Request: New Marketplace to Buy/Sell/Trade Apple Watch Bands

[MacDevil7334]

@maflynn @athousandbands @DoubleFlyaway @iChernov @jae110488 @CodeRaven @jamieinoc @jl.blass614 @twanj @toxtrepla

There have been several instances recently where posts in the Every Apple Watch Band thread were moderated because they contained requests to buy/sell/trade watch bands between members. I think we all understand that posts like this were a violation of forum rules, which clearly state that posts of that type belong in the Marketplace. One of the problems we are running into is that the current Marketplace structure doesn’t lend itself to sales of this type very well. Bands are generally small-dollar items that are often collected and traded. The current Marketplace sections are more geared toward sales of Apple hardware, which tend to be single, infrequent, high-dollar purchases. For these larger sales, the current Marketplace organization and rules of 250 posts and 180 days makes sense. However, these restrictions limit the ability of many watch band collectors to access the Marketplace. Also, many buyers in the current iOS Marketplace are not interested in small items like watch bands and posts there can get lost.

There are quite a few members of the forum who would be interested in a dedicated Apple Watch Band Marketplace if it existed. Since sales of watch bands are generally low-dollar (around $50 on average), perhaps the requirements for access to this forum could be lower? I was thinking something like 30-50 posts and member for 30-60 days would make sense given the relatively low-risk of these sales. I know the creation of another Marketplace would be an extra burden for the moderators. But, I think it would resolve the issues we have been having recently (and help keep that thread on topic).

These are just my 2 cents on this matter but I hope you will at least consider the suggestion. The Apple Watch community here is vibrant and friendly. I have really enjoyed being part of the community during what has otherwise been a pretty depressing year. I would hate to see people start to leave just because they don’t have a place to buy/sell/trade.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I like this idea. I have looked for bands in the current marketplace and it's difficult.

We should also encourage a standardized title format. Maybe [oem/3p] [size] - [color] [type] - [price] or something.

 

[Weaselboy]

I have mentioned OP's request to the admins.

I have looked for bands in the current marketplace and it's difficult.

https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/marketplace-ios-devices-watch-and-accessories.199/

If you go the above forum and search like shown in my screenshot it will give you a list of threads for bands.

 

[MacDevil7334]

I have mentioned OP's request to the admins.

Thanks, I appreciate the response and the consideration.

 

[TiggrToo]

There have been several instances recently where posts in the Every Apple Watch Band thread were moderated because they contained requests to buy/sell/trade watch bands between members.

Quite often I’ve noticed posts that are looking for multiple people to “put in their order” for a single order of bands that the OP would then put in - something that I’m pretty sure is against the marketplace rules even there was a place for these.

 

[Doctor Q]

A message from the administrators and moderators:

We appreciate the detailed suggestion by MacDevil7334. The administrators and moderators have been talking over this suggestion. After weighing the pros and cons, we have decided not to create separate rules or a separate area for Apple Watch band deals.

Here are reasons for the decision.

One of the problems we are running into is that the current Marketplace structure doesn’t lend itself to sales of this type very well. Bands are generally small-dollar items that are often collected and traded. The current Marketplace sections are more geared toward sales of Apple hardware, which tend to be single, infrequent, high-dollar purchases. For these larger sales, the current Marketplace organization and rules of 250 posts and 180 days makes sense. However, these restrictions limit the ability of many watch band collectors to access the Marketplace.

The Marketplace isn't just for big-ticket items. We see many offers and requests for small-budget items. Making separate rules for watch bands wouldn't make much sense to (or be considered fair by) people selling low-priced peripherals, games, movies, gift cards, and other items that can be even less expensive than watch bands, assuming they are still subject to the original posting and membership requirements.

(If, instead, there were separate requirements for items under some cut-off price, it would add another type of awkwardness. The sale/purchase price of an item isn't determined when a thread is started, but instead when a deal is made. An arbitrary cap would interfere with that, especially if some members were limited and others were not.)

More importantly, the headaches for moderators to enforce dual sets of rules would be a drag on their time. Keep in mind that the Marketplace isn't a focus of this site, just a perk for members who are here for other reasons (Apple news) and don't want to rely on other sites to make an occasional purchase or sale. We don't consider the current requirements to be much of a burden to anyone with a primary interest in Apple news discussions, not to mention all of the other discussions about industry news, tech products in general, tech assistance shared among members, hobby topics, etc. As MacRumors as grown, with more and more forum participation, it's become easier and easier to get involved in discussions of interest to any given person.

Also, many buyers in the current iOS Marketplace are not interested in small items like watch bands and posts there can get lost.

That's why we split the Marketplace into four subsets. It helps makes items that fit the categories easier to find, although it can be a burden on buyers and sellers that each forum has a proportionally smaller audience. Watch band collectors can use the Marketplace: Collectibles forum, which isn't particularly busy. Threads aren't as likely to get lost in there as when we had a single Marketplace forum.

