Suggestion for the Marketplace

[tcmalibu]

OK, I may be wrong, but it does not look like there is any simple way to locate firearms for sale in a particular region, unless the seller uses that region specifically in their post.
I'm thinking it would be helpful if there were some kind of drop down menu or suggestion to those posting to 'regionalize' their post.
I have to say that ARMSLIST site has a very effective search/filter system that allows you to look for a particular caliber, in a state, region, etc. I realize we are in CA alone, but still, it would be really nice to be able to search for "9mm, Sacramento Region......", and have it be inclusive - not exclusive to those that post the name of their city, or area.

[SkyHawk]

Probably not possible without a 3rd party forum modification, which they don't like to do here.

Use the 'search this forum' link, and put capital OR in between terms, like this:

sac OR sacramento OR auburn OR roseville OR rocklin OR lincoln

It isn't perfect but it may help.

[tcmalibu]

Here is the layout/form that comes up when you are selling - How about something like this - See 'region' area I added below....???

Make:

Model:

Caliber:

Location (city or county):

[b]Region (use one: L.A., San Diego, Orange County, Ventura, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Jose, SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Chico, Redding, Riverside)

Price:

Will ship (Y/N):

Other info:

[Cokebottle]

Also, to help eliminate the "drive-by" and scammers, add rules similar to sites like Badger & Blade.

Minimum 90 days
Minimum 50 posts

Keep the marketplace a place where members of the COMMUNITY can BST... not simply another dumping ground for fly-by-night and scammers.

We've got at least 2 members who have been seriously burned by "Firegunner"... a marketplace-only member who scrubs his threads after the sale.

The marketplace is so sketchy that I would NEVER make a deal here that is not face to face.

[tcmalibu]

Agreed, great idea.

[hermosabeach]

Smart sellers list the region in the title...


Others... Leave the title as the template of what they should type.....


The forum is great....

[tcmalibu]

The forum is great, but it could be even better.

[fishmonger]

some of the sites i go to require location in the title. that would help a lot.

[Signguy69]

Why don't you have all classified adds Northern Ca, Central Ca ,Southern Ca ect,kind of frustrating when you klick on a add you like only to find out its 400 miles away

[Flyron]

Suggestion for the Marketplace

Why don't you have all classified adds Northern Ca, Central Ca ,Southern Ca ect,kind of frustrating when you klick on a add you like only to find out its 400 miles away

Agree it would be nice to know where items are, especially for FTF transactions & PPT... [emoji106]🏽[emoji106]🏽

[starlet4ag]

This is a good idea. (Region use one: L.A., San Diego, Orange County, Ventura, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Jose, SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Chico, Redding, Riverside)

[Cokebottle]

Regions has been tossed around a number of times, and it is generally frowned upon because it only benefits those of us who only deal FTF.
If a seller is willing to ship, then the region doesn't matter... though the location SHOULD be mandatory whether shipping is available or not.

A balance could be regional for FTF only and a general for shipping... but then everyone needs to check two forums.

[Sapperforward]

Why don't you have all classified adds Northern Ca, Central Ca ,Southern Ca ect,kind of frustrating when you klick on a add you like only to find out its 400 miles away

Agree it would be nice to know where items are, especially for FTF transactions & PPT... [emoji106]��[emoji106]��

This is a good idea. (Region use one: L.A., San Diego, Orange County, Ventura, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Jose, SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Chico, Redding, Riverside)

Another vote for regions here. It seems like the vast majority of the items I am interested in are nowhere near me. I only FTF because of the rampant scamming. Even people with decent itrader ratings turn into turds suddenly every once in a while. I would vote for a Northern/Central/Southern region scheme.

Can we get some serious discussion on this from the powers that be?

[tcmalibu]

Regions has been tossed around a number of times, and it is generally frowned upon because it only benefits those of us who only deal FTF.
If a seller is willing to ship, then the region doesn't matter... though the location SHOULD be mandatory whether shipping is available or not.

A balance could be regional for FTF only and a general for shipping... but then everyone needs to check two forums.

WADR, I'm don't understand why adding a region would cause or be a problem? And I'm certainly not advocating for a 2 forum system. If a seller is willing and legally able ship, they state that - its just another piece of information in the grand scheme of things. This would simply allow for another search scenario, and one that really makes sense as the % of postings that offer shipping is what - 5 to 10%? You mention that "location SHOULD be mandatory whether shipping is available or not." Why not both?

[Cokebottle]

WADR, I'm don't understand why adding a region would cause or be a problem? And I'm certainly not advocating for a 2 forum system. If a seller is willing and legally able ship, they state that - its just another piece of information in the grand scheme of things. This would simply allow for another search scenario, and one that really makes sense as the % of postings that offer shipping is what - 5 to 10%? You mention that "location SHOULD be mandatory whether shipping is available or not." Why not both?

Adding regions increases the number of forums that need to be checked.

Splitting into North/South would be tolerable, but still ends up with those near the border having to check both.
Then people will complain that they live in San Diego and aren't going to drive to Santa Barbara, so then we go for a 4-way split, and the border issue is compounded, particularly here in SoCal where the population is so dense... and then we get the inland desert and mountain communities which would have very few posts.

The strongest argument in favor of splitting is when posted locations are unclear... "South Bay"... is that Torrance or San Jose? EPA/LBC/SSW/WTF? Just name the city fully spelled out.

Requiring location in the title whether or not shipping is available solves the whole problem. If the location is not in the title, the mods whack the thread.
With the location in the title, those out of the area simply won't open it:
WTS/WTB/WTT - LosAngeles - Ship/NoShip - 1894 Colt Widget

Or split the WTB/WTS/WTT. Saves a few characters in the title AND thins the herd.

Of the dozens of forums I've been on, the only ones that split into regions were national or global in primary focus, and even then, they would be split into areas no smaller than the state level. I think one split North/South California. Most were Southwest/Northwest/South/Northeast/Midwest sized regions.

But most also have more strict rules for posting:
Badger and Blade - 90 days and 50 on-topic posts. Mods constantly watch for "troll" threads and if a suspected troll immediately posts a BST with post-51, they kill the add and remove marketplace access.

Rav4World - Actual photo of product mandatory. Not a "stock" photo... a real photo of the actual item for sale. No photo? One warning giving 24 hours to comply and the ad is whacked.

Most also disallow special characters in the title, and/or prohibit "attention getting" listings like you see in Craigslist.
Easiest way to keep me from opening your ad is to title it
.oO!!! BUY MY CRAP !!!Oo..oO!!! BUY MY CRAP !!!Oo.

We have a lot of scammers taking advantage of the members here. These are the issues that need to be focused on. Splitting the marketplace up into regions would make that job even harder than it is.
The marketplace should be a place for Calguns community members to BST... not a place for people that we know nothing about to run a cottage business.

Eliminating non-participating members would not only help in a major way with reducing scams, but it would also reduce the excessive number of ads that currently make it so difficult to navigate the forum.
We've got some items listed for sale that have been bumped by the seller once a month since 2013. They aren't participants, 100% of their posts are in the marketplace, and seriously? 2-3 years and they are still bumping it?