Buy/Sell Forum Rules - PLEASE READ!

[captbrian38]

Peter, how do I pull mny ad from the back pages and move it back to the first page, rather than rewriting and posting it as a new thread.
thanks, captbrian38

[BUICK RACER]

Captain, just reply to it and put ttt(to the top!)

[Thriller]

Hi folks. I'm hoping a few will see this and take it as a friendly reminder.

If you set up your post here as Want to Buy, please make the subject for what you want to buy and add the applicable year / model. If you say you want to buy a 59 LeSabre, that is different than wanting to buy part # xxxxxx for a 59 LeSabre.

Similarly, if you are selling something, please don't put just the year / model of the car if you are selling parts. The readers will think you are selling a car, not the parts.

Hopefully that will help to make things a bit clearer and get a better response than if the subject line isn't as clear.

[buick man]

Yeah to all of this. But I would like to make a constructive suggestion so as to keep this a constructive, informative and friendly "hobbyist" website.

Suggestion: How about requiring an asking or sale price up front for all parts posted. The last time I looked this is not ebay and should not be a forum for ebay. Here are my thoughts. If you want to sell to your fellow club and hobby minded companions to help in ridding yourself of your stock pile of parts that you don't really need anymore, fine that is what I feel the spirit of this site is all about. On the other hand, if this is just a "halker" card to direct attention to your full time ebay account where you are squeezing the nut for every cent then stay there. - Just my humble opinion.

[1957buickjim]

+1 David!

[MrEarl]

I often post a thread/link to eBay when I have stuff on ebay. If that's a problem then I can certainly desist. However I think I make items available to folks on here at fair and even give away prices sufficient to off set my trying to make "something" on something every once in awhile on eBay. The items I sell on eBay are typically not from a stock pile but rather from parts cars that I have traveled far and wide to pull out of collapsed barns, muddy and fireant infested fields then haul hundreds of miles to get home, then later fight wasps, snakes and other varments in rain and high humidity sun to pull parts from. All taking away from my time spent working on my own projects. Typically I don't even make a fair labor hourly rate for my time spent just pulling the part, much less anything for the actual part. I typically offer a 10% discount to BCA members. Sadly however most of the latest round of eBay parts went to New Zealand, AU and Europe anyway.

But if "management" wants to make a policy of not allowing threads referencing eBay sales, no problem here.

[1957buickjim]

Mr. Earl, I get what you say. I guess that being said, maybe what is being put forth is that the site is for fellow hobbyists and not a front to an eBay store. I like to think, like David, that we do treat our own kind a little better on this site, vice the eBay approach. Maybe a little delineation is what is needed. How, I'm not sure, but myself, I post on eBay, but if I do, I won't post it on Buick Buy/Sell site for sale as well and I know that is my perogative. I am not management on this site for sure, but maybe what we want to get to is those fellow hobbyists and restorer's asking for help on finding difficult items perhaps, who spend time on the forum in discussions and not just those stepping in to find another quick market channel to sales at the expense of the hobby. Just my thoughts..

[buick man]

Your parts will be missed.

[1957buickjim]

Oh, by my post what was meant that I will not double post. I will gladly offer them here first, but if I don't get any hits in a couple of weeks on it, then off to eBay and off of the Buy/Sell listing. I don't want to be a schill on the site. Most of what I find is that I end up having parts people are looking for rather than hoping people will buy my parts I have listed. Just my take on it.

[buick man]

I know that is what you meant Jim.

Now this is exactly the kind of spirit that this post is and should be founded on. Other long standing hobby and collector sites have this same core of integrity both applied and assumed and operate under these same premises for the overall benefit of the collective group and not just for some individual. Socialism you say? Yeah you bet, and you can also bet that it works!

[Thriller]

I like the suggestion so far as it is a considered approach to get the strict eBayers out or the ones that simply post a link and run away.

