Classified Section Regulation

[Seb]

I'm not sure if this has been brought up before, but if it was nothing was done about it.

It really bothers me when people decide to have their own little discussions in peoples for sale threads. I find it even more irritating when people decide it is okay to either bash the product being sold, or bash the price being asked. Perhaps some better rules? Enforcing them?

Anyone else feel like people should be able to sell their stuff without having to deal with this crap?

-Seb

[the1sen]

just post to the Mods, they always take care of stuff if you ask them to. easiest way to contact them is to use the little exclamation and send a quick note. Mods here are awesome!

Good luck!

[Seb]

I was hoping to get peoples opinion on it.

[the1sen]

People have ruined my post in the for sale area and I have asked the Mods to remove it. They graciously obliged.

Opinion: if you don't have something nice to say inside a "for sale" thread, then shut the f*ck up.

But, not everyone is interested in what's right. They're interested in what THEY have to say because THEY are always right.

OTOH, the Mods are not paid, so bringing something to their attention will simplify the whole argument as they are very chill, and really cool about helping when they can.

[Mr. Know]

the1sen is right, using the Report Post link is the fastest way to get some help on your for sale thread. We try to prune most discussion from for sale threads, but sometimes we can't catch everything.

[RacyTracy]

Wow, where do I start here?? I'm going to assume you are referring to the parts section, since there are already rules regarding posting in the Cars For Sale and Lotus Cars For Sale threads. I try to keep those cleaned out the best I can....but believe me, it's practically a full-time job.

There are no specific rules about posting in the parts for sale forum...although from time to time there are certain posts that I delete...for example- Someone is selling something and someone comes in and says 'I'm selling one also if anyone is interested' Start your own thread...they're FREE!
I also try to delete posts that violate common sense and courtesy. We shouldn't need written rules for that, but you'd be amazed......

Personally, I'd like to see every 'for sale' thread locked. It would make my life sooooooo much easier. Anyone who creates a 'for sale' thread can PM me and I'm more than happy to lock it. That would also mean that they would have to PM me later to update their thread. I would rather do that than delete posts. Despite what some may think, I really don't like deleting people's posts. Anyone can PM me and I'll explain why I did what I did.

But I could go on here for pages.....So as Seb said....please, discuss this. Maybe an update to the 'for sale' rules is in order. But even then, like you, I can only propose them, not make them.

[agirls]

Can the author of a thread edit their own thread? Maybe the author of a thread can delete other people's post so they can self regulate their threads. Not sure if that'll cause abuse, but just trying to think of options. I personally could careless about discussions. I've placed for sale threads on other forums and have had the threads go off on a tangent but didn't care. But I'm pretty easy going.

[RacyTracy]

Originally Posted by agirls

Can the author of a thread edit their own thread? Maybe the author of a thread can delete other people's post so they can self regulate their threads.

No, the closest we come to that is Vendors can edit their threads, only if they are posted in the Vendors own forum, though very few use it. (They claim no one reads those...but if they posted in them, people would read them, IMHO).

[A7594217]

Yeah i agree i hate when people try to compare your price to someone else or to another company. Worse its usually someone that does not even wanna purchase your product but wants to put in there two cents.

I also wondered why there is no feedback system like every other forum?

[RacyTracy]

Originally Posted by A7594217

I also wondered why there is no feedback system like every other forum?

What are you looking to give feedback on? Individual forums, threads or members??

[GR82DRV]

I want to plead for restraint here. I love this forum, and yes, some people abuse it from time to time.

OTOH, I just came from owning an MX-5, and the Miata Forum, while a great resource, has some of the most arcane rules and uptight moderators I've ever seen. For instance, if you just mention that you might sell something in the future the mods are all over you; admonishing for "advertising without being a sponsor"... And don't even get me started on political correctness! (BTW, no problem with that here. )

Most of the fun there had been squeezed right out. Maybe it's a sign of the times, but I believe that too much regulation and micro-management spoils the soup. Here's to Lotus Talk!

[tesprit]

Originally Posted by GR82DRV

I want to plead for restraint here. I love this forum, and yes, some people abuse it from time to time.

OTOH, I just came from owning an MX-5, and the Miata Forum, while a great resource, has some of the most arcane rules and uptight moderators I've ever seen. For instance, if you just mention that you might sell something in the future the mods are all over you; admonishing for "advertising without being a sponsor"... And don't even get me started on political correctness! (BTW, no problem with that here. )

Most of the fun there had been squeezed right out. Maybe it's a sign of the times, but I believe that too much regulation and micro-management spoils the soup. Here's to Lotus Talk!

I agree on this. I am also on a Mazda forum that has all kinds of restrictions when it comes to selling something. No photos with a date and ID of the seller on the parts and the ad. gets yanked. Not enough posts or time spent on the forum and the ad. gets pulled. Bad feedback and you will never post an ad. again even if the feedback is unwarranted (feedback moderation is a whole new can of worms I'm sure the moderators on LT would want to avoid). I agree that price bashing and hijacking "for sale" threads on LT can get a bit irritating, but too much restriction ruins it for everyone.

[Seb]

On many forums I frequent, the rules are as follows.

1) If you are not interested in the item for sale, do not post.
2) Do not complain about price
3) No linking to elsewhere to where it is listed cheaper. None of your business.
4) It is not a discussion thread.
5) Zero bashing of products

You would think these things would be obvious...

