View Poll Results: How do you want the For Sale Section to work?
Leave it as it is
57
23.75%
Make For Sale General FOC
183
76.25%
Voters: 240. You may not vote on this poll
FOR SALE FORUMS - The way forward
05 February 2004 | 05:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Orange Club
Joined: Oct 1998
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Likes: 1
FOR SALE FORUMS - The way forward
Hi All
It is clear that, while the majority of the things we all discussed and on the whole agreed with, have been accepted as positive by the majority, the one major sticking point may be the for sale section.
In all honesty, I was uncomfortable with this myself, as it is the first time we have EVER actually removed a service from scoobynet and ask for a fee.
All other features are additional to what was there before, which I am completely comfortable with.
It is possible, however, that the majority prefer it the way it is now.. I really don't know. So this is your chance to vote one way or another.
Leave it as it is now
All for sale forums will be subscription only
For Sale General is FOC as before
Make For Sale General forum free to all.
All the best
Simon
It is clear that, while the majority of the things we all discussed and on the whole agreed with, have been accepted as positive by the majority, the one major sticking point may be the for sale section.
In all honesty, I was uncomfortable with this myself, as it is the first time we have EVER actually removed a service from scoobynet and ask for a fee.
All other features are additional to what was there before, which I am completely comfortable with.
It is possible, however, that the majority prefer it the way it is now.. I really don't know. So this is your chance to vote one way or another.
Leave it as it is now
All for sale forums will be subscription only
For Sale General is FOC as before
Make For Sale General forum free to all.
All the best
Simon
05 February 2004 | 05:44 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 0
From: Guildford
Did not vote as this option is not their to vote on.
__________________________________________________ ______________________
The one thing that appears to have gotten most peoples backs up (and possiibly a tendency to drive them away from this BBS) is the For Sale forum
Before the change the site was free, now you have taken away one of the big factors for coming onto the site, everything else is still free that was available previously
I think someone even mentioned that it was ok to have members only forums, as long as they were in addition to what people already have, but DO NOT take anything away from anyone
When you do this you alienate a lot of people, I have become a plus member, so have quite a few other people, many havent, and will not do either
I personally believe that the for sale forum should be free to all, as this is what we had earlier, or at least allow free posting to the general for sale, and keep the cars & parts to members
People who dont subscribe will have to put up with almost the original for sale forum (and still free), whereas the members can have the two other for sale forums, where content will be better controlled, and not as chaotic
Copied from another post
Hope you don't mind steve/sonic
Great idea!
__________________________________________________ ______________________
The one thing that appears to have gotten most peoples backs up (and possiibly a tendency to drive them away from this BBS) is the For Sale forum
Before the change the site was free, now you have taken away one of the big factors for coming onto the site, everything else is still free that was available previously
I think someone even mentioned that it was ok to have members only forums, as long as they were in addition to what people already have, but DO NOT take anything away from anyone
When you do this you alienate a lot of people, I have become a plus member, so have quite a few other people, many havent, and will not do either
I personally believe that the for sale forum should be free to all, as this is what we had earlier, or at least allow free posting to the general for sale, and keep the cars & parts to members
People who dont subscribe will have to put up with almost the original for sale forum (and still free), whereas the members can have the two other for sale forums, where content will be better controlled, and not as chaotic
Hope you don't mind steve/sonic
Great idea!
People who dont subscribe will have to put up with almost the original for sale forum (and still free), whereas the members can have the two other for sale forums, where content will be better controlled, and not as chaotic
Last edited by rb5037; 05 February 2004 at 05:50 PM.
05 February 2004 | 06:11 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 0
From: The home of the game played with odd shapped balls
Why have an either or option, Surley the best result would have been to make For sale FOC and split it in to:
Cars for sale
Parts for sale
General items for sale
This is all we wanted way back when....
Cars for sale
Parts for sale
General items for sale
This is all we wanted way back when....
Last edited by Krade; 05 February 2004 at 06:13 PM. Reason: crappy grammer
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05 February 2004 | 06:23 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Orange Club
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 13,763
Likes: 1
Hi Scoty
Are you aware that, as a plus member, you can post in any forum? Just making sure.
The reason for the other forums is to give more airtime to the items for sale. In the for sale forum as it was, threads dissapeared off the page within minutes. This is the need for splitting them up.
I think we will need to have a better rule regarding BTT also... but that discussion can come later.
Cheers
Simon
Are you aware that, as a plus member, you can post in any forum? Just making sure.
The reason for the other forums is to give more airtime to the items for sale. In the for sale forum as it was, threads dissapeared off the page within minutes. This is the need for splitting them up.
