I miss the classifieds

T

Traut

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This is depressing. I looked forward to mining the old classifieds. A trade here a purchase there. Nothing stays the same in life but now it goes faster.
Sad - its like trying to go home after it becomes a Burger King.
 
Just add three stars and "POP" a whole new world of "Classifieds" beckons you! :D
 
Yep. They sure used to be fun, didn't they? Particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

You want fries or an apple pie with that Whopper? That'll be $3.85 at the window.

Jon
 
Yes, the new classifieds are pretty good. Once you use them you get use to them and the features. If you upgrade your membership on the forum you can post in the new classifieds all you want without a fee. For non upgraded memberships there is a minimal fee based on category. no fee for wanted ads :)
 
Jon Goodman said:
Yep. They sure used to be fun, didn't they? Particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

You want fries or an apple pie with that Whopper? That'll be $3.85 at the window.

Jon
Click to expand...


what does that mean?

I think a fee or membership requirement to sell in the classifieds is a good thing. With so many con artists out there, some degree of security is a good thing. I know 99% of us know not to bite on the frauds, but there is no sense in leaving that door open if we can do things better with it closed.

This applies especially to people trying to sell $1000+ items without any security to the buyer. A little charge just makes it a little harder for dodgy characters to creep in and con someone out of much needed $$$$.
 
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shutterflower said:
what does that mean?

I think a fee or membership requirement to sell in the classifieds is a good thing. With so many con artists out there, some degree of security is a good thing. I know 99% of us know not to bite on the frauds, but there is no sense in leaving that door open if we can do things better with it closed.

This applies especially to people trying to sell $1000+ items without any security to the buyer. A little charge just makes it a little harder for dodgy characters to creep in and con someone out of much needed $$$$.
Click to expand...

George,

At last - we are in total agreement on something here on RFF!

I must admit I kind of miss Jon's "glib ads". It was kind of like listening to AM radio - but life moves on.... ;)
 
I preferred the old ads, too.
It was a great place for us bottom feeders to find a bargain.
I'll prolly never buy a thing from the new "improved" classifieds...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-
 
Hmm. From some of the comments I've received, maybe what I said was confusing. I can not imagine why, but please let me clarify as succinctly as possible: Traut said "Sad - its like trying to go home after it becomes a Burger King." I thought that was a great observation--actually it gave me a sad smile. So, my comment simply agreed with Traut. Whatever the old classifieds were, they've become a Burger King now, and going back to them is not the same.

Was the old that much better? I think so. I think the old classifieds and having them appear on the front page were as much a social event as simply the sale of some cameras & equipment. It reminded me of the pool hall in the little town where I grew up on a Friday or Saturday night in about 1964-65. You knew who would be there. You knew about when they'd show up and who their date would be. There was horseplay, tons of humor, fun, and it was all well-mannered. Everybody was welcome to join in, there was no prejudice of any sort, no drinking was allowed, there were no economic classes in there, men were there and ladies, too. If you didn't understand how to play pool, one of us would take you to one of the back tables and teach you. The owner would let you do that for free if you told him. A good time for all, and the place was always packed. Anybody who overlooked the fact the classifieds were drawing people to this site really missed something, in my opinion. Heck, there was plenty of discussion of this over at photo.net...those folks knew all about it.

The idea that a membership fee is somehow going to keep shysters from coming here to sell cameras is...well, let's look at this through other eyes. Talk to people who have been exposed to or have done fraud and vice work. They should tell you a cheater is most vulnerable when he is naked...when he has nothing to hide behind. Sell him a "membership" or give him "license" and you embolden him. You validate him with instant credibility, and that's the main thing he needs. Folks like that are actually happy to pay. Talk to people who have sat on the boards of country clubs...why do you think they require 3 letters from current members vouching for the character of prospective members? Time has taught them why, and in today's litigious society, they'd better not forget it. Look at people like Tandy Corp's former CEO. He didn't have a college degree, so he bought one. When it became known there was really no such college and he really never went to college at all, he admitted it and was gone instantly. Another cheater who paid for his "membership?" I can't say...don't know the person, but the board of directors at Tandy evidently thought they'd been snookered. Look at the cases of doctors and particularly psychiatrists who have not completed medical training but set up practices anyway. The certifications and diplomas they "buy" give them the membership they need to run their game.

Well, I've talked enough, but hopefully my points will be understood now. I think reverting to the old system would be a good idea, and I don't remember hearing about people getting cheated under it. In fact, the core of folks that were here seemed to have sort of a watchdog mentality...and that reminded me of the old pool hall gang, too.

Jon
 
FWIW.. some of the greatest writing on RFF came from Jon Goodman. The guy is a genius. I used to read his ads just for the sake of reading them. Like reading your favourite columnist. However as Jon said, things move on. Doesn't mean the new is bad but some of the good in the old is sorely missed. Including Joe's famous 'lightening up on the following items' postings.

I'm going to go shoot some film now.
 
I have bought several cameras on RFF, and two of them SOLELY and UTTERLY because the description made me laugh out loud. One of those I purchased from Jon.
The Classifieds used to be one of my favourite browses; these days I tend to overlook it. Perhaps I simply have enough cameras. Perhaps not.
 
Requiring membership to post a classified is fine in my book, but I prefer the old classifieds and read them daily. Easier to scan. I look at the new ones once in a while.
 
What are you talking about? The old classified section is still there.

I would never perfer to buy expensive items from RFF simply because the security, and seller history feature is simply not there.

Ebay all the way
 
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Jon, you could still post your elegant descriptions in the main forums and place a 'want' add in the classifieds... 'want a buyer' that is :D
 
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OT: Paid vs free classified ads

OT: Paid vs free classified ads

FWIW nearly everything I have ever sold has been at a loss;
I figure passing along something I don't use is a mitzvah.

But a fee based classified system just adds insult to injury.
So I refuse to use it. Heck, might as well be eBay...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-
 
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