Yes, these three categories should work well...I'd also like to request a forum for Wanted To Buy.

 

Three cats good for me.You cant compare whats for sale if you have to randomly search forums.

 

I agree with the 3 catagories that Mark indicated at the top.

 

Making sold items go away (or moved into a sold area) would also be good, but it's not manditory. But sometimes good stuff for sale gets burried with all the updated threads that basically say that the stuff isn't for sale anymore....

The three categories will help that some, and then there's always the proverbial "bump"....

Matt

 

The biggest complaint I have about the marketplace is the posts of people who post something for sale but it's just a link to an eBay auction. That's not for sale, that's for auction. I'de like to see that sort of thing go away.

Another board I frequent also has a limit to the number of bumps you can give to your own post (maximum of 3). They figure (and rightly so, usually) that if people aren't responding to your for sale post that people aren't interested.

anyway, just my two cents.

 

I think these are great suggestions. I would also suggest that items not get bumped up to the top because someone replies. This is just wrong for an item to go up to the top 20 times just because there's a little q&a session going on.

This can be done by having the default sort by date, not by latest reply. This will eliminate bumps to the top too! If something is not selling, repost it. Sweeten the deal or lower the price.

francois

 

I disagree with this. Something may not sell simply because of poor timing. That doesnt mean that it should have to be relisted at a lower price in order to sell.

I think the multiple categories are a great idea. Otherwise, we shouldnt overcompliate the Marketplace with an onslaught of new rules and regulations. I think changes (if they even need to be made) should be made one step at a time.

 

I agree completely!

For all the MINOR problems and occasional abusers, the marketplace forum actually works really well. IMHO, we don't need a lot of new restrictions. We just need a way to deal with the high volume of new threads and posts in that forum and a three-way split seems like a good plan to me.

 

I vote for the ferguson 3...

- MINIs and Minis for sale
- Wheels and Tires
- All other MINI parts

 

I think this is the cleanest idea, and it would be the best way to stray away from a category never getting looked into (I can see a misc. cat. taking 3 months to fill up a full page).

On the Ebay posts: I don't think you should be able to post if you're not selling something with a set price. Selling something on Ebay also means you're not selling to the NAM community alone, and I don't think you sould be able to use the board as another outlet for your sale.

I also think that you should only be able to post if you will ship. Not only will it make your products sell faster, it will also make the board move quicker. If you have a person whos selling 'Bay area only' and keeps bumping his product, hes only bumping it for the 20 people in his area that might buy it. If you want to sell locally use the newspaper, or craigslist...not a marketplace open to the world.

Lastly, if you're selling a car the VIN number must be furnished in the post or apon request. Without this # there isn't any solid way to get a history of the car. Shipping rules should also apply to cars, I think it's easier than shipping a package actually. The buyer picks a shipping company, pays them, sets up a date, and they come and pick up your car...thats about it. Granted this will only apply to about 5% of the car sales, but having this as an option makes cars sell faster, and opens the post up to everyone on NAM, not just those in your area. I have bought 2 cars like this off of web boards, and it was a painless process.

I think thats it.

 

Cars, tires and wheels, any an everything else section sounds good to me!

PS: Buy my '03?

 

My vote is to split it up, too, into basic categories as suggested.

 

I would think a further division would be a positive move...two or three but no more.

 

I agree with all of the above, and still think there should be a Misc/collectible category as well.

 

Now that there's nearly perfect agreement, when will it all cut in?

Matt

 

I need to read through all the responses and figure out the best way to implement this. I'm also looking at some solutions that will automatically close threads that are 30 days or older in marketplace forums. What are everyone's thoughts on setting a 30 day duration on threads? Is it the right number or too much?

mark

 

I'm adamantly opposed to it. Yes, in part because I currently have a For Sale thread in the Marketplace. I don't see why a thread should be limited by time frame. Old threads with sold items should be deleted/locked. Threads with items that are still forsale should not be removed. New memebers are joining all the time. And item might not sell in the 30day time frame but that doesnt mean it will never sell.

 

I've gone looking (AS A BUYER) for things that might not have sold and I've bought items from threads that have been open for many months. Please do not disable this option.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I was merely responding to the many PMs and emails I've gotten complaining about those who do not go back and update their threads when the item is sold. Unfortunately there is no way for moderators to know if an item is sold and therefore close or remove the thread. For now I'll plan on not implementing this.

Mark

 

When trying to determine a fair price for an item I may post for sale often I review what that item previously sold for. It wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't have that option but it is helpful.

 

Closing a thread does not meant that its not searchable and can't be read. All it means is that you (and the creator) can't bump it after 30 days and force it back to the top of the thread list. Given that you can read it and still PM the creator of the thread if you have an interest in the item.

Mark

 

Closing a thread automatically is a brilliant idea. I think folks misunderstood and thought they would be deleted.

30 days is good. 60 days might be even better to start out.

There is nothing worse than having a year-old for sale item get bumped to the top with someone replying... 'are these still available?'

francois