A Suggestion to discuss...

[George Bojaciuk]

I've read the "Rules" and I'd like to offer a suggestion to a specific topic, buying and selling. I know at one time a link was provided, but that site is dead. I personally do not like eBay and use it only when I have to.  I honestly do not see the harm in us, as a community, buying, selling, trading.  

What I'd like to propose is this be allowed openly. Once a deal has been made, the seller can then set aside 10% and send it to Greg. This could grow as transactions expand. It might help him continue his work here and with the magazine. One of the diecast sites did this in an auction format and used the funds to enhance their website. Let's say I sell a kit to someone here for $50. I'm more than willing to send Greg $5 via PayPal. Not that the site itself, is actively selling, but the site is used as the means to get desired items to the people that want and or need them. In turn, the site gets a reward.

After reading the rule enforcement aspect, I now feel guilty for having offered my handful of resin Ventura hoods that I had made up. I had hoped to do more small run projects with a caster and help promote him as well as cover my expenses. Sort of filling needs for multiple people. Honestly, where else were these hoods available? How else to you get the word out here, other than a wink and a nod? Dirty back room dealings, or the like? I know I can do it with my own list, but then that excludes sharing with some good people here!

The same for kits. As I get older, I'm realizing my mortality and looking at my kits, I'm envisioning either a large mausoleum or a sizeable dumpster. The latter sends chills through me!  I certainly don't need a trade, when I'm looking to cull.

For the most part, we know each other from our posts. Bad actors have been exposed. I just think this is an opportunity to "Show the Money" to this site and magazine through a productive venue. I hate seeing opportunity zip by!

.....just my two cents worth.

[cobraman]

This idea has been suggested and rejected before. I would be in favor of it but I doubt it will ever happen.

[Casey]

23 minutes ago, George Bojaciuk said:

I've read the "Rules" and I'd like to offer a suggestion to a specific topic, buying and selling. I know at one time a link was provided, but that site is dead. I personally do not like eBay and use it only when I have to.  I honestly do not see the harm in us, as a community, buying, selling, trading.  

What happens when a transaction doesn't go as planned? That's where the problems arise, and who's going to volunteer to solve the problem to everyone's satisfaction? Are you volunteering to spend your free time listening to people complain a kit was missing two parts, or one of the wheels was painted, the decal sheet had a water stain, the kit was built and not factory sealed as stated? Having been through many of these very issues with members previously (and that's only with trading), I can honestly say you are taking an overly simplistic view of how things would really work. Now, every transaction is not going to be a mess, but those which do go badly are a pain and a huge time drain for whoever takes on the responsibility for enforcing the transactions...see where this is going? If you're willing to volunteer your time to police all transactions, it might just work, but once you commit, are you willing to stick it out no matter what?

eBay works great, and it's not very expensive, plus you can reach millions of potential buyers around the world. eBay provides the rules, enforcement, and regulation for transactions. This forum is not designed to do that, simply put, not do I feel it should be. eBay has more than filled the need, and the fact that billions have used it successfully seems to speak for it's own success. Is it perfect? No, and I'm sure we'll get people chiming in who swear Satan himself started eBay to consume honest, God-fearing modelers souls, but again, its success is hard to deny.

[SfanGoch]

I stated this in another thread. Sites such as Armorama, Track-Links, Missing-Lynx, Hyper Scale and others have variations of "Buy, Swap & Trade" sections. They all fulfill their designed purpose with almost no problems regarding "bad" transactions. You get exactly what you pay for. Does this mean that some auto modelers who trade or sell are the "Fair Deal Dans" of the used styrene car world?

[George Bojaciuk]

Casey,

Not simplistic but realistic. I’m also not looking for the site to monitor transactions. That’s not realistic or practical.  PayPal does offer some security and I’ve used Resolution to my satisfaction. Anything after that is upon the buyer and seller.

Just think of the old days of Scale Auto with the Ads in the back. I filled many holes in my collection with that and sold tons of Scale Vanities license plates, when I was involved.

Not being my first rodeo, either, I have run a successful private list auction for a number of years without major issues. I currently have a list of 200 trusted people who enjoy quite a few nice deals. Not to mention my articles.  My list goes out thru Constant Contact. I’ve only ever had one guy who ran up a large tab. Once he paid, he was poofed. I run it, I decide. Period. I have to honestly say, I could have a beer with anyone on my list! ...and I have!

You missed my point entirely. I’m looking at this thru the viewpoint of generating some cash flow to this site and the magazine. This thru sales, which I am no stranger to either. I’m sure selling goes on. However, I think the majority of us would throw some cash back to Greg, especially the usual suspects of the hobby! 

The other option would be to do a pay to play AD section. No risk to the site, but the income from a percentage would be better.

I do appreciate your comments and respect your opinion.

Thanks!

Edited April 19, 2018 by George Bojaciuk

[Xingu]

We are going to fix the header note that says to go to the dead site. Gregg provided a place to sell and it was hardly used.

Gregg says no selling on this site, so no selling.

I did suggest, at one point, that we make selling part of a premium subscription that members had to pay for. In my scenario, we would only provide a place to buy & sell models and would make everyone sign a disclaimer/waiver saying we are not responsible for any transaction conducted on the site. In the end, I think there is just too much liability to take on. Look at how many folks complain to eBay daily. eBay can afford the required legal team, we cannot.

It is not as simple as everyone thinks.

 

[George Bojaciuk]

My apologies for any inconvenience my post my have caused. 

 

[Ben]

I don’t get why there’s trading but no selling? You’re still giving something for something and you can still have a bad transaction with trading?

[SfanGoch]

Getting scammed in a trade is no better nor worse than having it happen with money exchanged for goods. You're still left holding the bag. A simple no liability/at your own risk disclaimer on the part of this site for any type of transaction would suffice. PayPal payments for sales can be disputed if a deal does go awry.

[Xingu]

28 minutes ago, George Bojaciuk said:

My apologies for any inconvenience my post my have caused. 

 

No worries George. This gets discussed every so often. At one point Gregg did over a place to buy and sell models for free, but it was hardly used and he shut it down.

[Dragline]

For what it's worth it should be allowed. Randy's and many other sites have it. Never had a problem when using PayPal.