The Leica Forum has become a sales gimmick

I've only been here a month or so (I started the M6 brass top string) and am

really enjoying the new home.

I got off LUG a while ago for numerous reasons, but the one thing I really miss

are the Friday 'for sale' items.

I'd vote for Friday only if that's an option for 'for sale' Leica (only) stuff.

No underwear. : > )

I see that an exception has been posted in <a href="/terms-of-use">The Terms of Use</a> section under "No Soliciting." I don't know if this is a permanent policy, or if this will be in place just until we figure out how to taper down the FS/WTB postings.

<p>

If the former, then it looks like there are a few options placed on the table before us:<p>

<ol>

<li>Continue FS/WTB postings as the LUSENET Leica forum has historically done;

<li>Limit FS/WTB postings to a single day of the week (Friday) as the Leica Users Group (LUG) mailing list does;

<li>Stop completely the FS/WTB postings even with the special provision in the site Terms of Use policy so that we as the Leica group don't feel guilty about having a special privilege that other forums do not!

</ol>

<p>

If this exception is temporary until we can wind down our FS/WTB postings, then, well, maybe we should wind down our FS/WTB postings, and I am likely to hear further information off-line.

<p>

From a personal standpoint, I agree with Hal (and others) about allowing FS/WTB postings so long as they are labeled as such and that they are not posted by retailers of any kind (personally owned/used things only). Even with so many today, at least they were labeled properly and anyone who doesn't like to see them can <u>easily</u> avoid them by not displaying the threads.

I don't want anyone to think that the site is stopping you from doing what has been customary here. As Tony noticed, we've put an exception into the Terms of Use for this forum only. I actually think you would all appreciate the classifieds better for buying and selling stuff since there are some features that are designed for managing classifieds. But it is the forum's call.

Thanks for understanding, Brian.

 

Having a "Leica Goodies For Sale" Friday means a lot to some of us Ebay haters!

there are still 2 red dot underwear pants for sale! one made in germany "aspherical" one made in japan. mint-

I too would like to see the FS, WTB, WTT, posts continue here, but out of consideration for the deference given to our forum (by Photo Net), perhaps it would be wise to be adamant in limiting them to Fridays only, with no non-leica nor non-leica related items allowed.

I'd suggest holding off on any knee jerk reaction to what could be a temporary spike in FS ads. Recent ads seem to be mostly from newbies to the Leica forum, they could be photonetters with a pent up desire to unload gear and a previously limited target market on PN. I like reading the occasional FS ad here because some of the stuff is interesting and I dont go out of my way to wade through online ads elsewhere. My two cents. Ignore it if you don't like me. 8-).

How about a "Leica" category in the classifieds section? I could put a link to it at the top of the forum, too. With maybe some indication that there was a new ad since the last time you logged in.

While I don't particularly see a problem, as long as they are limited to Leitz/Leica photographic equipment and the thread is marked FS, WTB, WTT etc., let them continue. One doesn't have to open them.

 

Best,

 

Jerry

A Leica category would be a nice touch, Brian, but of course you're opening yourself up to demands for a Canaon category, a Nikon category, ad nauseum. Besides, doesn't that capability already exist with the present Search "Manufacturer" selection field?

 

I would be happy with the PN Classifieds if the Search was a little more sophisticated. "Max 30" listings seems restrictive given the sheer number of ads. And I'll be damned if I can figure out how the "Keyword" field works - doesn't seem to have any filtering effect at all on the resulting list.

Ken, you could be right. But probably if I create a Forum-targeted ads concept for this Forum, it would be a no-brainer to do the same thing for the other forums that wanted it. Your "Manufacturer" point is reasonable, but is everything of interest to this forum manufactured by Leica? (This might be a mind-bogglingly dumb question considering the title of the Forum.) Besides with "Manufacturer" I'm not sure I can do the new-since-last-time thing I mentioned.

I think a separate Leica classified section with a link from this forum might be an excellent solution. That way we all could keep a link to it in our "Favorite Places" list and check it quickly at regular intervals. Brian, you have to understand that to us Leicaholics, the high from a purchase is very transient and we need to be able to get another fix in a hurry ;>)

What's all the fuss about, besides Bill Mitchell's censorship? As long as an ad is clearly identified

"FS" or "WTB" or whatever, those who are annoyed by this can just move along and not read

the thread. That's all. I like the ads, they come from Leica people for Leica people, and I don't

have the time to go and browse another forum. I did buy a couple of items through this forum,

and I appreciated it.

