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Rules discussion

phinds said:
our regular members participate in forums other than just the "for sale" one even those that participate strongly in that forum
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This is where I have a problem with the way its been. And I've been here a relatively short time. We pretty much jump up and down and kind of are @$$e$ to someone new that posts about having wood for sale. They may have heard about WB and heard good things, then come here and get berated. How do we know that they won't participate in other threads. If I had someone come at me like I've seen before, I wouldn't be back to answer questions if that's one of the interactions i had at a new to me site. Why don't we make up a standard response for this that is not hateful and lets a newbie know that we expect members to participate in other threads and not just a selling site. Or when someone tries to join, it makes them read the rules and agree to them before they are allowed to join. And there has to be a way to lock the for sale thread until someone is here a set length of time or posts besides just the 5.
Ok....so now everyone that doesn't like my post can start bitching at me 😁
 
Eric Rorabaugh said:
This is where I have a problem with the way its been. And I've been here a relatively short time. We pretty much jump up and down and kind of are @$$e$ to someone new that posts about having wood for sale. They may have heard about WB and heard good things, then come here and get berated. How do we know that they won't participate in other threads. If I had someone come at me like I've seen before, I wouldn't be back to answer questions if that's one of the interactions i had at a new to me site. Why don't we make up a standard response for this that is not hateful and lets a newbie know that we expect members to participate in other threads and not just a selling site. Or when someone tries to join, it makes them read the rules and agree to them before they are allowed to join. And there has to be a way to lock the for sale thread until someone is here a set length of time or posts besides just the 5.
Ok....so now everyone that doesn't like my post can start bitching at me 😁
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Can we bitch at you even if we like your post?
 
I agree with the woodworker-only requirement going away. But I refuse to let this become a freebay. For now just go easy on the new sellers, old sellers and we may be able to get through this easily.
Like Eric said, We can't stay in the past and expect to be relevant in the future. But we need to figure out how to fix it....
Kevin had plans to implement the Premium Memberships. But never got around to explaining the details with us.


I will come up with something hopefully soon.
 
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ripjack13 said:
I agree with the woodworker-only requirement going away. But I refuse to let this become a freebay. For now just go easy on the new sellers, old sellers and we may be able to get through this easily.
Like Eric said, We can't stay in the past and expect to be relevant in the future. But we need to figure out how to fix it....
Kevin had plans to implement the Premium Memberships. But never got around to explaining the details with us.

I will come up with something hopefully soon.
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I maybe could look back at conversations for premium membership discussion. My recollection was premium got you a store front? - spot for sellers. There would be a cost. I was and still am advocate for that. Message coming
 
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Mike1950 said:
I maybe could look back at conversations for premium membership discussion. My recollection was premium got you a store front? - spot for sellers. There would be a cost. I was and still am advocate for that. Message coming
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That could be a good thing for several of the members. The down side is, at that point, you will also need to write a rule limiting weekly number of sale posts without a premium account since you will likely attract more sellers as well. It isn't a bad thing, it would sometimes help those of us who sell from time to time know where the limit of polite selling and edge of commercialization is.
That could help the forum pay for itself though, and that ain't all bad.
I am for welcoming some sellers to the site, we have a very closed loop at the moment, with maybe 3 folks bringing in fresh woods on anything like a regular basis. We can only ask each other so many times before we empty the bag...
 
I agree wholeheartedly with this decision. I think we need sellers since most of us are buyers.
Marc, maybe ask Colin, he was the Alpha test on the storefront.
 
Tony said:
I agree wholeheartedly with this decision. I think we need sellers since most of us are buyers.
Marc, maybe ask Colin, he was the Alpha test on the storefront.
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I'm not sure he had a chance to try it out...
 
Is there a donate button anywhere?

I know we used to have an annual fundraising auction-type event where proceeds went to fund the site. Maybe that was a huge hassle, but if not might be another short-term way to help defray costs.
 
