Classified Adverts

I've noticed as I'm sure many others have that occasionally somebody will 'apparently' join the forum to try and off load some gear.
Not wanting to be too judgemental about this or stir up any trouble but I wondered whether it would make sense to have a time delay from joining the forum to being able to post in the Classified forum or that perhaps in combination with a number of posts?
Any comments / thoughts?

Hmm, I'd be quite pleased if someone turned up and offered a piece of kit I wanted. I think it's just buyer beware where new members are concerned. I seem to recall the odd time someone disposes of a parent's or spouse's set up at fair prices which can't be bad.

Mike

Agree with both in some ways, I am happy to buy something I am interested in but it seems wrong that people join just to sell.

Have bought a couple of items lately and in both cases I had the knowledge that the person selling was a long term member, somehow it gives one confidence.

I tend to take each advert on its own merits. Sometimes there is something about them that sends alarm bells ringing and I steer clear, sometimes it is clearly a genuine offer and I'll buy if there is something I want. Lately, I have bought many more things through the forum than I have through ebay including a K20D body, a Jupiter-9 lens and a microscope adapter to name but a few.

Best wishes, K.

To takes Mike's comments a bit further. All the members (regulars and newbies) have a fairly good idea when something smells a bit fishy.And if not.....people will warn or dig a bit deeper. The latest "k-7 for sale" thread being a good example.

If a new first poster tries to sell here, by all means...let him.
If it turns out to be a scam or worse....let them try. It still makes amusing reading for the rest of us.

Yes I can see positives and negatives to both sides and as it is buyer definitely needs to beware.

It is just that it is not uncommon on other forums (photography related and others) to have either a time limit or similar before being able to post items for sale.

You are right, GT. And this forum has already a safety build in regarding the PM possibility. To prevent spammers from directing there attention directly to members by PM. Extending this rule to the classifieds would imo do more harm than good. Simply because statistics show much more legit and honest first time posters trying to sell nice and interesting gear, than attempts to scam or get rid of stolen goods. Actually......the thread we are talking about is the first one I see, were possibly something is fishy.

One other forum I frequent will only allow you to post a classified once you have made a donation, for server upkeep, minimum US$10.00.

Not a bad idea IMO, keeps the riff raff at bay.

TBH....following PentaxForums way, I would be a great supporter for the donation system over there. It makes sense( for bonding members) and that way we could do without the advert space on the right and have more real forum space to use. But...I'll reckon, this will never happen over here.

Classified Ads will have to be monitored more closely because they are getting very clogged up with chatter and commentary that has nothing to do with the sale.

When they go off track any non-relevant posts are likely to be removed. It's very unfair on sellers and potential buyers if there's a mass of posts from those not intending to buy.

Caveat Emptor in all cases of course, but jumping to conclusions isn't right either.

I would happily support that idea too, seems to make good sense to me.

On another forum I use, any posts into the advert area requires approval from a moderator. The rules are they must have been a member for at leat 6 weeks before posting an ad. This is to stop people registering just to advertise.

However, some ads do get passed before this time if the moderator ( usually me ) decides it is genuine, ie. they've been on for 3 weeks, but joined in regularly during those 3 weeks.
(or if I'm in a good mood )

So in the situation were A N Other registers as a user here and offers a piece of gear that another member here has a good idea, or even knows, that the item is to be steered clear of, and says so to avoid another member from wasting their money. What is likely to happen from a moderators point of view.

I think the recent K-7 for sale thread is a good example. Amin may well have met with the seller, but he didn't hand over any money. Who's to know that the seller didn't have a couple of mates waiting round the corner. It does happen. For that reason I think Amin was unusually dumb to go ahead with the meet.

It is difficult subject and not really 'Pentax Users' responsibility to cover all eventualities but the idea of a time / post delay or registration cost for classified ads would help to put the 'quick buck' Charlie off (I think).
And again it has to be a case of buyer beware in all cases.
Perhaps there should also be certain standards adhere to / boxes to tick when advertising Pentax gear, again like 'PentaxForums' this should reduce the banter aspect in sales threads.

I agree with you Peter, personally I would not set up a meet with a new forum member who had (as in the case of the K-7) apparently just joined to sell a high value item. Much too risky
I would only meet with forum members who in my view had a reputable track record over at least a few months.

If you feel its too much risk then you should not buy. Lets leave the opportunity to get some goodies on the forum.