Role of SRP BST discussion thread cont.

[jscott]

I think that both a time limit ans post count limit should be required.

time limit because some people post 100 posts + a month. but 1 month into this you just aren't knowledgable enough.

post limit because someone can join and never paarticipate then start selling a few months later wiyh that I'd.

I agree that the benefit of our BST forum is that a new person can feel safe buying here and know what they are buying is as described. without the knowledge to state those about your item its just like an buy it now on ebay.

I think a minimum of 2months and 50 posts is not asking a lot.

lastly, I think good bad ugly razors can all be sold here. just take good pictures and state the facts. I've pm'd sellers calling things mint that had obvious rust all over it plus hone marks. shiney does not mean mint!

-J

ps. I don't think I sold a razor on the BST forum till I was a member for over a year

[Utopian]

I think a minimum post count would be a waste of effort. If I really wanted to jack my post count, all I would have to do is just briefly reply to every single post. In other words, if I am hell bent on selling my crap here, I will spend a few days piling on inane comments into the threads until I reach the limit, then I will be considered vetted and proceed to BST. I don't think a post count would be of any use but to dilute the forums.

If you review the posts of someone who sells a lot of razors here, you will see that his first post was, "What does it take to qualify to sell here?" There was nothing wrong with the question but a look at all of his posts makes his intentions clear. He never contributes to the content of this forum. He doesn't help anyone.

I think the only solution is to monitor the participation of people who appear to be selling a number of razors in BST. The "fee" for selling should be their participation, or contribution, within the entirety of the forum. If they are participating, then they are in essence paying their dues. If they are only selling razors, they are not contributing and should be asked to either join the club or move on.

[azjoe]

The guidance statement about selling on the BST forum has been stated a number of times and was made a sticky not long ago...

The BST forum is not a substitute for ebay... it's a place members can use to buy/sell/trade an occasional razor, etc... i.e., don't plan on running a "razors-for-sale" business on the SRP BST forum.

"Occasional" means just that... once in a while, not one every day or even a week.

"Don't plan on running a business on SRP... " has pretty clear intent.

Honestly, what more needs to be said.

Rules don't make things work... people make them work... you and me managing and conducting ourselves in concert with the SRP community.

We should all cherish members here who are honest and giving of their time and talents to foster the art of str8 shaving. But I don't know that you measure that by post count. Take John West as an example... hardly ever visits SRP but is a true str8 aficionado and a prominent member of the str8 community at large. Anyone would be foolish to discount information in any post he might make... and would you really want to deny him the ability of selling something in the BST (if he ever chose to do so) before he made a dozen posts?

The majority of the members of this community who sell razors do it because they like restoring them as a hobby, they enjoy the challenge of getting a good deal on eBay, etc. They like helping a newbie get started in str8 shaving with a decent sharp razor. They do their best to describe their items completely and honestly because that's the way we do things here... not because there's a rule.

SRP provides the BST forum as a place for a community for buyers and sellers to interact... SRP is not the guarantor, the merchant, or the broker. Things will work best if you police yourselves in the BST... but do it with the utmost respect and civility. Rely on the moderators to take care of those who refuse to act in a civil manner. Rely on yourself to know what you're buying and from whom.

There are 100-200 people joining our community each week... many are just lurkers/newbies, but those that decide to take up str8 shaving all need a razor. So demand is high... that implies to me prices will be also.

[They Call Me Blockhead]

I'd like to come out against basing the posting rights on post count. Having been a moderator on another board, it leads to lots of pointless posting to jack up post counts.

I've been here for a few months, but don't have a lot of posts. Why? Because I'm still learning. I could start posting all over the place, but most of the threads I read often are ones where I have no useful information to add. Most of my posts are questions or off-topic. That said, I just posted a WTB in BST and maybe I'll get better at restoring and want to put up a razor even if I spend more time here lurking and learning than posting.

I could start posting all over the place. Lots of "lol" and "I agree" posts, but if lots of people are doing that you end up with a discussion board without much discussion.

[azjoe]

Lots of other boards call posts made just to increase post-count "spam"... and spammers get banned.