I think we will need to have a better rule regarding BTT also... but that discussion can come later.
Cheers
Simon
05 February 2004 | 06:28 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Orange Club
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 13,763
Likes: 1
We can't do a "over a certain value" thing as it would be impossible to administer. Remember, that there is no limit to the number of things you can advertise once you've paid for your month / yearly subscription. If you only have one thing for sale, and it doesn't warrant the £5 charge, then (assuming the voting continues as it currently is) you can use the for sale general forum.
If it's not worth £5 to you, to sell, surely it's not the end of the world that you have to use the for sale general forum?
Cheers
Simon
If it's not worth £5 to you, to sell, surely it's not the end of the world that you have to use the for sale general forum?
Cheers
Simon
05 February 2004 | 06:32 PM
#14
Scooby Regular
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,175
Likes: 0
From: Leeds
Is there no way with the VBullitin software that you can either enable it so that it will only allow 20 adverts (eg) to be placed in that section per week or even after a week it gets cleared out, and starts again?
Or maybe there is a way to limit users to 1 ad per week by way of some kind of online points system i.e each user gets 1 point each week enabling them to post only 1 ad and any responses from the seller have to be done via email, but still allowing potential buyers to reply on the board.
Probably a crap idea, but just a thought
Phil
Or maybe there is a way to limit users to 1 ad per week by way of some kind of online points system i.e each user gets 1 point each week enabling them to post only 1 ad and any responses from the seller have to be done via email, but still allowing potential buyers to reply on the board.
Probably a crap idea, but just a thought
Phil
05 February 2004 | 06:37 PM
#15
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Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 25,080
Likes: 0
From: The Great White North
Personally I don't have a problem with the way it is now. Some would argue this is due to me being a plus member, but it';s not, I hardly used for sale when I was not a plus member.
I feel, that unfortunately, unless it's turned back to completley FOC, people will not be 100 percent satisfied with things.
How do people expect SN to make money and continue running? I'm not sure how much revenue the Banner ads bring in TBH.
Look, if you have some bits, stump up a fiver for a months membership, what's the problem with that? the parts are going to cost more than a fiver, right?
I feel, that unfortunately, unless it's turned back to completley FOC, people will not be 100 percent satisfied with things.
How do people expect SN to make money and continue running? I'm not sure how much revenue the Banner ads bring in TBH.
Look, if you have some bits, stump up a fiver for a months membership, what's the problem with that? the parts are going to cost more than a fiver, right?
Last edited by Markus; 05 February 2004 at 06:42 PM.
05 February 2004 | 06:39 PM
#16
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,056
Likes: 0
Hi Simon,
Yes I know about the other forums too, but I dont usually go in there to be honest.
Like redeye said, I'm not too bothered either about already paying the £25 (only bought so I could post in for sale, should possibly have went for the £15 option but not to worry) if it's helping with the bills!!
If you made General FOC again, it will probably be the exact same, theads will still dissapear very quickly as the majority of posts are going to be put in there, so I'm not sure if just making for sale general FOC is going to help?
Yes I know about the other forums too, but I dont usually go in there to be honest.
Like redeye said, I'm not too bothered either about already paying the £25 (only bought so I could post in for sale, should possibly have went for the £15 option but not to worry) if it's helping with the bills!!
If you made General FOC again, it will probably be the exact same, theads will still dissapear very quickly as the majority of posts are going to be put in there, so I'm not sure if just making for sale general FOC is going to help?
05 February 2004 | 06:48 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 25,080
Likes: 0
From: The Great White North
One other thing...
I have seen it mentioned that people originally came on SN just to use the nice free for sale system then stayed, and this is stopping those people.
Personally I don't have a problem with this being stopped. If you're only purpose is to pop on and sell bits then you can go somewhere else and sell them if you don't want to pay.
If the general section does become free then there must be no cars for sale in there, and possibly only allow users with 100 posts to post for free, this would stop people just coming on to post stuff for sale and then never returning.
Bit harsh possibly, but it's a possible solution.
My thoughts are if the whole For Sale section goes FOC, then what benefits do the subscriptions then give SN? I know we don't like it. but revenue needs to be generated somewhere, it's a simple fact.
Think for a moment people. Simon could have easilly turned round and said the whole BBS was going to be read only without a plus membership.
I have seen it mentioned that people originally came on SN just to use the nice free for sale system then stayed, and this is stopping those people.
Personally I don't have a problem with this being stopped. If you're only purpose is to pop on and sell bits then you can go somewhere else and sell them if you don't want to pay.
If the general section does become free then there must be no cars for sale in there, and possibly only allow users with 100 posts to post for free, this would stop people just coming on to post stuff for sale and then never returning.
