..............

I can see the concern with this. People that only have posts in the classifieds, have been here for three years, and have a post count of "3". That being said, as has been mentioned, all we would end up getting is trolling posts to raise the count. And then we would have these same people, only now with counts in the range of 25-50.

Myself, if I see someone selling things, and they don't have a higher post count, I ignore it. I have personally let "good deals" pass by, because I don't trust them.

[D10]

Originally Posted by Connal

I can see the concern with this. People that only have posts in the classifieds, have been here for three years, and have a post count of "3". That being said, as has been mentioned, all we would end up getting is trolling posts to raise the count. And then we would have these same people, only now with counts in the range of 25-50.

Myself, if I see someone selling things, and they don't have a higher post count, I ignore it. I have personally let "good deals" pass by, because I don't trust them.

We all know that postings in the F/S section and the lounge do not add to your post count. There might be "patrons," "benefactors" that have been members for years although not having a post count.
If you decide not to buy from people with a low post count you actually might pass up some great deals, although it is your decision whether to buy from people with a low post count or not.

[Connal]

Originally Posted by D10

We all know that postings in the F/S section and the lounge do not add to your post count. There might be "patrons," "benefactors" that have been members for years although not having a post count.
If you decide not to buy from people with a low post count you actually might pass up some great deals, although it is your decision whether to buy from people with a low post count or not.

Believe me. I know for a fact I have let some good deals slip away. But, it sounds terrible, I trust those members who post more often. Myself, having gone to the group shoots, and having hung out with members here in person, feel like I bring more credebility to the table, than someone who signs up and just tries to sell something. There is nothing wrong with marketing to the right people, and I will admit that. And meeting up in person, can resolve alot of issues. It just doesn't feel the same for me.

[frankie]

Originally Posted by eddyb74

+ 1.........

I'll complete it, +1 rep sent!

[smitty56]

Originally Posted by cybersurf

I have purchased several firearms and accessories from people on here with low to no post counts also sold and traded quite a bit.
All I do is communicate with them usually by pm first then by phone later.
I always gauge a person on how they respond to emails and their willingness to use the phone. (basically shows they have nothing to hide).

I was only jerked around by 1 person on here , they had a higher post count and they were very slow to respond to emails and NO phone contact...with that I wrote him off as a person who really didn't want to sell his item. No loss to me.

Cyber

Ditto to you Cybersurf!
I agree totally. I have met many people through their ads, and like Cyber, only got jerked around by a single person. The rest of them, the majority of them I spent more time talking to them in the parking lot than I did doing the deal in the FFL. If a person places a decent ad, communicates in a timely manner, and then gives you a phone number to confirm the deal, then that's as good as it gets. The above is Cyber's formula and mine as well. I have met some really nice people on PAFOA and their post count was never really any concern if the item, it's price, and their location was suitable to me.
Smitty56

[mauser]

I'll quote a friend of mine here:

"I think people should place more ads for things to sell but I think the majority of the members should ignore them and "not trust" the sellers.
More for me. "

I've been jerked around by people with high, medium and low post counts. Being a keyboard commando or a bored person with access to a computer doesn't make anyone any more or less trustworthy.
Initial communication tells a lot about a person and that's where I can sort out the difference between someone I want to deal with and someone I don't.
I bought something here recently that I almost backed out of because the seller didn't recognize the very common name name that I and many other people know the unit as, it's even in the headline of the description on the page the seller linked in his ad. It was something I've been wanting and the price was right so I gave it another go and when we connected on the difference in terminology I could tell the seller was genuine and legitimate by his response.
He had another item listed that I thought about overnight and decided I'd like to buy it. I just went to look at the ad one more time and see that he marked is SPF less than an hour ago. Oh well. I missed that one but that's OK, I didn't really need it and can't really afford it until I pay my dues to the IRS. For what it's worth, his post count is just over 100 and was lower when I bought the first item, that's enough for most but in spite of his 100 countable posts and 4½ years on PAFOA I did have second thoughts.
There have been some I've dealt with who joined just to answer an ad, I could tell by their initial contact that they were OK.
It's not rocket science.