However, if you are forcing out the likes of MrEarl, a long time contributor (look at his post count compared to yours, as well as join date) to this site, then I for one believe you are off base.

At least eBay offers feedback mechanisms, and some buyer protection, which this site does not - simply because it is a forum.

[1957buickjim]

Derek, you have hit the nail on the head! I guess what I don't want are what I would call the "sharks"..They chum us through the forum and then redirect (using a wonderful hockey term) the unsuspecting to their "eBay Store". I think that Mr. Earl and the likes of those who are HUGE contributors, not only on the Buy/Sell forum but across the board, deserve to do as they please, not only because they have gained the trust of us neophytes on the Buick Forum, but because they are trying to further the hobby, they are not in there for the almighty dollar. They have put in what I would call "sweat equity" by restoring their vehicles and through that, if they have some spare parts or whatever left over, hey, they are reaching out to the fellow restorer. Hopefully this makes some sense.

[buick man]

The U.S. Postal Service sells U.S. Money Orders. They are then by definition more secure than any private bank offerings, mechanisms or guarantees which they could make actual or implied: ie paypal.

I do not recant on my proposition. How to implement such a measure so it becomes a 'coeur de metier' is up to this board.

IMO if one posts and lists his parts on ebay they do it for reasons defined and purposeful for what ebay stands for.

If this is a hobbyist site and as a hobby site, it then too should stand for reasons defined and purposeful for what each of us who have joined on this particular site stand for.

There-in lies this definitive question, yet it is whole heartedly agreed that each and everyone of our members remains a cherished resource for all of us collectively.

With that said, most sites have acknowledged outside resale sites like ebay's existence and have taken measures to accommodate this reality.

Here are a couple suggestions to this board and all members:

Item 1) Establish within the posting doctrine of rules that if an off site offering is to be made the parts must have been offered here first for 1-week as an open stated price and terms item to the overall collective benefit of everyone on this site. Just 1-week that is all. If the item does not sell then they can be offered as an off-site item on some other site. If so, then there is Item 2)

Item 2) Upon exhausting your posted stated price and terms offer to the overall benefit of this sites membership, then the seller has the opportunity and option of posting their items in a newly created Off-Site Sales Forum.

A newly established Off-Site Sales Forum for our membership who have the desire and or need to want to sell their stuff on another site which could be craigslist, ebay, help-u-sell or any of the myriad of sites out there. The caveat would be this would be available to them only after Item 1 is exhausted.

The result, no one is singled out nor felt to be put upon regarding listing their items for sale elsewhere. It does however set a tone of decorum for this site regarding these type of matters and is fair and just to all.

In conclusion, all of this does not suggest that any of our members are not above board and trust worthy. Nor is it an entitlement barometer as to measure how long someone has been on this board as a member or not. This is immaterial. This is only an initiation, an attempt as you will to address how we should conduct ourselves regarding the existence and realization of outside sales sites like ebay and other outside sites and their influences in part or whole on our hobby good or bad and everything in between. I believe that if the above Items were implemented, it would be a winning solution while keeping the spirit of this enthusiast and hobby site alive and well.

[MrEarl]

Derek, Jim, thanks for the kind words and understanding.

David, is it really THAT big of a frikin problem???!!!! I mean is it really that "broke" to require that much "fixin".

Believe me I won't do it again. But dang I hate unnecessary socialistic rules and regulations tellin me I CAN'T do somethin.

Hell, just do like Willie and tell them what's what, they'll get the message.
Mufflers for Buicks

[1957buickjim]

I like the Willie approach...saw it last night. Straight and to the point! I think it works rather well.

[buick man]

Ah come on Mr Earl no one is trying to socialize you.

But to the point once again, my suggestions are simple. For those who want to run an auction on their supply of items, do so on ebay. For those who want to sell your occasional hobby and enthusiasts items to fellow members do so with a stated price as per the forum rules on this site. If someone is habitual in listing ebay items on this site then setup a forum for that purpose.


