Join by invite seems reasonable. I also wish there were ways you can "import" reputation from other websites as well. I have years and years of history on the internet, and I am sure some of it can point to my credibility.
I discovered Fred Miranda through Google and I would love to use the site more. But things like this are gating me from making the best use of it.
This conversation has improved a bit with some thoughtful comments by both regulars and newcomers. I even added a like to one newcomer's comment. Sincere interest in photography and willingness to engage with others are very nice traits to bring to a website like this. So are honesty and trustworthiness which all of us who use the Buy and Sell forum value. You can count on the fact that as you begin to sell you'll be asked for feedback from other sites where you've been active. The more costly the item for sale, the higher the bar will be in exercising due diligence.
I'll say again, however, that focusing the Buy and Sell forum is really to miss what is so fine about this website. Presentation boards are great and you can learn a great deal by spending time on Gear forums as well. And if none of that interests you, consider E-Bay. If you're a buyer the range of items available is far superior, so with a bit of care you can find what you want and probably at a better price. You have to know the market and play the auction game well but I've bought most of the gear in my current kit that way, and not on FM. If you're selling, yes, it is less expensive on FM but then you may not get what you would through an auction. It is for you to decide whether you want to satisfy Fred's threshold requirements to sell things here. If that is too much of a burden, trust me, your departure will not be considered a loss by any of us.
CGrindahl wrote:
...
I'll say again, however, that focusing the Buy and Sell forum is really to miss what is so fine about this website. Presentation boards are great and you can learn a great deal by spending time on Gear forums as well. And if none of that interests you, consider E-Bay. If you're a buyer the range of items available is far superior, so with a bit of care you can find what you want and probably at a better price. You have to know the market and play the auction game well but I've bought most of the gear in my current kit that way, and not on FM. If you're selling, yes, it is less expensive on FM but then you may not get what you would through an auction. It is for you to decide whether you want to satisfy Fred's threshold requirements to sell things here. If that is too much of a burden, trust me, your departure will not be considered a loss by any of us....Show more →
I agree with the sense of this post. Iīm interested right now in an item in the sellīs forum and I canīt sent a pm to the seller. I think this is not in the sellerīs benefit.
Andestich wrote:
I agree with the sense of this post. Iīm interested right now in an item in the sellīs forum and I canīt sent a pm to the seller. I think this is not in the sellerīs benefit.
As Mr. Spock said"
The Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the Few
Live with it!
People without any scruples made FM revert to this so blame them not Fred!
You have other alternatives to buy. Until you conform to the new B&S policies...look elsewhere please!
Dan
Honestly, there are quite a few sellers who will ONLY deal with folks who have established their bona fides on this website, both in terms of positive feedback and investment in the site. If folks who don't care about this site want to deals with one another that is no skin off my nose... and if they get shafted, I'm not likely to become overly concerned. Smart people make smart decisions. Folks who think the only thing that matters is squeezing every last penny out of a deal are the ones most likely to end up getting stiffed. Fred offers great advice but that matters only if someone is smart enough to take it.
Stop with the Paypal gift folks. That is the height of stupidity.
The rush to 25 posts is muddying up the forums a bit and lowering the SNR of useful content. I have an alternate idea. How about a requirement based on the number of likes the user has received? Not sure what a reasonable number should be - maybe 50? To prevent new users from simply cross-likening each other (or creating multiple profiles to do the same), users can only start likening posts after maybe 6 months. Or they earn the ability to like based on the number of their own posts - for example, they can issue 1 like for every 25 posts they make.
snapsy wrote:
The rush to 25 posts is muddying up the forums a bit and lowering the SNR of useful content. I have an alternate idea. How about a requirement based on the number of likes the user has received? Not sure what a reasonable number should be - maybe 50? To prevent new users from simply cross-likening each other (or creating multiple profiles to do the same), users can only start likening posts after maybe 6 months. Or they earn the ability to like based on the number of their own posts - for example, they can issue 1 like for every 25 posts they make....Show more →
Agreed, I've noticed this in the last month and it seems out of hand.
snapsy wrote:
The rush to 25 posts is muddying up the forums a bit and lowering the SNR of useful content. I have an alternate idea. How about a requirement based on the number of likes the user has received? Not sure what a reasonable number should be - maybe 50? To prevent new users from simply cross-likening each other (or creating multiple profiles to do the same), users can only start likening posts after maybe 6 months. Or they earn the ability to like based on the number of their own posts - for example, they can issue 1 like for every 25 posts they make....Show more →
I agree with you about the recent increase in "filler" posts, Adam. I would, however, propose an even simpler change to the policy: require an account age of at least six months, AND a minimum of 300 posts. Maybe there's a way to flag posts as being "filler", and a certain number of flags could result in deletion of the post (or some other way of the post not counting towards the 300 post requirement). Just an alternate idea .