There are quite a few members of the forum who would be interested in a dedicated Apple Watch Band Marketplace if it existed. Since sales of watch bands are generally low-dollar (around $50 on average), perhaps the requirements for access to this forum could be lower? I was thinking something like 30-50 posts and member for 30-60 days would make sense given the relatively low-risk of these sales. I know the creation of another Marketplace would be an extra burden for the moderators. But, I think it would resolve the issues we have been having recently (and help keep that thread on topic).

Some collectors would presumably be interested in set of bands, not just one on occasion, and buying or selling a batch of bands would multiply the dollar value involved in a sale or purchase. One item may be $50 but groups of items would be that much more. Marketplace scams (members who don't follow through on sale/purchase commitments made in the forums) aren't common, but they have always been a concern of ours, and a thorn in our side when they occur. Members are rightfully upset if they feel cheated, and we don't think they'll be consoled just because an item wasn't many hundreds of dollars. A member who loses his or her money over a bad watch band deal may be just as frustrated as anyone else who ends up on the short end of a bad deal. Without the Marketplace restrictions that we have now, experience has taught us that it's too easy for scammers to show up, no matter what the price of a deal.

These are just my 2 cents on this matter but I hope you will at least consider the suggestion. The Apple Watch community here is vibrant and friendly. I have really enjoyed being part of the community during what has otherwise been a pretty depressing year. I would hate to see people start to leave just because they don’t have a place to buy/sell/trade.

Forum members who leave MacRumors because they can't yet use the Marketplace, and aren't interested in waiting to qualify, are presumably not interested in the purpose of this site. They are welcome to stay but aren't the users we're most focused on. Those who choose to do their watch band buying and selling elsewhere, but stay for the many forum discussions, may find that they qualify under the current Marketplace rules sooner than they expect.

Thanks again for the suggestion, and for your patience while we considered the choices.

 

[MacDevil7334]

A message from the administrators and moderators:

We appreciate the detailed suggestion by MacDevil7334. The administrators and moderators have been talking over this suggestion. After weighing the pros and cons, we have decided not to create separate rules or a separate area for Apple Watch band deals.

Here are reasons for the decision.


The Marketplace isn't just for big-ticket items. We see many offers and requests for small-budget items. Making separate rules for watch bands wouldn't make much sense to (or be considered fair by) people selling low-priced peripherals, games, movies, gift cards, and other items that can be even less expensive than watch bands, assuming they are still subject to the original posting and membership requirements.

(If, instead, there were separate requirements for items under some cut-off price, it would add another type of awkwardness. The sale/purchase price of an item isn't determined when a thread is started, but instead when a deal is made. An arbitrary cap would interfere with that, especially if some members were limited and others were not.)

More importantly, the headaches for moderators to enforce dual sets of rules would be a drag on their time. Keep in mind that the Marketplace isn't a focus of this site, just a perk for members who are here for other reasons (Apple news) and don't want to rely on other sites to make an occasional purchase or sale. We don't consider the current requirements to be much of a burden to anyone with a primary interest in Apple news discussions, not to mention all of the other discussions about industry news, tech products in general, tech assistance shared among members, hobby topics, etc. As MacRumors as grown, with more and more forum participation, it's become easier and easier to get involved in discussions of interest to any given person.


That's why we split the Marketplace into four subsets. It helps makes items that fit the categories easier to find, although it can be a burden on buyers and sellers that each forum has a proportionally smaller audience. Watch band collectors can use the Marketplace: Collectibles forum, which isn't particularly busy. Threads aren't as likely to get lost in there as when we had a single Marketplace forum.



Some collectors would presumably be interested in set of bands, not just one on occasion, and buying or selling a batch of bands would multiply the dollar value involved in a sale or purchase. One item may be $50 but groups of items would be that much more. Marketplace scams (members who don't follow through on sale/purchase commitments made in the forums) aren't common, but they have always been a concern of ours, and a thorn in our side when they occur. Members are rightfully upset if they feel cheated, and we don't think they'll be consoled just because an item wasn't many hundreds of dollars. A member who loses his or her money over a bad watch band deal may be just as frustrated as anyone else who ends up on the short end of a bad deal. Without the Marketplace restrictions that we have now, experience has taught us that it's too easy for scammers to show up, no matter what the price of a deal.


Forum members who leave MacRumors because they can't yet use the Marketplace, and aren't interested in waiting to qualify, are presumably not interested in the purpose of this site. They are welcome to stay but aren't the users we're most focused on. Those who choose to do their watch band buying and selling elsewhere, but stay for the many forum discussions, may find that they qualify under the current Marketplace rules sooner than they expect.

Thanks again for the suggestion, and for your patience while we considered the choices.

Completely understand your position. Thanks for taking the time to consider the suggestion and to write such a detailed response.