Members only?????

[Gerry M]

What back alley said.

1 year waiting period? No.

Not everyone is a prolific poster.

Try not to make it too exclusive or complicated.

 

[SixtiesM2]

A year is way too long. Maybe a couple of months...

A year is way too long. Maybe a couple of months...

A year minimum membership is too long, unless you really want a private club. Evidently, some do, which is OK, I suppose.

I've lurked here for over a year. Member for only a few months. Man of few postings, by choice. I didn't join to sell, but it could look that way to some, were I to post some for sale items.

The 3000+ posters probably don't care much for the recent flurry of non-RF items posted for sale. I don't either.

However, I've had lots of GAS fueled by reading discussions here, and will probably sell some of my acquisitions in the next year. RFF members will have to fight it out on the bay for some good stuff, if the restrictions are too tight. I expect some of the old timers will snipe at me for posting FS items while being "too new".

My suggestions:

Restricting SLR and digitals from "for sale" listings would probably clean things up, but having reviewed a couple of recent mixed postings, I don't see non RF items as a problem.

Want to buy postings for just about any photo item aren't a problem.

A couple of month's (two to four) minimum membership requirement would probably kill off most of the "drive by" selling.

I voted for "members only" to view and post, but I don't think that's asking much, given that joining only takes a few minutes, and a day or so processing time.

- Mike

 

[MP Guy]

Actually, I would love to set up an slr site but there are so many that I dont think it would work. RFF is unique and awesome.

I do have some domains set aside for such a grand scheme. 🙂

camerasaloon.com

thecamerasaloon.com

photographersaloon.com

distinguishedphotos.com

myfieldofview.com

I guess I could start up such a site and automatically give everyone here membership.

 

[Gerry M]

Jorge,

Great idea. The "camerasaloon" is a winner.

Gerry

 

[flashover]

Ok I will toss in another 2 cents. I don't frequent other sites ie SLR or Digital. I would rather see the stuff I listed go to someone here. IE the lens I just sold. That was listed with rangefinders and slr stuff. Hum the SLR's went first. If I was looking for a 17-80 for my D1 I would love to find it here. Just as I would rather buy my next rangefinder from a menber. We all are I hope fairly intelligent as we need to read and spell ( well I may have problems there) I think we can make our own choices as to if we want to deal with someone. Also a new menber with 1 or 2 posts will most likly get a steer in the right direction from some one.

 

[DougK]

I voted "yes" initially but after thinking about it I've changed my mind and would like to change my vote to "no." It's not asking a lot for somebody to join up in order to buy or sell something here, but if that's the content that convinces people to sign on, so be it. As long as they deal honestly and forthrightly, then I say "welcome aboard."

 

[ch1]

Ok I will toss in another 2 cents. I don't frequent other sites ie SLR or Digital. I would rather see the stuff I listed go to someone here. IE the lens I just sold. That was listed with rangefinders and slr stuff. Hum the SLR's went first. If I was looking for a 17-80 for my D1 I would love to find it here. Just as I would rather buy my next rangefinder from a menber. We all are I hope fairly intelligent as we need to read and spell ( well I may have problems there) I think we can make our own choices as to if we want to deal with someone. Also a new menber with 1 or 2 posts will most likly get a steer in the right direction from some one.

I thought it was understood by all that this is a RF site.

We only post RF pics to the Gallery - right?

So it stands to reason that we only sell/buy RF gear here!

I use Nikon film SLRs and there are presently nearly 2000 items of such gear listed on eBay.

At the same time, there are 61 Nikon RF listings on eBay (and some of those are bogus non-Nikon gear using the name as a "teaser" in the heading)!

I didn't come to this site to see it become a digital "Pennysaver" classified ad sheet!

I always thought that the Classifieds here were "incidental" to the exchage of RF info.

Maybe it would be better to just shut down the whole Classifieds section?

 

[JimG]

As long as we still always have the option of taking a pass on offers we receive where's the problem? Members have posted positive responses here regarding deals made with members new and old.

 

[back alley]

now george...that's only partially accurate.

we do allow, within reason, photos taken with all kinds of gear in our gallery.

and we do allow the posting of non rf gear in the classified section.

we had a discussion of this a while back and the mambership thought that, considering most use several formats, it would be ok to list non rf gear.

no one wants a pennysaver but my philosophy from the start has been to be inclusive as much as possible rather than exclusive.
rules make for exclusivity.

we ALL are the real keepers of this site, not just me.
that's why i get so upset when people buy into trolls and feed them cause if we just carry on in a respectful manner we will drive out those who only want to cause some form of trouble.

ok, sermon over...

 

[zpuskas]

I agree with back alley. What's the purpose of limitation? Is the present system broken? Doesn't caveat emptor apply to all purchases? It seems to me most RFF members are quite savvy buyers/ and honest sellers.
Suggestion..Since this is an RF forum, I'd like to see the segregation of SLR ads to a separate list--not that I have anything against SLR's--some of my best friends are SLR's.

 

[SixtiesM2]

Reviewed a couple of FS postings, modified my earlier comments as a result.

Reviewed a couple of FS postings, modified my earlier comments as a result.

I reviewed some of the For Sale postings, and as a result, I have modified my earlier suggestion that we restrict the kind of items posted.

Flashover posted a mixed RF and SLR advert, and it looks as if there are plenty of willing buyers for SLR stuff.

No objections, no restrictions, let the games begin....

