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

[JustineMumsnet]

As you may know we have in mind a complete overhaul of the For sale/ wanted boards as they seem to be making many folks' lives (ours especially) a misery.

Clearly it makes sense for us to have classified ads - why not re-cycled used stuff? That should in theory be good for buyers and sellers alike (and it's very green too). But equally clearly, at the risk of understatement, it is not functioning well at the moment.

However, complete overhaul is going to have to wait a wee while as Tech's got quite a lot on... (We are hopefully bringing you improved local listings, blogs and more in the next few weeks and months).

In the meantime do give us your ideas for how you'd ultimately like to see For sale/ wanted working. (I know some of you have already posted some sensible (and not so sensible thoughts around and abou but we'd be super grateful if you'd re-post the best of them here so everyone can see, discuss and refine.)

So... what rules would be fair/enforcable and assist in the smooth working of the thing? (nb we are never going to enforce a no huns policy I'm afraid, so do be realistic - MN is for all parents even those with poor grammar and spelling.)

Should we re-house somewhere off Talk? And will it be used/useful if we do? Can we make it work on Talk if not? What would make it easier to use/ more functional?

Should we charge and if so how. What would you pay to use and how would you like to pay it?

Which other boards do this successfully and what are the best ideas/functionality should we pinch?

To ease the pain of waiting for overhaul, next week we will introduce a couple of quick fixes that might hopefully smooth the operation a little, namely we're going to insist that everyone who posts a for sale notice pays a CAT and we'll break down the boards into categories so things are more easily searchable.

In the meantime, please hang on in there and if it all gets too much there's always the hide thread/topic option .

Thanks for your input and your patience.

Peace and love,

Mumsnet Towers

But you know, from an environmental perspective, and considering the carbon footprint, why would mumsnet want to have goods couriered across the country when they might as well be sold locally?

Having a national sales board is not very environmentally friendly, whilst redirecting all to the local boards are.

Because Lyra, we are all parents who have stuff to get rid of from time to time, and from what I've seen the go for cheaper here than on Ebay, it's about helping each other out, not just making a profit.

my vote?: do away with it altogether

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

• 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.

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

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.

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

Isn't there another topic like that??

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)

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Ban the bastard.