Require post count to sell:

SoldiersSon · February 14, 2009, 09:40 AM

We might consider a minimum post-count in order for member to be able to list items for sale. Trust can't be based entirely on a high post-count; but if someone joins the board to place a shady sale, I doubt many would stay around long enough to meet such a requirement.

FALPhil · February 14, 2009, 10:12 AM

Has this been a problem in the past or is it a preemptive action for something that has not been a problem?

**Mal H** · February 14, 2009, 10:32 AM

Very good question by FALPhil. We are going to get shady dealers no matter how many posts they have.

One very good reason not to require X number of posts to sell is that if someone comes here with no good intentions, who is to say that .99X won't be posts such as "+1", or "nice one"?

We prefer quality over quantity, that goes without saying. If we require members to post X times before they can use a prominent feature of TFL, I can fairly safely guarantee that Q:Q ratio will go down.

There are better ways to protect yourself in a deal than looking at a post count.

luvsasmith · February 14, 2009, 11:41 AM

how is that Mal? I'm looking to do some deals and would sincerely like to know how to protect my money.

**Mal H** · February 14, 2009, 11:49 AM

I'm not going to give in depth advice on how "caveat emptor" works. But, if I was going to buy from an unknown seller, I would search the net for any other instances of the name; I would see if they are active at any auction sites; I would use a credit card if possible (Paypal or escrow account) or use a Postal Money Order to pay.

Let me turn it back on you with this - would you feel more comfortable making a deal solely based on the fact that a seller had 52 posts here rather than with one who had only 2 posts? If so, you would need to examine your internet purchasing process.

luvsasmith · February 14, 2009, 11:23 PM

No, general post counts do not make me feel better. A display of in depth knowledge and interest in our main common bond, being firearms, and several online conversations with that person does tend to put me at a little more ease though. I would think the majority of the people that are ripping others off via sites like TFL are those new members that post only in the WTS ads and cheat a few folks then quickly disappear.

Also, my question was neither sarcastic nor meant to offend you. Sorry if it was taken as otherwise but it was an honest question.

SoldiersSon · February 15, 2009, 04:59 AM

When I originally typed out my first post, I added that a post-count requirement would only be one of the factors that should be taken into cosideration. I deleted that part since it should be common sense.

Quote:

One very good reason not to require X number of posts to sell is that if someone comes here with no good intentions, who is to say that .99X won't be posts such as "+1", or "nice one"?

Nobody can say that...but if someone is looking for a quick buck and they come here and find it's NOT a quick buck, I think we all benefit.

Playboypenguin · February 15, 2009, 05:05 AM

My experiences have been kind of the opposite from the intent of the OP. I have had issues with newbies offering to buy guns then flaking out. It all kind of comes down to buyer beware and sell beware I guess.

FALPhil · February 15, 2009, 06:42 AM

Instead of post count, I would think that better mechanisms to ensure seller reliability would be things like:

- feedback mechanism (similar to ebay's)
- verifiable email address from a recognized ISP and not a free email like yahoo or gmail (it need not necessarily be published)
- verifiable telephone number
- and admonition in the header of the forum folder that federal wire fraud laws apply.

I just don't see how post count has any bearing, unless there is an unrelated reason to get post counts up. What if, in order to get an advertisement posted, someone just goes through the forum making garbage posts that waste bandwidth?

Playboypenguin · February 15, 2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

I just don't see how post count has any bearing

Because people with higher posts counts are just better people.

grymster2007 · February 15, 2009, 01:24 PM

Post count alone doesn't mean much, but reading a number the posts by a given member can help to determine if they value their reputation here.

Quote:

Because people with higher posts counts are just better people.

I always heard it peaks at around 1500 and goes downhill from there, reaching an ultimate low at around 10,000.

Hawg · February 15, 2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Because people with higher posts counts are just better people.

Nah

Playboypenguin · February 15, 2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

I always heard it peaks at around 1500 and goes downhill from there, reaching an ultimate low at around 10,000.

That sounds about right.

SoldiersSon · February 16, 2009, 09:27 AM

Wow, you guys seem to have a hard time grasping an idea that is in practice on many other boards. Oh well...I don't do business via forums anyway, just trying to pass along an idea.

**Mike Irwin** · February 16, 2009, 10:38 AM

Other boards, run by other people, can do what they want to do. If they think it solves a possible problem, more power to them.

We simply don't agree.

SoldiersSon · February 16, 2009, 10:58 AM

Well, at least you guys kept an open mind.

**Mal H** · February 16, 2009, 12:51 PM

Don't take it so personally, SoldiersSon! It was actually a good suggestion, in fact, it's been a good suggestion for the two or three times it's suggested each and every year.

