comments in the classifieds

I get that the classified ads are one of RFF's only tangible sources of income, but I don't think it should be treated as a separate entity, subject to different restrictions than the forums. The classifieds here are appealing because the small RFF community creates a sense of trust, an antidote to the ebay crapshoot, at least for me - 95% of my photography purchases are made here. The comments help maintain this feeling of trust. The comments help make the Classifieds an extension of the community. And it's the trust and the safety net of the community that spurs sales, and sales spur more ads being placed.

I guess I'm wondering what Stephen is concerned will be lost if negative comments (which are infrequent) are posted in the Classified? He'll lose the business of people who are asking unfair prices? Why would he want that business to begin with? If the Classifieds become diluted with those crappy, gouging ads it'll alienate the community and, ultimately it's the loyalty and eyes of the community that're necessary for the Classifieds to be an attractive place to buy an ad.
 
BillBingham2 said:
Guys & Gals,

This was just an idea from a moderator, a comment, nothing sent down from our Chief Bartender as the new way of the world.

Stay looooooose!

B2 (;->
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I guess my sense is that Joe is put in the position of policing the site based on Stephen's policies. I may not be correct about that. I think the site is an amazing resource and moderators like Joe make it all possible. My point was just to say that I think it's a mistake to make a distinction between the culture of the Classifieds and the culture of the site - I like the Classifieds here because it feels connected to the community.
 
snausages2000 said:
I guess my sense is that Joe is put in the position of policing the site based on Stephen's policies.
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back alley is simply applying the rules:

10) DO NOT place negative comments about ads or auctions. Sellers are free to place their ads. Buyers are free to buy, or not buy.
 
Hi Joe,

I have bought and sold from the classifieds. I have always appreciated when people post that someone was good to deal with, even though there is spot for feedback in their profile. It can be very hard to decide on sales when sometimes there is thousands of dollars at risk.

I make comments when interested in equipment but I also have made comments when I see an unusual piece of equipment or a gorgeous camera that I can not afford but would dearly like. I would make the same Oooh and Aaah sounds in the store and I never thought it would make the buying experience bad for anyone else in that store. I also realize humor is subjective, but it is nice to sometimes be able to make people smile.

I'll stop making non-serious comments if that what the community wants. Maybe there should be some community guidelines posted about the comment box in the classifieds?

I think it would be better over all to let the person who posts their ad be able to delete comments they do not like. They are the ones that will closely monitor the ad and will be best to determine if a comment is appropriate or not. Maybe make that suggestion to Stephen? It would make your moderating life easier and put control into the hands of the people who should have it. Perhaps someone would even want the opportunity to explain why something is priced higher than usual.

regards,
Ian
 
As a buyer of a lot of ads here I must say I like the commentary after the ads. Most of it is civil and occasionally even helpful. I've had to endure some deliberate and often completely arbitrary swipes at me or what I was selling from time-to-time, but I can handle it. I certainly do appreciate Joe's efforts to police out the really egregious remarks.
 
Classified Guidelines

Classified Guidelines

Folks,

The classifieds have their own set of guidelines. Please take the time to read them, if you have not done so. see http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/index.php?cat=1

The reason negative comments are prohibited is to make it easier to keep civility in the forum. If you don't like a seller's item or price, fine. You don't have to buy, but creating animosity about an ad is unnecessary. Classified guidelines will stay as they are for the foreseeable future.

Stephen
 
[FONT=&quot]The seller has paid for their ad and consequently they should have full control and responsibility for the ad and the associated comments.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The seller should be given full control of their ad, including the option to turn the comments option off. If they choose to leave the comments option on, then the seller should also have the capability to delete the comments associated with their ad. If this is not possible then comments should be restricted to only the seller.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Comments should not bump the ad to a more favorable viewing position. What needs to be avoided is the ‘circle jerk’ mentality that favors pricing, product and individuals over the interests of the individual sellers that have paid to have their ads placed in the RFF classifieds.[/FONT]
 
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Okay, so we do what we do here when Photoarsenal or some other idiot wants $2000 for an Argus C3 on Ebay: go to another Photo Forum, open a thread, and make fun of it. The $5 goes to running the site, and we can laugh at it.

Hey Look, an Ebay "MINT Grade" camera!

or

Don't see many Rare Zorki 4's at that great price of $500!
 
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And: after buying at least 8 lenses and cameras from David Murphy over the last several years: he IS a great guy to deal with. The Ultron is absolute mint.
 
DougFord said:
[FONT=&quot]The seller has paid for their ad and consequently they should have full control and responsibility for the ad and the associated comments.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The seller should be given full control of their ad, including the option to turn the comments option off. If they choose to leave the comments option on, then the seller should also have the capability to delete the comments associated with their ad. If this is not possible then comments should be restricted to only the seller.[/FONT]
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Rubbish. This isn't eBay. If you want the eBay selling experience, you can pay your listing fees there. This is first and foremost a community with its own norms, and rules as established by the owner. It doesn't exist as some free-for-all marketplace for any random huckster to come in and look for suckers. Or destroy the utility of the classifieds for the community by filling them with junk that will never sell (see: eBay and its buy-it-now pollution).
 
The rules have been made clear: no negative comments in the Classified Ads. That, of course, does not apply to associated threads on the Flickr Rangefinderforum group or other sites.

I just hope Photoarsenall or other snake-oil sellers don't pollute the ads. Somehow I doubt it.

And why is the $70 Canon VT still available in the Ads! Did anybody notice it yet!
 
You might get lucky on a cheap Nikon SP. I did on a pair of M's. Check Antique stores for those "old film cameras that nobody wants." I've come out with some incredible bargains. And told them "You know, THIS is a Leica from the 1930s" for $15.

I suspect that RFF buyers are fairly well up on prices, even if we do get carried away sometimes. And sometimes we manage to talk the prices of lenses way up. My Nikkor 5cm F1.4 in LTM was under $100 in 2004. Canon 50/1.5 was $71 in 2004. I could keep going.

I feel sorry for the first posters with the $150 Retina Auto III or $200 Chrome Canonets. But maybe they should hang out here, ask some questions, then go looking.

It's hard to hold back when you see that common/ordinary/fixed-lens RF that you just sold for a reasonable price going up in an ad for $300. Basically, the seller is out $5. That's pretty cheap, and it is the exception around here. Keeps the site running.
 
I still see a "negative" comment in an ad as serving the common good ( as long as it is posted in a civil manner ) for my two scenarios posted above.... Anyway, how about we all agree to stop the "PM Sent" comment??
 
The PM Sent comment is useful for the Seller. I have a hard time seeing what is wrong with it. It has not prevented me from sending another PM asking to be in line if the person ahead of my firm commitment to buy turns it down, made a low-offer, etc. I've been Emailed back days later as third in line with a "do you still want it, if so it is yours".

The other type of PM is the "I need to think this over" or "if still there tomorrow". Sometimes that makes up someone else's mind for them. I've sent a "I'll take it, money waiting" before when "idle interest" is shown.

Now: I've posted a "Everyone else has 24hours to jump on this, because I will buy it tomorrow" comment and PM. I've never backed out of one of those. Just cause it's a great deal, I have a lot of stuff, and someone else will use it more. But that will not stop me.
 
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