Would a :For Sale/trade work @ TS?

Thoughts of: For sale/trade has come up in several posts.
Recent thread (http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic39137.html)
Another similar one (http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic32118.html)

I guess we could try again doing the Sell/Buy/Trade thing...? Our forum has become increasingly popular and perhaps it will be a good alternative than using eBay or other methods where expensive fees are involved in the transaction.

I have heard good things about this kind of action going on at Anand's boards, maybe we could start rolling our own little thing to see what happens.

As always, your feedback will become the most important factor to consider.
What do you think?

As long as TechSpot itself will not be held responsible for any transaction, nor should TS have any responsability or liability for any of it's members actions.
If people get stung, it is by a subscriber to TS, NOT by TS itself!
As long as people are aware of that, by all means, go ahead.

I posted a poll because I'm borderline on it as well.
I don't like the risks involved. There's alot more to it than I first reliased.
If it could work like a good ol fashioned cork bullitinboard at the super
market or classified want ads in the newspaper I'd be more into it.
If a deal goes bad you don't burn down the store or newspaper office.

Craigslist works pretty well I wonder if we could get a copy and trim to fit?
I would even be willing to host it on my web server.
I geuss some good ideas are best destined to stay good ideas....

There are a couple of very popular forums with sections like these and there aren't too much problems.

Those don't have problems probably because they have someone constantly keeping an eye on it. We already have enough work cut out with the way the forums are right now & I'm sure that if someone started scamming people via this "for sale" section, TS would still be guilty of letting that person operate freely.

TS has much more to lose then to gain with such a forum.

I'm in favor of an ebay alternative. A bulletin board edition is just fine. However postings should be limited to one per item. You don't want commercial sellers or curbstoners.

I would suggest that people use the existing F/S forums on other sites. I've had no issues with www.Hardforum.com or Anandtech forums.

People need to be smart and be VERY careful when trading/selling/buying.

Now that the poll is closed,
The Nay's

What if we had a place to do this that was not affiliated to TS?

I've put together a site that is private for TS members,
forum based, where it's up to the individuals to make a deal.
I host up to 2 images per listing

I'm offering this free to TS members.
I've dedicated a non-public domain to it with it in mind as a test site just to see if it will fly.

I'd like some feed back & approval from Staff, before posting the url.
I don't want to over step myself.

The only thing is that if it is not getting the active expsure to TS members, then it defeats the purpose.

if its not affiliated with TS then we may as well in fact post at anandtech or hardforum.

You wont be able a true interest until its actually up and running on TS.

What if we had a place to do this that was not affiliated to TS?

I've put together a site that is private for TS members,
forum based, where it's up to the individuals to make a deal.
I host up to 2 images per listing

I'm offering this free to TS members.
I've dedicated a non-public domain to it with it in mind as a test site just to see if it will fly.

I'd like some feed back & approval from Staff, before posting the url.
I don't want to over step myself.

I'm putting 50 bux it won't work.

I think its a good idea as long as the rules of trading are drummed into all users.

I would also be willing to help and put some of my time into it.

It would be ok as long as its newspaper style. You post here so people can see the item. Then you contact them via email/messenger and do the rest from there.

I dont think it will work here and plus i am against it. TS wont be TS no more. There will be plenty of unhappy customers. However i do agree we need a better alternative to eBay.

I'm thinking this thread needs to be deleted.
As it is not helping.
I'm trying not to be pretentiuos with this at all.
I believe this could work, howerver, as part of TS, I believe it could be problematic to TS as such I would not want to do it.

Funny thing is I do have a working non-affiliated site waiting for approval.
So due to no response (the worst death), I'm thinking this thread needs to be deleted.

I've seen your work SOcRatEs, perhaps it would be well to build your site into a larger sort of "computers and electronics" buy/sell/trade site. Similar to the aforementioned newspaper ads or bulletin board.

