Classified Concern Brought to my attention

[TracyP]

Please understand, the ONLY thing I was trying to state was POLICY. No opinions, with the exception of the few that brought up this conversation. We have conceded to uphold the policies of this site. It needs to be fair across the board. Whether it be off topic, or classified. I am trying to be the member's advocate and a staff member all at the same time, isn't that what I am supposed to do?? Someone slap me please:rotflm::rotflm:

 

[TracyP]

I actually like this idea from Bas:

Quote'

Another option would be to allow commercial classifieds for wood only, provided the seller is a corporate member. I think that distinction is defensible. We don't want people coming here reselling tools from Harbor Freight or Amazon.com. But lumber is still mainly a local affair, primarily due to the prohibitive shipping cost.

 

[McRabbet]

The issue needs to be discussed at the BoD Meeting -- while we have a policy that should disallow this repetitive business, no policy is fixed in concrete -- it can be changed or we can choose to enforce it, we just need to have a frank discussion of the pros and cons and make a decision.

 

[toolman]

Someone slap me please:rotflm::rotflm:

:slap: :slap: Is that enough... :gar-La;

As for as Liftinaleg goes, he Crossed the line when he talked about his business in his Ads.. But If he would want to say the others was in business we need a response to it.. The others did not promote there business. They just posted wood for sale..

I believe a e-Mail asking Liftinaleg to remove his Ads is needed!! And as for him listing a ad for sale.. I believe one piece per ad and no more than 3 ads, at is time and no promoting????? :dontknow:

Then let Steve take care of it or wait for the new BOD to handle this when they take office in July..

 

[scsmith42]

Let's discuss it at the next BOD meetings.

One thing that I would add is the question of what is in the best interests of our members? The lumber runs and material offered by the sawyers provides our members with the opportunity to purchase wood at a significant discount as compred with traditional outlets. Additionally, the lumber runs are pretty much restricted to NCWoodworker members, and thus in a way it is a NCWoodworking related event.

The other side of the coin is our paying business supporters, which technically may be in competition with some of the "deals" offered by the lumber runs and the burl sales. We do not want to lose the paying business supporters, but at the same time I don't think that we want to lose the benefit that the members receive from the lumber runs / burl sales, etc.

Perhaps there may be a way to adjust the policy to provide for a small percentage donation to NCWoodworker from the non-routine sellers that use the site to advertise their products. They can write it off, we get the income, and the members still benefit.

Much to mull over...

 

[NCPete]

When I was involved with Miata.net years ago, when they started the classifieds section it was to consolidate 'for sale' listings in the various forums, and as they developed the program, they started charging a 1% fee (?-- been a long time) for all sales over so much value, and collected under an honors system. This included the sellers that were regularly posted smaller items in the classifieds.

 

[ptt49er]

Another name to through in the pot is woodworkersparadise.

It's not that I don't think they should be able to advertise, it's just the current wording is confusing. I don't think comparing the classifieds to the paid ad spaces is comparing apples to apples. Those ads are fixed and aren't subject to rotation.

 

[SteveColes]

I guess I'll weigh in here. Frankly, I don't know what the answer is.:swoon:

Put aside classifieds for sec and think of this in a more general manner. I think we want to encourage almost anything that benefits out members. So, if member x has something to sell that member y wants to sell (that is woodworking related) all we are doing is helping to bring our members together for their mutual benefit. To me that's good.

Yes we have people paying for advertising, but then again, they are getting a general purpose ad in prime web page locations, on almost every major page.

We have always allowed and encouraged retail outlets to announce sales, and/or special pricing in threads. I don't think we want to discourage them from doing that, it is mutually beneficial.

Now, if some people who advertised feel that they are being taken advantage of, then we need to make sure our policies make clear what the distinctions are..

Here is an over simplified skeleton.

The Classified are for members to sell to members specific items even if the member is involved in a formal business. (We need a statement that says that if any sales tax must be paid, it is up to the seller to collect and pay and NCWWI is not involved. General purpose advertising of one's business, member or not, requires payment according to our prevailing ad rates. Any woodworking related entity should be allowed to post info about sales and/or deals. Perhaps in a forum similar to the "found/hot deals"

What I just said is an idea, not a decision. If it has merit, fill it in and/or modify it. If we come up with an overall set of policies, I think we should let people like Kyle, Rick, Coleman, Chris, Jeff and others, see a draft and comment on it.

In the meantime, the people who have complained and perhaps everyone should be informed that we can see that we recognize a problem and are working on coming with a fair solution.

To whomever said I should decide, nope:nah::nah: S said in my very public whining :eusa_booh :eusa_booh thread, I am not going to be making any "content type of decisions". This one is for you guys:rotflm:

Of course I'll kibbitz :XXcompute while I still have access to these forums.:eusa_danc

 

[Travis Porter]

I think the current BoD secretary should make this an agenda item for the BoD meeting.......

I like Steve's skeleton, but believe it needs some "tweaking". I don't want to go out and arbitrarily start telling people to quit posting stuff for sale in the classifieds.

Has someone complained about it?

 

[froglips]

One thought, I see this on other web boards. They have a specific forum dedicated to Commercial posts.

Things like announcing new products, sales, offers, etc.

Jim

 

[ScottM]

Let me make a comment to be considered by the new BoD. There is a perception that since some wood runs have occurred at Scott Smith's place and that Jeff dries much of his wood in Scott's kiln that Scott is in some way in partnership with Jeff. That may or not be true but the perception is they are in partnership. So may I suggest that if and when the BoD votes on this matter, that Scott abstain from the vote to avoid any questions of conflict of interest. He should be included in the discussions just not the vote. Just a thought.

 

[scsmith42]

Let me make a comment to be considered by the new BoD. There is a perception that since some wood runs have occurred at Scott Smith's place and that Jeff dries much of his wood in Scott's kiln that Scott is in some way in partnership with Jeff. That may or not be true but the perception is they are in partnership. So may I suggest that if and when the BoD votes on this matter, that Scott abstain from the vote to avoid any questions of conflict of interest. He should be included in the discussions just not the vote. Just a thought.

Scott, I was already planning to abstain for this reason. Jeff and I are not in partnership - the lumber runs are his deal; I'm just providing the KD services to him.