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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #33
SENC said:
Is there a donate button anywhere?

I know we used to have an annual fundraising auction-type event where proceeds went to fund the site. Maybe that was a huge hassle, but if not might be another short-term way to help defray costs.
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We are working on that.
 
I like the idea of "premium membership". But as always, the devil is in the details. Rather than premium though, call it something like a "vendor membership" to separate it from those members who are woodworkers who also sell.

Lots of details to work out, volume of listings etc. Will also need details to carefully delineate "high" volume sellers who participate in woodworking from "vendors" who may occasionally post in the WW sub forums.

If a vendor has a "store front" are they also allowed to sell in the regular for sale forums? Maybe instead of a storefront, they each get an "info page" that members can visit for business description, contact, general info and all sales listings occur in existing forums.

I've got no suggestions other than to say throw a plan out there and let members shoot holes in it. That will be the quickest way to cover all the bases.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #35
trc65 said:
I like the idea of "premium membership". But as always, the devil is in the details. Rather than premium though, call it something like a "vendor membership" to separate it from those members who are woodworkers who also sell.

Lots of details to work out, volume of listings etc. Will also need details to carefully delineate "high" volume sellers who participate in woodworking from "vendors" who may occasionally post in the WW sub forums.

If a vendor has a "store front" are they also allowed to sell in the regular for sale forums? Maybe instead of a storefront, they each get an "info page" that members can visit for business description, contact, general info and all sales listings occur in existing forums.

I've got no suggestions other than to say throw a plan out there and let members shoot holes in it. That will be the quickest way to cover all the bases.
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We are also talking about the plan. When we come up with something we'll put it out for scrutiny and any further ideas. Watching this discussion it is obvious that everyone wants this. Will will make it happen but also need to do it the right way and it may take some time.
 
trc65 said:
I like the idea of "premium membership". But as always, the devil is in the details. Rather than premium though, call it something like a "vendor membership" to separate it from those members who are woodworkers who also sell.
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I like that idea.
 
Wonder what percentage of the volume of sales would be needed to fairly offset site operating costs? Seems like an equitable approach bore by seller profits. Could see tiered approach based on member ratings.
 
I didn't know any of these issues were going on. I've not sold anything through here, but I have bought some wood. In the PM, I've had guys request a bowl or pen and have done them for nothing as long as they send me what I need. And they also understand that they will get put in the cue. I do have a full-time job so my shop time gets backed up with projects. Like Mother's Day. I really do enjoy this site and would hate to see it become too commercialized.
 
I haven't been a member here as long as most of you. But here's my thoughts.
1. It is called Wood Barter - A Place for Woodworkers. But the key word to me is "barter", which to me means trading, selling, swapping, etc. So to say the forum is intended to primarily be a site for showing woodworking projects seems to contradict the name. Perhaps a change of name or a clear explanation of the purpose of the site in the header is worthwhile. Something like "The Woodworker Place" would more accurately send the message that the site is primarily for displaying woodworking projects, soliciting advice, asking for help, etc. Another simple change would be to move the "For Sale, Trade, Buy" section to the bottom of the list.
2. I like being able to buy specific, specially selected pieces of wood from safe reliable sellers. I like being able to buy small quantities since I only make small, singular projects (as opposed to producing mass quantities). I like being able to find wood I can't easily find on other wood sites. That said, I have no problem with people wanting to buy large quantities of blanks. But personally I'd prefer not to see this site be swarmed with for sale ads by lumber yards. Nor by ads for common, non-unique wood, such as construction lumber, flooring, decking, etc. Having to sort through those ads to find the special, small pieces of wood would harm the experience in my opinion.
3. The weakness of emails, texts, and written replies is they can sometimes not come across as the writer intends. The tone of voice is lost, etc. So anyone replying to a post needs to be aware of that and re-read their text with that concern in mind before posting. I don't think any Mods here would purposefully send a rude or contentious reply (except those with an undertone of humor of course).
 
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