I don't think it will work that well as a forum, per say, because when trying to sell parts, there needs to be organized searching and browsing for example. Instead of reading a forum titled "motherboards" or whatever, you would search through a motherboards category for current sales. If you follow me.
In a forum, you got "new" posts taking over the "older" posts. But categorically, you just say, "hmm, want a motherboard *click*, needs to be AMD, *click*" and there is the listings. Same with putting up an item to sell. And a different sort of section for trading.

Problem with those sites is that you need a LOT of traffic right away! You need a "private" way for a serious buying to contact a seller in a "real" way, not like posting a public response in a thread. There are certain types of things you would have to enforce sellers and buyers to do, such as making sure to give shipping info perhaps, or policies on bad checks or whatever.
If a person were to anonymously sell some item, using paypal, then send a defunct item, he dissapears and nobody knows where.

As you can see, good idea, needs a lot of thought, that's my vote. A lot of thought in the sense that, if it doesn't launch as a very good system, it won't last anyway. So it needs to cover as many angles as possible.

Don't give up, though, just keep thinking about it, getting advice, building the site, etc..."if you build it, they will come"

Well here it goes.
WWW.My-YardSale.Org (http://www.my-yardsale.org/)
Should this work, Please reg with same nick as you have on TS.
This is intend as a test.

All you have to do is model the forum similar to anandtech. I have had about 500 trades on these type of forums, i am a member of about a dozen of them.
They work fine and you should strongly consider this. I would be happy to help as a mod. As i say, i know how these work and i have a very good reputation as a trader.

Needs modification.

Needs modification.
Care to elaborate?

Doesn't look good.

To SOcRatEs

WWW.My-YardSale.Org is not an accurate test. The computer section gets lost among all the others, just not the same at all. Not even close.
I dont think you will get many takers.

I think this idea has been effectively killed off for a second time.....

I think this idea has been effectively killed off for a second time.....
Yep....it most assuredly has..

Actually, its a real shame. This is something that most members would have really enjoyed. They would also have a new place where they could sell their parts to people they know, buy parts at a reasonable price, and so on.

I should have pointed out that when a person comes along, thinking about possibly joining this group, seeing the forum has a for sale\trade\wanted section encourages them to sign up and participate in all of the forum.

A real shame. I hope you people change you minds real soon because this forum is very well run and has the possibility of being a major forum!

Also, there are many other forums that do have such a section. I cant think of anyone being sued for anything! I really dont believe that part.

To be honest, I think there are plenty of people on TS that have many good used PC components. So it would be good idea if there were a mechanism for fellow members to trade and exchange them rather them letting the components rot.

Despite of not everyone agreeing this would be a good idea I think I will give it a go for a trial period. I'm way too busy right now but when I get the time I will read some of the other boards' rules and restrictions and put those up along with the new forum.
That is the best way to go since most of those sites have probably built those rules based on the experience they have had through time. Now of course if anybody wants to give a hand I won't complain ;).

I would be happy to try and help you out. Thing is, i have over 300 deals based on these types of forums, i know the rules inside and out. I havent been that active for a while but i do have all these done deals. And i could certainly be of some help, even though i am somewhat new here on this forum.

But really, all one has to do is visit these forums and look up their rules and regs. And talk to the mods, they are always willing to help. I know they wont take the tack that they dont want to help someone else set up, more like the more the merrier is their attitude, at least most of them.

And, as i already stated above, this is a chance for this forum to grow. Believe me when i say that when a forum has a place to buy\sell\trade they are FAR more apt to join up and become part of the whole forum, not just the buy\sell\trade.
I would be right in there, i have a ton of stuff, lol.
And, unless i am really out to lunch, i dont see the problem with forum owners liability, Seems to me all they have to do is clearly show a disclaimer. Perhaps you might even want to have all your members, current and future, sign such a disclaimer. You know what i mean, click on that they have read the disclaimer and agree that the owner(s) of the site arent to be help liable in any bad deals.
Surely you are aware of heatware.com, where you can track the trading record of a person. The first thing you would want to do is have all the people who want to buy\sell\trade sign up at heatware.com. Eventually, and fairly quickly, all who deal here on this forum would build up a credit report of sorts. That is exactly what heatware is all about.

