Curious. What's the difference?

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THarvey

THarvey

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Anniston, AL, USA
What is the difference in the Individual Classified and Business Classified forums?

I see many member with ads for similar items in both forums. How should one determine which to use for an individual offering?

Thanks.
 
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Tim - the way I've had it explained is if you have items to dispose of on an irregular basis, use the individual classifieds. If you stock something for re-sale, use the business classifieds. Of course, I could be wrong!
 
Lou is correct. That is the way it is intended to be but we don't tend to police it as we should. There are even some "members" that are only here to sell and have NEVER posted in any other forum than the classifieds and they still post in the individual section. That's not right, IMO.
 
Curtis,

You hit my thoughts exactly.

I have no problem with members only posting to the classifieds. Many of these members I have purchased from. They provide a great service and product to our organization.

I have a tendency to think and act a little differently if I am dealing with and individual than with a business.

Having thrown this conversation out here, I have no idea how you could effectively police the classifieds policy. At the end of the day, we must still rely on the integrity of the members. In my opinion the rules for each forum are clearly stated.

Thanks guys.

Tim
 
Originally posted by MesquiteMan

That's not right, IMO.
Click to expand...

Curtis, please do not take offense, but you are a moderator, so do something about it.

I do not buy from those that I perceive to be in violation of the rules.
 
I would suggest, when you read an ad, "Consider the source".

This is one time when the number of "stars" MAY help you identify ACTIVE members. In MY case, it doesn't mean I've CONTRIBUTED much, but you MUST ADMIT, I am active.

On a serious note, if you feel like you "know the guy", he probably is NOT going to INTENTIONALLY give you less than advertised.

However, if the box arrives with a hole in it, CALL ME!!! (IF I sent it to you) - Only happened once.
 
Ed,

Good point, about the stars. It would work, except for those who set their profile to keep post "private" (oops, I think I resemble that one).

I have not experienced a problem. I just have noticed a significant level of cross-overs in recent weeks. That started me thinking about the original questions. Another thought I had is could the advertisers be using both forums to avoid the limits for the numbers of ads a member can post during a specified period.

"Caveat emptor" is good advice in all cases.

I do not think anyone will get away with misleading practices in the classified listings. I think the group members would police that fairly effecienctly through the forums.

Tim
 
Originally posted by mrcook4570Curtis, please do not take offense, but you are a moderator, so do something about it.

I do not buy from those that I perceive to be in violation of the rules.
Click to expand...

No offence taken, Stan! The problem is that our rules are not real clear so I really do not have a mandate to enforce. Also, if a post is in the individual classifieds that keeps getting updated then it really belongs in the business section. The problem is that it is almost too late to move it. If I move it after it has been allowed to stay for a while then the poster gets made but if I leave it and start moving new post of similar nature then the new poster gets mad because of the perceived inequity!

Jeff and I have talked numerous times about how to change the classified section and one of these days we will come up with perhaps a better solution. It might not be a bad idea to get some input from you guys as to what you would like to see.

Let me just think out loud, here. This does not mean I necessarily endorse these ideas, these are just some things I have given limited thought to.

Individual classifieds--for folks that have "one-off" items for sale. In other words, they have a set of blanks they want to sell to get rid of but don't regularly offer blanks for sale. Maybe they have a turning tool they need to get rid of. That should go in the indiv. section.

Commercial classifieds--folks that frequently offer items for sale, whether or not they have a "business structure". Maybe this section would only allow 1 or 2 ads per week per member and no updating of the add would be allowed. You would make your ad and not be allowed to add to it. That would make it so that everyone would have a better chance. In order to post to this section you would need to be an active member of the forum. Not just someone who only posts in the classifieds. I don't know how you would police this part though. This seems fair to me since those of us who participate and make this site the place that is so desirable to market to, would still have a good chance of being noticed.

Then add a Business Classified Paid section where you are allowed to post as many ads as you want for a fee. You would not have to be a participating member to post here. That seems fair to me since using the forum to post something does use bandwidth which does cost money. If you are not participating to make IAP the desirable place to market to, why should your ads be free?

As I said, I am not necessarily suggesting these changes yet, I am just thinking out loud and using you guys as a sounding board. Lets have a discuss on this and see what you all would like to see changed, if anything. Your input would be appreciated!
 
P.S...We are one of the few wood related sites that I frequent that allow completely free, unregulated advertising of anything. Most only allow "one-off" adds or restrict the number of adds allowed per person. If you think about it, it is a pretty good deal when you can come to a site, not participate in any way, shape, or form, join that site, and advertise your goods to thousands of members all over the world for absolutely nothing.
 
DANG!

I had no idea what I was starting.[B)]


Curtis,

How about an approach more like your newspaper?

Get rid of the "business" / "individual" headings. Instead, setup ad forums by categories: Pen Kits, Blanks, Lumber, Tools, Miscellaneous, etc.

Then you might also have another section for Paid Advertisments. With the paid ad, give the advertiser permission to list their business contacts, website and logo or other identifying symbols.

Just a few thoughts. I had no idea it would get to this when I started this thread.[:0]
 
Tim,

You were not starting anything! This has been something that has been on the radar for a while now, we just have not really done anything about it. Your post was just the catalyst for me to post and ask for everyone's opinions and ideas. Heck, most might like it just like it is, I don't know.

