A suggestion for "Classified Ads"

relient nelson · 09-13-2009, 07:52 PM

I had the idea today to make it standard procedure after a transaction is complete for both parties to fill out a short form and copy and paste it onto the other users "Visitor messages." My reasoning behind this is that it is sometimes very difficult to predict a users trustworthiness from their post-count alone (CPF nerds, lurkers, etc.)

That way whenever anyone is thinking about pursuing a deal with someone, all they need do is check that persons profile to see the feedback that buyer or seller has received. The forms would not need to be that complicated at all. Definitely not as long as a survey.

Possibly something like this would work for someone who purchased an item from a CGR member.

Item purchased ________
Date order placed _______
Date order received_______
Item packaging (rate on scale of 1-5)
Item condition as advertised (yes or no)
Dealer helpfulness (rate on scale of 1-5)
Addition comments __________

Any suggestions or comments? Think this would be a helpful policy to adopt?

**thesteve** · 09-15-2009, 12:31 PM

This is a good idea. I didn't even see your post until now, but I've been thinking about some format of this independently for the last couple of days. This is definitely something to be developed and made into a sticky thread.

relient nelson · 09-15-2009, 04:11 PM

That's what I'm thinking to. So I guess the only things we really need to do are figure out what the forms should consist of and then get Mod approval for a sticky.

Do you think we should have a form for both buyers and sellers or just sellers? Any suggestions on the content of these forms? Specific info that would be really helpful to you or make you more comfortable?

**thesteve** · 09-15-2009, 04:26 PM

Well, I am a mod, so you have mod approval

I think it's more important to have references for sellers than it is for buyers. I can see the usefulness of both though.

I'm torn between a more complex form (like the one you posted above) vs. a simpler setup consisting of just the seller's name followed by a list of people who have purchased from that seller and would recommend him/her.

relient nelson · 09-15-2009, 04:33 PM

With the second possibility you mentioned, what would be the process for figuring that out? Would all that info go in a sticky thread? It seems like that would be more complicated to me.

**thesteve** · 09-15-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relient nelson

With the second possibility you mentioned, what would be the process for figuring that out? Would all that info go in a sticky thread? It seems like that would be more complicated to me.

It would operate a lot like the "Effects list" or any of the other "lists" in the guitar/gear forums.

For example, you just bought a SBN Trinity from Corndog87. You would come into the stickied thread and say, "I bought from Corndog87 and recommend him". In the first (or second) post of the thread an entry would be added that would like like this

Quote:

Corndog87
- relient nelson

Now, I just bought a Lil' Eagle from him. In a few days I would submit a good recommendation and get added to it and the post would then look like the following

Quote:

Corndog87
- relient nelson
- thesteve

as these names get compiled the posts to get into the compilation get deleted. At a "state of rest" the thread would only have two posts in it, one for the rules and one for the list.

Now, not a lot of details are provided with this system. All this system allows for is for a user to look at the list and say, "oh Corndog87 sold stuff to relient nelson and thesteve, and even though I don't know much about corndog, I do trust relient nelson and thesteve so I will trust their recommendation."

This could even be expanded to include the item purchased, in which case it would look like this

Quote:

Corndog87
- relient nelson (SBN Trinity)
- thesteve (SBN Lil' Eagle)

If readers wanted more details regarding how the transaction went, they could PM the folks giving the recommendations for more details.

**Rainer.** · 09-15-2009, 04:46 PM

I think the simpler the form, the better.

AudioAUnderdog · 09-15-2009, 04:54 PM

It would probably be good to include the item purchased, and to do the simple version.

relient nelson · 09-15-2009, 05:18 PM

I think this format

Quote:

Corndog87
- relient nelson (SBN Trinity)
- thesteve (SBN Lil' Eagle)

would work very well.

So now just to figure out the wording for the sticky thread. Does everyone agree this should be made a requirement to post in the classified ads section? Can we make that decision without Smod or admin approval?

**thesteve** · 09-15-2009, 05:29 PM

What do you mean by "requirement"?

I don't think that we should limit who can and can't post in the Classifieds beyond the structure that's already in place. Generally speaking, buyer/seller that don't integrate into CGR won't be able to buy/sell on CGR as easily as a buyer/seller with a history on CGR. There's no reason to patrol this forum beyond that.

AudioAUnderdog · 09-15-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

What do you mean by "requirement"?

I don't think that we should limit who can and can't post in the Classifieds beyond the structure that's already in place. Generally speaking, buyer/seller that don't integrate into CGR won't be able to buy/sell on CGR as easily as a buyer/seller with a history on CGR. There's no reason to patrol this forum beyond that.

+1

el cabong · 09-15-2009, 06:30 PM

*El Cabong stamp of Approval*

(Yes, I haven't gotten a "Bruce Leroy" stamp of approval yet....)

relient nelson · 09-16-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

What do you mean by "requirement"?

I don't think that we should limit who can and can't post in the Classifieds beyond the structure that's already in place. Generally speaking, buyer/seller that don't integrate into CGR won't be able to buy/sell on CGR as easily as a buyer/seller with a history on CGR. There's no reason to patrol this forum beyond that.

Very true. I see your point. So should I go ahead and start the sticky? Or Steve would you rather do it? Need to figure out how to word this...

**thesteve** · 09-16-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relient nelson

Very true. I see your point. So should I go ahead and start the sticky? Or Steve would you rather do it? Need to figure out how to word this...

If you have the time, go for it. I can always edit it afterward.

gtrdave · 09-16-2009, 09:34 AM

Something similar is done on one of the automotive boards that I participate in, but it's not a form or anything formal. It's simply a sub-forum to the classifieds that contains voluntary posts by (usually) the buyer giving kudos to the seller for a positive transaction OR giving public warning of a transaction gone wrong.
The former helps to build a good reputation for the seller and buyer, while the latter sometimes helps to resolve the matter or, worse case, results in the banning of the not-so-upstanding party.
Just a thought.