Choosing a Marketplace Layout

[Tovarish]

I've made deals with people from NorCal. Sometimes travel plans align.

The geography thing is only a problem when people ignore the rules and don't put their location in the thread title. And even then it only takes two clicks to see that it's on the other side of the state and not worth making something happen.

The occasional irrelevant thread with no location in title is a small price to pay for finding a rare gem that I might have to drive a few hours for.

[Velvetmonkey]

Location in the title should be mandatory. Allow thread crapping in threads posted without title until poster fixes issue or mods delete.

[Mr Wizard]

I mostly scan the titles. Put the description, location, and price in the title. If I'm interested, then I'll open the thread. Two clicks on a slow PC is a lifetime, when you only have minutes a day to browse.

[BigPimping]

I say segregate the locales.

[StefanJanowski]

I always search with keywords usually geographic words. So Norcal/SoCal would be nice but also dividing them again in Long gun and handgun those specific sections would be an even better idea.


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[ifilef]

As I've said numerous times before, just place in the 'Search this Forum' box the city, and/or type firearm that you are looking for .. I do believe the present system works fine.

Originally Posted by ifilef

I like the Marketplace just the way it is when using the Search function.

It is set up with a forum long guns and one for handguns. If one wants to know if a particular seller is listing in either forum, just click on seller's Profile and look at threads recently posted or commented upon, or just PM the seller.

If one wants to know which long guns or hand guns are listed for instance, in San Diego, go to the thread display for that forum and do a 'Search this Forum' and type in San Diego,

It then displays all the local transactions where seller or person wishing to trade has mentioned San Diego. Very helpful to ascertain which handguns or long guns are being offered in your area.

One can likewise do such a city Search under the WTB forum and find out what the locals want to buy.

[cusco19]

i wish the for sale forum can be categorized by the seller's location first and then enable the search in that particular categories by type.

since i got my first handgun, this for sale forum is like an addiction... but often times, i find a gun i really wanted and then suddenly location wise is not listed in the subject or when i find out seller is in socal.

if location can be set as priority first and then allow me to search for what i want.. then at least i'll know those sellers are within the area that's close to me.

just my new year's wish... thanks~

oh btw, i think we can get rid of the WTB section, since i've posted several but never even heard from sellers. I find it easier to search for it by contacting the seller directly in the FS forum.

[ACfixer]

North of Bakersfield, South of Bakersfield. For those that actually live in Bakersfield... well you have bigger things to worry about.

(This coming from a guy that lives in Victorville)

I think a geographical split or as another member mentioned, perhaps a mandatory location in the thread title.

[Sgt. J Beezy]

A subsection under the main section (handgun) where it can be separated by location, I think would work very well.

Limit the single post count to the main section (1 per handgun/long gun/...) to prevent multiple area listings.

Good luck

[KenzaZ]

Stuff haven't changed in the private sales section for at least 5 years since I joined so nothing will change anyway. A northern vs southern CA area would definitely help filter out most of the listings for me since 70%of listings are SoCal listings.

[meno377]

Originally Posted by KenzaZ

Stuff haven't changed in the private sales section for at least 5 years since I joined so nothing will change anyway. A northern vs southern CA area would definitely help filter out most of the listings for me since 70%of listings are SoCal listings.

That is technically incorrect. The long guns and handguns were combined in July of 2013, then they separated at a later time. I agree though for a change between Southern CA., and Northern CA.

[MiXoLoGiSt]

Yes I agree there need to be a split between NorCal and SoCal. I live in SoCal and can't count how many times i saw a gun I wanted then realized it was in Northern California.

[markob50]

I would also like to see a seperation between Northern and Southern California for Sales.

[softmentor]

I like the way its working now, Most people put an area in the title bar, that works well for me.
Depending on the gun I may drive more or less for it.
I'm not usually in the market for both and the LG / HG split helps me narrow my reading by a good bit.

[Sleeper]

Originally Posted by softmentor

I like the way its working now, Most people put an area in the title bar, that works well for me.
Depending on the gun I may drive more or less for it.
I'm not usually in the market for both and the LG / HG split helps me narrow my reading by a good bit.

