Everyone - Read This - Sellers especially

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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There has been a lot of problems with selling and the rules on the BF lately. A review is in order. Please everyone read this thread.

Before anyone offers anything for sale on the BF, there are a few rules to be learned by all.

Besides the required level of membership, the rules are well defined as to how and where selling is allowed.

The rules are here:http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/announcement.php?f=746&a=98

Threads on Shop Talk about a product you are considering selling are OK, as long as the discussion is about the item and not about selling it. If the talk gets on to the subject of, "I'll take some of that/ How much are they going to sell for/...(etc.)", then you need to cease posting on that thread and refer everyone to a new thread in the for sale area.

You are not allowed to put everything you have on the for sale forum. Two posts on the first page, and four posts on page one and two combined...that is all.

If you don't like the item, don't buy it.....and don't comment on the sellers thread.
For Sale is not a discussion forum. If you like it...buy it. This area isn't for comments about the items...it is for buying and selling. Posts like " Nice Knife/Good Job/Wow!,etc." are not allowed...they are just bumping tools for friends, usually.Responses like "Thanks,etc," are also not allowed and are just bumping ploys. If you have a legit question, ask it...if not just enjoy the nice photos.

Let's keep the BF as good as it has always been.
Thanks - Stacy
 
bladsmth said:
You are not allowed to put everything you have on the for sale forum. Two posts on the first page, and four posts on page one and two combined...that is all.
Click to expand...
I don't currently try to sell here, but am curious what this means...

Doesn't the for sale forum work like every other forum?
You know, most recently posted in thread is at the top?
You could post one sale thread a month and violate this pretty quickly if the threads get posted in.
Or, more likely here, am I missing something?
 
Brian, I've been trying to find this out too. I'm pretty much just starting out so getting my own forum here isn't a feasible option now. How many items can I sell in a thread and how often can I make a sales thread?
 
Brian Fellhoelter Knives said:
I don't currently try to sell here, but am curious what this means...

Doesn't the for sale forum work like every other forum?
You know, most recently posted in thread is at the top?
You could post one sale thread a month and violate this pretty quickly if the threads get posted in.
Or, more likely here, am I missing something?
Click to expand...

That is why they are saying to keep the chit chat to a minimum. So that posting in thread doesnt bump it up to the top.
 
I've always commented on custom makers work in the FS threads if I felt it warranted it. I would suggest makers start a thread in Gallery and link to it in their FS threads so those comments can be posted in the correct forum.
 
so - is it ok for us to post something both in the Gallery and in the For Sale forum?
It would seem that this is the best way if we want both comments and a chance at a sale, but I want to make certain.

Don't wanna accidentally violate any rules or norms. Assuming I ever actually finish any of the blades I have sitting around.
kc
 
Check out this thread on the same topic in Shop Talk:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=790000

The whole idea of no more than 2 threads on the first page (and no more than four on page one and two) is to have you list multiple knives in each thread. List five knives in one thread and ten in another and you're good to go, that's two threads, not 15.

The idea of the Gallery is to show them off and get comments to help you decide to make more or modify your design. When you're happy with it, price it and post it for sale in the sales forum. The Gallery is where you can discuss them with your potential buyers.

The rule against cross-posting was for people who post the same ad in Individal Gold member sales in both Trade and Sale forums. They should post "for sale or trade" in their Sale forum only. Doesn't apply to Gallery and KnifeMaker sale, though.
 
Josh K said:
I've always commented on custom makers work in the FS threads if I felt it warranted it. I would suggest makers start a thread in Gallery and link to it in their FS threads so those comments can be posted in the correct forum.
Click to expand...

BINGO! That's the solution.
 
Sounds like good reasonable rules. They make sense, but they are a real deviation from what folks are used to. It appears to me one of the main thrusts is to keep bumping of all sorts down to a minimum. That will keep people's sale threads from getting bumped off the first page so quickly. It will also push older threads off the bottom and keep them there. Makes sense. I'll frequently sale something, and when the buyer gets it they'll reply to the sale thread with a compliment. That bumps the sale thread back to the top at someone else's expense. So the new rules are logical.

I'm in the habit of replying to questions and compliments with a new post, so that is going to take a little getting used to. Stacy, I don't envy you. It is going to take many months for the new rules to soak in everywhere. You're going to have your hands full enforcing these changes.
 
All good comments.