For your sake i hope you dont miss this opportunity to grow your forum.
Seems to me you are talking about opening up a separate forum. I think it would be far better to have it right here, but thats just my thinking.
I apologize for anything i said (above post) that could possibly offend you, but i feel very strongly about this. Truth is, i am in Canada and i am a member of Canadian forums so i dont really need this one, but its a good forum and i would participate in the buy\sell\trade section of it!
thanks for listening!

P.S. The naysayers, other than those who could possibly have concerns over legal matter, should NOT have a say in wether you have such a buy\sell section as all they have to do is not participate. Let those who want to participate go ahead and those who dont then they simply dont.
So why hold up those who would participate? Seems very rude and unfair, dont you think!
This is also a chance for those who would like to buy\sell to speak up here!!

Despite of not everyone agreeing this would be a good idea I think I will give it a go for a trial period. I'm way too busy right now but when I get the time I will read some of the other boards' rules and restrictions and put those up along with the new forum.

Other boards' rules?
We at [x] intend to interpret this rather liberally, but we reserve the right to delete any advertising that we deem in our sole opinion potentially fraudulent, overtly commercial, infringing on the intellectual property rights of others, or otherwise offensive.


Buy, Sell & Trade in here. *[x] takes no responsibility, so buyer/seller beware!*

Other boards' rules?
Other sites that have message boards like TS. So he (Julio) can see what type of rules and regulations they have set up to model off of.

This is what I have to date,
www.TheWantAds.Info (http://www.thewantads.info/)
&
www.My-YardSale.Com (http://www.my-yardsale.com/smf/)
I will have the script finished soon that allows for selecting region, state/territory and city for The Want Ads site.

Terms of use:HERE (http://www.my-yardsale.com/4.php)
&
Prohibited Items:Here (http://www.my-yardsale.com/5.php)

I've had two local attorneys look them over and gave me a green light.

Hope it helps!

Im only one person, but, in my opinion, your site should only be about pc's. Like this forum. The for sale\trade section is at the bottom.

http://www.techimo.com/forum/index.html

So, in other words, you would put the for sale\trade section at the bottom of this forum.

Thats a good one "nork".
The php classifieds can be ported or bridged to existing vBullitine BB's and
cms websites and trimmed to only the catagories you want or need.
It doesn't have to be forum like.

SOcRatEs, Im not sure i know what you are saying, the lingo is way over my head, lol.
But, again, i think you should simply add a for sale\trade section to the bottom of this forum.
I get the impression that you dont want to associate this forum with a for sale\trade section. But that is just what this forum needs to spring ahead in terms of getting more people into this forum, imho.
And why anyone would oppose having a for sale\trade section in the first place, as per the voting above, is beyond me. If they dont like it all they have to do is not use it. Let the ones who would use it go ahead and use it.
As i said before, there is a check on this in the form of "credit reports" or records for people who buy and sell and in good time each person here would have such a report. That way people would know who to deal with and who not to deal with.
There are many many such forums with such sections and they have been running for years. There must be a reason.
And, as far as liability, i dont believe there is any real liability there that you cant take care of with a disclaimer. If i were wrong there wouldnt be all these forums.

I think it should be "picture friendly" so that picture of the items can be seen neatly. I dont like tha attachment method.

I like sites that don't let just anyone in the FS section. It keeps it to regular posters that you have had a chance to get to know and may keep some of the trolls out. Something ~100 post access with just single post threads. Some sites just have a big mess. I'd like to see some of the people here that help me and others get the good deals.

Mirob, i agree with you 100%. A lot of the sites dont do things like that and they should. Absolutely. Another must is that they sign up at heatware.com, if they arent already. That way their buy\sell record is recorded there and you can check it out before making a deal.

