I like TGP but ...

[modavis99]

I've learned a lot by reading TGP. I like the fact that all types post here, from famous builders and touring musicians to bedroom players.

The one thing I'd suggest improving is the classifieds. I don't like the fact that people that are not serious about selling their gear can leave their posts up forever. There's one guitar I've noticed has sat there for at least 6 months. I'm sure there are many others. Not only does this behavior clutter up the site, it makes it more difficult for people that actually want to sell gear at reasonable prices to get noticed.

So here is my suggestion. The mods should charge $10 per week to post a thread in the classifieds. If you don't like $10, then choose some other number. Charging a small but recurring fee to post should eliminate a lot of the bollocks.

[edit: I realize you can sort by date posted. That doesn't help when a listing that's been up for (say) two weeks has a price reduction, after the seller realizes he/she got the price wrong. Ignore thread has the same issue. You don't necessarily want to ignore a thread where the person posts a high price -- they may be trolling, or they may have the price wrong and will come down later. Maybe there is some other sort I am missing.]

[edit: Ok, I realize many of you like it just the way it is. Think of this as a minority opinion then].

 

[PatrickE_FenderADV]

There is a fee to post ads... It's called being a supporting member.

 

[specialidiot]

I'll go with whatever the mods decide. If I don't like it, I'll go elsewhere or start my own forum.

 

[handtrix]

OP, After 6 months, its O.K. to learn to ignore ALL that...

I'll go with whatever the mods decide. If I don't like it, I'll go elsewhere or start my own forum.

Good... and take that dang guitar with you

 

[Jerrod]

No.

 

[TheoDog]

You know enough to be able to filter out the posts you are taking issue with, but suggesting someone else take action. I'm not a fan.

I am, however, a big fan of TGP as is… unrealistic complainers and all.

 

[Johnny Alien]

it makes it more difficult for people that actually want to sell gear at reasonable prices to get noticed.

How so?

 

[sixstringfuel]

hmmmm!









And then again maybe we should just leave it the way it is.

 

[Guitar Josh]

Here is the OP -

Here is me in response:

 

[bluesjuke]

I like TGP but........ I wish people would put threads in the forum in which it is proper to post them in.

Like when I'm trying to go through posts on guitars and a non guitar discussion thread pops up right smack in the middle of the Guitars in General Forum.
Makes it harder for the guitar threads to get noticed.

 

[sixstringfuel]

 

[dirk_benedict]

I don't necessarily disagree with the OPs sentiment, but boy are there a lot of people round here this weekend trying to fix this place up!

 

[modavis99]

LOL. I think I'm not the only one around here that needs to lighten up.

 

[djlynch]

dude back away from the up thread button is a thought that goes through my head every time I'm on here.

 

[stevieboy]

I've learned a lot by reading TGP. I like the fact that all types post here, from famous builders and touring musicians to bedroom players.

The one thing I'd suggest improving is the classifieds. I don't like the fact that people that are not serious about selling their gear can leave their posts up forever. There's one guitar I've noticed has sat there for at least 6 months. I'm sure there are many others. Not only does this behavior clutter up the site, it makes it more difficult for people that actually want to sell gear at reasonable prices to get noticed.

So here is my suggestion. The mods should charge $10 per week to post a thread in the classifieds. (I'm not sure this is verifiable, but if so I'd say if a commitment for a sale occurs within a week, the seller should get his/her $10 back). If you want to leave a post up for 6 months, no problem, that will cost you $250.

Charging a small but recurring fee to post should eliminate a lot of the bollocks.

Ok that is all. Thank you.

A couple of thoughts. First, every thread, you can look at the date it was first posted without opening it. It's not that hard to skip the ones that have been up for months, any more than it is to skip the ones for Strats if you're looking for a Les Paul.

Second, it can take a while to move gear even when it's reasonably priced. There's simply a lot of it out there, the economy isn't all that great, and it's unrealistic to expect things to move in a week. Especially high end gear which a lot of the members here buy and sell. Under your plan, they either have to put a ridiculously low price on it or spend 40 bucks a month to list something. You can try to tell everyone that their price is too high or it would sell in a week, but that's just not the reality. Of course there are things that are priced too high but that's the seller's problem, I can't see why that's anything but a minor annoyance to anyone else. If someone really needs to sell something they can put up a low price, but I think generally most members want a fair price and shouldn't have to feel the pressure of a weekly listing fee to get it, they just might have to wait.

The Emporium is there as part of the community, to help members move their gear and buy stuff too. After five years you have 300 posts, not exactly what I would call someone who's made any kind of effort to be part of the community. People that don't post much are welcome to use the Emporium of course, and that's good for the community, but those people should realize that it's a service to the members, not a business. TGP won't be going out of business because some people get annoyed by gear that has been listed too long. You want a business, Ebay and Reverb await, with more than enough annoyances to go around.

A small but recurring fee would eliminate the Emporium.

 

[Tim Plains]

Bad idea in my opinion. What you're basically suggesting is everything here needs to be a fire sale. Have you seen the "ignore thread" option in every thread? Maybe try using it.

 

[modavis99]

The Emporium is there as part of the community, to help members move their gear and buy stuff too. After five years you have 300 posts, not exactly what I would call someone who's made any kind of effort to be part of the community. People that don't post much are welcome to use the Emporium of course, and that's good for the community, but those people should realize that it's a service to the members, not a business. TGP won't be going out of business because some people get annoyed by gear that has been listed too long. You want a business, Ebay and Reverb await, with more than enough annoyances to go around.

I object to being labeled as "not being part of the community." I read TGP fairly faithfully. I only post when I have something meaningful to add to a conversation.

It is true you can sort by date posted. That doesn't help when a listing that's been up for (say) two weeks has a price reduction (when the seller realizes he/she got the price wrong. Ignore thread has the same issue. You can't tell if a person that posts a high price is trolling or just has the price wrong. If there were an alert to a price reduction, maybe that would help. Or maybe there is some other sort I am missing.

I was thinking of newspaper classifieds. Newspapers charge to post to the classifieds. That means that people that only really want to sell something actually bother paying to list an ad. $10/week is some number I picked randomly. Choose a different fee if you don't like that one. My opinion is that having no fee just creates a bunch of clutter.

Anyway, I was trying to be helpful. Thanks

 

[vbf]

The classifieds are fine as is. The guitar-porn value is priceless and you never know when the right buyer will come along. I've done many deals with my TGP brethren and have a high level of trust buying and selling in the Emporia.

 

[Caribou]

I also like it just the way it is.

 

[John Hurtt]

I've learned a lot by reading TGP. I like the fact that all types post here, from famous builders and touring musicians to bedroom players.

The one thing I'd suggest improving is the classifieds. I don't like the fact that people that are not serious about selling their gear can leave their posts up forever. There's one guitar I've noticed has sat there for at least 6 months. I'm sure there are many others. Not only does this behavior clutter up the site, it makes it more difficult for people that actually want to sell gear at reasonable prices to get noticed.

So here is my suggestion. The mods should charge $10 per week to post a thread in the classifieds. (I'm not sure this is verifiable, but if so I'd say if a commitment for a sale occurs within a week, the seller should get his/her $10 back). If you want to leave a post up for 6 months, no problem, that will cost you $250.

Charging a small but recurring fee to post should eliminate a lot of the bollocks.

Ok that is all. Thank you.

The classifieds only allow you to sell if you are a Contributing Member...there is already a fee involved. You do realize that you can sort by the thread date and also ignore threads you are not interested in?