Private sales...member comments.

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I think it's a recipe for disaster. too many chronic complainers that wouldn't be happy even if they got the watch for free. there's a reason most similar sites disable ANY responses or comments to a sales section. in my opinion this site is already flirting with disaster with the existing lax rules in place.

The forum seems to have gotten along just fine with these "lax" rules for many years...
 
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Food for thought/Devil's advocate:
If the 200 post limitation is intended to protect the forum from unscrupulous sellers, wouldn't fair scrutiny from members do the same? @Walrus stated that he didn't leave any negative feedback on some undisclosed issues, but wouldn't that have benefited everyone, by enforcing a high standard of descriptions here? Shouldn't constructive criticism be both welcome and encouraged? I'm sure it varies from case to case (no pun intended) and from one sale to another, but maybe that just means more moderation is required.
I think OF and it's member are doing just fine. Of course, blatant omissions, false claims or misleading descriptions should be called out but that's it. No more.

Some omissions are involuntary and when reminded, sellers adjust their description and gracefully acknowledge the error. If a description isn't misleading nor outlandish, then, if you don't like it, ignore it. If you don't like the price, ignore it. Many collectors have their own criteria. That doesn't make them experts. Poo pooing or making a personal assessment of a watch on a sales forum is plain wrong. Undeserved superlatives are also wrong. Kudos for well described exceptional pieces are IMO fun and unique to OF. That's why I make this watch forum my favourite one!!
 
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The forum seems to have gotten along just fine with these "lax" rules for many years...

Indeed, the ability to speak one's mind (within limits) is a particular strength of this forum, and the moderators should be commended for supporting it.
 
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The forum seems to have gotten along just fine with these "lax" rules for many years...

ok then with that line of thought this should be the end of the discussion? from what I gather there has been some nasty online battles and hard feelings as a result of the comments in the sales section. I believe that's why this thread and discussion is so interesting.
 
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ok then with that line of thought this should be the end of the discussion? from what I gather there has been some nasty online battles and hard feelings as a result of the comments in the sales section. I believe that's why this thread and discussion is so interesting.

You talk of "chronic complainers that wouldn't be happy even if they got the watch for free", disasters waiting to happen, and "nasty" battles...in the nearly 7 years I've been a member here I've not seen anything like that here so not sure where you "gather" that from...and if you stick around and read the forum a bit more before condemning the rules you might realize this sort of talk is really not what happens...
 
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ok then with that line of thought this should be the end of the discussion? from what I gather there has been some nasty online battles and hard feelings as a result of the comments in the sales section. I believe that's why this thread and discussion is so interesting.

I think the moderators take a nuanced view of comments in the sales section, and evaluate them on a case-by-case basis. Some conversations are allowed to continue, while others may be removed. This shows some courage on the part of the moderators, since they will inevitably take some heat for certain decisions. The decisions are not always self-consistent, but they do a very good job on balance. IMO it's better than a rigid rule that bans any comments.
 
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if you stick around and read the forum a bit more before condemning the rules you might realize this sort of talk is really not what happens...

first of all I didn't "condemn" anything so your over-the-top style of trying to intimidate or badger with excessive adjectives isn't going to work with me. your style of trying to end all discussion with a few curt declarations is tiring at times. do you ever discuss anything or merely make proclamations? yes you are an expert watch maker but people-person you are not. no one has to "stick around and read the forum" for very long to realize that. oh...and getting back to your comment that you have not seen any sales forum battles I believe there's a sales thread on a universal that went pear shaped recently...
 
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first of all I didn't "condemn" anything

Well if this isn't condemnation, then what is it?

I think it's a recipe for disaster. too many chronic complainers that wouldn't be happy even if they got the watch for free. there's a reason most similar sites disable ANY responses or comments to a sales section. in my opinion this site is already flirting with disaster with the existing lax rules in place.

As for this...

oh...and getting back to your comment that you have not seen any sales forum battles I believe there's a sales thread on a universal that went pear shaped recently...

I read that entire thread. I didn't see any "chronic complainers that wouldn't be happy even if they got the watch for free" or anything even remotely like it, and that is what I am saying doesn't happen here. You can twist it all you want, but although there are disagreements, it's hardly the "recipe for disaster" you make it out to be.

Talk about using excessive adjectives...🙄
 
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Food for thought/Devil's advocate:
If the 200 post limitation is intended to protect the forum from unscrupulous sellers, wouldn't fair scrutiny from members do the same? @Walrus stated that he didn't leave any negative feedback on some undisclosed issues, but wouldn't that have benefited everyone, by enforcing a high standard of descriptions here? Shouldn't constructive criticism be both welcome and encouraged? I'm sure it varies from case to case (no pun intended) and from one sale to another, but maybe that just means more moderation is required.
I certainly see your point. I made a decision and decided to stick with it. Perhaps others would have handled it differently.
 