Implementing it with vbulletin, while not very difficult, isn't easy either. We would have to set up a new user group that members would get promoted to when they reached a certain post count. There is no provision in the various forums to just say no posts allowed without a specified post count. I wish there were.

. · February 16, 2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

"...an open mind."

Yep, it makes for nice melodies when the wind blows.
Kinda like an olden times jug band...

February 14, 2009, 09:40 AM	#1
SoldiersSon Member Join Date: June 14, 2006 Posts: 81	Require post count to sell: We might consider a minimum post-count in order for member to be able to list items for sale. Trust can't be based entirely on a high post-count; but if someone joins the board to place a shady sale, I doubt many would stay around long enough to meet such a requirement. __________________ Para Ordinance SSP-SS Springfield Armory XD .40

February 14, 2009, 11:41 AM	#4
luvsasmith Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2008 Posts: 358	how is that Mal? I'm looking to do some deals and would sincerely like to know how to protect my money. __________________ "You can't miss fast enough to win a gun fight."

February 14, 2009, 11:23 PM	#6
luvsasmith Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2008 Posts: 358	No, general post counts do not make me feel better. A display of in depth knowledge and interest in our main common bond, being firearms, and several online conversations with that person does tend to put me at a little more ease though. I would think the majority of the people that are ripping others off via sites like TFL are those new members that post only in the WTS ads and cheat a few folks then quickly disappear. Also, my question was neither sarcastic nor meant to offend you. Sorry if it was taken as otherwise but it was an honest question. __________________ "You can't miss fast enough to win a gun fight."

February 16, 2009, 09:27 AM	#14
SoldiersSon Member Join Date: June 14, 2006 Posts: 81	Wow, you guys seem to have a hard time grasping an idea that is in practice on many other boards. Oh well...I don't do business via forums anyway, just trying to pass along an idea. __________________ Para Ordinance SSP-SS Springfield Armory XD .40

February 16, 2009, 10:58 AM	#16
SoldiersSon Member Join Date: June 14, 2006 Posts: 81	Well, at least you guys kept an open mind. __________________ Para Ordinance SSP-SS Springfield Armory XD .40

February 14, 2009, 10:12 AM	#2
FALPhil Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2007 Location: Racoon City Posts: 934	Has this been a problem in the past or is it a preemptive action for something that has not been a problem?

February 14, 2009, 10:32 AM	#3
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,947	Very good question by FALPhil. We are going to get shady dealers no matter how many posts they have. One very good reason not to require X number of posts to sell is that if someone comes here with no good intentions, who is to say that .99X won't be posts such as "+1", or "nice one"? We prefer quality over quantity, that goes without saying. If we require members to post X times before they can use a prominent feature of TFL, I can fairly safely guarantee that Q:Q ratio will go down. There are better ways to protect yourself in a deal than looking at a post count.

February 14, 2009, 11:49 AM	#5
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,947	I'm not going to give in depth advice on how "caveat emptor" works. But, if I was going to buy from an unknown seller, I would search the net for any other instances of the name; I would see if they are active at any auction sites; I would use a credit card if possible (Paypal or escrow account) or use a Postal Money Order to pay. Let me turn it back on you with this - would you feel more comfortable making a deal solely based on the fact that a seller had 52 posts here rather than with one who had only 2 posts? If so, you would need to examine your internet purchasing process.

February 15, 2009, 05:05 AM	#8
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	My experiences have been kind of the opposite from the intent of the OP. I have had issues with newbies offering to buy guns then flaking out. It all kind of comes down to buyer beware and sell beware I guess.

February 15, 2009, 06:42 AM	#9
FALPhil Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2007 Location: Racoon City Posts: 934	Instead of post count, I would think that better mechanisms to ensure seller reliability would be things like: - feedback mechanism (similar to ebay's) - verifiable email address from a recognized ISP and not a free email like yahoo or gmail (it need not necessarily be published) - verifiable telephone number - and admonition in the header of the forum folder that federal wire fraud laws apply. I just don't see how post count has any bearing, unless there is an unrelated reason to get post counts up. What if, in order to get an advertisement posted, someone just goes through the forum making garbage posts that waste bandwidth?

February 16, 2009, 10:38 AM	#15
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Other boards, run by other people, can do what they want to do. If they think it solves a possible problem, more power to them. We simply don't agree.

February 16, 2009, 12:51 PM	#17
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,947	Don't take it so personally, SoldiersSon! It was actually a good suggestion, in fact, it's been a good suggestion for the two or three times it's suggested each and every year. Implementing it with vbulletin, while not very difficult, isn't easy either. We would have to set up a new user group that members would get promoted to when they reached a certain post count. There is no provision in the various forums to just say no posts allowed without a specified post count. I wish there were.

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