I agree and have driven over 4 hours each way for HG's more than once and have met fellow Calgunners half way with two/three drives each way.

[MiXoLoGiSt]

Originally Posted by softmentor

I like the way its working now, Most people put an area in the title bar, that works well for me.
Depending on the gun I may drive more or less for it.
I'm not usually in the market for both and the LG / HG split helps me narrow my reading by a good bit.

Originally Posted by Sleeper

I agree and have driven over 4 hours each way for HG's more than once and have met fellow Calgunners half way with two/three drives each way.

Well in that case you would be able to just check both sub sections. Even if you live in SoCal you will still have access to the NorCal section, but would be up to you to check it. It will help filter out the NorCal posts to their own section and make it less cluttered for the people in SoCal who aren't willing to drive 4-8 hours for a gun.

[Pauliedad]

Being in the Bay Area, I would also like to see the split by north/south but I think the issue is where to split? Anyone near that split gets screwed too.
As time has gone by, the titles have location listed in them more and more.

[MiXoLoGiSt]

Originally Posted by Pauliedad

Being in the Bay Area, I would also like to see the split by north/south but I think the issue is where to split? Anyone near that split gets screwed too.

As time has gone by, the titles have location listed in them more and more.

I'd say consider anything from Bakersfield and up part of NorCal and anything south of Bakersfield would be SoCal.

Or even easier let the users who are kind of in the middle decide what section they should post in to get the best results in their sale.

The main posts I wish I didn't have to sort through would be the ones from the Bay Area, Fresno and Sacramento areas. Those are pretty far from SoCal.

[shooting4life]

Just make people enter their zip code in a new field and search by distance.

[scoutsniper687]

For the love of dog can we include "please put pictures" in the "new thread" template that is automatically there when you click new thread. Its a epidemic of no picture threads!

[kz45]

Northern and Southern Cal are each so big that it could still end up irrelevant. I would prefer a Long/Hand gun split.

[vmumford]

I for the NorCal/SoCal split.

[AhSpray]

If you do a Norcal/ Socal split, the guys in Fresno are going to be like cats in a tennis court.

[Octaviob]

The distance to do a PPT is a huge factor in addition to the price and condition. Most people would not drive twice unless it was something extra special. I skip the majority of the ads that are more than 100 miles away.

On the plus side, I have learned the geographical location of a lot of small towns. I am in the Los Angeles area and I would consider driving to Bakersfield a long distance. It is more than 500 miles to do the trip twice. It would really need to be something special and on the assumption that nothing is being falsely represented.

[MiXoLoGiSt]

Originally Posted by kz45

Northern and Southern Cal are each so big that it could still end up irrelevant. I would prefer a Long/Hand gun split.

Ummm there is already a Long/Hand gun split.

[Uxi]

Voted geographic. Not entirely displeased with the type split, though

[FireCloud9]

It would be very helpful if there was a geographic split of Northern and Southern California. I'm in Sacramento and there's just no way I'm going to travel to L.A., Orange County or any other Southern Cal region to buy any weapon.

I'm guessing that for most transactions they happen within 100 mile radius. Few people travel the whole State.

North / South is really basic. I'd rather see North / Central / South and within each sub-regions encompassing major cities, counties or an East / West split.

There are enough users and Calguns is robust enough to support such splits.

Spending a couple of hundred dollars in gas to travel multiple times 3, 4, 5 or 6+ hours for a gun that's anywhere from $400 to $800 or so is a non-stater for most. And from what I see, most transactions are sub $1,000.

This idea that folks like to "look" at all the guns available in a single thread may make sense in a State where shipping is common or the geographic span is 3 hours or so, but in California with its painful restrictions, it really limits most people to in person transactions and the geographic distances are huge.

Just imagine someone in PA traveling to GA to pick up a firearm. Those are the distances we're talking about. I lived in Europe and 8-9hrs would span several countries!

It's fun to see the gun you want is out there, but frustrating to see that it's 6, 7, 8 or 9+ hours away.

