The EF has turned into an online market place

[MacGregor's Daughter]

Am I the only one here being annoyed by the fact that there seem to be more and more sale threads here lately? What happened to the good old discussions and banter that used to go on? Is there anything we can do or do we want this place to change into an online market platform?

[jacek]

It serves expats community who move in and move out regularly hence there will always be big interest in sale or free items. Chit-chat, humour, free beer and banter threads are perceived as bonus that diversify and enliven sometimes tedious office life. Primarily we mustn't forget the important role this forum plays as a rich source of info and social life.

I agree though that some folks could limit themselves to one sale thread with all the items instead of the same person opening multiple sale threads.

[Sbrinz]

Yes, I would prefer the "For sale and wanted" to be off to the side, and not part of the main Forum.

[MacGregor's Daughter]

Or maybe new rules, like only members can post there, no 1st class newbies or junior members.

[jacek]

	Quote:	MacGregor's Daughter
	Or maybe new rules, like only members can post there, no 1st class newbies or junior members.

http://www.englishforum.ch/property-...uncements.html

[AnAustralian]

I think they are highly useful.

[Wallabies]

The online sales and ability to advertise was the prime reason I actually joined not any of the other discussions since only about 5% of posts include any useful information

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	jacek
	I agree though that some folks could limit themselves to one sale thread with all the items instead of the same person opening multiple sale threads.

I agree with this in fact I was thinking of starting a thread about it. It's really annoying to see a page full of for sale posts all from the same poster with each thread selling one item. Is it really too difficult to put everything in one thread with an appropriate title.

Having said that we'll be moving soon and I'll likely have some things for sale so I apologise in advance.

[quark]

It would be nice to have an option in the control panel to choose to exclude posts from the marketplace when you "New posts", but I don't know if it's possible to do that in the vBulletin software.

[MacGregor's Daughter]

	Quote:	jacek
	It serves expats community who move in and move out regularly hence there will always be big interest in sale or free items. Chit-chat, humour, free beer and banter threads are perceived as bonus that diversify and enliven sometimes tedious office life. Primarily we mustn't forget the important role this forum plays as a rich source of info and social life. I agree though that some folks could limit themselves to one sale thread with all the items instead of the same person opening multiple sale threads.

You are not saying that the market place is the most important part of this forum? There is nothing against the market section per se, I myself have sold and bought things. But lately it seems people join and somehow collect their 10 post so they can advertise their stuff for free.

	Quote:	jacek
	http://www.englishforum.ch/property-...uncements.html

That's why I said NEW rules.......

[frenchsanta]

I really don't see what the problem is. If you're not interested, just don't read. Moreover, most of the sellers also participate in the forum's discussions and help other people out.

	Quote:	MacGregor's Daughter
	Am I the only one here being annoyed by the fact that there seem to be more and more sale threads here lately? What happened to the good old discussions and banter that used to go on? Is there anything we can do or do we want this place to change into an online market platform?

[quark]

	Quote:	frenchsanta
	I really don't see what the problem is. If you're not interested, just don't read.

It's just that most people on the forum aren't buying and selling anything, but when they click "new posts" to look at what discussions are ongoing, the majority of the results are people flogging their IKEA Expedit. It's like going to a pub for a chat, and having a TV in the corner on an IKEA shopping channel with the volume stuck on max.

That's why it would be nice if the people who aren't interested in buying bookcases could choose to filter out the market place, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. But it should be optional, of course.

[MusicChick]

Newspapers and mags have advertising sections that people usually ignore if they don't want to be bugged, so do TV programs, etc. If it is annoying, think of you trying to sell and wanting best visibility for whatever can be useful to those who don't have so much cash to spare..

Community is what we make it, it will be as interesting as quality of posts and threads people put here. I prefer fewer ads, sure beans, coz we gotta plow through them, Market Place is the place that needs housekeeping the most, but understand when people need to leave fast and get rid of stuff or move in with a few boxes and not much cash to spend on overpriced new stuff.

[Wallabies]

	Quote:	frenchsanta
	I really don't see what the problem is. If you're not interested, just don't read. Moreover, most of the sellers also participate in the forum's discussions and help other people out.

Fully agree at least the sellers are selling useful stuff. Their posts are more useful then asking questions such as rules to do with traffic offences, or carrying of ski boots on trains or whether Starbucks is any good.

Sellers items should actually get preference over posts that are just a display of a lack of willingness to even use commonsense and figure things out for yourself

[jacek]

	Quote:	MacGregor's Daughter
	You are not saying that the market place is the most important part of this forum? There is nothing against the market section per se, I myself have sold and bought things. But lately it seems people join and somehow collect their 10 post so they can advertise their stuff for free. That's why I said NEW rules.......

Would you mind proposing these new rules?

IMHO, just limit group sale from several adds to one thread by same member. Especially when posted in relatively same period of time e.g.

[zurich] matress 140/200 cm, sunday early morning

http://www.englishforum.ch/sale-want...transport.html

[zurich] many things for free!

[zurich] free sofa! , to be picked up by Saturday

http://www.englishforum.ch/sale-want...-discount.html

http://www.englishforum.ch/sale-want...-discount.html

Another example of moving sale add in wrong section:

Moving out of Switzerland: Mega Sale

Nothing personal and finger pointing, but just an example of how things could be kept in better order. I realize it is nitpicking and lots of micromanagement on mods plate. I must be becoming Swiss

[MacGregor's Daughter]

	Quote:	quark
	It's just that most people on the forum aren't buying and selling anything, but when they click "new posts" to look at what discussions are ongoing, the majority of the results are people flogging their IKEA Expedit. It's like going to a pub for a chat, and having a TV in the corner on an IKEA shopping channel with the volume stuck on max. That's why it would be nice if the people who aren't interested in buying bookcases could choose to filter out the market place, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. But it should be optional, of course.

Nicely put. When I log in and see the first two pages are all furniture and what have you, I log out again right away. And just to make myself clear, I have nothing against moving sales or looking for the occassional best price cell phone, what bugs me is all the 1st class newbies that flood the forum with 10 more or less useless posts and then try to sell their junk, only to never be seen again and never post in any other thread.

[frenchsanta]

I don't say that the filter is a bad idea, even though I would never use it as I don't think these kinds of ads are not that numerous. However I would like the "for sale" ads to stay in the new posts section. I don't want to miss out on a good deal.

	Quote:	quark
	It's just that most people on the forum aren't buying and selling anything, but when they click "new posts" to look at what discussions are ongoing, the majority of the results are people flogging their IKEA Expedit. It's like going to a pub for a chat, and having a TV in the corner on an IKEA shopping channel with the volume stuck on max. That's why it would be nice if the people who aren't interested in buying bookcases could choose to filter out the market place, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. But it should be optional, of course.

[quark]

OK, here's a quick and easy fix:

http://www.englishforum.ch/search.ph...15,72,16,17,64

Clicking the link above gives you all new posts excluding anything in the Marketplace.

Hope that will do for now

[quark]

Oh, and similarly for those people who always need another bookcase in their life:

http://www.englishforum.ch/search.ph...15,72,16,17,64

This link gives you the new Marketplace posts and nothing else. so you can avoid all the distracting chat about brown sugar and traffic fines.

I'm sure it wouldn't be beyond the wit of a mod to make these into handy buttons on the interface, if they were so minded

[MacGregor's Daughter]

	Quote:	jacek
	Would you mind proposing these new rules?

Like I said, at least more than 10 post, somehow you should be an active member before you can use the market place.

Quark, good job! That would be something I'd appreciate.