Changes to The Marketplace

[Perpetual_beta]

In a cycling Forum that I participate in for the last 20 years with a very active marketplace the 20 post rule has decreased spam a lot.

[goosehd]

Just a reminder for those of you using the buy/sell feature: Please follow this simple guideline when posting items for sale.

https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4559.0

Some short tips on how to put up an easy to understand item(s) for sale thread

1.  come up with a short to the point thread title
2.  clearly name the item(s) you have for sale, so that your potential buyer can easy idenfiy the item(s).
3.  list the original tag size and inseam (important for pants)
4.  provide actual measurements
5.  post actual pictures of the item
6.  give a word on the condition, any defects, etc.
7.  list the price you want to sell your item for
8.  include the shipping costs and if you are open to sell worldwide or just within the US or EU, etc
9.  name your payment options
10. clearly communicate any additional details you think could be important for your customer

[neph93]

@Perpetual_beta:

In a cycling Forum that I participate in for the last 20 years with a very active marketplace the 20 post rule has decreased spam a lot.

That is good to hear. Thanks.

[Chap]

@neph93:

Feel free to offer your opinions on this policy here.

@Giles:

… this place to be a place where people could talk about stuff, interact and have a good time, that to my mind is still the primary purpose.

agree 100%

[jordanscollected]

FWIW, i think many people people on here would like to ban themselves from browsing the buy/sell forum. The "impulse steal of deal" is real frickin strong on there

[Daniel San]

@Giles:

@sabergirl:

and won’t bombard us with spammy non-sequitur posts to meet the minimum.

I have a very itchy delete finger…..

[neph93]

@Giles:

@sabergirl:

and won’t bombard us with spammy non-sequitur posts to meet the minimum.

I have a very itchy delete finger…..

Do you need cream for that? [emoji51]

[mclaincausey]

If the new forum supports badging, when someone is repped as a Hero after a forum transaction, a badge would be handy.

[Matt]

@jordanscollected:

FWIW, i think many people people on here would like to ban themselves from browsing the buy/sell forum. The "impulse steal of deal" is real frickin strong on there

Seriously.

[popvulture]

@neph93:

@Perpetual_beta:

In a cycling Forum that I participate in for the last 20 years with a very active marketplace the 20 post rule has decreased spam a lot.

That is good to hear. Thanks.

I'll second this, even would go so far as to say making it higher wouldn't hurt at all, should y'all ever decide 20 isn't filtering enough. I belong to several music gear message boards that have some pretty stringent buy/sell/trade requirements and it hasn't made it any more difficult for sellers. I'm a firm believer that it's great for the community.

[chrisjohnnick]

I agree with all of this. I probably only lurked the buy/sell/trade section and bought stuff from there for my first several months on the forum, but had there been a rule in place where there had to be 20 plus posts, I probably would have started it out a little more active in the community. I definitely don't think it would be a deterrent for someone who found the forum because they already are into ironheart, just a deterrent for scammers or people who are only trying to sell a quick thing that they already have listed on ebay/grailed/Poshmark/etc.

[neph93]

@chrisjohnnick:

I agree with all of this. I probably only lurked the buy/sell/trade section and bought stuff from there for my first several months on the forum, but had there been a rule in place where there had to be 20 plus posts, I probably would have started it out a little more active in the community. I definitely don't think it would be a deterrent for someone who found the forum because they already are into ironheart, just a deterrent for scammers or people who are only trying to sell a quick thing that they already have listed on ebay/grailed/Poshmark/etc.

This is how we are thinking. Useful feedback, thank you.

[bunbut]

I had join recently and bought 1 jacket, 6 shirts and sold 1.  I had been do lots of reading all different post.
How about read only if less than 20 posts?  Buy only can't sell?  I still would like to read what for sales.

Thanks

[Anesthetist]

@popvulture:

@neph93:

@Perpetual_beta:

In a cycling Forum that I participate in for the last 20 years with a very active marketplace the 20 post rule has decreased spam a lot.

That is good to hear. Thanks.

I'll second this, even would go so far as to say making it higher wouldn't hurt at all, should y'all ever decide 20 isn't filtering enough. I belong to several music gear message boards that have some pretty stringent buy/sell/trade requirements and it hasn't made it any more difficult for sellers. I'm a firm believer that it's great for the community.

I agree wholeheartedly. Watchuseek used to have a similar rule and I think it helped clean up their sales area.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[J-IV]

Diggin' the new policy.
I always viewed this place as a community - where we nerd out (way too hard sometimes) on IH and the like, banter, and bullshit. The marketplace was always a nice bonus to all of that.

As mentioned in the thread, it really isn't difficult to rank up 20 post or so. I feel thats plenty of time to get a feel of this place and orient yourselves to the guidelines, as well.

[jimmer_5]

@Giles:

That's a good point Jeff, but I don't know what the best approach is.  Whatever we do will be a compromise. As far as I am concerned, I built this place to be a place where people could talk about stuff, interact and have a good time, that to my mind is still the primary purpose.  The buying and selling boards are of secondary consideration, and frankly, if people can't be bothered to give anything back, in the form of some sort of contribution to the community, then will we miss them?

What is undeniable, is that the number of first-time posters whose first interaction here is to sell something, is increasing massively….

At risk of coming off like a kiss ass, I agree with this entire statement.  I'll admit, I'm guilty of not contributing enough around here, but I would agree that the primary purpose of this forum is to buid friendships with like minded people.  I appreciate the quality of the community and the conversation around here.  I feel welcome, even as a relatively low level member.

20 posts is a pretty low bar in my opinion.  I can see it being a little difficult for someone who is new to the brand, but I would imagine a person could build their post count by simply asking questions and interacting a bit with those kind enough to answer.  It's really not that hard for someone with a bit of personality.

[Sage954]

Other forums I’m on ( all sports related) require a 50 post minimum to put up a for sale thread or to respond to an item for sale. 50 posts also unlocks a member only section of the forum. Most spam eliminated. Can’t get em all.

[motojobobo]

Good idea to set a minimum post quantity before gaining access to the Marketplace board. If the scamming were to prove still excessive after that conditionality is in place, you could add a second condition to it. I’m thinking of a TIME dimension. So to get access to the Marketplace you would be required to meet two criteria:

1. minimum # of posts
   AND
2. minimum elapsed time since member joined (3 months perhaps?)

[neph93]

@bunbut:

How about read only if less than 20 posts?  Buy only can't sell?  I still would like to read what for sales.

Sensible suggestion. The downside is that it doesn’t encourage participation. I believe the mechanics allow it. I will bear it in mind for the future.

[neph93]

@motojobobo:

2. minimum elapsed time since member joined (3 months perhaps?)

I like that for a number of reasons, but I’m not sure the software manages it automatically. The new platform might though…