Bikes without photographs

[FMJ]

My KTM site has a 10 post minimum to post in the classified forums (similar to our new BoTM voting rule). It cuts down on both fraud and spam.

 

[djoptix]

Retrorides has it right - you have to post pictures, and put mileage, price and location in the thread title, otherwise it gets summarily deleted.

For Retrobike I would suggest requirement of make/model, year, location and price in the thread title - so every thread looks like "Kona Cindercone, 1995, Manchester, £300". It would make things a lot safer and easier.

"Any swaps" should also be banned...

 

[JeRkY]

Good idea, along side make model and year, we should also make sure they know which factory it rolled out of in the far east, better yet which shift it was made on, which poor underpaid juvenile did the tig work and what the name of their next of kin was.

I simply couldn't trust an advert that failed to provide this information. Any one who does not know this information is clearly a low down scamming munt.

 

[JeRkY]

I agree with fmj about x no. Threads before Access to classifieds but fear it would lead to spamming in order to get the post requirement, sale threads in wrong sections or just generally putting genuine people off listing that old bike from the shed on here before eBay or the skip... Let's face it, the community needs these otherwise skip bound bikes and occasional inserts of components/ bikes into the Market.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Why the problem with swaps?

I think swapping is cooler than selling!

 

[sylus]

Problem with swaps?

it seems a few think the same way?

a qualifying amount of posts before able to sell..10 seems to be a good target..I don't think it will see an increase in spamming to be honest

when you sell ..pics, location, make and model and price?

 

[JeRkY]

I just dont see the need for it on here.

Is there a need or is it just additional red tape to put off the casual seller, the chap who just found a horde of vintage kleins, Fat's and pace in the barn of the house they just moved into, the person who was going to throw them out before they were made aware of retrobike. But sadly upon joining and realising there were so many hoops to jump through thought sod it...Plan A...to the landfill!

If an advert is posted here without images what is the first thing any one does...ask for images?

If images are not provided it only really affects the likelihood of the seller making sale. There is no requirement that says you must buy. If something appears for sale and is cheap..it is up to you to decide if you want pictures or just want to bite the hand off.

I ask again...is this a problem on Retrobike or just an added layer of bureaucracy?

 

[cyfa2809]

this is a tough one but i think im with jerky on this
all his points are valid

 

[sylus]

I don't see the beurocracy you mention Jerky?

we are selling/buying a bike and parts not trying to fight world debt

just a little bit of honest and helpfull directions for adverts surely?

I doubt it would put off the casual seller at all, most when they want cash subscribe to which ever forums they use and clearly by the feedback man use the full info way without the concerns that you seem to have

 

[JeRkY]

I don't see the beurocracy you mention Jerky?

we are selling/buying a bike and parts not trying to fight world debt

just a little bit of honest and helpfull directions for adverts surely?

I doubt it would put off the casual seller at all, most when they want cash subscribe to which ever forums they use and clearly by the feedback man use the full info way without the concerns that you seem to have

I may be the only one with these concerns or I may be some one who is trying identify whether the perceived need is worth all the possible downsides enforcement of a rule would bring.

If a set number of posts were required before you can post in the for sale section, 1 of 3 things may happen. 1) a user joins makes 10 valid useful posts that add to the growth of the community, the new member goes on to forma valid part of the community. 2) A user joins and rapidly spams 10 threads to get the required post count, watering down the knowledge based content of the forum and generally pissing people off (hi MM ).3) User joins, cant be arsed hanging around long enough and bins the item via ebay or the local scrap yard.

Which is more likely for the person who find an old Roberts or Bob jackson lurking in the shed?

Same goes for if pictures are by default a requirement. There have been numerous adverts from sellers whom for whatever reason have not been able to post a photo in the forum, often simply due to lack of knowing how to use photobucket etc. Or how to resize an image to fit the upload requirement on the boards. In all the cases like this I have encountered I have always been able to arrange via PM or open forum post for the photos to be emailed directly to me.

If your suggested photo requirement came into play, these sellers would of had there threads locked or deleted.

Likewise, a de-stickered zaskar turns up (yet again...yawn) and the user doesnt know what it is. Do we really have to run through yet another "has it got a flat end cap?" "is the serial number on the drop out?" "has it got 1 too many triangles and is it as exclusive as retro-viral drugs on an HIV ward?" type thread. Or are we happy with the person sticking it up for sale at a price they are happy with?

I ask yet again...is this really a problem?

Can you give me one example of where the lack of a photo on a retrobike sale post has lead to a pissed off buyer. (I am sure there must be some but I would be willing to bet the majority of such cases would be where an item has been snapped up cheap by the buyer, with no questions asked.)

This forum like ebay is a case of buyers beware. When buying take as much precaution as you want or can afford.

Sorry to argue, I just really think there is no need to suggest such restrictive changes.