Getting a bit fed up now!!

[SirLugg]

What @MrTeaTime said. We're a community. You're not being part of the community doing a Del Boy and just being here to buy and sell.
Minimum posts before you have access to the classifieds I think, realistically, should be at least 300, if not a little more. It takes any normal person a while to accrue that kind of post count so they'll know their way around and people will have gotten a feel for them before they start selling their gear.

You get to know who they are- they're the same as the giveaway lurkers- but it's gotta be stopped. Doesn't do the planet or the community as a whole any favours.

But I don't want it to go either. I've bought and sold on here very successfully, but stricter regulation is a very, very good idea.

 

[Rob]

Exactly. But I would "hope" that posts in The New Users Sections will NOT be included. This will force people to start actually talking!

 

[smokinjuice]

Someone pointed it out a while ago about people posting in the new user section to get post counts up and got shot down for it.
But i think that was the point he/she was trying to make about newbies posting in the new user section to raise post count.
Imo it should also include a minimum time as a member as well, maybe 30-90 days maybe longer?
If the classified disappeared i would be gutted on a personal level if the post count did get put up to 200+ as i have been a member on here since i stopped smoking in January but i have refrained from posting any old garbage.
But in my time here i have found loads of wonderful and insightful information and the community on this forum is the best i have ever seen on any forum ever keep up the good work everyone.

 

[Crewella]

Well ......... much of what you have suggested is already well on its way to fruition. I should refrain from reminding a certain person that she actively encouraged people to PM sellers direct when they didn't have the required Post Count

Yes, I DO take it very personally, but I have expended HOURS on this and other aspects of forum life and whether you can see my point of view or not, really doesn't matter one jot because that is how I am feeling.
I am hoping that we will be able to introduce new limitations and restrictions on access. I am SO far ahead of you with regard to HOW this will be done, but it is heartening to see that some are singing from the same sheet.
I will go as far as saying that I initially asked for a considerably higher Post Count than has been suggested, but it looks as though that has been knocked back, but I am hopeful that we will see the minimum level raised somewhat.

Yes you should refrain, @Rob. As I posted at the time, it was a long time ago, I saw someone trying to buy something and I suggested they contact the seller by PM because I was trying to be helpful to a new member and, at the time, didn't understand the ramifications. I only mentioned it because I still see people, especially newish members, advising the same and was trying to illustrate the issue to stop it happening. I'm trying to bend over backwards to be helpful and supportive here .... please dont take it out on me.

 

[chopper]

I'd be disappointed if the classies disappeared, and I've only made 2 purchases and 0 sales. I love reading through them and I can't begin to imagine what a job it is controlling them to the high standard that rob does. The PayPal only rule is a great rule for a start, there should be, in my eyes both a minimum post count and a minimum time spent as a member of POTV that are higher, that way new users are both encouraged to comment and to stick around for the time cutoff to elapse

 

[geaves]

I've just come back from a week end away, but read the post in the original classified, I am a member of a number of forums some of which run classified sections, the comments made by @Crewella and @MrTeaTime are not only appropriate but relevant.

The norm I have found is that new members have to get to a certain post count before certain parts of the forum are not just accessible but viewable....so a member has to reach a certain post count before they can even see the classified section or a section that maybe specialised requiring certain equipment or knowledge.

But all this is made clear before a member joins, so there is no complaining once a member has reached a certain post count. The whole process may seem dictatorial but forums are run by users for users....and if they don't like it they don't join.

 

[mick brown]

I'm new on here myself so you might not be interested in what I say but I'm going to chip in.
I admire the people who runs sites like this. It must take an incredibly amount of time and effort and for people to knowingly break the rules is unacceptable.
I'm one of the top 4 poster's on a pickup truck forum and it really gripes me when new members jump straight it with a question even though the rules clearly state you should introduce yourself first .
In that forum you can't use the classified's and some other parts unless you have donated to the running of the site.
That might be worth considering !
Unfortunately some people just seem to join for their own selfish benefit.

I also agree with geaves post

 

[Rob]

Yes you should refrain, @Rob. As I posted at the time, it was a long time ago, I saw someone trying to buy something and I suggested they contact the seller by PM because I was trying to be helpful to a new member and, at the time, didn't understand the ramifications. I only mentioned it because I still see people, especially newish members, advising the same and was trying to illustrate the issue to stop it happening. I'm trying to bend over backwards to be helpful and supportive here .... please dont take it out on me.

Fine, but you will admit that it was a remarkably unfortunate thing to have done?
Anyway, you are a firm favourite in my books, which I sincerely hope you realise? I will be responding to your PM as and when time permits, things have gone a bit crazy here at the moment so forgive me not responding straight off.

 

[askegi]

Haven't been on here for a while , sorry to hear you're getting messed about Rob. You certainly don't deserve it . As others have pointed out the Admins probably need to get tough, like the saying goes give some people an inch they'll take a mile. The majority on here value what you do Rob so hang in there:-)

 

[Crewella]

Fine, but you will admit that it was a remarkably unfortunate thing to have done?
Anyway, you are a firm favourite in my books, which I sincerely hope you realise? I will be responding to your PM as and when time permits, things have gone a bit crazy here at the moment so forgive me not responding straight off.

Absolutely, which was why my post about it took the form of an apology, and why I promised never to do it again.

And I love you too!