New Rules for the Exchange forum - Feedback thread.

Thank you for choosing the BladeForums.com Exchange section. These rules have been compiled based on over a decade of experience, user feedback and inter-forum cooperation. If you have any questions about how rules apply to your situation, please address the moderation staff in the Tech Support forum.

SECTION 1- Membership levels
BladeForums.com is supported by members who have paid subscriptions, as such, only certain membership levels may advertise items for sale on this site.

1. MANUFACTURERS - Manufacturers & their designated moderators may offer items for sale in their dedicated Hosted Manufacturer Forum. Manufacturers are encouraged to contact us regarding pricing for a Hosted Manufacturer forum.
2. DEALER / MATERIALS PROVIDER - A dealer is defined as anyone who purchases at wholesale pricing, or purchases items with the intent to resell (flipping). Other terms for dealers include purveyor, broker, reseller, etc.
   Please see the additional rules for Dealers below. Materials providers offer raw materials such as steel, handle materials, or other items as typical stock.
3. KNIFEMAKER / CRAFTSMAN / SERVICE PROVIDER (hearafter referred to as "Knifemaker") - Knifemaker's are allowed to sell items that they have personally created or modified in the KnifeMaker For Sale forums, or their own Hosted KnifeMaker Forum. If you are a knifemaker and would like your own Hosted KnifeMaker Forum, please contact us.
4. PLATINUM or GOLD MEMBERS - Platinum or Gold members are allowed to post in any of the Individual For Sale or Trade forums.
5. BASIC MEMBERS - Basic members are not allowed to post items for sale. You may post items for Trade in the Wanted To Trade Forums, or post requests for items to purchase in the Wanted To Buy Forums.
6. REGISTERED USERS - If you have not purchased a paid subscription, you are by default a Registered User. As such, you are not allowed to sell items on the forums. You may post items for Trade in the Wanted To Trade Forums, or post requests for items to purchase in the Wanted To Buy Forums.

Make sure your correct usergroup is displayed before posting!!! - If you are a Gold, Platinum, or Knifemaker member, you need to click on the User CP and select Group Memberships. Make sure that you have selected the appropriate membership group to display on your profile. If you have "Registered User" displayed and you make a For Sale post, you will receive a "Failure to follow the rules" infraction.

With that in mind -
SECTION 2 - Rules for Selling / Trading / Offering Services:
Use common sense - Be 100% sure you are ready to go before you do anything. This means:

1. Sellers - Be 100% sure that you want to sell the item and are satisfied with the selling price
   1. Provide an honest and detailed description.
   2. Provide as many photos as possible, in the best lighting possible.
   3. When in doubt, be pessimistic with your descriptions.
   4. Be specific with all details of payment and delivery. Ship promptly, ship with insurance unless the buyer specifies otherwise.
   5. Do not sell defective products, or attempt to hide defects
2. Buyers - Be 100% sure that you can financially afford to purchase the item before offering to do so
   1. Ask every question you can before the deal is agreed upon.
   2. Be prompt with your payment.
   3. Provide an accurate address. Make sure the seller has that address. Verify your shipping preferences.
   4. If you choose not to have your package insured to save money, it is your responsibility.
3. Service providers - Be sure that you can offer the service you specify in the time frame agreed upon, for the price you have offered.
4. DEALS ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL BOTH PARTIES HAVE AGREED TO THE TERMS.
   We strongly recommend that both parties quote the agreed upon terms to each other via email / private messaging / instant messaging so both parties understand their obligations. At any stage before money has changed hands, either party can back out.