Many forums also allow the editing of the OP's own for sale thread. This has also come back to bite people. There was one guy I remember was posting some wheels and tires for sale, and every time someone said "You have PM" he would delete it, and carry out the transaction through PM. He was able to scam multiple people that way, without anyone knowing.

Maybe the editing should be left to a moderator, at the request of the OP.

I also think that repeat offenders should get a vacation from the forum. There is no reason others should suffer their crap.

I understand the current moderators are doing all they can, and I am in no way trying to make their jobs more difficult. In fact, none of this has really affected me, I'm just thinking of the greater majority. If there is a shortage, I would be willing to lend a hand.

[Seb]

Originally Posted by tesprit

I agree on this. I am also on a Mazda forum that has all kinds of restrictions when it comes to selling something. No photos with a date and ID of the seller on the parts and the ad. gets yanked. Not enough posts or time spent on the forum and the ad. gets pulled. Bad feedback and you will never post an ad. again even if the feedback is unwarranted (feedback moderation is a whole new can of worms I'm sure the moderators on LT would want to avoid). I agree that price bashing and hijacking "for sale" threads on LT can get a bit irritating, but too much restriction ruins it for everyone.

I disagree strongly. Once you have been burned in a FS thread, you will understand.

There was a case on the Mercedes forums about a guy taking pictures from FS threads years ago, and posting them as current, and his own property. If the original poster had their username on a piece of paper in the picture, that could have been easily avoided. I don't think that is over regulation in the slightest, I think it is a damn good idea. Sure it might take you an extra 30 seconds to do, but big deal.

The whole feedback thing can be done in a totally automated way. That is how it is on DSMTalk, and it works perfectly. I have used it myself with great success. I also used to to label one guy as a scammer. I agree that it isn't the easiest of things to set up decently, and maybe it would be little excessive at this point.

[lotusland]

Your point below is a great argument for why discussion should be allowed and even encouraged. If someone posts a FS on something that smells bad -- maybe a car that was wrecked or stolen or whatever, usually someone here will notice. Ditto for cars that are being flipped or for whatever reason have a history, or for cars that have borrowed photos.

This is a community, not a used car lot, and the FS ads should be treated the same IMO. If you want to control what your ad says 100% then go to auotrader or cars.com.

Originally Posted by Seb

I disagree strongly. Once you have been burned in a FS thread, you will understand.

[fishguy]

Seb, lets say someone hase a set of tires( i dont) that they are selling, say some A048 , an R compound with a usable life cycle on the track that will be gone before the treads are worn out(heat cycled out).

now lets say that someone is offering these tires for sale and claiming "they will be great for trackdays" as they ONLY have 9,000 miles of street usage and still have a bit of tread showing(they are dead as far as using them on the track).
the seller is offering them cheap, and saying "this is a great deal for someone who wants some tires to take thier car out to the track on".

Myself, as someone who has some experience with racing can see that the seller is either ignorant to the fact that the tires are dead, and NOT good for the track any longer, OR he is deliberately misleading someone and trying to dump these things on someone who is not realy up to speed on what they are getting.

also knowing that the buyer is thinking that these are good for the track, and is now putting himself, his car, and those around him on the track in (potential)peril how is it right for the rest of us to say nothing in this case?

To me , i think thats a big part of having a forum is the free flow of info, and us all learning.

I understand about the selling of cars, and not commenting, i agree with that, unless its known to be a slavage thats not being disclosed or something like that.
with parts, used ones, there needs to be a free market to protect all of our members here.

I dont think comments on price should be made, but I use this example above because i commented in the thread, only after PMing the seller and explaining to him why he was misleading any potential buyers.
he responded buy them or STFU in his private message to me.
I then felt like it was the latter of reasons, and he knew he was dumping crap on some, and i didnt appreciate his attitude, or complete lack of concern for the buyer of his "fine item" he was offering.

I think the tires ended up in the trash where they belonged, but only after his being outed by myself and others.

every rule must have some exceptions...............

common sense and intent of the posts seem to be the best approach IMO.
for me, any time i am selling something here, its a free advertisement, and since it is such, i invite discussion. if my item or price cannot stand the scrutiny, then i can always elect to pay for an advertisement somewhere like ebay/amazon, and just let people have at it.

you get what you pay for , even in advertising, and here it is done for FREE, which IMO is a good thing if you are selling something that has value, and not a good thing if your item is worthless.

edit: lotusland posted above similiar point while i was typing my post.

[Seb]

In my opinion, ignorance is no excuse. Now, if someone is flat out lying, then of course there is always that little report button you can use.

[Seb]

Originally Posted by lotusland

Your point below is a great argument for why discussion should be allowed and even encouraged. If someone posts a FS on something that smells bad -- maybe a car that was wrecked or stolen or whatever, usually someone here will notice. Ditto for cars that are being flipped or for whatever reason have a history, or for cars that have borrowed photos.

This is a community, not a used car lot, and the FS ads should be treated the same IMO. If you want to control what your ad says 100% then go to auotrader or cars.com.

It is a rule on some forums that you must post a VIN so people can run a carfax. As I have stated above, if someone is being outright dishonest, then obviously that gives fair reason to bring it to someones attention.

[GR82DRV]

Originally Posted by Seb

It is a rule on some forums that you must post a VIN so people can run a carfax. As I have stated above, if someone is being outright dishonest, then obviously that gives fair reason to bring it to someones attention.

ARRGH! Enough with the rules already! Don't you see where this is going?

Two words. Caveat emptor. Big brother (or the mods) can't take care of everything.

[Seb]

Fair opinion.