Member Buy and Sell guidelines

[chris99z71]

This post from Steve got me thinking

Another one of those things that never occured to me before.

When you buy and/or sell on this site Member to member, your may not mention the prices. Only the the seller may mention the price and only as an asking price, or as a starting point for negotiations. Actual selling/buying prices should not be posted.

There are 2 main reasons for this.
1. I don't wnat the IRS or NC trying to supenoa my records to prove a tax case.
2. Mentioning the prices in public can foster ill will between members. We don't need that here

Maybe we need to post a set of rules for the Buy and Sell as a sticky? Instead of posting rules one post at a time as I/we/Steve think of them, I thought maybe here we could come up with a consensus of some general guidelines and do's and don'ts. This way maybe we can be a little more up front so everybody's playing from the same sheet of music...
Here's what I was thinking of so far, any feedback is good...
1. The initial buyer/seller who starts the thread should post a starting price for an item that's wanted/for sale. After this, discuss prices/bidding privately. This isn't an auction site. If you want auctions, use ebay.
2. Include as much info as possible about the nature of the item and if at all possible, please post pictures of an item for sale. This is for the protection of everyone involved and to help alleviate any possible miscommunications about the nature of the item.

I was also looking at the rules on this forum that I also frequent. Do you think that we should state some of that basic, common sense type stuff now so that we don't have to damage control in the future?
Like I said, any input is invited...even if you want to say that you think I'm stupid..

And if you'd like to laugh, check out some of the Smilies that they have there!

 

[SteveColes]

Chris, your idea is a good one. The Guidlines (we don't make rules:lol: ) you suggested are good.

The rules from the car site come across badly to me. I wouldn't want to go that far.

Come on people, respond your the ones who will have to deal will the fallout.

 

[chris99z71]

I agree, they're a little on the socialist side, but I'm more interested in the intents of their rules and whether or not we wish to address the same issues with our "GUIDELINES"

 

[DaveO]

I think that many of the "guidelines" on that Site are good and we should adopt them. #3 is the best, with better wording, #5 is good, but I think people should be able to privately discuss a selling price and them keep it to themselves, and #7 could be very applicable. I think that the best guideline is do to others as you would have them do to you, and respect other's feelings. That should cover most problems. That is all I have to offer, right now. Dave

 

[clowman]

I thought it a good idea not to discuss the "final" price with other people, unless it's the seller. I'd hate to have any hard feelings if someone happened to get a better price. May want to post the "nothing illegal, banned, stolen. ect..." to be covered.

 

[SteveColes]

I looked at the rules on that forum again. Not only are they very authoritarian, but some of them would be be too restrictive. We want to encourage people to post items for sale. For instance, if we followed the spirit of those rules, Erin would have never become a member, let alone posted Ali's items for sale.:-( Quite a few members have greatly benefited from her sales and it only cost a bit of moderation and perhaps some embarrassment.

Any way I like your "rules". So I massaged them a bit and came up with four8-O . Tell me what you think?

1. The initial seller who starts the thread may post a starting price for an item that's for sale. After that, please discuss prices/bidding privately, via PM, email or other.

2. The seller should provide contact info.

3. All other posts to the thread should only be clarifing questions and answers

4. You will save your self quite a bit of time if you provide as much info as possible about the nature of the item and if at all possible, please post pictures of an item for sale.

 

[cskipper]

Where was the initial list? The 4 look good.

 

[SteveColes]

Chris had a list of two in his first post and pointed to the rules in another website. It's all in first post of this thread

 

[DaveO]

Steve I like those, the only thing I could add, if it isn't included in #1 is: gloats referring to what you obtained the merchandise for (price-wise) are inappropriate, although you can gloat on the purchase without the cost information. Obviously that needs better wording. but I hope you get the idea. Dave

 

[chris99z71]

Thanks for all of the input guys! This is exactly the type of discussion that I was hoping for. I felt like there were some things that we should address up front to avoid problems in the future. I knew that the rules on FSC were a little harsh, but they served my sneaky purpose of starting some discussion here

Steve I like those, the only thing I could add, if it isn't included in #1 is: gloats referring to what you obtained the merchandise for (price-wise) are inappropriate, although you can gloat on the purchase without the cost information. Obviously that needs better wording. but I hope you get the idea. Dave

DaveO, just to clarify, you do mean just things purchased from others on this site, right? For example if I were to get a great deal on Ebay, I wouldn't think it inappropriate to gloat about that price...

 

[chris99z71]

OK, I stuck it to the top of all 3 forums under Member Buy and Sell.
Looks OK to everybody?

 

[DaveO]

Chris that is exactly what I was meaning. Dave

 

[SteveColes]

Thank Chris, good job