SECTION 3 - Rules for Sellers / Traders / Service Providers (hereafter referred to as "Sellers"):

1. Rules for everyone:
   1. Selling on this site is restricted to the appropriate designated forums.
   2. Individuals may have no more than TWO ads on Page 1 of any Sale or Trade forum, and FOUR ads within the first two pages. (Temporarily suspended per testing)
   3. Do not list items, or offer services that are illegal.
   4. Do not post items for sale or trade if you do not have them in your physical possession.
   5. Do not list items for sale unless you are 100% sure that you want to sell them - no "testing the waters" to gauge buyer interest.
   6. No sales for third parties. If your "friend" wants an item sold, they must create their own account and list it themselves.
   7. Thread titles must be accurate and descriptive.
   8. All ads should be placed in ONE appropriate forum. NO CROSS POSTING OF ADS IN MULTIPLE FORUMS.
   9. All items offered for sale must be priced. Items being traded CAN NOT list cash value pricing; if you do so your ad will be locked or deleted.
   10. Sellers must have valid contact information and provide it to the site staff upon request.
   11. Sellers must have their profile set to allow contact from other members, moderators & administrators via email.
   12. Do not get caught with a secondary or shill account. Both accounts will be banned and no refund will be issued.
   13. Bumping threads
       
       1. Keep in mind rule 3.1.2 above.
       2. The Seller is not allowed to reply to their own ad within 72 hours of anyone's post (including their own) for any reason. The 72 hour countdown for the seller restarts with each new reply to the thread by ANYONE.
       3. ALL CHANGES & UPDATES SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE EDIT FEATURE TO THE ORIGINAL AD, NOT BY ADDING ANOTHER RESPONSE.
       4. If 72 hours have not passed since the last post by anyone, all questions should be addressed by email, private message, or editing previous posts ONLY.
       1. BUMPING RULES TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED WHILE WE TEST NEW THREAD SORT FORMAT
   14. Please indicate in the original post after the item has been sold or traded. It'd be nice if you locked the thread too.
   15. You are not required to edit out, or leave in place, the original or final selling price. That is your prerogative.
2. Rules for DEALERS:
   1. If you are a dealer, you MUST have a DEALER membership to sell on this site.
   2. Dealers are EXEMPT from Rule 3.1.2 above
   3. You are allowed to have any other level of membership and take part in discussions, however unless you have a DEALER membership you may not:
      • Mention or link to your business in any way (not applicable to Knifemakers)
      • Use private messaging to sell to members
      • Include your business name in your username
      • Use your signature or avatar to promote your business.
      • Take part in any discussions involving your business OUTSIDE the Feedback forum.

If you break any of these rules, your ad may be locked or removed entirely, without notice. If it's particularly bad, your account may be locked as well.

SECTION 4 - Rules for buyers
First, see section 2.2 above.

1. Do not post "mail sent" or other similar replies to ads. Temporarily suspended per testing
2. Do not bump threads with "Free bump for a nice guy" or "Beautiful [item]" or other similar posts. Temporarily suspended per testing
3. Do not chat or discuss the items in the thread itself. Temporarily suspended per testing
4. Do not post in an ad unless you are interested in the item / service that is being offered.
5. Do not post offers in threads. Temporarily suspended per testing
6. ABSOLUTELY NO COMMENTARY OR FEEDBACK IN SOMEONE'S THREAD. Seriously, if you stomp on someone's ad, your account can and will be locked.
7. THREAD NECROMANCY IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED. Do not bump threads that are older than 120 days. Send the seller a message instead.

SECTION 5 - Feedback

1. All feedback on sales or trades must be kept to the Feedback Forum and / or iTrader.
2. It is not mandatory to leave feedback.
3. We will not edit feedback for you unless it's an obvious error (ie negative rating, but overtly positive comments)

SECTION 6 - Miscellaneous

1. If any rules seem contradictory, the more stringent rules apply.
2. WHEN IN DOUBT, ask the moderation staff.
3. These forums operate on honesty and integrity. As such, we have a dim view of people who act dishonestly. Your actions in the community have consequences. Even if they happen elsewhere.

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THESE RULES TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

 

These rules have come into effect based on feedback and discussion with the moderation staff & various users. Please confine your discussion of these rules to THIS THREAD ONLY.

 

Edit it into your OP.