Has something change regarding advertising on the Private For Sale - General sub board?

I don't get on here much any more and want to put up for sale a few remaining parts but appear unable to create a new thread. I've had a read over the rules and nothing seems to have changed, I've sold a few things on here and never had one problem, anyone know what the score is?

thanks

 

Dear all,

From this point onwards, the ability to create new threads (i.e. post adverts) in all of the for sale sections is reserved for paid members only e.g. SN+, private classified or Trade members.

SN has taken this move reluctantly, as many non-paying SN members enjoyed and used the For Sale forums without incident. To all of you: our sincere apologies! You can, however, still buy items from the for sale forums.

However, the simple fact is that whenever we have had instances of people getting ripped off reported to us, it's almost invariably been perpetrated by non-paying members. This is not surprising given that all you need to join the site as a non-paying member is to create a user-name and provide an E-mail address. Essentially, this means no recourse for anyone who gets stung, as if the authorities approached us for information on the culprit, we would have very little to show them!

It's the same deal with the serial trolls: cowards who hide behind a mask of anonymity and no paper trail!

The only real solution to this problem is to remove the cloak of anonymity and make people who want to use SN to conduct transactions invest in the site. This should stop all but the most committed fraudster in their tracks, as under the new system, if the authorities do compel us to release information about a member suspected of Fraud - there will be a much greater chance of recourse for the victim

There is good precedent for this course of action: large forums such as Passion Ford have had access restrictions on For Sale forums for some time. We're really not asking for a Kings Ransom and becoming a member of SN gets you other perks too!

You can find information on benefits and costs of the various grades of membership that afford you access to the for sale forums here:

https://www.scoobynet.com/payments.php

Please note: although we hope that this step will eliminate the vast majority of fraudsters from the outset, it does not suddenly mean that SN is akin to Ebay! Moderators are unpaid: we have neither the time, inclination or investigative authority to mediate disputes between parties involved in a private transaction.

SN remains a community chat forum. We do provide forums (now as an additional perk to paying members) where private parties can stage their own transactions, but this is under the strict proviso that such transactions are independent of SN.... i.e we can't safeguard such transactions - it's still a case of "buyer beware". You'll still need to use your common sense when staging transactions! For example, you should be wary of the following:

- Attempts to solicit trading outside of the SN for sale forums (e.g. in NSR). This is NOT allowed.
- Attempts to solicit trading within a paid member's advert within the for sale forums. This is also NOT allowed.
- Similarly, links in SN forums to 3rd party sites containing for sale listings or any similar attempts to circumvent the new policy. This is not permitted and offending posts will be removed.

We do have a feedback system (Itrader) to help you make informed decisions about who you trade with, but this does rely on people actually using it! Please do so and this will make the for sale forums an even more pleasant and, above all, safe place to sell and buy stuff!

We do understand that this move will be unpopular with some people and can only apologise for any disappointment caused, but we feel it's only right to do what we can to try and prevent people from being parted with their hard earned by unscrupulous individuals who have, in the past, exploited the community's good will.

Rest assured there are no plans to restrict access to any of the other forums for non-paying members. This motivation for this step is purely fraud prevention!

Best regards,

The SN webteam

 

ahh ha. Thanks. Thats seems fair enough.