New record 72 posts ( and counting) in less than 49 minutes

RonJ

I could live with the "200 posts plus one year of membership" rule in order to sell a watch.
It took me about 3 months to hit 200 posts.
There are a lot of non-watch threads for a newbie to post in (sunsets, music, cars, etc.) so it isn't too hard to post several times a week.
I joined in June 2020, so I would still need to wait another 4 months.

I've purchased 4 watches since joining OF, a few of them from fellow OF members.
And I still don't have a watch I want to sell.

Socks

200 post rule is good. But could it also be tied to a restriction on receiving PM’s (unless say from the admin team). Because what really happens is a “I’m new, can I have help with this - what’s it worth?” post still generates a sale interest by the back door.

Archer

I would fully support this.

Socks

Although the slight problem is you would struggle to purchase off the Sales page. You would have to PM with an alternative contact and communicate off forum. I purchased prior to 200 and looking back this would have been difficult.

Archer

Yes, I understand that is a possible issue.

But this doesn't just protect the members here, but also the people trying to sell, as not all are dealers trying to subvert the rules. Some just have a nice family watch, have no idea what it's worth, and could get lowballed by people. This is why we see people warning those with nice watches in threads here to do their research and not take too little or the first offer.

I'm not hopeful that a rule like this would come to pass. There are several members here who do PM people who post watches here and buy them, and have admitted it openly. They would have a bit to loose if a rule lie this came to pass. Really if they stopped buying, it wouldn't be such a problem, but money rules.

Syrte

Talking about which, I’ve noticed there are some members who can be quite harsh on first time posters posting a random gold plated « grand father » or « uncle » watch, but they’re oh so sweet when the grand father watch is an early Speedmaster in barnfind condition.
The intent for the OP may be exactly the same but it’s quite a gap in the reception.

End of drift.

JwRosenthal

I don’t think we/this forum/mods should get into policing people’s PM activity. Although I agree with the intent of protecting unsuspecting newbies from being taken by a low ball buyer, and I equally find the veiled WTS inquiry abhorrent (just come out with it!!), it’s not our job to be their guardians.
It would be like someone walking into a bar and saying -hey, who wants to come home with me and have unprotected sex!!?? I’m not gonna stop the person that takes them up on the offer- that would be me applying my morality onto their behavior.

Archer

Well, we could apply that same logic to the sales forum, and eliminate the 200 post restriction, and tell people "buyer beware" and be done with it. After all, it's not our job to be their guardians, right?

Note - just to be clear I'm not advocating this...

JwRosenthal

Posting a publicly visible sale item is different than private correspondence. I have PM’d many new members to offer advise and many have PM’d me looking for advise based on a comment or information I offer in a thread- it’s part of what this place is about.

Archer

As do I - I get PM's from people all the time asking for help, many who don't ever actually post here. But that's not the point really. Your previous post seemed to be against "protecting" people. But we already do that by requiring the 200 post rule.

As I said previously, many people post watches innocently asking for help, and I'm quite sure people are trying to poach those via PM. To me, those people are worth protecting.