First off, let me say, I love Fred Miranda.com. The community in my opinion is the finest photography centered group that I've found. That being said, I'm disappointed in your decision to charge a fee to join the sell forum. Before I get flamed, let me say that it is absolutely your right to do so, However, I personally would have preferred to pay a transaction fee when an item was listed. As a regular buyer and seller, this would have been preferable to me. Of course I will continue to use this resource to purchase items, but I seriously don't see myself paying a fee to join.
Again, just my personal opinion. Keep up the good work.
The Buy & Sell listing fee is nothing recent fmcmanus3. We have implemented that over 2 years ago. There were many reasons for it from security to help with costs of custom code implementation, bills..etc.
The Upload & Sell membership provides much more than the ability to list items for sale. Please read the benefits of becoming an Upload & Sell member here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/upload-sell.php
We offer a monthly non-renewing membership for those who desire to sell their items for a short period of time. Many join mainly to support the site and we appreciate it.
All the best,
Fred
I just want to add that although implementing a pay-if-you-sell system might be the most equitable approach, unfortunately because of the inherent structure of the forums, such a method is unenforceable. After all, if someone posts gear FS and I'm local and want to do an in-person cash transaction, how does Fred get a transaction fee for that? Honor system? Even if the sale is conducted through an online exchange of money, by what mechanism could the forum enforce the payment of a transaction fee?
Don't get me wrong, I think yours is a fair point, but I can't come up with a way that something like that could be implemented in a forum system that is largely self-guided in behavior. The way it works now is the most logical and has been successful despite rare incidents of fraud.
I was thinking more of a flat rate listing fee. Therefore, no verification needed. You want to list, you pay the fee. It seems ideal for infrequent sellers such as myself. Not so ideal for frequent sellers versus the current price structure.
The reason we don't have a fee per post is because I wanted this to become a tight community. Once you get a quarter or monthly membership, you will be around and that is what makes our buy and sell unique.
On the other hand I understand that some members prefer to make a smaller commitment and that is why I introduced the monthly fee. You pay a monthly fee, sell a few items and then decide to come back whenever you desire. Currently we offer 2-year, 1-year, 3-month and 1-month memberships with choices to auto-renew or not.
Fred
For people like me, who go for months without selling a thing, and then sell/buy several things in a short few weeks' time, the flat membership rate works fine. Things just even out. Imagine how much the fees would be on eBay if you sold a $5000 lens.
Sorry Fred but I just don't buy it. I've been a member here for just on six years, during which time I have never used the Buy Sell Forum and never will. I have happily paid an annual fee to browse and post FM forums and believe that your site is good value for money in that respect. To ask me to pay another fee on top in order to post images is a double whammy in your parlance and frankly it's a rip-off in anyone's language. I'm out of here after my current membership expires. Goodbye.
^ What don't you buy There's no fee "on top" to post images Guess you've been SO active in your time here,
the "details" must have been overlooked...what with ALL of your browsing & posting. We'll no doubt miss you
Bill Sutherland wrote:
Sorry Fred but I just don't buy it. I've been a member here for just on six years, during which time I have never used the Buy Sell Forum and never will. I have happily paid an annual fee to browse and post FM forums and believe that your site is good value for money in that respect. To ask me to pay another fee on top in order to post images is a double whammy in your parlance and frankly it's a rip-off in anyone's language. I'm out of here after my current membership expires. Goodbye.
Bill
Notwithstanding trenchmonkey's derisive and rude tone, I am extremely confused by your post. There has never been any membership fee to participate in the forums that I am aware of. At present, there is only one fee, which integrates image hosting with the ability to start threads in the Buy/Sell forum.
Previously, image upload and B+S were a la carte services, each with a separate fee, but these were merged relatively recently, in order to simplify the fee structure as well as provide more value to those who only wish to use these services on a short-term basis.
As a result, I don't know what "annual fee" you've been paying, but it wasn't for the ability to read and participate in the forums. Perhaps you should keep yourself apprised of the history of subscription fees for FM--their price levels and what they pay for.
+1 for Will, some guys just don't get it. We've got a great thing going here and the "fee" is what enables it to keep going and i'd say better than 99% of the guys here are the kind of guys that i'd enjoy doing business with and the "fee" keeps it from turning into a "flea bay" site where you don't know the people that your dealing with, there is always someone here who will stand up for the seller. Will wasn't rude or derisive, he's just like me , he tells it like it is.
...derisive and rude, Wickie Guy callin' Fred a rip-off gets a 'monkey on his back. It's early and I'm actually in my "kind and gentle" mode.
You, admitting you're extremely confused...pretty priceless Peter!!
Guys, Bill probably didn't read the new Upload and Sell accurately. He jumped to conclusions and misunderstood the benefits of a much improved system. I think all of us have experienced a similar reaction ourselves under different circumstances. He also has been a member for 6 years. I think he deserves a break, or at least no comment to his decision. Judging others shouldn't be a popularity contest.
Guess you've been SO active in your time here,
We'll no doubt miss you 
It's early and I'm actually in my "kind and gentle" mode.