 

Being a Leica fan and user doesn't mean being stuck up and snobbish, for crying out loud! At

least, that's what I always thought. Now, I'm wondering. Let's relax and have some fun. Okay,

ads might not be "pure Leica forum" or whatever, so what? At least they're polite, considerate

and useful, which is way more than can be said of some other posts. And they're fun. They

keep us posted on current prices and availability of products.

 

I'd rather have ten ads than one of those goody two shoes posts that whine and complain that

this is OT, and this is off-limit, and this should be forbidden, and what not... God, we got rid of

who you know, are we going to have to endure extreme righteousness, now? Give me a

break.

If you think this thread has attracted some righteous sentiments, go check out the Large Format "ADMIN..." thread posted June 12th. Some folks there seem to be in deep space. By comparison I don't think we have any problems here.

<i>It is actually a violation of the photo.net Terms of Use to post

offers to buy or sell anywhere except the classifieds. We've been

looking the other way because it seemed to be customary on

this forum when it was on LUSENET to allow ads. Now that you

have a classifieds section available, perhaps you would like to

change this custom. The classifieds section in general works a

lot better than the forums for ads.</i>

<br><br>

I would be very happy to use the photo.net classifieds and point

people there, but I find the template for entering items for sale

unnecessarily difficult to use and unable to express what I want

to put in my advertisements. Just like photo.net, in general, it

poses a weird combination of advanced features and lowest

common denominator implementation that makes useability

and adaptability poor. The forums are the most useful and viable

part of photo.net, having a good format and reasonably usable

features.

<br><br>

Godfrey

I am in favor of the Fridays only policy. I trust the names I see regularly more than E-*<#. One possible addition is to allow the postings to remain for a limited amount of time, so it is in effect a rotating list. Can it be set up to automatically delete postings in the For Sale catagory after say 30 days?

Friday Sale sounds great. As a reader for just the past month, I have gotten a ton of great advice! I sure would feel more comfortable buying from a user/junkie/serious amateur/professional here, without having to go to a separate section of photo.net.

> those who are annoyed by this can just move along and not read the thread

 

Oliver, it isn't a problem ignoring the thread, it is the fact that it gets archived with absolutely no value added. and, when posting that you have a Noctilux for sale, that thread ultimately gets referenced when someone searches for 'Noctilux' in attempts to learn more about that lens. you might argue that your classified ad has value and should be saved, but it isn't in the spirit of what photo.net represents. the forum is small enough that perhaps it doesn't really matter except idealogically.

As a newcommer to the forum (awaiting my M6 that I found here and going to the post office to send a money order for my 50 'cron that I found elsewhere)I have to say that I found LUSENET by accident. I however check the photonet classified daily. I know some of you do also because awhile back I traded Dexter a piece of Nikon gear for some used shorts with the Nikon logo on them.

 

If you are selling something, do you want the broadest exposure or do you want to limit your sales to "friends?"

 

Gene Jenkins,

Fairfax VA

 

Who has a photographic memory.

Now, where did I put that film?

Daniel, I understand that, but does it HAVE to be archived? I mean, couldn't posts beginning

with «FS» or «WTB» be automatically excluded from the archiving process? I have no idea

how this forum works, so I could be way out there, but I'd love to learn. Thank you. :-)

Tony:

 

I really like your attitude in asking everybody else's opinions but I'm afraid that it is you who will have to make the decision, right ?

 

-Iván

What's the problem? As long as the subject line states "FS" then Bill Mitchell (or anyone else) can just skip the thread. This is a non-issue.

This is the problem: you'll still have to sift through them (FS, WTB, etc) on the forum header list. Involuntary eye motion?

 

Already, we have a FS Bronica, RF no doubt, appearing on the header list. I could try putting up my Mamiya M7 next. And Jeff Spirer may tire of his Konica Hexar RF and put it up FS. Hey, how about the Cosina/Voightlander?

 

I was thinking about a nasty experiment where I could post thirty bogus FS or WTB headers in a row just to show that they irritate but the thought of getting banned like the unmentionable Manx gives me shivers so I won't.

 

It is Tony Rowlett's call as he is the moderator. If he allows FS/WTB as was usual on the Lusenet forum, I'll go with the flow.

Eric, thirty FS in a row would sure irritate, especially if they're bogus, but that doesn't happen. I

could also prove that thirty bogus posts in a row pertaining to the same technical question about

Leica would irritate. Thirty bogus anything in a row would irritate. What's your point? You know,

don't try to fix that which is not broken. ;-) As Douglas puts it, non-issue.

But, I must add, I am all for banning non-Leica ads. Now, that would be annoying. ;-)