A better solution for the Deal of the Day threads.

Walking Man

Walking Man

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I thought I would mention this, in a friendly way, because something has been bothering me for sometime now. It is how quickly the For Sale posts get clogged up. I can certainly understand why one might want to say "hey that's a beautiful knife" BUT if you're trying to buy one, it's IMPOSSIBLE to figure out what's available and what's not. I have two suggestions that will help out Buyers, Seller, and HI alike (this WILL help sell knives, guaranteed)
1) please don't post unless you're going to buy.
2) If you're going to buy, you MUST clearly post in the thread which ones you will be buying, and this should count as an official "I'll take it".
Just a few thoughts, personally, I'm sick to death of seeing a thread with 50+ posts when there's only 5 or 6 items for sale.
Thank you.
Again these are only my thoughts. Please feel free to comment.
 
1. Conversation about the sale items has always been a part of the threads. It is entertainment and good fellowship. Further, often questions about the products are answered, and information regarding use, relative scarcity, variation, etc are addressed.

2. In the past, I too wondered if we shouldn't 'require' buyers to post that they've emailed. Besides the fact we can't 'require' much if anything at all, some buyers reserve the right to privacy and I respect that. As it is today, posting that you've sent an email for one of the items is a courtesy that is appreciated.
3. Scanning the thread you will find signposts along the way- Yangdu's current status of what is sold and or left. This works fairly well.
4. I imagine how items are offered here is up to Yangdu. I like the way it is.


munk
 
I agree with munk. The DOTD should be taken as light-hearted and fun. It's always a good time even if you don't get the blade you wanted...or any at all. It's a neat place for thread drift and personal experience with a particular blade. I mean lets face it. The good ones are gonna be going home to Nasty, Norm, or Sweet anyway;) (just kiddin' guys). Yangdu doesn't have to post these up for us. She does it because she wants to take care of her loyal customers and generate more work for the kamis.
The DOTDs are fine how they are. KM asked about a DOTD bot, and pretty much everyone has said, "nah, let's keep it how it is...but it's a great idea, thanks!". DOTD should always be fun. They day they start to get petty (and i'm not saying this idea for streamlinign things is in any way) is the day i hang up my shark fin. First come, first serve is the best way to handle it. Also, a little "e-mail sent on ____" would be appreciated. or "woohoo! I got the ____" after you've sharked it;)
Besides, usually Yangdu has one or two of whatever kicking around in stock. if you miss something, then an e-mail asking about any more might land you what you want. I think it's a fair system as it is, but that's just MHO.

Jake
 
I also agree that the conversation is part of the deal threads. But it is confusing to figure out what is available (and quickly, because these decisions have to be made fast!)

I remember when Dan Koster was handling the DoTD he would edit the initial post with information as to what was sold and what was still availiable. This seemed like a much better system than additional posts, because you didn't have to scroll down and read the whole thread.

It would be nice if Yangdu could do something like that. It would make it easier on the buyers, and it seems to me that it would be easier on Yangdu as well. Editing the first post should be easier than posting many updates along the way.
 
Looks like you're out, Bruise.


I like it the way it is. I don't think everything in this world needs to be super cut and dry and over organized.

If these Khuks were being sold out of the back of a truck on a dirty street in Kathmandu, there would be a huge crowd around the back, and if you weren't there early, you wouldn't have a chance. Sorry, that is just how it goes. It isn't good, it isn't bad. If you're there when the truck shows up ~ shove your way to the front of the line and pick up your knife. Chat with the lads next to you about today's offerings, then move out of the way to make room for the next guy.

~ b
 
Never has been a problem to date. Bill may have had more time to monitor the deals of the day...which, after all, are a courtesy to the Canitinistas. Yangdu has been very scrupulous.

Between the emails, and occasional phone calls, I'd imagine Reno gets pretty hectic when the Deals are first posted.

But then, I'm not a high-volume purchaser. YMMV.
 
Works just fine the way it is...

Not everytone can go back and edit easily...and it seems that HI runs the way that Bill and Yangdu want it to.

No one has to use the DOTD...if the chatter is a bother, just order directly from the website.

.
 
Nasty said:
Not everytone can go back and edit easily...and it seems that HI runs the way that Bill and Yangdu want it to.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think that's a problem I saw referenced in the service and support forums. There are sometimes lockups with IE when editing. However, I think the staff at bladeforums is working to resolve these problems and eventually nobody should have these sort of technical difficulties with editing.

While saving the old threads to my computer, I noticed that UB used to post each seperate khukuri up for a DoTD in a different thread. This lead to a lot of clutter where 50% of the threads you see are deal threads.

