Updated Rules from the Email everyone received on 5th April 09
Added 23rd April 09
This past week there have been a few members who have felt the need to post negative feedback regarding transactions that never actually appeared and this has given rise to a flood of others with similar questions and concerns. So I thought about it and it seems to me if there was never an actual transaction (ie money exchanged) this DOES NOT warrant negative feedback.
It does however shed light on an issue of buy/sell etiquette which ought to be observed on the board.
IF YOU AGREE TO BUY SOMETHING FROM A FELLOW BOARD MEMBER AND CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE YOU NEED TO NOTIFY THE BUYER ASAP SO THEY AREN'T JUST LEFT HANGING ON A FALSE EXPECTATION.
Conversely if a seller agrees to sell something and then changes their mind for whatever reason they buyer has a right to know ASAP.
To this end, I will edit post#2 in the feedback thread to include a space for flaky buyers and sellers to be reported-each with links to the post where the grievance is located. This will be equal to a NEUTRAL rating.
This rating can also include those who take too much time to send money after it was agreed they would send it and also for those who take longer to mail items than is reasonably expected (ie within a week of agreement).
If the mods could make this sticky, I would appreciate it.
New rule:
One sales thread per person at a time. Put all your items in the title.
Specific rules for the "For Sale/Trade" forum
The For Sale/Trade section is for forum members to trade and sell items with other forum members. Like any internet marketplace the rule of "buyer beware" applies. <br><br>
www.sideshowcollectors.com, it's administrator, owner and moderators have no involvement with any transactions that take place here and cannot be held liable for any failed transaction nor can it help in tracking down a deliquent member.<br><br>
RULES
1) The sale/trade section is only for active members of Sideshow Freaks. You must have at least 50 posts and be a board member in good standing for 3 months in order to create a For Sale thread. If you spam the boards trying to get to that 50 post count you will be permanently banned. After you have filled both these criteria please PM the admin to request access. If you receive an infraction at any time your sales privileges may be revoked or denied. If you have any questionable transactions your sales privileges my be revoked. If you're banned it will be at the discretion of the admin (Darklord Dave) as to whether your sales privileges are restored upon your return. But if you got banned, you pissed him off and he's not likely to want to do you any favors.
2) Scalping (buying items solely with the intention of immediately selling them to other collectors) is discouraged.
3) No preorders may be sold in the for sale/trade section. Items must be the seller's possession. Violation of this rule will result in the listing being deleted and sanctions against the seller may be enacted.
4) Editorial comments about the seller, the seller's item, the price the seller is asking or general interference in the commerce thread is not allowed. If you have something to say about the value of an item, post it in the appropriate other forum.
5) Do not bump sale threads more than once in a 24 hour period. Doing so will result in the thread being deleted.<br><br>
6) An asking price must be supplied by the seller in their first posting about the item. No "make an offer" or auction style for sale posts will be allowed. They will be deleted. A prospective buyer can always make a lower offer, of course.<br><br>
7) "If you receive a Sideshow Gift card for free, we're not going to allow them for sale here. If you need to sell it - take it to ebay.
I do encourage people to give away their gift cards. If you've already used one for the promotion it's no good to you anyway - please share with a fellow Freak.<br><br>
8) This forum is a privilege, not a right. If the mods feel that a sale or post is inappropriate then it can and will be deleted. "Inappropriateness" means off limit items such as porn or it could just be for outrageous scalping.<br><br>
8) Attempting to bypass any of these rules will result in the revocation of "for sale" commerce area access.
GUIDELINES
Some general guidelines apply when dealing with other forum members:
1) Check the feedback thread in this forum. If the member you're dealing with isn't listed, ask for references of previous deals.
2) Never send an item before payment is received.
3) Seller and Buyer should ask for each other's ebay user names and check each other's feedback on ebay.
4) Don't deal with someone who has a low post count without references.
5) Get references.
6) Beware of private messages that solicite you to buy something. If they don't have enough posts to post in commerce, and they are trying to get you to buy something from PMs, I'd say the transaction is too risky.
ALSO - If you are trying to sell something for the going ebay rate or above AND/OR you are trying to get a really good deal below the going ebay rate, please don't be offended if the price you are offering/asking is questioned by other members.
El Roranous has these guidelines to add:
Step 1) List your item and be detailed with it's condition.
Step 2) Answer all questions and clarify a form of payment.
Step 3) Agree on a price and claim the sale.
Step 4) Accept payment and give confirmation to the buyer.
Step 5) Ship out sold item w/ insurance and tracking.
Step 6) Pass along shipping info to buyer.
Step 7) Leave feedback
Step 8) Deal with any post sale problems quickly and effectively so both parties can walk away satisfied.
Regarding feedback:
If you purchase something from a member and the transaction goes off to your satisfaction, please post your positive feedback in the feedback thread. If you bought and paid for something that was not delivered or was not as described, please post your negative feedback. If there was never an actual transaction (ie money exchanged) this DOES NOT warrant negative feedback. However this can be reported as neutral feedback for flaky buyers and sellers.<br><br>
This rating can also include those who take too much time to send money after it was agreed they would send it and also for those who take longer to mail items than is reasonably expected (ie within a week of agreement).<br><br>
IF YOU AGREE TO BUY SOMETHING FROM A FELLOW BOARD MEMBER AND CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE YOU NEED TO NOTIFY THE BUYER ASAP SO THEY AREN'T JUST LEFT HANGING ON A FALSE EXPECTATION.<br><br>
Conversely if a seller agrees to sell something and then changes their mind for whatever reason they buyer has a right to know ASAP.<br><br>
If you remain a problem and rack up 15 infractions total, you will be banned permanently.
Any scammers will be immediately banned permanently.
Added 23rd April 09
Anyone making inappropriate comments, harrassing sellers and being a nuisance in a sale thread will be banned from the sales forum for one month for the first offense.
This past week there have been a few members who have felt the need to post negative feedback regarding transactions that never actually appeared and this has given rise to a flood of others with similar questions and concerns. So I thought about it and it seems to me if there was never an actual transaction (ie money exchanged) this DOES NOT warrant negative feedback.
It does however shed light on an issue of buy/sell etiquette which ought to be observed on the board.
IF YOU AGREE TO BUY SOMETHING FROM A FELLOW BOARD MEMBER AND CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE YOU NEED TO NOTIFY THE BUYER ASAP SO THEY AREN'T JUST LEFT HANGING ON A FALSE EXPECTATION.
Conversely if a seller agrees to sell something and then changes their mind for whatever reason they buyer has a right to know ASAP.
To this end, I will edit post#2 in the feedback thread to include a space for flaky buyers and sellers to be reported-each with links to the post where the grievance is located. This will be equal to a NEUTRAL rating.
This rating can also include those who take too much time to send money after it was agreed they would send it and also for those who take longer to mail items than is reasonably expected (ie within a week of agreement).
If the mods could make this sticky, I would appreciate it.
New rule:
One sales thread per person at a time. Put all your items in the title.
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