Bit harsh possibly, but it's a possible solution.
My thoughts are if the whole For Sale section goes FOC, then what benefits do the subscriptions then give SN? I know we don't like it. but revenue needs to be generated somewhere, it's a simple fact.
Think for a moment people. Simon could have easilly turned round and said the whole BBS was going to be read only without a plus membership.
Last edited by Markus; 05 February 2004 at 06:54 PM.
05 February 2004 | 06:54 PM
#18
Thread Starter
Orange Club
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 13,763
Likes: 1
Markus
That's an interesting and valid thing to pick up on. We took a decision 2 weeks ago that we did not care if a proportion of "traffic" was lost.. all we want to do is keep financially viable and support the true community. So if it stops people arriving, we have absolutely no issue with it, as long as it makes the place better and more future proof for the core community.
All the best
Simon
That's an interesting and valid thing to pick up on. We took a decision 2 weeks ago that we did not care if a proportion of "traffic" was lost.. all we want to do is keep financially viable and support the true community. So if it stops people arriving, we have absolutely no issue with it, as long as it makes the place better and more future proof for the core community.
All the best
Simon
05 February 2004 | 07:16 PM
#19
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iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,350
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From: South Wales - Stuck on this rollercoaster, get me off!!
I think Markus has hit on a good idea. Realistically, are people comming on here going to post more than a hundred times to sell somthing, even if they do this it can proberly be checked with not to much trouble.
It can then be written into the membership agreement that they will benefit from the priviledge after 100 genuine posts.
simb
It can then be written into the membership agreement that they will benefit from the priviledge after 100 genuine posts.
simb
05 February 2004 | 07:27 PM
#20
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 0
From: Guildford
Originally Posted by Markus
If the general section does become free then there must be no cars for sale in there, and possibly only allow users with 100 posts to post for free, this would stop people just coming on to post stuff for sale and then never returning.
05 February 2004 | 07:35 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Northamptonshire
yeah i think thats the best idea, make it free but only for ppl who are established.
on one side i dont think you should get something for nothing, but if more ppl can advertise for sale there will be more bargains to be had by all of us!!!!
on one side i dont think you should get something for nothing, but if more ppl can advertise for sale there will be more bargains to be had by all of us!!!!
05 February 2004 | 07:36 PM
#22
Scoobs for sale should be free
I think that seperating out thecars for sale from the rest is very good, and it is what we have all been clamouring for for months.
I think that anything that is scooby related should be free - so cars for sale should be free as the majority of cars will be scoobs for sale and paying may well discourage people from offering the community their car before auto trader. If they have to pay they will probably go straight to autotrader and their wider audience.
I think it is good that we as a community get first view of the better scoobs for sale. I wouldn't like to think that the selection would be halved. As an enthusiast I would like to buy my next scoob from another enthusiast - if you see what I mean
Or could you have 'Scoobs for sale' which is free and 'Other cars' which is not
Just my thoughts
Best wishes
Steve
I think that anything that is scooby related should be free - so cars for sale should be free as the majority of cars will be scoobs for sale and paying may well discourage people from offering the community their car before auto trader. If they have to pay they will probably go straight to autotrader and their wider audience.
I think it is good that we as a community get first view of the better scoobs for sale. I wouldn't like to think that the selection would be halved. As an enthusiast I would like to buy my next scoob from another enthusiast - if you see what I mean
Or could you have 'Scoobs for sale' which is free and 'Other cars' which is not
Just my thoughts
Best wishes
Steve
05 February 2004 | 07:39 PM
#23
Scooby Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 214
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From: Northamptonshire
the prob with that is moderating it, people will just post it where they can and hope it doesnt get deleted
if you look in general there is cars for sale, and in cars for sale there is parts, lol
if you look in general there is cars for sale, and in cars for sale there is parts, lol
05 February 2004 | 07:41 PM
#24
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,196
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham
Originally Posted by Markus
One other thing...
I have seen it mentioned that people originally came on SN just to use the nice free for sale system then stayed, and this is stopping those people.
Personally I don't have a problem with this being stopped. If you're only purpose is to pop on and sell bits then you can go somewhere else and sell them if you don't want to pay.
If the general section does become free then there must be no cars for sale in there, and possibly only allow users with 100 posts to post for free, this would stop people just coming on to post stuff for sale and then never returning.
Bit harsh possibly, but it's a possible solution.
My thoughts are if the whole For Sale section goes FOC, then what benefits do the subscriptions then give SN? I know we don't like it. but revenue needs to be generated somewhere, it's a simple fact.