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well Al you can dance around all you like in your replies but what you often fail to take into consideration is WHO and WHAT a person is posting about. I was posting (and quoted) a fellow member that was expressing his opinion on how the sales forum should be open to all types of comments. I gave my opinion. you didn't like it. you often don't like anyone's opinions. I think that's fairly well established.
declaring that i'm condemning the forum's rules is over the top but certainly could elevate your standing amongst those that might be gullible into thinking you're defending the forum from attack. so...how about respecting others' opinions in a thread looking for opinions?
Edited:
 
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first of all I didn't "condemn" anything so your over-the-top style of trying to intimidate or badger with excessive adjectives isn't going to work with me. your style of trying to end all discussion with a few curt declarations is tiring at times. do you ever discuss anything or merely make proclamations? yes you are an expert watch maker but people-person you are not. no one has to "stick around and read the forum" for very long to realize that. oh...and getting back to your comment that you have not seen any sales forum battles I believe there's a sales thread on a universal that went pear shaped recently...

You're been here all of 10 minutes and from the start have been sounding off here there and everywhere about how the way things are done and how people are treated is wrong. You come across as a blowhard mate. You might well have a point in some of the things you say, but the signal to noise ratio is pretty low so its difficult to tell. I thought you were just the typical race to 200 post farmer, it seems not, though perhaps you just haven't taken the time to write your for sale post yet.
 
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well Al you can dance around all you like in your replies but what you often fail to take into consideration is WHO and WHAT a person is posting about. I was posting (and quoted) a fellow member that was expressing his opinion on how the sales forum should be open to all types of comments...even on pricing. I gave my opinion. you didn't like it. you often don't like anyone's opinions. I think that's fairly well established.
declaring that i'm condemning the forum's rules is over the top but certainly could elevate your standing amongst those that might be gullible into thinking you're defending the forum from attack. so...how about respecting others' opinions in a thread looking for opinions?

Respecting doesn't mean agreeing, so I disagreed with your statement that:

"in my opinion this site is already flirting with disaster with the existing lax rules in place."

I simply said this:

"The forum seems to have gotten along just fine with these "lax" rules for many years..."

There's no "defending" the forum involved, just stating my observations that the system has worked very well in the time I've been here.
 
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You're been here all of 10 minutes and from the start have been sounding off here there and everywhere about how the way things are done and how people are treated is wrong. You come across as a blowhard mate. You might well have a point in some of the things you say, but the signal to noise ratio is pretty low so its difficult to tell. I thought you were just the typical race to 200 post farmer, it seems not, though perhaps you just haven't taken the time to write your for sale post yet.

that's interesting. so now we're going to resort to name calling? is this the best it gets?
 
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that's interesting. so now we're going to resort to name calling? is this the best it gets?
No not yet. I have resorted to telling you how you come across, it's not the same thing. You want name calling, I can oblige but I don't think that would help you to see that showing up and saying 'you are doing it all wrong listen to meeeee' just looks a little blinkered and isn't likely to endear you to others.
 
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Respecting doesn't mean agreeing, so I disagreed with your statement that:

"in my opinion this site is already flirting with disaster with the existing lax rules in place."

I simply said this:

"The forum seems to have gotten along just fine with these "lax" rules for many years..."

There's no "defending" the forum involved, just stating my observations that the system has worked very well in the time I've been here.

yes Al I get it but my using the descriptor "lax" is not the same as condemning. you should also note I am not opposed of the forum's sales rules in it's entirety. I simply stated my opinion. obviously if comments go unchecked it's going to result in battles and hard feelings.
 
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yes Al I get it but my using the descriptor "lax" is not the same as condemning. you should also note I am not opposed of the forum's sales rules in it's entirety. I simply stated my opinion. obviously if comments go unchecked it's going to result in battles and hard feelings.

Well, next time someone says something is "flirting with disaster" I'll know it's probably a good thing then...😉

 
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No not yet. I have resorted to telling you how you come across, it's not the same thing. You want name calling, I can oblige but I don't think that would help you to see that showing up and saying 'you are doing it all wrong listen to meeeee' just looks a little blinkered and isn't likely to endear you to others.

well this all started with you over my very vocal objection to how some new-to-the-hobby posters get treated when they first join this site looking for info on a watch. if you really feel so strongly then take this to the forum staff and see how they feel. like I say i'm no stranger to watch forums and would hazard to guess have been a participating member on many of them longer than you have been on this site...so your "10 minutes" comment means zilch. for forums to thrive as well as the hobby, new people to the hobby should be encouraged not run off.
so...what's the healthier attitude? welcome newbies to the hobby or call others names? you don't like me? it is what it is my friend so get over it.
 
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Well, next time someone says something is "flirting with disaster" I'll know it's probably a good thing then...😉


you know Al sometimes you are impossible to stay angry with 😁
 
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you know Al sometimes you are impossible to stay angry with 😁

Don't worry, I'll keep trying...
 
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well this all started with you over my very vocal objection to how some new-to-the-hobby posters get treated when they first join this site looking for info on a watch.
That is because 95% of the people coming to the site for the first time want to know what a watch they just found or were given is worth, and where to sell it. This is a forum for collectors, not a drive-through valuation service.