Regular Forum Participants, How do You Feel About This?

[talesofthesevenseas]

Well gang, ever since I OK'd one person to post about an upcoming antiques event, we've suddenly had a whole bunch of sites selling antiques listing themselves on the forum by one-time participants. We've never allowed the sale of any good or services here, but there were a few responses to the posts. I think it was a mistake on my part to do this for an event, as it looks like it got out of hand almost immediately.

Let me know if you feel that these sites are beneficial, otherwise I think I had better remove them all.

[fancypants]

Yeah , there all alot of 'one-hit-wonders' who'll post in that manner , talesof !
Kinda-sorta stinks like a bait & switch , since most of us like it when members stick around & interact with others a bit (or so I think) .

I'd say rid the forum , but there are many other opinions , I'd suspect .

I'll also comment that all of the regular posters in the past & present (here) seem quite able to find antique 'sale' listings of all sorts , all by themselves .

Allowing folks to post 'for-sale/sale' items is a bit of tacit approval , perhaps , in the minds of the uninformed "New Members" .

All-in-all , the choice is up to the mod(s)/admins & I'm 100% trusting & cool with whatever y'all decide .

Sorry that ya gotta deal with this pebble-in-yer-shoe !

[mart]

I tend to agree with Fancy on this one !! I can find all I want to buy if I am in the mood !! But this forum would be taken over with those type listings !! I like it the way it is !! If they want to sell,, they have ebay or the other sites !!  As for special events,,,I would limit it to a certain number yearly !!  More that that would be a regular,, not special event !!

[aDawn]

I've only been around for 2 or 3 weeks I think, but I can see how the forums could easily become overrun with people fishing for customers (or suckers)

I have trouble staying away from sales, not with finding them! If anything I need someone to hold me back ^_^

[qochoc]

No problem if you remove my event. I just thought people in the Pac NW would want to know of a flea market.

Jim

[jacon4]

Why not have an antique Events/ Sales category on the forum? This would eliminate commercial posts in the questions/info forums and confine those posts in a seperate category.

[talesofthesevenseas]

OK I will remove them. We had discussed the possibility of having a separate forum for sales, but everyone pretty much agreed that it would be overrun by Viagra spam and such.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Hit that "Report to Moderator" button if I miss anything. I'm going to be off and on this weekend due to travel.

[rsorgel]

hi, ive been a member for a while now and while i dont post too much (because im not an expert by any means in much of the antique world, i love to look through the "new" posts and learn! i dislike seeing the advertising ads, but its not much of a burden to look past them as long as it doesnt become filled with them. i also realize you have made the decision to delete these posts before i am even posting this, but in regards to one of the other comments, it wouldnt be terrible to see an events/for sale category but on the other hand, if you are wanting to go to an event, youd probably have better luck on craigslist than this forum. sorry for the late input, but wanted to share my two cents

[fancypants]

Good comments , rsorgel !

Bottom line here is nobody has to be a 'expert' to participate !

I often say that an 'ex' is a has-been & a 'spurt' is just a drip under pressure .

 

[KC]

This is a great informative site....has been for a long time. 

Glad the decision was made to keep it that way!!!

Thanks for all your hard work Ed and Talesof!!!

[mart]

The "events" would not be a bad thing such as the person said about a new flea market or something similar !! But as many here know the sales catagory would be another matter !! There are simply too many looking to sell only and they have been known to list on any free site possible and never come back or list on a daily basis with multiple listings without regard to anyone else !! I mean they have craigslist which is for sales !! I would not mind an Events catagory that just informs the people here of upcoming venues !! Something like the new flea market, or an antique show, antique mall opening ect !!