Think for a moment people. Simon could have easilly turned round and said the whole BBS was going to be read only without a plus membership.
I have seen it mentioned that people originally came on SN just to use the nice free for sale system then stayed, and this is stopping those people.
Personally I don't have a problem with this being stopped. If you're only purpose is to pop on and sell bits then you can go somewhere else and sell them if you don't want to pay.
If the general section does become free then there must be no cars for sale in there, and possibly only allow users with 100 posts to post for free, this would stop people just coming on to post stuff for sale and then never returning.
Bit harsh possibly, but it's a possible solution.
My thoughts are if the whole For Sale section goes FOC, then what benefits do the subscriptions then give SN? I know we don't like it. but revenue needs to be generated somewhere, it's a simple fact.
Think for a moment people. Simon could have easilly turned round and said the whole BBS was going to be read only without a plus membership.
Very good idea, but maybe 50 not 100...
05 February 2004 | 07:46 PM
#26
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,056
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Good ideas, specialy liked anything that is scooby related should be free 
Means someone who has a good offer for the community could tell us about it!!
Post counts an easy one to get round though, just spend half an hour in mupets and use up even more bandwidth
Means someone who has a good offer for the community could tell us about it!!
Post counts an easy one to get round though, just spend half an hour in mupets and use up even more bandwidth
Last edited by Scoty; 05 February 2004 at 07:46 PM.
05 February 2004 | 07:49 PM
#27
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Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 25,080
Likes: 0
From: The Great White North
I think the point that the majority of cars will be scoobs is why it should NOT be free to post a car for sale, parts, yes, FOC, but not cars. I don't think there would be enough other marques for sale to justify scoobs being excluded.
As for the modding of it, well, that is true, however, I'd happily lend a hand to mod things in for sale to help out in this respect.
As for the number of posts, well, I was originally going to say 500, but thought that might be a bit high, and then did think of 50, but thought it too low, so settled on 100.
Hey, not my decision anyway.
As for the modding of it, well, that is true, however, I'd happily lend a hand to mod things in for sale to help out in this respect.
As for the number of posts, well, I was originally going to say 500, but thought that might be a bit high, and then did think of 50, but thought it too low, so settled on 100.
Hey, not my decision anyway.
05 February 2004 | 07:50 PM
#28
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 0
This may be bringing up a sore point, but...
I remember when I first signed up for Plus membership that one of the key benefits, as far as I was concerned, was that there was going to be a system that SN+ members could advertise bits & pieces in the shop. Basically, allow them a 'higher class of establishment' to flog stuff in
.
That was put off a few times. Is action on it ever going to be reinstated?
I'm bringing it up 'cos if it were to be instated, the split up (cars, subaru-related bits & general cack) could switch to being a 'free for all', but the 'shop' would also be open, and obviously give a far better chance of getting a sale as the the system is much better organised over there. Hence a benefit remains for SN+ members, and no noses are put out of joint for the 'for sale' section, which should be much easier to use given the subsections...
?
I remember when I first signed up for Plus membership that one of the key benefits, as far as I was concerned, was that there was going to be a system that SN+ members could advertise bits & pieces in the shop. Basically, allow them a 'higher class of establishment' to flog stuff in
.That was put off a few times. Is action on it ever going to be reinstated?
I'm bringing it up 'cos if it were to be instated, the split up (cars, subaru-related bits & general cack) could switch to being a 'free for all', but the 'shop' would also be open, and obviously give a far better chance of getting a sale as the the system is much better organised over there. Hence a benefit remains for SN+ members, and no noses are put out of joint for the 'for sale' section, which should be much easier to use given the subsections...
?
05 February 2004 | 07:53 PM
#29
Scooby Regular
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 25,080
Likes: 0
From: The Great White North
Scoty. Good point there, however, are people really going to muppet just to post something for sale? if they do, then maybe up the limit to 500 posts before for sale is allowed, or maybe even base it on the date you registered, maybe 100 posts AND been registered for 1 week? Not sure if BBS can do that, would have thought it'd be possible but not sure.
Of course, It should be pretty easy to work out if someone has been muppeting just to then post in 'for sale' and one could delete their ad based on them contravening the rules, as I'd hope this thing would be written in the T&C's you agree to when you sign up.
Regardless, none of this would really effect existing users, unless they are trying to sell a car, it would only stop new users who are just using the site for selling things.
Of course, It should be pretty easy to work out if someone has been muppeting just to then post in 'for sale' and one could delete their ad based on them contravening the rules, as I'd hope this thing would be written in the T&C's you agree to when you sign up.
Regardless, none of this would really effect existing users, unless they are trying to sell a car, it would only stop new users who are just using the site for selling things.