Q about rules for Classifieds.

[n1as]

Hey folks,

I'm reluctant to raise this question for fear that I'll get "moderated" or even booted, but I guess I'm too stupid to keep it inside any longer.

I really enjoy POTN and the Classifieds section but I think the 4-week rule makes it less useful than it could be. I've noticed that any ad I've placed gets a lot of action for the first few days, then it runs dry as it falls to page 2 or (*gasp*) page 3. I believe most people do a quick scan of pages 1 & 2 and that is it. Forcing a 4 week wait period when responses dry up after 4 days just doesn't seem right to me. I've tried the idea of updating the ad to lower the price, but once the ad is on page 3, nobody is watching anymore so additional info posted in the ad falls on deaf ears.

So what is the story behind the 4-week rule?

[Jon]

Well, 4 pages back the threads are 2 days old. 40 pages back, they're 3 weeks old. How long do you think your fresh thread would stay on top if we allowed people to re-post every 4 days? And do you really want Marketplace to be a contest to see who can re-post their listings fastest? I wouldn't think so. Realistically, if you're selling what someone really wants, it can be a 4 minute old or a 4 month old thread and they'll search it out.

[n1as]

Wow, I didn't know there were that many posts. Thanks for the clarification Jon. Indeed it seems to be a dilemma. How to keep so many posts "fresh".

One non-photo site I know of has a 4-day history limit. Ads were kept for 4 days only then deleted. After 4 days, you had to repost. Of course, then there is no history to search through which would be bad.

If there is that much traffic, maybe the classifieds section could be split into a couple of sub forums? bodies / lenses / accessories?

Maybe a sticky should be created to remind folks to use the search feature to find what they want.

I don't know, I just know that after a few days, the faucet shuts off and I see newer postings for the same stuff at the same price being sold while my item sits there, being ignored.

[Pekka]

You can always use your signature support your ad, see http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=476102

[Skip Souza]

Have you discovered the "Last Post" button. This is a per-user, per-visit, setting but it changes the sort order from thread start to most recent post on top.
Post new information, like a price drop, and you will see you thread back at the top in Last Post sort order.
I believe that most serious FS visitors use the Last Post sort order to keep up with changes.

[n1as]

Have you discovered the "Last Post" button. This is a per-user, per-visit, setting but it changes the sort order from thread start to most recent post on top.
Post new information, like a price drop, and you will see you thread back at the top in Last Post sort order.
I believe that most serious FS visitors use the Last Post sort order to keep up with changes.


Never heard of it. I'll have to check it out. Now if I could just get all those buyers to use it LOL!

Thanks guys!