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Original poster

For Sale Board.

70 replies

jayzmummy · 29/08/2005 12:59

There has been quite a bit of discussion recently about the For Sale board being abused by posters who only visit MN to sell their "unwanted" goods.
Many of the frequent users of MN feel that the For Sale board is being used as a cheaper alternative to ebay.

Would it be at all possible to restrict posting on the For Sale board to only memebers of MN who have paid their subs??

This would mean that those wanting to use the For sale board have subscribed to do so....MN would reap the benefits and regular users wouldnt feel that they are being duped into purchasing from those out to make a fast buck.

OP posts:

nutcracker · 29/08/2005 15:57

LOL at me being in a diff category Kanga

RTKangaMummy · 29/08/2005 16:06

You are a real member and deffo not a trader

nutcracker · 29/08/2005 16:37

Well i think i defo fit into the posts all over the board catagory LOL

hub2dee · 29/08/2005 16:41

Probably number of posts outside of 'For Sale' >= magic number would work best, presuming there is a desire to limit for sale (rather than grow it as a parenting exchange network for kids' stuff IYSWIM).

This is also why, I guess, some fora have username followed by (number of posts / 'status' such as 'MN Grand Addict') so you can tell, at a glance if the name is new or does not post a lot...

SoupDragon · 29/08/2005 16:42

NO WAY should it have "no of posts" after a name!

Nemo1977 · 29/08/2005 16:48

hub2dee thats a good idea, a how many posts number..is it possible for mn to do that?

SoupDragon · 29/08/2005 16:50

No, it's a bad, bad idea.

Ladymuck · 29/08/2005 16:51

I used MN for over a year without even venturing into Talk - the product reviews were excellent when I was expecting ds1, but didn't particularly see any attraction in the talk boards (I still had an active social life). IIRC other have done the same (QoQ?).

If I read it correctly the main issue is around "MNers" giving stuff away to "non-MNers" who then seel on at a profit. Perhaps the way to go is for MNers who are giving stuff away for free to put "Only available to Talk-users". Presumably MNers who are selling stuff rather than ffp don't care who buys it?

SoupDragon · 29/08/2005 16:52

It's also the sellers who are using MN as a "free" version of Ebay or to sell things which are obviously as a business venture.

RTKangaMummy · 29/08/2005 17:03

please can someone tell me what an EBAY SHOP is?

And also how do EBAY do their charges?

Can't MN be the same?

ESP for these trader power sellers?

katierocket · 29/08/2005 17:05

"This is also why, I guess, some fora have username followed by (number of posts / 'status' such as 'MN Grand Addict') so you can tell, at a glance if the name is new or does not post a lot... "

This is a very bad idea IMO.

hub2dee · 29/08/2005 17:08

Can I clarify that it isn't an 'idea'... it's a comment.

Ladymuck · 29/08/2005 17:46

Don't see what is wrong with people coming on to sell here rather than Ebay to be honest provided thye continue to aim at the parenting community. It has bumped the overall number of users and hits that the site gets which in turn increases its ability to get advertising revenue. And presumably if people come on here to buy stuff they may also click through to other sites from MN.

roisin · 29/08/2005 18:42

Miaou - I know exactly what you mean. I have sometimes disposed of items on here FFP, but I wouldn't like to think they were going to a dealer who's then flogging them on ebay. But then I'm not sure that is a logical response - why should it bother me?

I also occasionally buy stuff and/or get things FFP on here too, and quite like the facility being there.

I think the number of 'offenders' is very small. If we were to have an official policy that 'trading' is not appropriate on here, then just ban offenders.

tigermoth · 31/08/2005 08:11

The for sale threads don't bother me that much, as I never look at them. One day I may well sell some of the boys' baby stuff there. If people make a profit selling my stuff on, that's ok by me.

Wickedwaterwitch has a point about the sheer number of for sale threads, though. Does that take a lot of mumsnet's time and resources to run?

Throwing in a suggestion, could mumsnet limit the number of 'for sale' threads any person starts to, say, 10 in any three month period? Even if a regular seller changes their name, presumably mumsnet HQ would still know who they are.

If someone goes above that number, they have to pay mumsnet a 'commercial' subscription for using the 'for sale' threads for the whole year - say £25 pa?

For this money, these big traders would appear on a list on mumsnet where they could advertise their business - like a classified ad - with a link to their sellers webpages. So traders would get extra advertising and mumsnet readers could see what big traders are using mumset.

Every else who sells - those who are having a one off clear out, or just post on 'for sale' threads every now and then to raise some cash, wouldn't be forced to pay mumsnet for doing so.

MNHQ

carriemumsnet · 01/09/2005 11:39

Thanks one and all for these suggestions. We probably do need to sit down and have a good look at the running of For Sale and promise to discuss at the next mumsnet meeting which should be in the next couple of weeks.

I'll make sure I print off the various suggestions here and report back on what, if anything, we decide to do.

Thanks again for raising the topic - keep the suggestions coming

Kelly1978 · 01/09/2005 12:00

Couldn't a limit be placed on the number of posts a user places fo the for sale board, e.g. on a month or something? Those sellig genuinely prob don't have clear outs more often than this, and it mgiht be enough to deter hardcore trade sellers, since they are the ones causing most offence?
Just a thought...

diva4mgl · 20/09/2005 15:15

Hello all,
Im still new to mumsnet but i have used for sale wanted board couple times. To be honest i was looking for Jane pushchair reviews on the net and found mumsnet.
Some of you know me about having problem with samantha143 with carseat. I still havent got my money back,even i have returned her carseat. Which cost me 95pounds.I did post once when i really felt down about it but i felt like i wasnt really mumsnetter, i suppose i didnt spend enough time or i didnt do enough talk here to all of you.
I don`t post much but i do read loads of the time. 1st im still find myself foreigner, and my english not good enough to express myself. But i do post whenever i have time and i feel like im always busy most of the times. I have seen many posts about people calling for saler or non-mumsnetter. It made me feel bad, and i felt i was one of them.
sorry got to stop here, DD is awake. will continue if i have time later.
Excuse me,

champs · 21/09/2005 00:21

hi diva4mgl how are you?
I don't think anyone means people who use the for sale boards to buy and this thread isn't pointed at all sellers. Only the ones who use it dishonestly or as another Ebay.

So sorry you've had problems and have lost money, did you pay by paypal?

Sorry too that you felt that you wasn't a real mumsnetter you are a valued person -- and a fellow swapper
anyway have rambled enuff.

Hope you get it all sorted out with samantha143

MarsLady · 21/09/2005 00:32

diva, I've become used to seeing your name about and don't think of you as a"stranger". I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with Samantha. I read your posts on her thread.

Not all Mumsnetters are like that. I'm sorry that she abused your trust.

I hope you continue to post on the other threads.

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