rustgl
Apprentice Shielder
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
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Post by rustgl on Jan 15, 2019 4:09:17 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I like this Forum and I like the people here.
Why not to make Classifieds Section where we could sell to each other used guitar gear?
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Post by thetragichero on Jan 15, 2019 10:05:46 GMT -5
we had one, but I don't think we had enough traffic for stuff to move all that much (last time I looked at the classifieds page, I think it had stuff up for sale going back several years on the first page)
so I think they removed it last time they gave the forum a makeover
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Post by reTrEaD on Jan 15, 2019 10:15:42 GMT -5
Hi rustglFor years we had a board named 'The Hock Shop'. In fact it still exists but we chose to make it hidden to avoid the clutter on the home page. It had very little activity. For instance, the only thread for the entire calendar year of 2016 was a link to guitar cases on a clearance sale at Musician's Friend. Because of changes in the way ProBoards works to make it compliant with GDPR, profiles aren't visible by guests and it has been recommended that we don't display email addresses in our posts. So the mechanism for communicating to finalize a deal would be via PM. Because there are many who log on infrequently, it's likely they would not be aware of potential buyers. Also, there isn't a proper mechanism to flag thread when an item has been sold. It wasn't a particularly useful system. Not to mention the world-wide nature of GN2 membership. Shipping within the US is cheap and easy. But to other countries, the cost of shipping can become prohibitive. Australia to NZ is probably cost effective, but to the US, I reckon it would be rather expensive. UK to Western Europe would be probably okay but to distant countries, probably cost prohibitive. And of course there's the issue of implied endorsement. It simply isn't possible to check the reputation of people selling stuff but the fact that they would be advertising on GN2 might imply more credibility than they deserve. EBay, Craigslist, and local classified ads in newspapers seem like better ways to sell.
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Post by sumgai on Jan 15, 2019 13:06:08 GMT -5
Yes, the Hock Shop was not what we expected it to be. Sad, but almost inevitable, given the factors that reTrEaD recited above.
Now, I think I might have a solution for a newer, better, faster, stronger Place To Sell Stuff. This could work, and still be within GDPR parameters:
1. List your gear on eBay (for world-wide exposure), or on any other website for selling stuff; 2. Post a link to that specific listing here, in a new forum that we make (with a new name, to avoid confusion); 3. Delete that link when your gear finally sells; 4. Profit!!
In the past, we had specifically forbidden posting such links, we had thought to keep spammers out of the pool. But times have changed, and if we keep on top of these postings (to spot and whack any spammers), then this just might work. Just be aware that the problems listed by reTrEaD still apply... plus these bugaboos:
Spam responses; Scam responses; Buttheads who waste your time with a ridiculous counter-offer; Websites that want a cut of your take; Money-laundering sites that want a cut of your take (Paypal, ApplePay, etc.); Foreign governments that insist they own and control the Internet (certain information is prohibited, etc.); Lots of other bad stuff that happens on the innerwebs....
All in all, selling on the web is..... an adventure. Don't forget to bring your towel!!
The Staff will be discussing this idea amongst ourselves.
HTH
sumgai
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