[shotwell1234]

Maybe a hard limit of items sold per month would quell this issue? I know it would suck to do, but it might make a difference. Another option (that I personally don't like) is to have a mod ok items before they hit BST. Just a couple of thoughts.

[jockeys]

maybe have a minimum time on board as a contributing member before you can sell? i don't think anyone cares if newbs and spammers want to buy stuff, but maybe you need to be active for a month or something before you are allowed to sell.

i agree that basing it on post count is counter-productive, it will just lead to spamming in order to boost post counts.

[Utopian]

I respectfully, and only slightly, disagree.

I'm not sure exactly where the line should be drawn regarding frequency of sales. Case in point, Gary, aka Traveller, sells amazing razors and certainly has been selling more than one per week lately. I don't think anyone minds that he does so because he is clearly putting a lot of effort into the razors and they are amazing. Many others also consistently sell quality razors and by doing so provide a safe reliable resource for forum members, especially newer people who would likely be screwed over by an ebay purchase. I'm not sure such sellers should be so restricted.

I sell razors locally. I have never sold a razor on ebay nor have I sold any in BST. I usually go through spurts of prepping razors when I have some downtime in my lab. If sometime later I start selling some here, I don't see the harm in selling more than one per week if there is demand for them. The sheer number of new members indicates a continual demand for quality razors. I believe the quality of the seller should determine the acceptable number of razors to be sold. In other words, you should have to earn your right to continue to sell here and a friendly notice from a moderator can be used to ask someone to slow down or stop selling.

I'm not to thrilled with the new "thank you" addition and I have not yet seen any explanation for them (I haven't looked for it), but it smacks a bit of a popularity contest to me. I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of seller rating system is to follow. I would prefer for the forum to continue to self-monitor, pro and con, as much as possible. I think it has been working and that is what started this recent round of discussion. Who knew that a Boker King Cutter could stir up so much?

On the other hand, maybe we should just all set up our own selling sites.

[jnich67]

Maybe a hard limit of items sold per month would quell this issue? I know it would suck to do, but it might make a difference. Another option (that I personally don't like) is to have a mod ok items before they hit BST. Just a couple of thoughts.

The problem with the hard limit, to me, is that we have several respected and well established members who restore, hone and sell a number of razors per month. Now, based on the time they're putting in, they're not "profiteering" or making any money. Its more like a service in my mind. I'd rather have a shot at the items here than have to go for them on ebay or another forum. It gets complicated . I'd rather we have some flexibility and trust senior/respected members and mods make the judgment calls. I think we can handle a small flare up - like this one- once in while.

Jordan

[RobertFontaine]

This is a tough question for all parties.

There is a broad perspective in the perception of value here.
Some are shavers, some collectors, some are interested in practical art.

* While a $200 wapi might seem obscene to me it does not to others.
* While I think a blade that is past it's ability to be shaved well with is garbage others do not.
* I generally spend 30$ or less on a razor but I have also spent more than ten times that for a razor.

I like to think I'm smarter than everyone else but occasionally I have my doubts.

I like to think the B/S/T serves multiple audiences. Likely the biggest valid area of concern I can see is that Newbies get razors that will not turn them off of straight shaving (either through quality of tool or price). After that I think we generally have a forum of adult members who are unreasonably interested and opinionated about little hunks of really sharp steel.

An FAQ for how Newbies should buy a Razor should likely be the first stopping point and highest area of concern. I regularily see prices that befuddle me when I compare them to shavingshop or classicshavings prices for NOS. I also don't know what to makes of refurbs that cost more than customs. Obviously the buyers disagree.

I think we should likely keep our "That's retarded" or "I could by 6 of x for that" out of the sellers thread. While both statements may be entirely true and I am tempted to post them myself they are also inappropriate.

Clarifying the process for moderating posting in B/S/T would likely help some. In the same way that spam can be noted and pointed out to a moderator by clicking on the report post button on the top right I think that we could communicate an issue with a sale.

The moderator could then make a determination and open a discussion with the seller. Without a 3 page flamefest.

I realize this makes moderating B/S/T more of an annoying job but leaving it to monthly flamefests isn't good for the community.

-Bob