"For sale"

Greetings mods,
Can some conditions be enabled regarding listings from first time/one time posters who are posting their boats for sale please? While TF is a viable site for posting such listings, the most recent post for same (36' trawler. GORGEOUS...) points out several problems in the current "dine and dash" set up.


Perhaps mandatory inclusion of price and at least one photo or a link to a site where this information might be found would be most effective.


An earlier post where the poster pretty well refused to provide any additional information regarding his/her sale other than to say "contact me" was very off putting, to me at least.



Thanks.

+1

+1

+2

When looking at the thread index I saw:

"For Sale"
RT Firefly

Just assumed you wife had found a replacement.

Ted

Greetings,
Mr. OC. "Just assumed you wife had found a replacement." An alternative? Perhaps... A replacement? IMPOSSIBLE!





Might I be so kind as to suggest a review of your optical requirements OR an electronic device capable of displaying a larger font?

I just sold a little sports car through a specialized forum and in order to post your car for sale, you must use a template that includes location, price etc. The subject line must include exact type and location.

I am concerned about potentially blurring the line between what is 'advisable' and what is 'mandatory'. Should we enforce 'best practices' as a policy? If the buyer doesn't want to publish a price, why make them do so?

The example provided in the OP is an interesting one. I actually thought that post was a scam. After all, who sells a boat and doesn't list the make and model??

I've submitted this for internal discussion amongst the TF site team.

RT Firefly said:

Greetings mods,
Can some conditions be enabled regarding listings from first time/one time posters who are posting their boats for sale please? While TF is a viable site for posting such listings, the most recent post for same (36' trawler. GORGEOUS...) points out several problems in the current "dine and dash" set up.


Perhaps mandatory inclusion of price and at least one photo or a link to a site where this information might be found would be most effective.


An earlier post where the poster pretty well refused to provide any additional information regarding his/her sale other than to say "contact me" was very off putting, to me at least.



Thanks.

Click to expand...

Agree with RT. Also, I’m sure TF doesn’t want to get into editing ads, but it would be nice if they didn’t sound like this guy.

https://www.hulu.com/watch/19046

angus99 said:

Agree with RT. Also, I’m sure TF doesn’t want to get into editing ads, but it would be nice if they didn’t sound like this guy.

https://www.hulu.com/watch/19046

Click to expand...

You need an account to watch Hulu content.

Personally, I don’t know why a comment about someone’s ad are needed. If it lacks details, it’s on them. It will eventually go to the bottom of the list (if no one replies) and is no longer visible.

Shrew said:

I am concerned about potentially blurring the line between what is 'advisable' and what is 'mandatory'. Should we enforce 'best practices' as a policy? If the buyer doesn't want to publish a price, why make them do so?

The example provided in the OP is an interesting one. I actually thought that post was a scam. After all, who sells a boat and doesn't list the make and model??

I've submitted this for internal discussion amongst the TF site team.

Click to expand...

Good luck on your discussions. I sure would not want to be the one deciding what meets acceptable standards. By the way. It also looks like a scam to me as well. He appears to have multiple boats for sale in Blaine Washington and it looks like at least 3 of the 4 boats for sale are not registered in the state / country. Buyer beware as they say.

I would have to wonder if the post doesn't do what this and any other forum want it to do ,which is generate interest. The classified section is a perk for forum members as a tool for them to sell their things but the forum owners (Social Knowledge LLC?) would benefit from the activity generated from said post.
As Fletcher said above, with no interest in the thread, it'll fall to the bottom soon enough.

The issue of someone, not previously a member, coming to TF for the sole purpose of selling their boat has 2 sides.
1.On one hand I expect such adverts to normally come from established members.
2.On the other hand members should not be deprived of the opportunity to consider a boat for sale they might otherwise not know about,and I think that overcomes 1 above.
The particular advert giving rise to this discussion may well have other issues surrounding it, but that is a separate matter.

Shrew said:

You need an account to watch Hulu content.

Click to expand...

Did you try the link? Works fine for me and I don't have a Hulu account.

In any case, this is the guy I was referring to (even if it’s been co-opted):

Shrew said:

The example provided in the OP is an interesting one. I actually thought that post was a scam. After all, who sells a boat and doesn't list the make and model??

Click to expand...

