Group buys

[Firefight]

I know this just makes sense to have a GROUP BUY section on the forum. I'm sure there are copious amounts of ideas for us to explore in a setting. I hope to see something develop in this area and I'm sure it will be fun as well

[KrisDSA]

Tagged

[Firefight]

Forgive my ignorance but can you explain the point of your reply? What's the point?

[toddh]

Here's the link to the section for suggestions.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=64

And FWIW.....there have been quite a few group buys that went bad for various reasons.

Good luck.



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[alfred1222]

Forgive my ignorance but can you explain the point of your reply? What's the point?

Tagged means he's commenting so your thread can be easily found by going into his posts as scrolling down. That way he can check on its development even if this goes onto other pages. Tagging is helpful for keeping important stuff close at hand

[bsg]

i can think of two good reasons that could justify a separate, dedicated section on the forum for any number of topics; having such an enormous interest throughout the forum that a topic merits it's own section, and when the great number of threads generated on the topic has a cluttering effect in the sections where they are present. i don't see either of those two scenarios happening here on the subject of 'group buys' and don't see a need for a dedicated section to accommodate the topic; YMMV.

[Firefight]

Tagged means he's commenting so your thread can be easily found by going into his posts as scrolling down. That way he can check on its development even if this goes onto other pages. Tagging is helpful for keeping important stuff close at hand

Wonderful explanation, I do the same thing by making some basic comment. Thank you.

[I Swan]

I'd recommend staying away from group buys. Too much chance of them becoming a cluster F or even a downright scam or Ponzi scheme. Running one really sucks too because of the flakes.

[deerdeerdeer]

Group fail

[Librarian]

Wonderful explanation, I do the same thing by making some basic comment. Thank you.

The forum software sometimes will then send the commenter email when new posts are made to the thread. Each member has to explicitly turn that on in his/her User Control Panel.

One can get that same effect by using the Thread Tools pull-down above the first post in a thread, and selecting 'subscribe to thread'.

[-hanko]

Group fail

Understatement of the year.

The high percentage of flakes here v. other forums means the group buy is usually, at a minimum, courting disaster.

They tend to work well on other forums I frequent...e.g. arf and the FAL Files.

[davefromca]

I was looking at group buys and someone mentioned the disaster with the moson rifles, did a search and read for like an hour...ooooh man, if calguns does have a dedicated group buy forum that thread should be closed and stickied as a warning.

[nickel plate]

I'd recommend staying away from group buys. Too much chance of them becoming a cluster F or even a downright scam or Ponzi scheme. Running one really sucks too because of the flakes.

It all depends on how they are set up. Sending monies to a middle man is risky at best. Sending monies to the actual manufacturer or supplier makes more sense as I have the opportunity to check their credibility before the transaction.
I joined a big ticket GB last year on this forum and saved 16% under the listed advertised price. I received my quote and was given a week to accept or back out with no penalty. After acceptance of the quote my money went direct from my checkbook to the manufacturer/supplier who in turn promptly sent me a receipt, delivered my product (currently bolted to the floor) as promised and on time and there were no after the fact negative comments posted by any of the members on that GB thread.
If the person who sets up a GB wants to cut a pre deal with the supplier for an even better discount upon the deliverance of a certain amount of GB customers, I don't care because it hurts no one. It takes a lot of time and effort to run a successful GB.

[I Swan]

I was looking at group buys and someone mentioned the disaster with the moson rifles, did a search and read for like an hour...ooooh man, if calguns does have a dedicated group buy forum that thread should be closed and stickied as a warning.

If anything read both threads on the infamous Mosin group buy it is quite entertaining but sad for those that got conned in the pyramid scheme. If you are super bored read the other classic expertish threads like when he tried to start a gun shop. "Diary of a would be FFL."

If you do get involved in a group buy as mentioned protect yourself. Pay with credit card and avoid where you are paying an individual and not a company. Do not pay Paypal especially PayPal gift for gun stuff on a group buy.

Really in most group buys I don't feel the savings is worth the trouble or the risk of getting fleeced.

[rideordie]

As others have mentioned, I was in a group buy gone bad and won't ever do another one again.. Definitely a group fail.