Just a thought about new members selling on the forum

[Borderboss]

I just wanted to post a thought about new or infrequent contributors on the forum doing selling. I tend to shy away from people like this, as I don't view them as good members of the forum community. I'm a member of a Kel-Tec forum, and that forum doesn't allow member access to selling on the forum until the member has done at least 50 contributions in discussion threads. It's a way for them to make sure this is someone that wants to be a true member of the community and not just someone that wants to sell stuff.

I thought you might want to know that in case it's something that you want to consider. I mention this because I just saw a member (BlackLion) selling some Model 59 mags. This member has had all of 8 posts since joining the forum in September of 2021, and all 8 posts have been selling something. That's just taking advantage of the forum, IMHO.

Thanks!

[4T5GUY]

Well I’m one of the lucky recipients of some of those magazines offered by BlackLion.

I’m glad he was able to post the sales and even happier I was able to get some.

No foul no real harm. Just my own opinion of course.

Jim

[FlyTyinFool]

No foul, no harm is right.

But I still shy away from the purchase threads of folks that don't seem to have to time read (unmeasurable, really), let alone contribute, to the forum.
It's my personal choice, so take it for what it's worth (zip).

I have made some great purchases here though.
So keep it all in perspective folks!

[Himhawkeye]

Look at it from the other angle. If a person has various interesting Smiths but also enjoys many other brands, he doesn't have time to be a "good member" on all the various forums. If he wants to sell some of his S&W's, wouldn't you want to see them on here rather than have him sell them locally or dump them on an auction that you might not see? Many people are very busy raising families, growing their business, etc. Not being a steady poster does not make you dishonest or someone not to be trusted.

[Tom S.]

The staff has discussed this matter in depth. The jest is a person who comes here only to occasionally sell items still benefits the general membership in the fact they are offering items the membership may wish to buy. We do strongly suggest due diligence when dealing with a new member, especially if a big ticket item is involved.

On the other hand, when we notice a person's sole purpose for being here is selling, and they do so frequently, we require they contribute to the forum at the Silver level to at least help finance the forum from their selling ventures. Silver Level is $60 a year, which when you look at what auction sites charge, is a really a bargain. One high priced gun or a couple moderate priced ones will exceed that cost on other sites.

Of greater concern is the number of scammers we see in the WTB section. Again, we have had a lot of discussion, including the implementation of a minimum post rule. While that rule will stop a small percentage of scammers, it will also stop those people who have a legitimate item for a WTB ad, such as a widow whose husband had the 5" Model 27 someone is looking for. Minimum post counts also generate forum spam, where scammers make the required posts by posting cut and paste generic drivel like "Nice gun!" or "I have one like that and love it". We actually look for these kinds of posts when we suspect a scammer.

While the system isn't perfect, it works pretty well provided members use common sense when seeking out transactions. The sticky note in the WTB (see link below) works for both WTB ads and for buying from new members.

How to NOT get Scammed

[s&wchad]

Tom explained it well. We have discussed this before and Lee decided that we won’t be restricting access. Here are a few of the past threads:

new members posting in classifieds

Minimum number of posts before you can buy or sell.

Require a certain number of posts to use the classified section?

[handejector]

One more thread about this from 2013- Should access to the "For Sale" forums be restricted?

where I said:

Originally Posted by handejector

NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!
NICE gun!!

25 posts.

This comes up every year or so. The post count is meaningless. It can be handled by those who would need to handle it too easily.
Some heirs get advised to come here to sell guns they don't want and know nothing about. They don't have any knowledge to contribute. There is nothing they want to learn besides how to cash them out. They won't spend a lot of time building even a small required post count.
Works for them, works for us.

Some other people have literally grown old reading this board. They weren't hard core collectors, but liked to read about the old guns, or about shooting, or reloading, or whatever, but never felt the need to post, or never felt qualified to post. Some are old enough to quit shooting and want to move a few guns they have no heirs for.

Etc
Etc

How many guns do you want me to keep you from getting a shot at?
Is it a fixed number, a particular type of gun, or a particular type of seller we don't want?

Ah, the pure essence.........

You guys are actually asking me to regulate your buying and selling more than the minimum we are compelled to do for a smooth operation?

You are adults.
You are freemen.
Act accordingly.

[Borderboss]

OK, thanks guys for letting me mention it.