Suggestion to split the "Private Firearms Sales" forum

[mattmcg]

I'd like to make a suggestion. It seems with the increase in the traffic on the site, that the "Private Firearms Sales" forum is getting so much traffic that new postings are becoming buried very quickly and thus forcing sellers to "BTT" more than is necessary. If a seller doesn't "BTT" after 24 hours, your ad falls by the wayside and doesn't receive any traffic.

I'd like to suggest a split of this forum. Here is my suggestion:
Private Firearms Sales - Handgun
Private Firearms Sales - Rifle
Private Firearms Sales - Shotgun
Private Firearms Sales - C&R

This organization will solve the immediate problem mentioned above and align the forum interests with the discussion topic organization. It will also help for people shopping for a particular type of firearm and not force them to go 20 pages back in a general for sale forum. Parts and Accessories would retain the single forum as well.

[69Mach1]

I don't think we really need that. What will solve the endless BTT's is to not BTT before the 24 hours is up. That includes bumping it by replying to questions or posts to post an update to the post. And sellers who have sold their item, please do not post to tell us that. Use the edit function.

[packnrat]

Sounds like calguns is getting very popular,
kinda like a very good ( but very deffernt) " club" web site titled pirate 4X4.
started life as a small club site, now a world wide 4X4 site, catering to many deffernt styles and intrests... including guns.

[Gunaria]

I agree with your idea but it will never happen, sorry to say.

[Scout106]

YES!!!

[scootergmc]

I don't think we really need that. What will solve the endless BTT's is to not BTT before the 24 hours is up. That includes bumping it by replying to questions or posts to post an update to the post. And sellers who have sold their item, please do not post to tell us that. Use the edit function.

I agree. The categories don't need to change. The problem is the enforcement of the rules. The no locations, multiple threads by the same OPs, BTT (yes, even the 23.99 hour BTT) violations need to be enforced.

When lots of ads (or accounts) disappear (not just selective enforcement), people will take notice. Also, I am not a fan of the 25 post minimum to post in the classifieds (to head off the suggestion that's sure to come again). I could care less about content contribution. Most content has been posted before and is readily available with a search. I'm a fan of the 'You must be a member for 30-60 days to post in the classifieds.' That'll get rid of the people who are registering just trying to make a quick sale (and most likely violating the rules in the process).

I don't know, but it seems the mods have not wanted to take this approach due to the friendly nature of Calguns and the welcoming of new members, possibility of sales, site exposure, I dunno, etc... The problem is now it's being abused on an hourly basis. It sucks to see another member's (who is following the rules) ad go by the wayside due to other members being too stupid to read (or just choosing to ignore) the rules.

And don't get me started on the wish you were up/down here (I wouldn't buy it anyway), PM sent (duh), PM replied (double duh), sweet gun (I can't afford it), wish I had the cash but I just bought a .......(I don't nor did I in the first place), pics please (I still can't afford it) crowd.

There's something to be said for AR15.com style moderation. I understand it's time intensive and thin-skinned folks get offended. Calguns has never wanted to become AR15.com and I understand that. But I'm all for letter of the law enforcement of the classifieds. That's all.

[jmlivingston]

That includes bumping it by replying to questions or posts to post an update to the post. And sellers who have sold their item, please do not post to tell us that. Use the edit function.

I'm conflicted on that. Frequently members subscribe to threads so that I can be notified by email when responses are posted. When a poster edits their original post, this doesn't happen. Especially for answers to questions that are likely of interest to all parties, I'm likely to be somewhat lenient on this.

However, all these "pm sent" and "pm replied" message can go away. I'm going to send you a message telling you I sent a message? That's about as redundant as having a meeting to schedule a meeting..... This provides no real benefit at all. Same thing goes for those people who post a reply of "tag" because they're too lazy to just subscribe.

John

[69Mach1]

I agree. The categories don't need to change. The problem is the enforcement of the rules. The no locations, multiple threads by the same OPs, BTT (yes, even the 23.99 hour BTT) violations need to be enforced.

When lots of ads (or accounts) disappear (not just selective enforcement), people will take notice. Also, I am not a fan of the 25 post minimum to post in the classifieds (to head off the suggestion that's sure to come again). I could care less about content contribution. Most content has been posted before and is readily available with a search. I'm a fan of the 'You must be a member for 30-60 days to post in the classifieds.' That'll get rid of the people who are registering just trying to make a quick sale (and most likely violating the rules in the process).

