I know we all have to get rid of things from time to time. I mean no offense to those trying to do so. I'm one of those poor souls who is cursed with a crappy connection at times and would like to quickly help others out if I can. I'm usually not blessed with the time to wade through for sale posts. I'm wondering if it would be possible to set up a sub-forum or something for people sell/buy/swap homeschooling items?
Amanda (the owner) has been given the suggestion before and has made changes as she can to the board. ABall (the mod) might be able to chime in about specifics or check the top of the forums. I think we can all agree it would be a good addition But since this forum is free, not sure how it works to make lots of changes like that. I'm sure it costs $$.
hmmm... what about making it "mandatory" to put "FOR SALE" in caps before what they are selling? or "WANTED"? Even that would be a help but I'd still be overjoyed at not having to wade through those posts.
You can post this question in the "Questions and Tips" section on the main page. That's probably the best place to ask, etc. Are you using the New Posts function? I love that button I didn't know about it for a long time since this was my first forum experience at the time. I will say, I don't mind the For Sale posts since I've gotten some great deals from my HS Spot buddies.
I think there have been more lately because everyone's planning for next year so they're trying to unload what they have to afford what they need. But I would say that MOST of the time there's very few for sale type ads... It would be nice that in the next modification they add that feature. Hmmmmm....
I agree here Krista. For sale posts are usually few and far between. We usually only see them in the spring when we all begin to look for next years supplies and need to get rid of what we are finished with. I know that we get to use this board for free, and there are very few ads on it.. but I do know it costs a considerable amount of money and the more that is added the more it will cost Amanda, who I already feel is very generous in letting us hang out here and not have to deal with tons of ads like I see on many of the message boards on the web.
If we were to add a sale board, I would like it confined to those who have been around a bit, like the restricted part of "Other Conversations". What I DON'T want is people we don't know signing up just to buy something.
Very true Jackie, but then at the same time sometimes people just aren't big posters on boards and are looking for something.
Then we would have people who would get on just to sell their used stuff, and nothing else. These are people we knew nothing about, and it would increase the chances of spammers/scams. I don't mind buying/selling on here to someone I know, or even those of you I don't know that well but have been around a bit. I see our PRIMARY goal as a board of like-minded homeschoolers to encourage/support one another in our educational choices. Yes, we have our differences (religion being a big one; also the various degrees to which we homeschool). But we are still LIKE-MINDED in that we have all been willing to sacrifice for our children's education. But we try to put the differences aside to support and encourage each other. I think opening the board to just anyone who wants to buy/sell would destroy some of that.
If it were to happen it could probably be set up that you have to be a member for x amount of time and have x amount of posts to sell, but it shouldn't be that someone can't buy because they don't post a lot.
I'm ok with having sale board or not having one. There are not alot of threads based on selling items but it does have its season and over the years there are more who want to sell. That's great though. However, if we do have, which woud be nice, I agree it should be a restricted area. Now, the only problem that may occur is when you have a board dedicated to selling there will be certain expectations. If a random person sells every now and then it's no big deal. However, more may be expected from a seller if there is a board dedicated to it. Also, will there be limitations on what is sold? Will it expand to selling things that do not pertain to homeschooling like children's clothing, etc. Will ads have to be formed in a certain way...will there be expectations on when things get shipped out...etc. What if there is a problem like an item never arrives or the buyer feels she is waiting too long, or an item goes unpaid, or an item was not described well enough. I think a forum dedicated to selling may open a can of worms...or maybe not. As an ebay seller, I have experience buying and selling online. Once something is marked an area for selling expectations will happen. The casual seller on here is just a woman trying to help another homeschooler out and herself out. A "seller" on the HSSpot "for sale" forum may have higher expectations placed on her. Maybe not...maybe I am just used to dealing with a larger forum like ebay. There is another forum I belong to that has a "for sale" section for anything and there are no problems or hurt feelings. Just trying to weigh all the options.
Ava brings up some great points. I know on one board I'm on buying and selling is a big thing there.. well and trading too. They have a feedback system and tons of mods to watch over things.. but then that site too is funded by horrible ads, "site supporter" memberships etc. And even there with all the "babysitting" there are problems. You even see someone who has been there for a long time, has a great reputation has 100% positive feedback as a seller or a buyer suddenly turn 180 and start scamming people. Anytime there is buying and selling online it is hit or miss.. and even as a seller you can have the buyer who pays by paypal, gets exactly what they want and decides to scam the seller anyway and files with paypal to get their money back for some bogus reason and they end up with the money and the item... this has happened to me more through ebay than through the other message board, but it's still a risk. The thing is you think of the homeschooling community in many ways the way you think of the community of these other people... they tend to be "good people" but no matter what there can be a bad apple in every bunch.. sometimes you buy a whole bag and all but one have a bad spot.. if you know what I mean.. it's always a risk, but then what in life isn't?
I am not offended by a random person selling stuff. Can't we just put "for sale" or "wanted" in the title an keep things simple? I think most who have sold do that anyway.
I would be thrilled with that. I suggested it further up the thread. I have come across more than a few that looked like a regular post only to find that it was a for sale post.
I think the way we do it now is fine, it's so few and far between, something I don't think this board needs. I think most people do post For Sale in title line I am sure, thats the way I have always seen it. But, there might be a few that don't but that is few and far between, I say just leave it the way it is. It's worked fine this way for years. Why mess with a good thing when its working fine now.
I agree with Ava Rose and Kris. Honestly, I don't feel I've had to wade through posts, since most people put for sale, as far as I can remember, and that this is the only time of the year it happens mostly. It happens some in Spring, and some in Summer, then usually not much of anything the rest of the year. It certainly IS hard to wade through so many posts when your computer is slow, though! Aaargh!
