Thread: Classifieds/Honing Services

I've been thinking about this topic for a while now and I, like Wedwards, have noticed an increase in new guys offering honing and other services to new guys.

I cant think of a way round it, certainly not one that doesnt involve a panel of people being inundated with razors to test and mailing items every which way, or spending most of a meet doing honing evaluations. The only way I can think of around this problem is mutual agreement: New guys agree to do their homework and find out who are the known honers, and everyone else agrees not to take the mickey and try to "earn while they learn".

The way it should work IMO is the way Glen mentions. People start out honing/restoring their own blades. Once they feel comfortable doing this they start to offer to help out new guys for free and then start charging once their reputation spreads and their service is in demand.

What I do NOT think should happen is someone joins the site, makes a million posts so they look knowledgeable, sees the dollar signs, buys a buffer and some hones and sets themselves up as some sort of honing and restoration pro. If you're here for the money, you're here for the wrong reason IMO. This site is all about the love of the hobby, friendship and sharing information with others, not free advertising for someones half @$$ed razor "restoration" business.

I do agree that most people can tell who knows what they're doing and who doesnt, but there are going to be people who either dont do the research or just make an honest mistake. And that one bad experience of their new razor being ruined, or poor shaves as a result of a poor honing, can put someone off the hobby for good. And that would be a real shame.

I do not think people are necessarily trying to rip people off, they just have a inflated sense of self worth and the fact that they go after newbies specifically says a lot.

Dunning–Kruger effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Members currently have the option to leave feedback in the classifieds system.

For example, here are some feedback comments for Maximilian: Member Feedback - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

There ought be a better solution, but it seems there does exist now a sort of feedback system should one choose to dig for it

I've had razors honed, i bought one restored and another ebay razor, and gave feedback on the classified's page's for both parties concerned. Easy !

For someone new then your taking a chance on their word, especially if their newish and don't have a particularly high profile, so as someone who's new to hoing his own and getting less than average results i'd be skeptical about a newbies skills in this point.

Maybe I'm just a slow learner but its not as easy as some may lead you to think it can be

ian

I just love it when everyone agrees with me.

It makes me feel so... meisterly.

As already stated, feedback mechanisms are not perfect. But, they are important. In my opinion, the feedback mechanisms and forums on SRP need significant improvement.

(It was months after joining SRP that I even discovered the feedback area.)

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

As already stated, feedback mechanisms are not perfect. But, they are important. In my opinion, the feedback mechanisms and forums on SRP need significant improvement.

(It was months after joining SRP that I even discovered the feedback area.)

I just took a look and couldn't find it.

I mentioned a feedback area, and JimmyHAD replied that he looked and couldn't find a feedback area. That very elegantly makes my point!

There is an area where feedback can be entered for every member. For me, it is here...

Straight Razor Place Forums - View Profile: LarryAndro

I never even noticed that members were entering feedback on me in this area. A member said they had left feedback on me, and I had to ask them where they had left feedback!

My point above is that there is a way to enter feedback on members. But, it is essentially buried. And, this could be significantly improved. Simply, put a feedback option on some "main menu" where members will discover it and that will be sufficient.

I looked, but didn't really see the "feedback area" other than visitor messages. What am i missing?
Scott

Go to your profile page. There is a "Visitor Message" center. This is not per se a feedback center. However, it is being used by some members as a feedback center despite the original intent.

The "Visitor Message" center is what I refer to above.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I looked, but didn't really see the "feedback area" other than visitor messages. What am i missing?
Scott

Go to the classifieds, find an ad by a member whose feedback you want to see, then click on that member's name. After the member's classifieds page loads, select the feedback link