Rule about selling in the trade forums.

[Ritt]

This is some nit-picky crap, I think, but I don't want to inadvertently get anyone in "trouble".

I understand that registered users are not suppossed to be selling on the trade forums. Pay to play, no sweat. I understand the spirit of the rule but I have a question about the letter of the rule. I'll lay out two hypothetical situations, and please tell me if my actions in either or both of these would be considered unethical. Keep in mind that I'm Platinum.

I see a knife in the trade forum posted by a registered user. I want the knife. I don't have anything to trade. I e-mail the registered user and ask him if he'd be interested in selling the knife. We come to a price and he sells it to me. Did I cross the line by asking him to sell it to me? If I did, then I assume he also crossed the line by selling it to me?

Same situation as above, only the trade thread was posted by a Gold or Platinum member. Same questions as above.

Like I said, I know this is seems pretty anal retentive. But I don't want to take the chance of getting myself in trouble, and I especially don't want to get someone else in trouble through my actions.

Thanks guys.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Good questions, I'm watchin' this thread.

 

[Ken C.]

I think as long as the transaction is kept to private email there is nothing that can be done about someone emailing the poster with an offer to buy. If the transaction makes it's way to the forum and is posted as such then there is a problem. We can't control what people do outside of the forum but we can control what goes on inside.

With that said I think a Super Mod should respond so we can get a clearer picture of what is and what is not allowed.

 

[Ritt]

I think as long as the transaction is kept to private email there is nothing that can be done about someone emailing the poster with an offer to buy. If the transaction makes it's way to the forum and is posted as such then there is a problem. We can't control what people do outside of the forum but we can control what goes on inside.

Understood. All BS aside, I just want to make it clear that I'm sincerely trying to be a good citizen of the forums. It's fairly obvious what one could potentially "get away with".

 

[Cougar Allen]

I think Ken nailed it. The important thing is intent -- it's abusive if a non-contributing user posts in the for-trade forum intending to evade the rules and sell without contributing. If without any evil intention an exchange of email begins with a response to a post and ends up with a knife being sold, well, that can happen without any intention of cheating Bladeforums out of a membership fee.