how are things selling in the classifieds?

back alley said:
and the truth is i like this place and choose to stay.
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I agree with all joe said, but this is the important part. Several folks whos posts I valued very highly no longer post here, but even still, this place with all of the recent changes is still far beyond anything else I've seen on the net. I've been plying these waters since 1986 (well before the September that never ended) and did alot of the bbs' back in the day, so I have some basis for saying that.

I'm not as fond of the new system as of the old. Truth be told, I made out like a freaking bandit under the old and that's why I'm giving away my old LTM 135/4.5 here. Still, the benifits far outweigh the negatives.

Now if I could just get Canada Post to behave... :bang: :bang: :bang:

William
 
"keep it in the family"
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Truth of the matter is that the site is growing at an astounding rate...the family is getting close to 5500 members with new members joining in at a rate of dozens a day.
it is not like the small old cozy place it used to be, how could it be? I am fairly new myself, but I think its still swell around here...one can still have a gallery,post pictures,ask questions,post comments,conduct polls.....without having to pay a single cent!
I say the new classifieds has its advantages too, there is a search function, one doesn't have to look at dozens of ads if they don't want to.
Really folks its hard to "keep it in the family" when there is 5500 members in the family!
Peace,
Kiu
 
Just in case I confused anyone with my earlier posts on this thread, I, too, greatly preferred the old thread-style classifieds and the community-oriented communications that occurred with them. Definitely had more of a "we're all in this together" kinda feel to it than does the new approach.

-Randy
 
wow...i didn't mean to open up a can of worms. well, mostly not :cool:

keep in mind i'm not some "old school" member or anything, but it feels like i did arrive right before this place REALLY grew (with the contest and all). at least to me it seems to have changed somewhat drastically. anyhow...there have been a lot of replies in this thread, and thanks for all the input. i like to see that some other people feel as i do, but also enjoy differing viewpoints (it's what makes the world go 'round, you know). since i can't reply tit for tat...i'll just sum things up from my point of view in a concrete manner (instead of being nebulous like i had been).

first of all, i personally dislike the new classifieds as a buyer (and i'm finding out, as a seller). some people like them, some people don't...to each his (or her) own. the reason i don't appreciate paying for listing an ad is as i mentioned before. it's more about selling gear to online friends for what i paid for it (or less), and not really about making money. so why get charged?! if (as nikon kyu said) those days of "keep it in the family" are gone...then i might as well sell things on ebay. you have the potential to reach 5000 people here, but the potential to reach millions on ebay. so if it boils down to a strict numbers game...ebay wins hands down. so...some have mentioned that w/ the sponsorship...you do not have to pay fees for listing. so why not try here first. that brings me to my second viewpoint that is fouling things up...i do not want to pay that sponsorship fee.

here's why. when it was first announced...it was going to be a "premium gallery membership" or something like that. people that paid the 25 bucks would get more uploads allowed per day, and larger file size quotas. i chipped in on joes camera, and i was going to buy the gallery membership most likely. i was in no rush on that one though. it started off as "membership buys you x, y, and z...but existing non-paying members will not lose anything they currently have", and quickly degraded from there. the new classifieds soon got lumped into the deal, as did the PM mailbox quota. i logged on to find out that i no longer could store up to 70 messages in my PM box (now only 20), and i could not list classifieds unless i used the new system and paid for it. so it was a bait and switch in my mind, and for that...i refuse to take part. naturally it's jorge's prerogative to do as he wishes, but likewise...it is mine to object. i tried not to bitch and moan too much, and just deal with it. but from time to time (like when i want to sell something)...it still eats at me.

anyhow...i've typed too much on this. i really wasn't trying to go into all this, i just wanted a realistic gauge on sales because it did seem to me as if things had cooled off. if you read this far...thanks for putting up w/ my rant :) i plan on listing stuff tomorrow here (time permitting), as in the long run..i would still like to see a fellow member get the stuff if possible.

and joe...to answer your question. i submitted an offer for a noctilux that was a really good deal (about $1600). i didn't to mention that, as the noctilux often seems to start huge wars by its very mention. i have wanted one for years, and i finally found a deal that seemed worth it to me. it suits a lot of what i enjoy shooting, and the extra 2 stops over what i have now will be very welcome. as for weight..i'm not so concerned. anyhow...the wife and i have a deal. "the law of conservation of money spent on camera gear". if i buy something...i sacrifice other things to pay for it. i have plenty of money "in" camera gear...and don't need to add any more to that. i need to save for our trip to japan next year.

whew. god i'm long winded.
cheers all!
 
vrgard said:
Again, just so I'm clear, I'm not trying to argue with you and, instead, just sharing my perspective on the classified section, what has worked for me, and why I was willing to pay the sponsor fee. Peace enochroot.