I don't know, but it seems the mods have not wanted to take this approach due to the friendly nature of Calguns and the welcoming of new members, possibility of sales, site exposure, I dunno, etc... The problem is now it's being abused on an hourly basis. It sucks to see another member's (who is following the rules) ad go by the wayside due to other members being too stupid to read (or just choosing to ignore) the rules.

And don't get me started on the wish you were up/down here (I wouldn't buy it anyway), PM sent (duh), PM replied (double duh), sweet gun (I can't afford it), wish I had the cash but I just bought a .......(I don't nor did I in the first place), pics please (I still can't afford it) crowd.

There's something to be said for AR15.com style moderation. I understand it's time intensive and thin-skinned folks get offended. Calguns has never wanted to become AR15.com and I understand that. But I'm all for letter of the law enforcement of the classifieds. That's all.

Well said.

[69Mach1]

I'm conflicted on that. Frequently members subscribe to threads so that I can be notified by email when responses are posted. When a poster edits their original post, this doesn't happen. Especially for answers to questions that are likely of interest to all parties, I'm likely to be somewhat lenient on this.

However, all these "pm sent" and "pm replied" message can go away. I'm going to send you a message telling you I sent a message? That's about as redundant as having a meeting to schedule a meeting..... This provides no real benefit at all. Same thing goes for those people who post a reply of "tag" because they're too lazy to just subscribe.

John

I understand that too. Most newbs post with very little info and questions will come up. Problem is, the btt responses are prohibited in the CG rules. If it's there, it should be enforced equally. Sometimes OP responses to questions are posted hours later.

If the rule was amended to state that a reponse within say 10-15 mins is OK, then no problem. I mean the person posting a question has already bumped it. A quick response really doesn't give the OP an advantage.

[scootergmc]

I'm conflicted on that. Frequently members subscribe to threads so that I can be notified by email when responses are posted. When a poster edits their original post, this doesn't happen. Especially for answers to questions that are likely of interest to all parties, I'm likely to be somewhat lenient on this.

I think this needs to be the responsibility of the interested party to go back and read the ad again. If they're seriously interested, they will. The problem becomes countless bumps back to the top only for people who are interested in the ad, continuing to knock other ads down (especially ones who answer all questions in the original posts). An OP could post an ad, have five questions and five answers within the first 24 hours, only to bump it again 24 hours after the original post.

What V-bulletin needs is a program preventing a post from bumping a thread back to the top unless it has been 24 hours (or whatever increment the administrator selects) since the OP (so on and so on) started the thread. It's the computer age, I don't think that would be too hard for them to figure out.

[69Mach1]

How about a 48 hour bump amendment? Any thoughts?

[gd-bh]

Leave things as they are. No new rules are needed, no additional enforcement is needed. The classified section works just fine as it is. Nothing is perfect, more rules just equals more complaints, more hurt feelings, and more drama.

Why mess up a good thing? Part of the fun with the classifieds is the "hunt".

[nick]

However, all these "pm sent" and "pm replied" message can go away. I'm going to send you a message telling you I sent a message? That's about as redundant as having a meeting to schedule a meeting..... This provides no real benefit at all. Same thing goes for those people who post a reply of "tag" because they're too lazy to just subscribe.

John

As I understand, the reason for that is to figure out who was the first to contact the seller in case there's a dispute. It seems to be working out pretty well in dealing with disputes and potential disputes, from what I see.

[nick]

Leave things as they are. No new rules are needed, no additional enforcement is needed. The classified section works just fine as it is. Nothing is perfect, more rules just equals more complaints, more hurt feelings, and more drama.

Why mess up a good thing? Part of the fun with the classifieds is the "hunt".

+1.

Better can really mess up good

[BillCA]

And don't get me started on the wish you were up/down here (I wouldn't buy it anyway), PM sent (duh), PM replied (double duh), sweet gun (I can't afford it), wish I had the cash but I just bought a .......(I don't nor did I in the first place), pics please (I still can't afford it) crowd.

The biggest issue, I think, is that the size of our state makes it unlikely to get many North-South sales. But no matter where you draw the line, there will be some poor schmuck nearby who complains he has to look in both North/South forums for his deals. But I still think that is a better option.

As to bumps and such... I think bumping it once a day is the limit, but I wouldn't be too exacting. It'd be stupid to chastise someone for bumping a post at 23:59;55.

I don't know if a "template" could be set up in the For-Sale sections to prompt people to make a complete post. If so, it would go a long way to resolving some of the complaints.

I'm more bothered when people sell and item and either
(a) Don't post that it's sold on the subject line and/or
(b) edit out the asking price with "SPF" or "Sold to xxxx".
The former wastes people's time looking at a closed deal and the latter makes it difficult to keep tabs on recent prices.