I do really think we need to some how "reward" the regular contributors that don't only post in classifieds section and are an integral part of the community. It is not a real big problem but there are 3 or 4 people that I see that have never even posted outside the classified section but they sure do post a LOT in the classifieds. Maybe that doesn't bother anyone else but when an ad by someone like Penworks, Ed4Copies, DCBluesman, ElMostro, etc get pushed to the second page by someone who has never posted anywhere else on the forum except for their own gain in classifieds, something is not right. I am certainly not trying to "run off" the guys that don't participate except to sell something, I just think they should be in a different category. Am I way off the deep end on this?
 
Curtis,I'll agree there needs to be some structure.
I don't think it needs to take an act of congress
to put an ad up,but a little more enforcement of the
clearly posted,existing rules is fine with me.
I'll be first in line to take my lumps,
if I have any coming!
I enjoy the site,and the members here.
membership cost=$0
knowledge gained=$priceless
So,to play by the rules is not an issue for me.:)
 
On wood central they have a 'classified' section, and and a note asking for no commercial posts. I don't know if it works but I do know that individuals will post on the turning forum to let others know they have posted something in classified.

I think that anybody who has something to sell should be able to sell it via this site. I also believe that ALL commercial posts have to be paid for, updates equals a new post. And last but not least, I think that those who are active, however that is identified, should get some type of 'pass' so that they don't have to pay for their ads.

As I type I think there may be a couple of problems this issue will resolve (if it goes any further). Many of the ads required an immediate response to get the deal. That's OK, but it does mean that somebody on the east coast always has a better chance of getting the deals because Central and west coast are all still asleep.

Could it be possible that all classifieds go through (Jeff?) before they hit the forum? Jeff I assume would know who was a regular and active member, or a commercial seller and post them appropriately. And again, all commercial posts require a fee to be paid.

FWIW...
 
I may be the guilty party here but my thinking is this. If I BUY the items for RESALE then I will post that at the business section. If it is something I have that I want to get rid of (w/o intention of replenishing) then I post it at individual classifieds. My gray area are the wood I find in construction areas. :D

If anyone will ask me...I would say just combine the 2 into one forum. Simpler is better. ;)
 
is there any way you could give any posters to the classifieds stars ( or smilys or dollar signs or something )like for total posts that would give the running total of posts to the classifieds . This way you could tell the difference between the guy who is selling a couple of extra blanks once and awhile from the guys who are posting for income .
As for charging a fee to post , I dont think that is a good idea however I think this fourm is so worth the money anyone who posts on a regular basis should contribute to the IAP some of their services or products to help offset the cost of running this fantastic fourm
 
I was reminded by my handyman the other day when I gave him a list of things to fix.

If it's not broke, don't fix it. :)

I seem to think the classifications police themselves real good. Less goverment is the best goverment. :)
The four catagories are clearly labled for what they are if folks use good judgement.

The only thing that bothers me under any heading is the spammers, but I believe the spam police here do a great job identifying and booting them.
 
Currently, members who offer very specific items (which in many cases are unavailable or very difficult to find elsewhere) are required to post in the same category as major suppliers. This is a disadvantage to the individual because I have read many comments of other members that do not buy from the business classifieds. This is a problem because many of these people are not really a business. The are just individual members following the rules.

Then there are members who regularly sell the same thing in the individual classified section. If you look at the response their ads generate, it is clearly much greater than that of a comparable ad in the business classified section. So they reap the rewards while not following the rules.

Therefore, Curtis, I really like your three section proposal. It puts the real businesses in a separate section while maintaining the distinction between selling the occasional kit and repeatedly selling the same type of item.
 
Originally posted by MesquiteMan
...I am certainly not trying to "run off" the guys that don't participate except to sell something, I just think they should be in a different category. Am I way off the deep end on this?
Click to expand...

No
 
Hi,

Personnaly, when i can get a full envelope of nice burl (about 20) for under $40. including postage, i don't really care if it's from a personnal or business. We have some great deal here from both business and personnal reseller. Why bother with the rest.

I know Jeff is working on putting sub-categories the a topic, so mabe have one classified with sub like Toll for sale, Kits, Blanks, Varia etc....

Alfred
 
I find the endorsements of other members to be the ultimate decision influencers for me. If I want a pen vise (and I can wait a bit), I know to buy it from Paul. Between center bushings? That's Johnny. If I want some killer blanks, Nolan, Dario and a few others come to mind. PR? That would be Ed or, more precisely, his better half. (I'm sure there are others. Don't mean to offend.) Therefore, classification means little to me.
 
I agree 100% that it should not be difficult to post in the classifieds. I certainly do not want any more work and I KNOW Jeff does not have the time or inclination to make it more difficult. I am just trying to think of a ways to make it easier to moderate and less confusion as to where to post. I get quite a few PMs asking what forum someone should post in. Then folks do not follow the rules and if I happend to miss something and let something slide, once I do take action on it, the poster gets mad and asks why or the other guys who I do take action on gets mad becasue I accidentally let someone else slide. See where the confusion and sometimes headaches comes in?
 
I appreciate the flexibility that's existed.
In my position, I've had a hard time figuring out where to post.
I sell blanks irregularly, so post those in the IC.
I started selling velvet drawstring pen pouches in a Group Buy and have been
listing them in the IC, but I've begun to stock them as everyone likes 'em and
I can sell 'em reasonably. Should I move those to the BCs?
Guess I'll reconfigure my profile and add my posts.
Gonna catch Ed & Cav one day anyway [}:)] ;)
 
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