Marketplace On Other Forums.

[Sideonecincy]

I am looking for suggestions on how to clean up or help improve a classifieds area of another forum. I help moderate on a skateboarding forum. The forum is focused towards skateboarding, videography, photography, motion graphics and all other types of things. The problem is that the classifieds area isn't the safest place to buy/trade items. The members are in their middle teens to middle twentys (majority are between 15-21).

There are a constant flow of topics of a seller not sending an item, not answering personal messages and refusing to even speak with the seller.
The Admin setup a post count requirement (500 posts) to sell in the classifieds. While the post count requirement helps, there are still way too many scams.

Since Macrumors has a very legitimate marketplace forums, we are trying to find more ways to help stop the scammers. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[r.j.s]

Set a time requirement, like there is here, as well. That will mean only those that actually stick around and contribute will be allowed to post there.

It wont get rid of scams and such completely, but it should help.

 

[maclover001]

Post a warning saying if any rules are broken, your IP will be banned N.Q.A.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

Use more common sense

Use a system like Heatware (or just use Heatware, even though it kinda sucks) and have those with less reputation ship first. Reduces the chances of fraud. Pay with credit cards through PayPal so that you can file a chargeback if worst comes to worst.

 

[haze]

A little off-topic, but how many posts do I need here at MacRumors for the Marketplace? It disappeared on me on the changeover. I have been a member a few years, but lurk mostly. So, I need to know how many times I need to stick my $.02 in.

 

[rdowns]

A little off-topic, but how many posts do I need here at MacRumors for the Marketplace? It disappeared on me on the changeover. I have been a member a few years, but lurk mostly. So, I need to know how many times I need to stick my $.02 in.

https://macrumors.zendesk.com/hc/en-us#I_can.27t_post_a_message_in_the_Forums

 

[Blue Velvet]

I am looking for suggestions on how to clean up or help improve a classifieds area of another forum.

We have a required postcount of 250 and 180 days membership before you even see the forum. From my experience, this has done a lot to improve the marketplace in general. However, we still have members who persist in being untrustworthy dealers.

To effectively deal with this means extremely close attention is paid to marketplace problems by both admins and moderators, and followed through on, sometimes for months. We examine the records of all forum members involved in marketplace problems very closely and are strict on not allowing marketplace threads to be derailed by bickering or off-topic comments.

However, MacRumors has no legal responsibility to ensure that transactions are upheld. We can only do our part. One of our members is currently pursuing a legal case against another, as I write. In the end, it comes down to clear rules and firm moderation. Over time, the scammers get weeded out to a large extent.

So ultimately, it comes down to work. But if the problems are so deep-rooted, then it might be wise to consider the benefits of a classified section vs. the work of maintaining it in good order.

What we effectively did was scrap the old marketplace and start again. You can read how the mods and the admins, particularly Doctor Q, managed the transition in this thread.