The For Sale/ Wanted boards - update from M Towers and post your ideas/thoughts here

If you must, retract it from Talk, and then categorise it somewhere else. Cappucino made a good point about a lot of items not being associated with parenting, so categorising would also be a consideration (not a cessation).

I also think the CAT policy should be statutory. I was shocked to see that when I googled my name (its unusual and just wanted to see how many names existed worldwide the same) that it linked up to Mumsnet where I had left someone my home email addy. NOT good! So Cat for security purposes if nothing else.

I do think this site has a place for Buy/Sell, especially childrens items, whether it be toys, clothes or whatever. It is part and parcel of a bigger entity, of which I am grateful (for one!)

Charging a fee to sell? I dont think so. One of the reasons most genuine sellers make sales, is to earn some spare cash. Selling DOES benefit others too, it benefits me. In addition, who doesnt like finding a bargain, and most of the stuff being sold here, is good value and a good bargain. Feel good factor all round.

Regulating is vital. I would instil a policy that one New For Sale thread may be generated per Seller per day. Its up to the Seller what they advertise on their Window of opportunity for that day, but one per day. In addition, bumping should be restricted, to once a day. The User should decide when they think the best time of day warrants the best size audience. iykwim

Outside of these thoughts, I have nothing to add, other than I dont believe that this is making peoples lives a misery. Being told you have Cancer, or losing a child is a Misery. People need to get things into perspective. This is such a trivial matter, and in all honesty Im shocked that it has been taken this far at all.

I think the countess' idea was good:

'Only allow an advertisement

They must put an email address in the advert and then the sordid business can be transacted off the board.

No further posts can be allowed therefore no bumping

They can come on and close it when the item is sold '

I tried to sell something it went wrong and then there were posts saying that I was rude and even when I have refunded the £ plus some I was still 'marked' by the selling mafia

Ban the bastard.

hence my mention of regular mnetters enid

haev only sent things to people i "know"

(and who i have trusted to donate a small amount to mile for maude)

yes freecycle idea very good

and publicity worthy

although you just know the huns will take it then flog it on ebay

give it to friends I say

or ebay it

pmsl and at "overloaded posts by under-educated posters"

Justine - the problem is that it is only the third busiest topic at the moment because of the amount of bumping that goes on! If you regulate that then it will cease to make anywhere near the same contribution towards page impression in any case.

Furthermore, the demographics of the site will have a large impact on advertising revenue. When advertisers or their agents look at MN to ascertain the value of placement then the overloaded posts by under-educated posters will in many cases lose you revenue, presumably.

I believe overall that you are very unlikely to ever make this topic work properly and in the meantime people continue to be scammed by the unscrupulous. Getting rid of them altogether would seem to be the best way forward. Failing that a fee based on the number of posts on that board would seem fairer. So for £10 you can buy a set of 20ads. If you use them up you have to start again. Bumping and repeat ads on the same thread not allowed.

sorry if this has already been discussed (have shocking head cold - bleary eyes mean screen is swimming) but what about a freecycle type section

that's all i'd be interested in tbh

have given stuff away to regular mners in the past, and it's what i plan to do with more stuff in the future

Gawd this is all so much faff for HQ, though.

I agree with marina [fawn]

and I cant hide them - I have my browser set to clear all cookies everytime I log off, so everytime I come back to mnet I am logged off so therefore get all the boards

I think they are rubbish

but I also think what we want and what Mumsnet Towers want are compltely separate issues and they are sweet about it and everything but we are deluding ourselves if we think they will seriously listen. Sorry mumsnet you are great and everyfink but I have my reality hat on.

And they have to pay a CAT fee to register of course

Double if they are not regulars already (ie have not been on the site for 3 months and posted)

Can it not be in talk but only if you select it rather than hide it??

Isn't there another topic like that??

That's a good idea, CD, that's basically how Ebay works. You pay to advertise your goods and no one else sees what happens between you and the buyer unless you decide to make that so.

And you also need to address the issue of liability for bad transactions. IMO.

• Take it off talk.
• Proper categories a la ebay so you can look in toys, or prams, or clothes by age etc.
• End date for advert.
• No bumping. If search facility works properly this will be unnecessary.
• Standard format for advert so no waffley piffley wordy ads.
• Charge for each add? 10% of sale fee.
• Communication like CAT via email and not on the add itself. Nice and clutter-free.
• DECENT seller rating system.
• 3 strikes and you're out so bad sellers are banned quickly.

FFP good as long as not invaded by sellers who have 3 items for free and 8 for sale. Personally think you need an ad format here too.

oh and TAKE IT OUT OF TALK AND ALL SEARCHES (please )

I have an idea

Only allow an advertisement

They must put an email address in the advert and then the sordid business can be transacted off the board.

No further posts can be allowed therefore no bumping

They can come on and close it when the item is sold

Have a sticky/message at the top of the For Sale Board, setting out the etiquette of 1) Putting a relatively descriptive thread title of the item being sold (will make it far easier to search for what MNers need, and 2) Not to bump their thread so much that it blasts all other For Sale threads into oblivion.

It seems that there are some halfwits picturetrailers on the For Sale boards who are trampling all over decent MNers struggling to self-regulate and respect others' wishes in order to make it accessible to everyone.

see here.... Although I suspect you've been closely moderately said thread....

All messages off-board via MNHQ - no answering on threads - they should be notices only.

There should be a complaint procedure/dispute console if you are going to hang on to the For Sale board.

i think your body type is bootylicious, VS. i saw it on Trinny and Susannah.

I think it should be taken off the Talk boards altogether but have a link to it within thr talk menu.

Alternatively, could you set perimetres to ensure all buying and selling topics and threads stay off the main talk active conversation listings. So those that want to buy/sell can log into that particular part of the site, but the rest of us don't have to wade through several dozen 'please please please look at my trail' threads.

I don't feel the usual CAT subsciption is enough to be honest Justine. I think all regular sellers should pay a £20 one off fee, and should (as someone else already suggested)have a verified email address and telephone number.

I don't know my body type, I really should find out.

i come here to discuss parenting issues and chunter mindlessly about which jeans are best for column body types

if i want to buy/sell i go to ebay

true, QS, and it would be a great way for MN to promote MumsnetLocal internally.

my vote?: do away with it altogether