Hell, Reno is closer to me. Traveling 9hrs would take me to Salt Lake City, Utah. 5hrs and I'm in Medford, Oregon. 8.5hrs and I'm in Twin Falls, Idaho. Las Vegas is closer to me than some places in Southern Ca.

And that's not taking into account California traffic!! Take that into account and I can travel to every adjacent State and beyond!

[numpty]

It works for me the way it is.

I just do a search for my town. Thins things out nicely.

[Pauliedad]

I have to add now that I do take in what's being offered down south. Not that I'd make that drive but seeing what's going on is interesting.

[FireCloud9]

Originally Posted by Pauliedad

I have to add now that I do take in what's being offered down south. Not that I'd make that drive but seeing what's going on is interesting.

That's exactly my point.

Maybe we should do a poll to figure out how far people are willing to drive for a sub $1,000 purchase.

I think a lot of users like to look at what's trading and for how much in other parts of the State, but that doesn't really reflect the local market prices.

For example, a firearm that's $450 in L.A. where the same firearm that's posted as $500 in S.F. and $550 in Sacramento.

If the buyer is in Sacramento, it'd cost them a lot more than $100 to travel to L.A. and more than $50 to travel to S.F.

Don't get me wrong, I like to look too, but it's easier for me to just click on another thread to see what's selling in SoCal. Yes, I can do a search for Sacramento in the title, but that may miss a NorCal labeled listing. And yes, I know that I can do multiple searches.

But what we find in most marketplaces ie. Craigslist, etc. is that they're organized by major cities. It's the way virtually all marketplaces are organized where shipping is uncommon.

If shipping is the norm ie. Amazon, then location doesn't matter.

[Big Data]

I'd like to see "county" required in the title. In my case searching for "Ventura" misses listings for nearby cities like Oxnard, Simi, etc.

[skycrane]

I always search using location because we need to PPT most guns in california. Can we change the marketplace broken down into general locations? Say from SFO north, middle and SoCal?

[milsurpseller]

I have a Q about proper selling etiquette and didn't know where to post it. If a buyer declars that he will take an item and then doesn't get back to the seller in 4 or 5 days should the seller consider the buyer as flaking out or should the seller keep waiting for this buyer?

This just happened to me, I waited a good 4 or 5 days with no response from the buyer so I put the item back up and sold it to someone else, the original buyer just messaged me today on the item which is now over a week past him saying he'll take it. as a seller that is out of work and in need of money I felt 5 days was long enough, was I in the right or wrong?

[scifigunner]

Originally Posted by milsurpseller

I have a Q about proper selling etiquette and didn't know where to post it. If a buyer declars that he will take an item and then doesn't get back to the seller in 4 or 5 days should the seller consider the buyer as flaking out or should the seller keep waiting for this buyer?

This just happened to me, I waited a good 4 or 5 days with no response from the buyer so I put the item back up and sold it to someone else, the original buyer just messaged me today on the item which is now over a week past him saying he'll take it. as a seller that is out of work and in need of money I felt 5 days was long enough, was I in the right or wrong?

You did fine, 5 days is more than enough time to determine someone is a flake.

[skycrane]

California is a pain because you cannot ship gun easily. Most of us we want to shop for guns that we can "actually" drive to in a reasonable distance. Plus with the 10 day wait you have to drive there twice making it more costly.

SEPARATE INTO REGIONS PLEASE!

[lillian]

Everyone has made good comments to consider. I personally prefer the split and separation of regions and items; it makes a lot easier to find item of interest. Maybe we can have it all if the search function is more flexible and customize able.

[giantsfan]

Why do people get rid of the price after the weapon is sold? I'd like to see what the sold price is or at least what the offering price was to get a gauge of the market for any given item.

I didn't see in the rules that this must be done but it was, admittedly, a quick glance so it could be there.

[epic4444]

Calguns is big enough to have both a norcal /socal AND a rifle/handgun split, it's pretty tiresome seeing guns for sale in LA I want

[DeCloaK]

What about people willing to ship?

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[UNLTD1487]

Just wondering if there is any progress report on this issue? The original post was dated back to August of 2013. Thanks.