As a new member, the 25 post requirement is frustrating but it's similar no matter where you go. I'm on several Jeep owner forums, previously on a Honda owner forum, several Engineering forums and on all of them you're required to have a minimum number of posts to buy, sell or PM. I can appreciate the need for the requirement on sites that get as much traffic as FM, and given that much of what's bought/sold here is pretty high dollar value.
That being said, I'll be glad when I cross the threshold!
mitesh wrote:
I agree with you about the recent increase in "filler" posts, Adam. I would, however, propose an even simpler change to the policy: require an account age of at least six months, AND a minimum of 300 posts. Maybe there's a way to flag posts as being "filler", and a certain number of flags could result in deletion of the post (or some other way of the post not counting towards the 300 post requirement). Just an alternate idea .
300 posts and 6 months is a bit extreme. Is 25 too little? Maybe but you'll chase off legit members with requirements that high.
Perhaps a tiered approach? 2 months and 60 posts to sell, 1 month and 25 posts to PM?
300 posts is a little excessive i think. I have been a member of another site for 4 years and do not have 300 posts as of yet. I understand the reasoning, but to make it that rigid on number of posts will do more harm than good.
thait84 wrote:
Join by invite seems reasonable. I also wish there were ways you can "import" reputation from other websites as well. I have years and years of history on the internet, and I am sure some of it can point to my credibility.
I discovered Fred Miranda through Google and I would love to use the site more. But things like this are gating me from making the best use of it.
It would be nice to be able to import "reputations" as you stated since my ebay profile is perfect where I've been a member since '99, but I can understand FM's own requirements for establishing a "reputation".
I was introduced to this site by a member who's been on here for many years and has had many transactions. Since my interest in photography has been growing lately he strongly suggested getting on here and not only looking at the buying and selling but also to take advantage of all the different informative forums. I've only been a member for oh...a whopping few days now, but I'm learning my way around, finding many interesting posts/pictures and even posted one myself although I'm new to this entire thing. I'm WAY behind the learning curve with some of the photos and discussions I've seen but I just try and take what I can from them and hope I'll get better in time with more practice and technique.
I didn't even know that you couldn't buy anything without a certain number of posts but I guess that makes sense in order to provide some sort of assurance to the seller that the buyer has at least a little time involved. In the meantime if I see something I'm interested in and I don't have enough posts or reputation yet to do anything about it I guess I'll just have to wait.
it's not just the presence of 100% feedback. It has more to do with the $ amount of the transactions and the item being sold/bought. Hell, even here on FM, there was a guy who at one time (before he apparently got a "timeout" from Fred) had well over 400 + feedbacks. Guy was selling freakin' batteries
I'm a not a "newbie" per say. I've been admiring the forums for over 4 years now. I don't post because I am intimated by the work I see on this site and wouldn't want to muddy it up with my shots. I know I could never achieve some of the photos I see here. I just like to come on get tips and see the amazing shots. I'm also always looking in the buy/sell forums to get some new stuff to hopefully, improve my skill set. I have purchased before from the forum but I am now looking to sell some items I do not use. I went to sign up for the selling upload ability but just saw the 25 post requirement. While I"m not "new" I do not post unless it's to purchase an item. I think the 25 post requirement will manifest itself into a lot of "cool" or 1 word posts that will only clog up the forums. While I don't agree with the requirement, I will try my best to post some quality instead of the quantity. Anyways, thanks to everyone to does post on here. It has given me hours of enjoyment!!!!
I am a newbie on FM and don't mind the 25 post requirement for B&S. This is such a rich site. Even though I am not posting a lot (yet), just viewing the photos that others post and reading their contributions on all aspects of photography makes this site a real gem. As far as the B&S forum, I use it more right now to compare with prices on eBay. Would love to be able to buy here, but understand the reasoning for 25 posts.
I do have a question about buying on the B&S forum. Without any actual purchasing reputation on FM, how would a seller determine if he/she would be willing to sell to someone who has never made a purchase? I can understand very well that one does not want to get burned. I check out sellers on eBay and try to only buy from people who have excellent reputations.
You have hampered yourself by offering no information about yourself by filling out your Profile. You have not even indicated Your Country nor your location within that country. However, you have helped yourself by contributing to some of the boards here - that's a helluva good cat shot IMO - and referencing your website or providing a link to your 500px or Flickr or Smugmug or whatever account would be helpful as well. Don't be bashful about publicizing yourself. HTH
Archive 2014 · 25 post requirement to sell.
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