Vote On When To Lock A Web Site

[Bingster]

I've been on this site for a few years now, and it seems to me that the line between asking if anybody has a part that is needed and actually selling or asking for a part in the classifieds is too rigid.

 

I for one have no problem with somebody asking if anybody has "Part A" because 1) I never look in the classifieds and 2) there's a far better chance of a member having that part sitting around in his garage somewhere who is reminded that he has it because somebody asked in the forum. 

 

If I wanted a brake anchor, for example, as it is now I'd have to keep searching the classifieds and hope somebody will put on on. What are the odds of that happening?

 

But if I post and simply ask, the odds that somebody might have one and respond increases dramatically.  Seems to me the most logical thing to do.

 

Selling, yes, I think should be confined to the classifieds because nobody wants to be propositioned in the forum.  But asking if somebody has a part is like one friend asking another.  It has nothing to do with profit.  The guy just needs a part, and that's a major part (excuse the pun) of what this forum is all about.

 

I'd like to see a vote on this subject, and if members want to leave it as is, great! 

 

[casper50]

+1 Bingster

[Young Ed]

The best advice I got on that was to follow the classifieds. I get an email whenever someone posts a new one and it tells me what category. If its a part wanted I can easily click it and see if its something I might have. This also helps keep the forum cleaner. Say you're having trouble with a brake adjuster and do a forum search. Do you want to see people giving advice on issues or just trying to buy and sell them?

 

The one issue/gray area I see is sometimes people are really asking where to buy one new from an external vendor. Often those threads turn towards a wanted post and then end up locked. Extra sources for new parts helps everyone.

Edited July 20, 2015 by Young Ed

[Reg Evans]

+ 2 Bingster

[Plymouthy Adams]

parts are parts...vehicles are vehicles  we have a dedicated page....if we have folks here interested in moving a part...they visit to see if anyone is looking..that is under the WANTED..if they are looking to buy..list FOR SALE....there were at one time folks coming here jus to hawk parts on the open forum..never answer an ad or reply tin open forum and at the time if they did use the classifieds..the ad was up for years...this new method keeps ads current and up to day...a win win in my book...also some folks do not know to take transactions to PM...another problem with posting in open forum 

 

GTK has gone to a lot of trouble making the forum available...he collects no membership dues...all I am going to say...

Edited July 20, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams

[Don Coatney]

In the olden days before the internet there was a thing called a newspaper. In that newspaper there were sections for the news, sections for the gossip, sections for  announcements, and a section for classifieds. If you were looking to buy of sell something you went straight to the classified section. I am glad this forum is set up the way it is.

[TodFitch]

Not sure how a vote is going to change anything: The rule is by decree from GTK, the person who owns this web site and pays the bills associated with it.

 

There are shades of grey and where the grey turns dark enough to be black is the judgement of a moderator. If any of you wish to replace me or another moderator, contact GTK. I'd be willing to give up the position: Seeing the red button at the top of the page indicating issues have been raised by members is something the does not make my day.

[plyroadking]

I like having them separated, classifieds section and question section. Head over to the AACA forum and see how annoying it is when they are combined, and then you get these people that want a ridiculous amount of money for an item and nobody is interested so they keep btt-ing the post so it stays recent. They even though there is a separate buy/sell section but only some use it.

[YukonJack]

I've been coming to this site for about 16 years when it was the original format. Probably longer than most of you. I think the site has gotten too big (busy). It has taken an ugly turn. Someone asks a question and gets a sarcastic answer or sometimes a thread gets hi jacked by someone else and goes on and on completely off subject. I remember a time when moderators weren't needed and no one told you to do a search even if they know the correct answer had been addressed. I've seen many new members get slammed because they didn't use the search. I'm surprised some even come back after the warm reception they receive. This hobby is about having fun and sharing your knowledge and experience with others. Just my 2 cents.  

[John Reddie]

I've been coming to this site for about 16 years when it was the original format. Probably longer than most of you. I think the site has gotten too big (busy). It has taken an ugly turn. Someone asks a question and gets a sarcastic answer or sometimes a thread gets hi jacked by someone else and goes on and on completely off subject. I remember a time when moderators weren't needed and no one told you to do a search even if they know the correct answer had been addressed. I've seen many new members get slammed because they didn't use the search. I'm surprised some even come back after the warm reception they receive. This hobby is about having fun and sharing your knowledge and experience with others. Just my 2 cents.  

Youkon Jack,

  I fully agree with what you said. The last line of your post hits the nailhead. Having fun and talking with other old car owners is what it should be all about. This is my 2 cents.

John R

[P15-D24]

The problem with ads in the forums is advertisers follow a post and forget methodology. They never update the item to indicate if it has been sold or no longer needed. Then other members start complaining to me why I don't clean up the ads because they are out of date/inaccurate/no longer available. You would be amazed at how nasty some of the PMs I have gotten regarding ads.  With the current classified section the ads auto expire if the originator does not renew. If you want you can leave a comment/question on the specific ad.  