At some point the system must have been changed such that all the deals for the same day were consolidated on the same thread. I think that this is an improvement over the older method - at least it removed a lot of clutter, and it must have been easier to post one thread than many.

My point is that there is nothing inherently wrong with change. I don't think it would be complicated to edit the initial post (barring technical difficulties) - in fact, it would be easier - and I don't see how it would detract from the atmosphere. Of course, the final decisions are up to Yangdu.
 
I agree with Khukri Monter, save your conversation and jibberish after bussiness is concluded.
 
Yeah, it's kind of like a bunch of guys setting on a curb commenting on the relative merits of women passing by. Part of the fellowship.
 
The young always want change...often to the point of changing just for the sake of changing.

Post college and later in life you see the reasons rivers run downstream.

I am sure Yangdu is running things the way she is happy to. Most of us are just glad she is even doing them.

We are grateful...

.
 
sams said:
I agree with Khukri Monter, save your conversation and jibberish after bussiness is concluded.
Click to expand...

No, no, no! That's NOT what I'm trying to say at all! In fact, I like the conversation and I think that many interesting posts have come out of the deal threads!

I'm just trying to think of a simple solution that Yangdu could try implementing - it wouldn't change anything but make it easier to see which khuks are still available! As far as I can tell, this would make it easier on people who are confused by the conversation posts... without requiring any MAJOR changes in the way things are structured.

When Dan Koster posted the deal threads this way - editing the first post when things were sold, did it kill the conversation or friendly atmosphere?

I don't even think people should be required to post to the thread when they email - that should just remain as a courtesy to other buyers.
 
Nasty said:
The young always want change...often to the point of changing just for the sake of changing.
Click to expand...
Um, I thought I was pretty clear about the reasons that I would like this change. And is it really a change? Most people keep the for sale forums nice and clean. Personally, I think it's just respectful to let the buyers and sellers do their business quietly and easily.
 
Email Yangdu first.

Those are her instructions. Nobody has to post anything, much less a hope. "Email sent on..." means you have your fingers crossed.

A "Woo Hoo" post should come (if you feel so inclined) after Yangdu emails you a confirmation.

Sometimes, "It is gone." :(

Other times there are more than one.... :p

Personally, I like reading others' "Woo Hoo" posts. Can't buy 'em all.

Real "Woo Hoo's" are for opening the triangular box...



Ad Astra
 
Khukuri Monster said:
I remember when Dan Koster was handling the DoTD he would edit the initial post with information as to what was sold and what was still availiable.
Click to expand...

I also thought the process Dan used was clean and easy to read. It seemed to give easy access to the latest information without inhibiting the forumite conversations that accompany the DOTDs.
 
KM, I follow your logic and I agree. If editting the first post is easy for Yangdu, then that does make sense. You are right. That would allow the chatty cathys (myself included) to talk about khuks, bears, and Kim Jong Ill while the more serious buyers and sellers can see what is and what is not available. I know that you are not wanting to change things for change sake. You've proven to be a smarter guy that i could ever hope to be. Thanks for your help, and thanks for your ideas. They day we stop coming up with ideas to make this plave better will be a sad day indeed;)
As far as keeping the forums clean of chit chat while serious business is going on, well if the rest of you guys feel it should be that way, then i will be more than happy to go along. However, i don't see Yangdu's posts as a true "sale forum" experience. Really, they are gifts to us. Yangdu is not making a killing on selling 4 knives for 75 bucks each shipped. If anything, i would imagine that she spends more in time photographing, posting, and going to the post office that what the profit of the blades warrant. I have to be firm when i say that i think first come, first serve is the fairest way to handle things. The knives are worth more than the full price on the website. Also, i think that talking, joking, woo-hooing, and all other forms of brotherly communication should be exceptable. How many of us had a first post experience with the DOTD like this: "I just got the ____!...What's a ___?" Frenzy leads to questions. Questions lead to answers. Answers lead to debate. Debate leads to conversation:)

Jake

Jake
 
I email first and then post that I mailed.

The simplest solution which makes a bit more work for Yangdu (although maybe the same or less as she would no longer have to post new status threads) is to just ask her to edit her post to put a red SOLD by each knife when it is gone, just as Dan did when Yangdu was in Nepal and he was running things, so all you have to do is watch the original post and you will immediately see what is gone. (Again missed the thread; this is what KM is suggesting.)

Then whether there was 5 chit chatty responses or 500 it wouldn't make any difference at all.

This solves the perceived problem and let's us continue doing things just as we have always done.

Thanks,

Norm
 
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