Changes to The Marketplace
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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.
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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.
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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:
- minimum # of posts
AND - minimum elapsed time since member joined (3 months perhaps?)
- minimum # of posts
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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.
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- 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…
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Happy to find out why I haven’t been able to look at the buying/selling section the last few days. As a recent joiner, happy to provide my initial thoughts. I recently joined the forum to look at buying some starting IH pieces. Shout out to Clint who made my first transaction super easy. As I get older, I find a lot of changes to my wardrobe and the way I approach clothing. That’s what drew me to IH
Certainly can understand the desire for wanting people to be active members of the community in order to gain access to that section of the forum. I can also say that I came close to another purchase but something seemed off, so I backed away from it. The user was not regular and was responding in ways that’s I wouldn’t expect. I find that putting this in may actually protect some new members who are simply looking to buy, as we aren’t as familiar with the way scams could be working and also with who the regulars are.
Tbd on if I will become more active but it’s been interesting to see people who know each other very well that have likely never met. Appreciate all the folks I have transacted with and even those that I ended up not.
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Happy to find out why I haven’t been able to look at the buying/selling section the last few days.
Thank you for the thoughtful response. Important to get a newbie perspective as it is you guys this affects the most. As you point out it will also protect the newer members from dodgy folks.
We’re moving to a new, mobile friendly platform soon so the measure may be temporary. Otherwise, make yourself at home. Pleased to have you aboard.
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There may be a better way and the new forum may enable more options.
I don't see why a newbie with even zero posts shouldn't be able to browse and buy something, personally. A prohibition on POSTING in the sales area until some threshold is met is more than reasonable to me because there is more risk of scams there (I think–I could be wrong).
But, while I get wanting people to participate in the forum, some people are going to want to lurk and just use the marketplace, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I lurked for quite a while myself before I jumped into the conversations.
So I'm a little ambivalent about the idea of forcing people to engage the forum a certain way (aside from basic decency). I see both sides.
That's why I was pitching alternatives like them being repped getting them a badge and/or access to posting in the Marketplace, and so forth. Or maybe, a shift from quantity to quality of posts: rather than a fixed number of posts, you have to introduce yourself in the introductions thread and the mods can determine on a case-by-case basis when to open up the Marketplace based on that and other posts.
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I agree with pretty much that whole discussion @mclaincausey
Unfortunately, we’re not able to decide the measures we would ideally employ, as not every variable is coded into the current platform. The current solution is more of a workaround than anything else and and the primary purpose is to confound scam and spam posting. Encouraging (no one is forcing anyone or anything), posting and interaction is hopefully a positive side effect.
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Very fair, @neph93 , and it shouldn't be either too arbitrary or too burdensome for you mods
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Certainly can understand the desire for wanting people to be active members of the community in order to gain access to that section of the forum. ...
No, sorry but that's not the aim. It's about getting rid of 'members' thinking this is a free of cost selling platform for their shit.
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But…. isn't it? I mean as long as they aren't scamming people, that's exactly what this forum has always provided...
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But…. isn't it? I mean as long as they aren't scamming people, that's exactly what this forum has always provided...
Yep exactly, it is and it should be… but not for those using it as a selling-only tool, selling things that are not related to the idea of the forum and scamming people.
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But…. isn't it? I mean as long as they aren't scamming people, that's exactly what this forum has always provided...
The Marketplace is not the forum’s raison d’être. It’s an extension of the forum itself. There has been a recent rise in people treating it as a free e-bay, including people selling items entirely unrelated to IH, without any apparent interest in the brand or related products. This is what @Chap is referring to, and one of the things we consider “spam”.
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I have had great interactions with everyone I've bought from here and also enjoy reading through other posts.
This may give me the little push I needed to start participating more. You have a great forum here and I look forward to becoming more active on it.
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This may give me the little push I needed to start participating more. You have a great forum here and I look forward to becoming more active on it.
Thanks for the response. For you and any others, here are a few places to start with neutral, stress free posting…
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Who are you? What do you do? Why are you here? (Not as existential as it sounds)
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2.0 -
Where you @?
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=419.0 -
Because everyone has questions, right?
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=10393.0 -
Collectors Corner
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=49.0 -
I guarantee everyone will find something of interest here:
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=4.0
For those wanting affirmation, or just to show off (something we encourage), there’s this, arguably the heart of the forum. We are POSITIVE and honest here. This isn’t Reddit [emoji6]
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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
guilty
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while i understand the reasoning on this policy i'm not a fan
i've made several purchases on this site over the year and half since i discovered it but in all honesty clothing is something i wear and use not something i like to socialize/chat about so i'm well below the 20 post threshold.
in fact this is probably my first post
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while i understand the reasoning on this policy i'm not a fan
i've made several purchases on this site over the year and half since i discovered it but in all honesty clothing is something i wear and use not something i like to socialize/chat about so i'm well below the 20 post threshold.
in fact this is probably my first post
Totally understand that this would negatively affect some people that way. It is an unfortunate side effect.
While you are most welcome here, eBay, Grailed etc. are dedicated to buying and selling and have a good selection of similar items. They also have their share of problems with bad faith sellers and buyers, but they also have software, protocols and manpower to deal with it. We aren’t about that and never will be.
We are about chatting and socialising first and aftermarket business comes a way down the list. We also need to tackle the spam/scam problem in as simple a way as possible.
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"directly as possible" would be focusing directly on spammers and scammers instead of just blocking out legitimate folks with low post counts from one specific part of this site. i get that most of the forums on the site are conversation focused, and you may want that, but i'm personally on this forum BECAUSE OF THE MARKETPLACE, not to talk about other things…its first on my list even if it isnt on yours
i'm well aware there are other places that buy and sell, but i'm also aware that many items only get listed here as folks would rather avoid extra fees/etc. as i've said, i've made many purchases on this marketplace (more than my post count in fact).
bottom line is i personally come here to the marketplace to buy items (i normally give away things when i'm done with them instead of selling), and you are only limiting your selling opportunities by shutting out folks who are less conversational in the rest of your clubhouse