The OP is a dealer. He has several ads on craigslist and phone no. links to brokerage. I think a commercial seller should register as such when joining TF and ads should reflect dealer status.

Perhaps a simple Performance and Liability Statement describing keelhauling would suffice.

angus99 said:

Did you try the link? Works fine for me and I don't have a Hulu account.

Click to expand...

I did, I can access it if I start a Trial for Hulu.

As in the past I don’t think adds should be in the “trawler discussions” window or on the board to use a forum expression ... except in the classified section.
I’m not against adds if they don’t clutter up the main forum. Anyone seeking things for sale can find it in the classified section ... where it belongs. This is not CL.

SoWhat said:

The OP is a dealer. He has several ads on craigslist and phone no. links to brokerage. I think a commercial seller should register as such when joining TF and ads should reflect dealer status.

Click to expand...

I agree totally.

Shrew said:

I am concerned about potentially blurring the line between what is 'advisable' and what is 'mandatory'. Should we enforce 'best practices' as a policy? If the buyer doesn't want to publish a price, why make them do so?

The example provided in the OP is an interesting one. I actually thought that post was a scam. After all, who sells a boat and doesn't list the make and model??

I've submitted this for internal discussion amongst the TF site team.

Click to expand...

I suggest year and make and at least one photo on TF should be mandatory. At least one other forum I frequent does require price, but that's debatable as to whether appropriate.

I thought it was a scam too and was like the worst of craigslist (craigslist has good too), putting nothing on the page and all by "Contact me".

BandB,
If that’s so all members should divulge the essence of a every thread title. One shouldn’t half to click on all these threads to see the subject matter of each thread. If a poster dosn’t make it clear what a thread is all about I just take a pass. Just don’t see them or read them. There are exceptions though begining w who makes the post. But the title of a thread has a purpose and that is as an introduction telling what the thread is about. IMO

Nomad Willy said:

BandB,
If that’s so all members should divulge the essence of a every thread title. One shouldn’t half to click on all these threads to see the subject matter of each thread. If a poster dosn’t make it clear what a thread is all about I just take a pass. Just don’t see them or read them. There are exceptions though begining w who makes the post. But the title of a thread has a purpose and that is as an introduction telling what the thread is about. IMO

Click to expand...

A general thread and an ad to sell a boat are not the same thing in my mind.

As to thread titles, we all should do our best to make them reflect the essence of our post. I agree. I did just review the thread titles from today, however, and found a surprisingly good job is being done of capturing the thread topic. Now, sometimes the post is totally confusing, but that's ok. I just feel like there should be a higher requirement for someone entering to sell something, someone who might be in a position to scam members here. Most threads are not attempts to sell.

One other thing I've seen done elsewhere is require a certain number of posts before you can post an ad. That only leads to a series of totally useless posts to reach the number.

Most online forums have rules relating to classified ads making various requirements of the poster. Some require a posted price, some require a certain number of previous posts, etc. Virtually all require private ads and commercial ads to be separate and appropriately identified.

The forums that don't have these requirements tend to be the ones where ads are posted by "one post wonders" and the ones that tend to have scam and/or commercial listings masquerading as legitimate posts by forum members.

I support a minimum of restrictive covenants, but feel that forum owners have some duty to review postings that are made for the purpose of commerce & profit, i.e., classified ads.

BandB,
You’re right. Today the post titles are quite good.

So under the "Classified" forum description it says "Buy, sell, rent, and swap your stuff here. Absolutely NO brokers!". Isn't this a violation with the above poster?

Maybe to OP is posting on behalf of a broker or maybe just thought it was a good deal for someone with no affiliation at all. I think there should be a minimum level of detail required. If the post doesn't meet the minimum, kick it out with a statement of policy to the OP.

I see the Boat for Sale or Most interesting boats, I remind myself, I already own a boat and move on. SMILE

I agree with Old Dan. What's the big deal?? If you guys really wanna enforce it , then be like The Hull Truth. They require you to be a paying member before you can post any classifieds. I have zero issue with their policy. Pay to play. And I did.......

That is the best idea!

The Hull truth model sounds perfect. Someone who wants to use the "validity" of an ad on this well recognized site will pay.

I disagree with pay to play for all sale items.

Maybe make it like the "free" classifieds in the newspaper...ars for items under $50 free, the rest by the word, paras, photos, whatever....

Simply delete the offending posts, no explanation necessary.