Another thing about the format. I have to say that the formats i have seen above, as i already said, are not a good idea. They must be at the bottom of this forum or somewhere as part of this forum.
And i do say that each person who wants to be part of this for sale section should pay $5 or something toward the cost of extrabandwidth and such. We will save a lot more than $5 on each deal we make, so $5 or $10 per year would be nothing to someone who is active.
But i still say it MUST be done right at the bottom of this forum, just like other successful forums. If its done the way i see above then you are just in competition with craigslist.org and you cant compete with them! You would be wasting your time.
SOcRatEs, (cool name!) maybe i didnt read right into what is posted above but just in case i have read right, I believe you must make it a part of this forum, right at the bottom of the existing list.
You can count me in to post right away and pay right away for my membership! I would be willing to help with the rules and regs committee, help as a mod as well. I know how to keep out the thiefs (trolls) and how to find them too! I can show you on other forums where i was successful in doing that.

TechSpot's brand new "For Sell & Trade" board has been opened:
http://www.techspot.com/vb/menu33.html

Rules are here:
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic53652.html

We will give it a trial period and see how it works. I'm confident the TS community has grown enough that such a forum is viable. Rules will be strictly enforced and as such we hope to succeed in making it yet another good resource for our readers.

Two additional new boards were opened today:

Guides and Solved Issues
User-submitted content and troubleshooting from our community.
http://www.techspot.com/vb/menu31.html

Reviews by Members for Members
You can contribute with reviews of your own hardware and software.
http://www.techspot.com/vb/menu32.html

It should be called For Sale or Trade. "For Sell" isn't grammatically correct.

And please be careful with your trades/purchases/selling, there are trolls out there. Do your homework.

Terrific!

I havent read the rules. I hope heatware gets in the rules if its not, lol.

Please be careful with whom you trade.

I hope you:

Make a rule a person should have 100 posts before being allowed to buy\sell\trade.
Make a rule that no links to ebay are allowed. There is a very good reason for this that i would share if needed, but best to pm me.

Also, its much better for this section to have a rule that all "for sale" items have a price. "For trade" items dont have to have a price but "for sale" items should always have a price.

Another thing, it might be a good idea to have each member report the results of their deals with each other and set a place aside for just that.
At least until enough people have started making enough deals that they can start using heatware.com for their trading reputation. All the good forums, with the exception of ars technica, use heatware.com for reports on people who buy\sell\trade and their good and bad records are there for all to see. Heatware is well respected and should be used by this new for sale\trade section you have started.

Lets give a try!!!
Julio you are awesome to try again.
Rules look great!
I make only one suggestion:
you may need a disclaimer of responsibilty.
unless it's already covered under TS site guide lines.

Thank you!!

Remember people, "Picture friendly" please.....

What do you mean by picture friendly?
For instance, i have a compactflash card listed, is there a need for a pic of that?
And many people dont have digital cameras. I do but for some reason its not taking decent indoor photos. I dont know if its the camera or if its me, but i have tried many settings. Im just saying that not everyone is going to be able to post pics, not looking for help on my camera, lol.
thanks

Thats the general rule on TS.
I don't think he means all [FS:US] post's need a pic, just that TS is very a "family oriented" resource, that anything we post here, pic's included, need always keep that in mind.

edit: on further review
I think it should be "picture friendly" so that picture of the items can be seen neatly. I dont like tha attachment method.

I see. I didnt even think of the other, non-family oriented, type of pics. Guess i am getting old, lol. Most people would have enuf sense but there is always one to try and spoil things i suppose, so good point.
thanks

I got the first "for sale" post in!
I am gonna end up with a huge list of goodies, lol.

The points covered.

Perhaps, although it will never beat e-bay. I do not think it will be used a lot - but we will see:) I'm just glad Julio is taking suggestions seriously. That is what the Techspot community is all about:) Well done mate.

Regards,

Korrupt

It should be called For Sale or Trade. "For Sell" isn't grammatically correct.
You are right, I guess that's what happens when you try to do a bunch of stuff when it's 5am already! :)

As for your suggestions, I will keep reading them and round them up during the weekend and make modifications to the rules. I think heatware could be added a bit later when we get more trades in, as of now it's in our best interest to attract members' attention first.

Trolling is something we should be cautious about and users will be forewarned, however we should also remain as accessible as possible.