-Randy
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thanks randy...no worries. i appreciate the perspective.
 
a noct!
very cool.

my impressions of the lens is that i have stronger impressions of the owners. after spending too much time on the net, it seems it's a lens that arrives with a warm greeting and often leaves with a cold shoulder. many seem disappointed with it and sell it after about 6 months. i have seen some very nice results on the web from it.
i'll be curious to see what you think.

as to the classifieds etc.
all i can say is, yes, some THINGS have changed here but many of the people here are still a-ok.
as to jorge and having shared some of his thinking about the changes when they were happening...i feel confident that there was no bait and switch. he saw new options that were available and wanted to give the best deal for people's 25 bucks. if anything, he gets too damn excited about stuff and rushes into things like a kid. myself, i like to deliberate a bit more first before moving. (no disrespect there boss!)

joe
 
back alley said:
a noct!
very cool.

my impressions of the lens is that i have stronger impressions of the owners. after spending too much time on the net, it seems it's a lens that arrives with a warm greeting and often leaves with a cold shoulder. many seem disappointed with it and sell it after about 6 months. i have seen some very nice results on the web from it.
i'll be curious to see what you think.
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yeah...the phenomenon you speak of is why i didn't originally mention what i was getting. it is also why i didn't even consider buying one for the past however many years (well...in addition to the cost). but really...my desire to own one has not gone away, and i seem to see more and more photos taken w/ it that i love. i'm betting on the fact that i will be one of the few that decide to keep it. who knows...maybe not. but i *really* think so. i have historically lugged around MUCH heavier cameras than that. and i don't personally see the leica system as "meant" for wide angle lenses that are super tiny. i like the workflow using it. when i had the canon 50/1.2...it was no big deal to carry around. this doesn't seem much bigger. and i will always have the 40/2 summicron if i *need* super small. it is more compact than any other leica m lens (including the 35 summicron). so i think between the 2 i will be set. then again...maybe i'm just telling myself this, and i'll list it for sale in 6 months ;)


back alley said:
as to the classifieds etc.
all i can say is, yes, some THINGS have changed here but many of the people here are still a-ok.
as to jorge and having shared some of his thinking about the changes when they were happening...i feel confident that there was no bait and switch. he saw new options that were available and wanted to give the best deal for people's 25 bucks. if anything, he gets too damn excited about stuff and rushes into things like a kid. myself, i like to deliberate a bit more first before moving. (no disrespect there boss!)

joe
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i hear ya. i guess i worded that wrong. i wasn't implying that jorge did it on purpose, but that is how the end result felt. from "subscribers will receive some benefits, but others will remain untouched" to "subscribers receive benefits, and the others lose some priviledges. at the end of the day i have no right to complain, and as i mentioned...that *really* wasn't my goal. i wanted an honest assessment if it was worthwhile to post here and not just ebay. and yeah...plenty of good people left (and plenty of good ones signing up it seems recently).

ok...off to watch me some lost!!
 
Look at the last two Nikkors offered in the Classifieds(today)....you list the right item at a descent price and it flies outta here! with people asking to be back-up buyers.

Kiu
 
Those were a 50/1.4 and 85/2 LTM Nikkor. Heavy duty, but highly desireable and not that easy to get.
 
hoot, you can't seriously compare ebay and rff classified section.

we have 5000 members, maybe 500 active and less than 100 that visit daily.

joe
 
I respect people's opinions...but how can one expect to sell two off-topic items on a Rangefinder forum?
Loreo Stereo 3D camera for 35mm film. Viewer, case incl. and a 150/2.8 Kaleinar portrait lens for Kiev 60 and Pentacon Six are hardly the stuff people are looking for(here). Its like me trying to sell a Nikon F2 here!

Kiu
 
well...i guess this is the icing on the cake. i went to post my classifieds, and i got errors after paying through paypal (when i go to click "continue"). the first one (bessa) got through somehow. then i tried to list my zeiss 50 planar, and i got the same errors (and did the same thing), but the ad did not show up. i emailed jorge and said i was going to try and pay again, and have him just refund one payment...but i have not heard back yet (this was just a minute ago). anyhow...looks like i'm not meant to post in this damned new classifieds section. now i have to wait for a reply, and troubleshooting.
 
went through after jorge fixed things. i'm not sure if they will work for me right off the bat now, or if i will run into the same problem again. hence i'm kinda hesitant to list my other gear just yet.
 
How do you like the McClassifieds then, enoch? Nothing like the homestyle cooking of the old system, I say. But supersized always looks good on paper...
 
not so much. i have sold 2 items already, but they were priced very well...and i didn't think i'd have an issue. so i'm not sure on the traffic aspect. but as far as usability, i really prefer the old method. i enjoyed the threads that would be spawned sometimes. that doesn't seem to happen anymore. :rolleyes:
 
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