Thread: Moving to a classifieds system

Caveat: I am very new to straight shaving, and I've only been a member of this forum since January (another nick).

Originally Posted by dwessell

What do you think?

A few observations first:

1. Unlike eBay, SRP apparently only offers high standard razors (unless otherwise stated).
2. The market for razors is rapidly moving towards high demand/low offer. (I had a massive problem obtaining razors I really wanted at a reasonable price, even with the exchange rate (€ vs. $) working in my favour).
3. With NOS razors becoming increasingly scarce, the demand will rise rather than fall.

In my very humble opinion, this will make SRP a valuable resource for people trying to sell, or buy, at reasonable prices. Now, I have been on the net since 1989, and I have seen quite a few net communities in my time, but this is one of the best, both in terms of content and support. Introducing a classifieds system would, again in my opinion only, have one major disadvantage, i.e. attract people that are interested in selling only (and quite apparently, there is good money to be made from razors, if you compare prices now to those paid two years ago), and one major advantage, i.e. make transactions more transparent for buyers.

If I had a few wishes free, I would love to see the following in the classifieds system:

1. A form that has to be filled in for sellers. If the form made filling in the salient points from something like Bill Ellis's Selling Straight Razors guide from eBay mandatory, more joy for buyers.
2. Pictures on BST are sometimes lacking. Encouraging sellers to adhere to something like B&B's Digital Photography Primer would be equally helpful to buyers.
3. Karma points. Imagine a newbie coming to SRP, wanting to buy a razor. Without a good amount of lurking, he will not be able to tell a good seller from a bad. I followed the discussion of who should be allowed to post in BST with acute interest. The main problem I see here: The quality of this forum is as high as it is because there very many regulars who contribute to discussions. So much so that there is limited room for a beginner to contribute something of similar standard. The dilemma that arises: How can a newbie become eligible for a BST section that is based on the number of postings without diluting the quality of the forum?
4. Please do not delete finished threads. Or rather, keep the relevant information. Again, take a newbie wanting to buy. How much should, to take an arbitrary example, a W&B Bow with custom scales in good condition be? Hard to tell if you have nothing to compare against. I could easily think of ways to implement that, the easiest being a chart generated from the new classified tables that takes into account, as a minimum, the razor, its condition, and the price it was sold at.

Time to climb off my soap box and crawl back under my newbie rock. Thank you for your consideration.

Robin

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

1. Karma points. Imagine a newbie coming to SRP, wanting to buy a razor. Without a good amount of lurking, he will not be able to tell a good seller from a bad. I followed the discussion of who should be allowed to post in BST with acute interest. The main problem I see here: The quality of this forum is as high as it is because there very many regulars who contribute to discussions. So much so that there is limited room for a beginner to contribute something of similar standard. The dilemma that arises: How can a newbie become eligible for a BST section that is based on the number of postings without diluting the quality of the forum?

Time to climb off my soap box and crawl back under my newbie rock. Thank you for your consideration.

Robin

I generally agree with your first three points. But I like having to lurk in order to tell a good seller from a bad. It places more value on reputation and consistent integrity than forms and guides would. When I know a seller frequents SRP with a good reputation and is consistently honest, I have no problem at all. When someone who hasn't contributed to the forum at all suddenly posts something to sell, I just let it pass. I'd rather buy from a regular here who posted no photo and only the simple description, "Razor, $50" than from someone I've never seen here before with perfect pictures, descriptions, forms, and 5 star awards from competing forums. SRP is a cut above

I like the idea of an improved classifieds for those that have more than one individual item to sell. Example: I have the small packets of Chromium Oxide powder to sell. This extremely small time service has been a benefit to a growing group of people. It's not appropriate for me to post and repost this offering on BST and I was told by management recently that it's unacceptable to post such an advertisement in the signature line and that I should remove mine so I took that off.

Classifieds therefore would work very well for what I offer and in similar instances where a member has a supply of a certain item.

Thanks.

Chris L

The current system is a good resource.
If it is moved to a classified section, I think we will all lose something.
Maybe there could be a way to keep unsold items towards the top. Add a sold button, so that it is easier for sellers and buyers to wade through.

I'm gonna throw my opinion out here. I think the idea of a classified system for everyone is a good one. So I voted for that. The only thing I don't "understand" I guess I would say is the distinction between someone selling a little and someone selling a lot. Who is to say how to decide that? How about people like myself and lots of others who may not sell for months and then have a bunch of razors all at once. I would not consider those people "big sellers" or vendors. Even some custom razor makers I wouldn't consider "vendors" because of their low output. I think it would be a fine line to make these distinctions especially when people's selling status' change. Why not have it simplified with just "sellers" rather than different types of sellers. Or if someone "wants" to be thought of as a vendor, then they can ask for it.

Anyway, I like the classified section idea.

I hang out on watch sites also and most have a classified system and I think it works out real good for both people who sell one item every now and then as well as people who sell every day. Those sites that use just a posting system like we have now seem old, dull and boring by comparison. It just makes the site more attractive and will bring us more members and more members will help sell more things for more people.