Minimum membership before accessing the Classifieds?

Seeing this, 'Pentax MZ-M pristine bodies and lenses and accessories', in the Classified Adverts Forum, (from a new member with a single post), reminds me that another forum now restricts access to their Classified section to members with a minimum of 100 posts, whether buying or selling.

What do you think?

Before we try to fix it, can we establish if it's a problem?

I understand your point but it's what 'number of posts' to set it at as people use the forum differently. I can't see how you can say that a certain number of posts alone is the qualification.

Some 'lurk'
Some like me post only when they feel they have something 'unique' to ask / contribute - I have logged in almost every day for over 3 years but have only got above your suggested limit in the last couple of months. I have successfully bought (in person) via this forum twice.
Some join and just post any old thing on loads of threads really quickly

If we want to put a qualification on I think it needs to be only to stop people joining just to sell immediately - i.e. not if joined within the last 14 days.

Personally I don't think the issue is a 'problem' yet. If they have something to sell let them post - potential buyers can see their number of posts and their joining date etc. and make their own judgements.

Not talking specifically about the advert above, particularly as it directs you to ebay anyway.

But, I'm surprised by the lack of reported scams on here. Anyone who parts with money to someone who has just joined, before they have the goods in their hand, is just asking to be ripped off.

Someone new should not be surprised to be asked to send the goods before payment is made.

Well my experience here whether buying or selling has been 100% positive to newbies and until such problems manifest themselves I see no reason to think otherwise. As with everything in life it is a case of 'caveat emptor' so if others think the same as you then it is their choice to purchase or not.

The new 100 post / 1 month rule on TP was more about people just joining to buy or sell an item and not actually participating in with the forum itself. I actually think its a good idea, IMO i'ts damn rude to not even bother introducing yourself to the other members before jumping on the sale section to either grab a bargain of flog some equipment knowing you have a captive audience.

I have asked for this more than a few times.
If they refuse then I just wait a little longer until what I am looking for turns up from another seller.

Erm, that'd be me then

Seriously, though. On a site I moderate on, the rule is paid up membership, OR, registered for over 6 weeks. This stops people from using us as a cheap alternative to Ebay. However, we get a few a week trying to join just to sell their car. I don't know how big a problem it is on here.

It you restrict adverts to people with X Posts you KILL OFF ALL THE BARGAINS!

There have been a few good 'bereavement sales' on here. I remember one with a great big long list of good stuff which went for reasonable prices. Sadly there will be more of these now that Pentax have a range going back over 50 years.

Then there was the ONE OFF sale from a non-Pentax user of the 250-600mm Zoom which went for a bargain price! Perhaps you should ask Unlocker if he thinks such posts should be banned

IMHO it`s up to the buyer to decide who they want to deal with, as we can all see the number of post`s made it is not a problem.
The minimum post rule will just encourage posters clogging the pages up with "welcome to the forum" messages, a great way to up your post numbers .

Davex.

Forcing a given number of posts only encourages meaningless posts. Which can make the forum more awkward to use - I use the recent posts section to check on anything new since I last checked, (which is sometimes only an hour or two earlier).
I think having a requirement to be a member for several weeks before selling would be a minor benefit (similar tothe delay before sending PMs), but I can't see any reason a newbie shouldn't be able to buy (If I'm selling I don't want to exclude interested buyers!).
There have been several forums I've discovered by Googleing for things I wanted to get. It's quite likely that I've become a semi active member of at least one via this route, even though I didn't end up buying through that forum.

I have brought & sold (prompted by a wanted post) through PU in my year+ of membership, but it wasn't my reason for joining.

This sort of thread pops up from time to time but it's very hard to see where the problem is. Yes, it's a bit blunt and probably unwise to open with a post selling something, but it doesn't mean it's a scam.

Look at it another way. I inherit some Pentax cameras and think "Who would like these the most?" and look for a place where there are Pentax Users. I don't want to make 100 posts for the sake of it, I just have some cameras and lenses if anyone wants them. What's wrong with that?

It's no different to placing an advert in the local paper, except that it's targeted rather better.

The same would also apply to any camera shop. However that is not allowed

I remember the chap with lots of excellent LX and macro stuff he was selling because his Dad had died. I bought a couple of nice items from him.

Although it may be rude just to sell without introducing oneself a bit, we do get some bargains that way. After all, with no ebay fees etc. it is a win-win isn't it?

Unless we have a flood of scam artists all of a sudden, I'd rather stick with the current system.

K.

Thats what moderators are for.

Besides, it would be worth it just to see Mannestys head explode.