If you subscribe you can get new ad announcements as they are posted. I'm more than happy to listen to options to improve the process  but we have already tried posting in the forums and it didn't work. It sounds like the real issue is how to draw more attention to the classified section.  

[casper50]

I believe the real issue is the rude reception that newcomers receive if they ask a question here.

[Sharps40]

... I've seen many new members get slammed because they didn't use the search. I'm surprised some even come back after the warm reception they receive. .....

 

Thats pretty much SOP on the internets boards/forums.  Don't matter if ya do a search or are just asking how to do one or even when ya don't understand what ya did find, etc  If yer new on a board, yer prolly gonna get lectured by the board Curmudgeon (s).  Its part of being new I think.  Only place I didn't ever feel welcome with my Car was over on the AACA and there it was outright "go away we dont' talk about modified cars"....so, left that hotbed of fanatical-better-than-factory-making-up-new-historical records-as-they-go-group-of- grouches..... and.....I'm here and quite happy.....even as a newguy. 

Edited July 20, 2015 by Sharps40

[Bmartin]

While I don't think that 'for sale' adds should be put in the main forums, I think there should be some leeway for responses like "PM me, I have what you are looking for"  or  "pulled the drums off, these will be up in the for sale section" as part of a long thread or build thread.  Posts about parts wanted is difficult.  There is a forum for that, but it gets little attention.  I never look there.  Parts wanted requests seem much less common and many times generate alternative solutions - rebuild that, these years will work, use one from a Cherokee, etc.  So I believe they should be allowed. 

[_shel_ny]

It is gray/hazy. Same person looking for same item, worded differently. One locked, one not locked.

[Bingster]

Todd,

 

Nobody's saying that you're not doing a good job. You are.  But I think it's healthy every now and then to review a policy to see if it may need some modifying.  That's all.

[Lloyd]

Posts about parts wanted is difficult.  There is a forum for that, but it gets little attention.  I never look there.  Parts wanted requests seem much less common and many times generate alternative solutions - rebuild that, these years will work, use one from a Cherokee, etc.  So I believe they should be allowed. 

 

To a degree I agree with B. I dont think the parts wanted gets very much attention either. But, allowing parts wanted requests freely in the forum while may sound like a good idea and a great resource I think over time it would get out of hand and become a hawking site for vendors and ebay store owners. Those of us looking for parts would be sincere enough but any post that would involve a possible sell would soon attract the attention of other people who have only one interest and that would be making money.

I wish the parts wanted would get more attention, the answer would be to try and get people in this forum to consider looking thru it more often.

 

Maybe a random posting of one of the advertisements on the top of the general forum page. Parts for sale to, show just one alternating ad of each. Even in the side bar where you have the 'Recent Blogs', add another section for parts wanted and for sale.

 

Even so my 1% is not to allow general requests and/or selling of parts in this forum. I think Plymouthy hit it on the head as far as hawking and vendors go. I can see that happening.

[TodFitch]

. . . Maybe a random posting of one of the advertisements on the top of the general forum page. Parts for sale to, show just one alternating ad of each. Even in the side bar where you have the 'Recent Blogs', add another section for parts wanted and for sale. . .

I like that idea. Don't know if the forum software can do it but if it can, I'd vote for that. In the meantime I just subscribe to email notification when new ads are places.

[OldDad67]

I've been coming to this site for about 16 years when it was the original format. Probably longer than most of you. I think the site has gotten too big (busy). It has taken an ugly turn. Someone asks a question and gets a sarcastic answer or sometimes a thread gets hi jacked by someone else and goes on and on completely off subject. I remember a time when moderators weren't needed and no one told you to do a search even if they know the correct answer had been addressed. I've seen many new members get slammed because they didn't use the search. I'm surprised some even come back after the warm reception they receive. This hobby is about having fun and sharing your knowledge and experience with others. Just my 2 cents.  

Jack if you run for some kind of office you have my vote! Well said

[YukonJack]

To a degree I agree with B. I dont think the parts wanted gets very much attention either. But, allowing parts wanted requests freely in the forum while may sound like a good idea and a great resource I think over time it would get out of hand and become a hawking site for vendors and ebay store owners. Those of us looking for parts would be sincere enough but any post that would involve a possible sell would soon attract the attention of other people who have only one interest and that would be making money.

I wish the parts wanted would get more attention, the answer would be to try and get people in this forum to consider looking thru it more often.

 

Maybe a random posting of one of the advertisements on the top of the general forum page. Parts for sale to, show just one alternating ad of each. Even in the side bar where you have the 'Recent Blogs', add another section for parts wanted and for sale.

 

Even so my 1% is not to allow general requests and/or selling of parts in this forum. I think Plymouthy hit it on the head as far as hawking and vendors go. I can see that happening.

Over the years I've noticed this happen too. Someone looking for a part on the forum and within a day or 2 the part shows up on Ebay. Frankly, if I need a part badly enough and couldn't find it anywhere else I'd buy it from Ebay. As long as it is fairly priced I don't care who I get it from. If it isn't fairly priced I have the option of not buying it.