These are not the NEW rules. AFAIK, These are the old rules.....they just haven't been followed for quite a while.
 
These were the old rules!? ...oh lord...


:foot:
 
I think one of the biggies here is complements on the item. I know many are as quilty as I am and it will be hard not too. But, I promise to turn over a new leaf.

Hey, what about a comments sticky on the top of the for sale postings, where we could post our complements. Then every once in the while the older posts are kicked and its back to 1 page. Just a thought Jim
 
yep thems been the rules for the most part for a long time
then the economy took a dump and ever one that was listign one or 2 knives not and then had more to list and the ppl out of work started making and selling knives too

soon i would post a sale only to have 2 others post 6 of the same knife with different handles on them each in there own thread (nothing pissed me off more then beign bumped off the front page before getting 10 views )

there is space for all of us un the sale forum so long as we all behave
it also makes it easier for buyers to see all your work
 
BTW here is a different view of things
if your making and selling more then 5-6blades a month maybe its time to look into a website of your own after all there are not that costly anymore and make you look a bit more pro. then you have a web link in your sig line and can post all you want to on your site.
5-6 knives at 8-10 hours each makes fast for a nearly part time job and yes i know how it is to get started (thats why this forum is here) and how short on $$$ we all are while we are doing it
 
butcher_block said:
BTW here is a different view of things
if your making and selling more then 5-6blades a month maybe its time to look into a website of your own after all there are not that costly anymore and make you look a bit more pro. then you have a web link in your sig line and can post all you want to on your site.
5-6 knives at 8-10 hours each makes fast for a nearly part time job and yes i know how it is to get started (thats why this forum is here) and how short on $$$ we all are while we are doing it
Click to expand...

Websites are an excellent idea. :thumbup:
 
ib2v4u said:
Hey, what about a comments sticky on the top of the for sale postings, where we could post our complements. Then every once in the while the older posts are kicked and its back to 1 page. Just a thought Jim
Click to expand...

NObody looks at stickies! :)

We do have a FEEDBACK forum for comments on Good, Bad, & Ugly deals. It's a busy forum, too, and some quick pats on the back might get lost in the noise. But maybe a quick attaboy isn't doing much anyway. It is a courtesy, but this is supposed to be a sales forum, not a cocktail party.
 
I sent Esav an e-mail with this question and thought I would put it out here also for your thoughts.

Can replies be put on a timer ?? 72 hours after the last reply the post automatically gets bumped and not before . This way comments and questions could be made with out jumping back to the top of page one instantly .
 
:o Sorry...Being smart was never a strong point of mine :confused:
I edited my for sale posts to one thread and closed the others...I wasnt trying to step on toes or anything like that...just a lil slow :foot:
 
Just to make myself clear-
I am not doing this because any one person was misbehaving. It was because the procedures of the For Sale forums was going downhill fast. If it wasn't straightened out soon, it would become useless as well as a subject for argument and complaint.

I would suggest that anyone considering selling a knife make a thread in the Gallery, or a suitable forum, and link that thread to the For Sale thread with a note -"For sale here". The For Sale thread could have a link to the gallery thread where people can, and are encouraged to, make comments pro and con.That link could be labeled - "Comments welcome here".

This will solve most all the problems.
 
bladsmth said:
Just to make myself clear-
I am not doing this because any one person was misbehaving. It was because the procedures of the For Sale forums was going downhill fast. If it wasn't straightened out soon, it would become useless as well as a subject for argument and complaint.

I would suggest that anyone considering selling a knife make a thread in the Gallery, or a suitable forum, and link that thread to the For Sale thread with a note -"For sale here". The For Sale thread could have a link to the gallery thread where people can, and are encouraged to, make comments pro and con.That link could be labeled - "Comments welcome here".

This will solve most all the problems.
Click to expand...

Thanks for what you do here, very much appreciated.

This is a great place - heck this is one of the BEST places to get your work (knives) in front of the people.
Remember the old saying - there is more than one way to skin a cat....... :)
I think it will be a lot better in the long run this way - folks will be more up to post comments in the gallery than they would in a For Sale thread, I think?

It may slow the traffic flow in the for sale area - but if we makers USE the gallery the right way, the traffic would shift there more. If they are letting you, me - us - talk about the knife being for sale? and or making knives for sale there? You know? Making deals???? Should be OK???:)

TA



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