- Mike

 

[JoeFriday]

why?

the for sale threads are almost always posted by a registered member anyway.
even the spammers register first.

what would it possibly accomplish?

slow the bad guys down by a minute or 2?
or would they stop and think about it and then decide not to post here because of the bother?

too many rules folks!!
this makes us exclusive not inclusive.

too many rules and we become like the other sites.
we are different because we work together as a team!!

this is exactly why I voted NO

 

[jmilkins]

Actually, I would love to set up an slr site but there are so many that I dont think it would work. RFF is unique and awesome.

I guess I could start up such a site and automatically give everyone here membership.

Jorge - i love the idea of an SLR based forum with similar people on this list - somewhere to post images SLR's are handy for (sports macro nature) in a non Pnut environment.

On the open /closed membership issue.. . anyone listing Rangefinder WTB's - not a problem. More to the fold.

As for FS/FT - well I use my own inbuilt filter - I'd probably only buy or trade with someone I "know" here - i.e. I find that this supports the sense of community here. and then there's the nice chance to see images taken with a camera you used to own!

 

[bmattock]

What back alley said.

1 year waiting period? No.

Not everyone is a prolific poster.

Try not to make it too exclusive or complicated.

I didn't say prolific posting, I said one year membership. That's different.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[ch1]

now george...that's only partially accurate.

we do allow, within reason, photos taken with all kinds of gear in our gallery.

and we do allow the posting of non rf gear in the classified section.

we had a discussion of this a while back and the mambership thought that, considering most use several formats, it would be ok to list non rf gear.

no one wants a pennysaver but my philosophy from the start has been to be inclusive as much as possible rather than exclusive.
rules make for exclusivity.

we ALL are the real keepers of this site, not just me.
that's why i get so upset when people buy into trolls and feed them cause if we just carry on in a respectful manner we will drive out those who only want to cause some form of trouble.

ok, sermon over...

Joe,

What spurred my comment WAS NOT the response. But that the original thread that posted a WTB for SLR-only items!

He had just bought a Nikon FMxx and was seeking lenses!

There are a feces-pile of these listed on eBay any day of the week!

Why post such a WTB here?

That was my reason - NOT the response!

George

 

[bmattock]

Interesting. I didn't expect this much heat behind this. Lots of people trying to figure out my motives for suggesting one year, some getting angry over it.

First of all, I'm not a moderator, my say means exactly nothing here. It's just a suggestion.

Second, it is not because we've had or not had problems here with fraudulent sales or what-have-you.

Third, it has nothing to do with RF sales versus SLR sales or any other kind of sales.

My suggestion was merely because I don't care for 'hit-n-git' FS and WTB posts by one-post wonders. I find it annoying that they would presume on Jorge's generosity and all of our politeness to do so. Like some stranger showing up at my front door and expecting to be let in to take a dump. Nothing against newbies - all of us were newbies here once. I just like to have a feeling for a person before they start with the FS and WTB stuff.

Why a year? To establish your cred. Period. I like to have some kind of idea what kind of person you are before you start in with the FS and WTB stuff. Not how honest a person is - there are probably dishonest long-termers and honest newbies galore. Just to see you stick around, partake of the fellowship, be part of something - then ask to use the can, so to speak.

Hey, that's my 2 cents - one year waiting period to post FS and WTB.

Best Regards,

 

[JoeFriday]

I have to disagree with Bill on this one.. altho I can understand where he's coming from.. but if a one-year moratorium were imposed before I was able to buy/sell, I think I'll be eligible for that in a couple weeks.. I'm quite sure I would have left this site long before that due to the exclusionary nature.. I know I'd be insulted by that sort of restriction.. I don't expect anyone to trust me without establishing myself.. but I wouldn't stay at a site that openly distrusts me merely for being new

 

[back alley]

no disrespect bill but i have this image of some poor shlep with his pants full and stinkin' up the place as he waits his turn to use the john. 😉

 

[back alley]

Joe,

What spurred my comment WAS NOT the response. But that the original thread that posted a WTB for SLR-only items!

He had just bought a Nikon FMxx and was seeking lenses!

There are a feces-pile of these listed on eBay any day of the week!

Why post such a WTB here?

That was my reason - NOT the response!

George

ok, but george, would you rather buy a slr lens here or ebay?
for me, i jump quicker here than there.

joe

 

[ch1]

Interesting. I didn't expect this much heat behind this. Lots of people trying to figure out my motives for suggesting one year, some getting angry over it.

First of all, I'm not a moderator, my say means exactly nothing here. It's just a suggestion.

Second, it is not because we've had or not had problems here with fraudulent sales or what-have-you.

Third, it has nothing to do with RF sales versus SLR sales or any other kind of sales.

My suggestion was merely because I don't care for 'hit-n-git' FS and WTB posts by one-post wonders. I find it annoying that they would presume on Jorge's generosity and all of our politeness to do so. Like some stranger showing up at my front door and expecting to be let in to take a dump. Nothing against newbies - all of us were newbies here once. I just like to have a feeling for a person before they start with the FS and WTB stuff.

Why a year? To establish your cred. Period. I like to have some kind of idea what kind of person you are before you start in with the FS and WTB stuff. Not how honest a person is - there are probably dishonest long-termers and honest newbies galore. Just to see you stick around, partake of the fellowship, be part of something - then ask to use the can, so to speak.

Hey, that's my 2 cents - one year waiting period to post FS and WTB.

Best Regards,

Bill,

With all due respect, I think your suggestion is very unfair to us "under 1 year" clowns!

After all, given your main theme, how could I possibly offer a WTB to help you get rid of your "dead" film gear if I had to wait another six and a half months? 😀

According to you, at the rate things are going, there won't be anymore film left by the time your "rule" would let me post a WTB for your gear! 😕

Unfair - call the ump [Hey, Joe (oops, that sounds likde a '60's song!)] - Bill's playing unfair! 😛 😀 😀 :bang: