Thread: Spares bank idea.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

The only issue I could see would be maintaining the lists. Provided it otherwise met with forum rules, though I am not speaking with any authority here.

I don't see the need for formal lists just a post of what you have to sell, trade, or give away with a text list, to make the forum searchable.

Originally Posted by Matheus

Thank you, Euclid. My needs are already there. I just posted this here because of the idea. The WTB section of the classifieds are, indeed, useful and my first choice to advertise my needs, but without specificity sections dedicated to this specific collector's demand (as the sections for services, DEs, SRs, Hones, strops, aftershave, soaps, postshave etc.), that could turn browsing through classifieds more efficient and easy.
Of course, i don't know if this is viable, if the demand justifies and I can be just talking BS. My intention here was just to share a brain fart.

If there is enough volume that efficient browsing requires further categories we can set such, but right now there are only a couple of WTB ads per month and splitting them into more categories will make looking through them harder, not easier.

Originally Posted by gugi

If there is enough volume that efficient browsing requires further categories we can set such, but right now there are only a couple of WTB ads per month and splitting them into more categories will make looking through them harder, not easier.

That sums up the situation, few people have any use for that forum and everyone just sits on their spare parts even though they are unlikely to use them. It's a good idea, people have to be motivated to act as well as made to realize all the cast offs they have are could end up never being used. Far to easy to do nothing

Originally Posted by gugi

If there is enough volume that efficient browsing requires further categories we can set such, but right now there are only a couple of WTB ads per month and splitting them into more categories will make looking through them harder, not easier.

Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines. The WTB would fulfill the need if there was more activity, but it isn't there. I posted an ad in WTB for stamped 1/4" bullseye washers without any success. There aren't many people who could have had those though. The OP mentioned what he needed in the workshop forum and there is already someone saying they have what he is looking for.

A database would be a lot of work and difficult to maintain. I wonder how well it would work just to have a "WTB Parts/Materials" thread sticky in the workshop forum where members can post what they are looking for. It would have to be cleared (or replaced) when it got too long though.

Cause there is the flip side to the potential buyer, which is whether it is worth the time for potential sellers to photograph and catalog spare parts. For me, totally not worth it. I have tons and value it at next to nothing. Sure, someone might want something, but chances are slim and market value is very low. Supply for a given part may be limited, but demand even more so.

That being said, if you want to list your spare parts for sale, you are free to create a FS ad. Maybe the mods would amend the "one item, one ad" rule to allow each member to have a single "parts" listing with all the parts they want. And let's hope no one would abuse that...

I can see local get togethers becoming swap meets as well, if people can act on the idea :}
Really the easiest way to go about it.