Better to die on your feet than live on your knees

[MrEarl]

Ah come on Mr Earl no one is trying to socialize you.

One can never be too careful in the political climate of these days. I get where you're coming from. I've just never realized that many people had a problem with it. We cool.

[Thriller]

David,

Post #38 hits on a problem point. This may very well be a site for hobbyists, but there is a wide range of folks with a wide range of reasons for joining the hobby and a wide range of reasons for joining this site. If you want to come in here and figure you know better than the AACA and its moderators, then go crazy, but don't expect everyone here to be all happy for you.

That said, I don't care for postings that are here as just a link to eBay. However, I have a wide variety of cars and if I trolled eBay and Craigslist for stuff I may need, then I wouldn't have time to participate here any more.

As MrEarl suggested, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...and while it may be somewhat broken, it probably isn't that bad.

Personally, I have a much bigger problem with subjects that aren't descriptive. "Buick Parts" listed for sale in the Buick Buy / Sell forum is kind of stupid. At least put in a year, and better yet a part as well...that way we'll know whether or not it is something that may be of interest. I find that a bigger time waster than someone who has something I want / need who just happens to list it on eBay as well.

Another thing is that this site isn't the be all and end all for Buick parts. There are probably more Buick folks not on this site than on this site...consider that there are many other boards covering specific years / models / eras of Buick, so not everyone is going to post here, but if they have stuff for sale, why shouldn't they be allowed to list it here, with or without a link to another sale site?

Postal money orders are good for many things, but they aren't nearly as timely as Paypal.

If you don't want it / like it / whatever, don't click it.

On top of that, your proposal would also add significantly to the amount of moderator work that would be required in this sub-forum which presently isn't required now.

Sorry for seeming obstinate. I have nothing against you nor your idea. I think it is overkill for a relatively minor problem here. I'm also with MrEarl on the idea that the more restrictive the rules get, the more frustrated folks will get, and will ultimately leave the site, making it less useful to those that remain.

[50jetback]

I buy parts from any source available and don't see a problem if someone directs me to his ebay listings - I'm only going to buy if I need the item.

I've advertised parts for sale a couple of times on this forum but in the main have responded to someones wanted to buy advert.

I don't hesitate to put in a link to an item for sale on ebay if there has been discussion or someone chasing a particular part, haven't done it with any of my items but I don't really sell car parts on ebay. If I did I would do exactly as Mr Earl has in the past and offer a discount to forum members - you can't be fairer than that!!

This is the forum I go to when I need a part. I have always had responses to my parts wanted adverts and have always found the transactions to be first rate. This is not available with ebay - you just have to " trawl " continuously in the hope someone will advertise a part you require.

My view " if it aint broke don't fix it " and this system works just fine. As Derek said - nobody is forcing anyone to place a bid on ebay but I find it helpful if I am directed to it via this forum.

[buick man]

All good, interesting and valid points of view and perspectives about the site and passionate responses to my myriad posting.

Well, this was my written suggestion, and as suggestions go I quess you get the grease with the bone. So Amen to all that. This site still remains the best. IMO.
(oops sorry, there I go again giving another opinion)

[Lebowski]

You should start a new thread with the make and model in the title. You should also include some pics, the price, and your location....

[pauliem]

1990 buick reatta conv. red with tan int. tan top $13000. vary clean no rust or body work ever new tires & A/C top is two yrs. old 80k miles runs drives great.in Naples Fl. call Paul 239-248-6054 or Email miraldi@embarqmail.com I will be happy to Email pictures

[bigshel57]

I was trying to add a pic to my buy/sell post but it keeps giving me an error message. What can I do?

[pauliem]

I don`t know, I guess you have to be A geek to understand this site. one of the other guy`s trided to help me but had A problem too, sorry I can`t help.

[MrEarl]

As this thread was created in 2005 and quite a few changes have been made with the new forum format, I have created new thread and am cutting this one loose.