While we're at it......how about restructuring the ShopTalk as was discussed there?

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
I've done some thinking about your idea, Kevin....:p


What if ShopTalk was organized like the Blade Discussion/Passaround arrangement?


Knifemakers could still post in ShopTalk, but there would be a sheathmaking, gallery and supplies subforum.

ShopTalk
- Sheathmaking
- Gallery
- Trading Post




Then just rearrange the "For Sale by Knifemaker" part of the Exchange - rather than remaining banished to the last link on the page - Like this:

For Sale by Individuals
- For Sale: Production
- For Sale: Automatic
- For Sale: Custom Knives
- For Sale: By Knifemaker


There doesn't seem to be enough traffic to warrant a split between fixed and folding.


Kevin - this is my 0.02 and take it for what it's worth....but given what you want and what the ShopTalk gang wants - seems like the best solution all around.
 
I think allowing any selling outside of the exchange forums would be a mistake. Too easy for abuse, and the Shop talk forum would require at least one more moderator to monitor just the selling activity.

Selling in The Exchange area works just fine as it is. I do like Pendentives suggestion of combining the knifemakers for sale- folders and fixed into one category.
 
C3 - the grouping of the selling area predates me on bladeforums. I've done some reading in the archives, but I'm probably ignorant of the big picture and all the problems that existed before.

However, I mentioned this idea to Kevin before and he seemed open to it. At the time, I suggested moving the entire "For Sale by Knifemaker" area into the ShopTalk arena. In retrospect, that's not the best solution to the problem (the problem being that the knifemaker area of The Exchange is very low in traffic and at the end of the page, literally "in the corner" ;)).

I do think, though, that there needs to be a trading post set up within ShopTalk. I'm looking for supplies all the time and only remember to look in The Exchange once a month at best. If it was a subforum, there would be a heckuva lot more activity there.

I'd be happy to moderate that subforum, if needed. The ShopTalk forum has few abusers, just first-timers that make "oopsies". It would be easy to moderate.

Other things could go in there, like KITH (knife in the hat) and the "swap-a-roos" that go on in ShopTalk.
 
I like the idea of combining the fixed/folder part, but see no reason to move it. It (fixed) seems to get lots of traffic and there are always plenty of lurkers in there.

As far as the knifemaker's supplies, it doesn't get much posting, and when it does; the stuff goes pretty fast. I don't know if folks would be more inclined to post stuff for trade or sale if it were moved, but I think most knifemakers know it's there.

For the gallery, you're not talking about moving the general gallery are you?

Just my two cents. :)
 
Burchtree said:
I like the idea of combining the fixed/folder part, but see no reason to move it.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't move - it would remain in The Exchange (as posted in the first thread).


Burchtree said:
For the gallery, you're not talking about moving the general gallery are you?
Click to expand...

No. This would be a new gallery, just for ShopTalk.



Whaddya say, Spark? Let's give it a whirl....if it crashes and burns....at least it was a fun ride....but I'm pretty sure it will be a move for the best.
 
A trading post type of sub forum in the current shop talk forum might be a good idea. However, it needs to be restricted to Gold and Knifemaker members only, and absolutely no selling could take place there.

With the current crowd there in Shop Talk (Yes, I lurk there quite a bit; I'm a machinist :) ) I don't think it would requre any other moderators than Kit or Darrell. The forum is mostly self policing now, and by adding the new sub forum with restrictions shouldn't cause any more grief.

The selling forums,(for knifemakers) as I mentioned, need to be combined, and left where they are, in the Exchange area. One of the problems that could arise is that some of the other forums may wish to have their own 'trading post', or if we allowed selling in the shop talk forum, then the other forums would expect the same. Too big of a cluster (expletive deleted) would ensue, and present more headaches than its worth.
 
Sounds good to me. Only concern I have is that if it's restricted to Gold/Knifemaker only, then selling should be allowed. Otherwise, let everybody post there if it's a trading post.

Or.......How about this?


- Gold/Knifemaker can sell in the Trading Post
- Regular users can only trade/buy.


Same rules apply, but lets non-paying folks swap supplies (just like The Exchange).

The incentive to pony up to be able to sell in the Trading Post would still be there.



I agree that ShopTalk self-moderates very well. I don't think there will be abuse. It's a pretty tight-knit group of regulars.
 
The problem with selling, or trading for that matter, in a discussion forum, is the very large potential for abuse, and one major pain in the ass. We don't need any more headaches around here.

It needs to be restricted to Gold and knifemakers only, and only for trading. As I stated; any selling outside of the exchange opens up a can of worms, and then sends a message to others that if the shop talk crowd can do it, then everyone else should be able to do it as well.

It isn't difficult to link up to the selling forums to sell or buy knives, custom, or otherwise. That needs to be left alone, and the trading post in the shop talk forum be restricted to trading between knifemakers and gold members. if basic members want to take advantage of this kind of thing, then they can upgrade.
 
I understand where you're coming from, Mike.

Hope Kevin's been following this....we need to do something soon.


The problem to solve is this: right now, the only incentive to get a knifemaker membership (instead of a gold) is that you get to sell in a poorly trafficked corner of The Exchange and you get to wear the badge "knifemaker".

Kevin wants more knifemakers to sign up - and I agree. I think there are a lot of people who benefit from this website but have yet to "give back".


Rather than enforce an exclusive "members only" club....I'd rather see something more positive that would encourage people to pony up....some "jealousy-inducing" feature...posting pics was a good one....
 
I'm as anxious as you, Dan, to see what Spark ultimately decides.

Something does need to be done, and very soon.

The waiting is the hard part.
 
While all of this sounds good we have yet to hear from the HPIC on the matter. I'm curious as to what his thoughts are on it. :)
 
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