[woodsyi]

Another forum requires you to have 100 posts before selling anything.  This gives people a chance to get to know the person before buying anything.  Usually, a person's character comes through by the 100th post.  I would go for this since I already avoid looking at ads from flyby sellers.

[miklorsmith]

I haven't had any problems with the buying/selling here.  Basic common sense about who your dealing with is always smart, no matter how the sale is arranged.

On Audiogon's censorship, they have pissed me off at least 3 times by clipping ENTIRE THREADS, with over 30 posts, on Zu speakers.  These were careful and involved discussions that were NOT out of hand by anyone's standards.  And, they review every post!  So, they allowed post after post after post, then decided to clip the whole branch from the tree.  A few passionate folks had spent many hours crafting these posts, with lively but respectful discussion then *poof* gone forever.

There have been other occasions where my posts have been clipped for no reason that I could ascertain.  I do not post there regularly any more because Big Brother looms too large.  Well, that and the pervasive air of negativity, but that's another story.

I don't have a particular problem with Audiogon's buying and selling.  Considering my options, i.e. trying to sell locally, $6 for an individual ad to sell an expensive piece of gear is peanuts.  But, they definitely are feeling their oats and looking to increase revenue.  Feedback from commercial folks here and raising prices to consumers makes it clear they have no competition and are looking for their pricing saturation point.

This raises another question - should this be intended to be a business venture or a labor of love?  If it's not profit driven, then an Agon competition will not arise since there's no market share to pursue.  On the other hand, I think the ultimate picture would look a lot different if direct competition is intended.

[JohnR]

This raises another question - should this be intended to be a business venture or a labor of love?  If it's not profit driven, then an Agon competition will not arise since there's no market share to pursue.  On the other hand, I think the ultimate picture would look a lot different if direct competition is intended.

I agree entirely.

My theory is that a website can only do one thing well. Other things can support that main thing, but that's all. For example, AC does forums aka circles in the above-mentioned "hobbyist" style, and does other stuff that helps that along, like image galleries and systems pages and the trading post. AG does ads, and conversely the forums are there to help that along. I assume/imagine/gather that is how the AG management view their forums, and so controlling the forums to support the ads seems almost like a natural conclusion.

[doug s.]

I never considered it primarily a professional enterprise for selling equipment.

It's not, we were just kicking around some ideas for fund-raising.

As far as the Trading Post goes, the only request (that I know of) for improving it is some kind of feedback system. I'd be interested to know what others ideas people might have for improving it - ?

a big improvement, imo, would be the ability to open the market place circle & see all the latest posts there, from all the market place categories, the same way the "recent posts" come up when you are on your home page.  if i am looking for, say, an amp, it's nice to go to the amp section to browse that category.  but, if i yust wanna see all the latest stuff that's been posted f/s, it's a pita to have to open each indiwidual thread...

doug s.

[hmen]

Woodsyi has a good point about the site with the 100 post rule. I've bought some things here at the trading post from AC members and have always been happy. The good thing about buying here is that you see ads from people whose posts you've been reading for a long time. Occasionally I see somebody post for the time and it's an ad and I usually ignore it.
I think everybody here would be happy if Agon had more competition.

[MaxCast]

doug, you could configure your favorites to show Trading Post posts.

[JohnR]

Cool, more good ideas. With a feedback system, you'll be able to see a count of successful transactions with other ACers. So... post count not relevant?

doug s - better scanning and searching sounds good too.

A specific question: Do people think ads should expire after some time (say... 30 days)? Saves scanning through ads that people forgot to mark as "sold" f'rinstance...?

[MaxCast]

A specific question: Do people think ads should expire after some time (say... 30 days)? Saves scanning through ads that people forgot to mark as "sold" f'rinstance...?

Yes

[jkelly]

I have no problem paying to place an ad. 

One downside may be that with payment comes
an expected level of service or responsibility that may
further burden the staff.

Here are a couple of other approaches from other sites I am on.

A website that I frequent has a similar solid long term community
like AudioCircle and their approach has been to determine the annual $$$
budget for hosting, etc. post that number as the #1 sticky and create a paypal account.
The "membership" has always provided the funds needed for the year - in a
very short time.  Kind of like Public Radio. On that site, if you do sell something -
it is always nice to throw the account $10 or more, as well.

Another website that is more like Audiogon than AudioCircle offers a yearly
account fee to members and the benefit is that members see the ads realtime
and non-members have to wait 24 hours to see the ad. Actually irritates a lot
of people into paying.

Jeff

[JohnR]

One downside may be that with payment comes
an expected level of service or responsibility that may
further burden the staff.

Very good point!

A website that I frequent...

Could you say where that is? Please PM me if you don't feel like posting it. Thanks

JohnR

[doug s.]

A specific question: Do people think ads should expire after some time (say... 30 days)? Saves scanning through ads that people forgot to mark as "sold" f'rinstance...?

Yes

i also agree, but i would make it 90 days.

doug s.

[doug s.]

doug, you could configure your favorites to show Trading Post posts.

thanks, i never even knew about that feature...   

doug s.

[Brian Walsh]

My theory is that a website can only do one thing well. Other things can support that main thing, but that's all.

I completely agree.

For example, AC does forums aka circles in the above-mentioned "hobbyist" style, and does other stuff that helps that along, like image galleries and systems pages and the trading post. AG does ads, and conversely the forums are there to help that along. I assume/imagine/gather that is how the AG management view their forums, and so controlling the forums to support the ads seems almost like a natural conclusion.

It's logical that Agon views the forums as decidedly secondary to the ads and that they should support the advertisers - most certainly a conflict of interests.

Going back to the first quote above, AC is first and foremost a discussion site, with ads possibly considered an afterthought. I still strongly suggest that simply linking to AudioXsell for advertising would be in everyone's best interest. I have no dog in this hunt, no connection with AudioXsell, but IMO AC simply doesn't have the structure in place for doing the ads with all of the desirable features. AC should continue as one of the premier audio discussion sites and use AXS for classifieds, to deliver a strong 1-2 punch.

[JohnR]

AC simply doesn't have the structure in place for doing the ads with all of the desirable features.

Well, maybe that will change... so far I have the following list of desirable features:

* Feedback system
* Ads expire after certain time
* Simple browse and search capability, esp. list of recently added/updated ads

Any others? How about undesirable features? (i.e. things that would put you off using an ad feature)

[doug s.]

AC simply doesn't have the structure in place for doing the ads with all of the desirable features.

Well, maybe that will change... so far I have the following list of desirable features:

* Feedback system
* Ads expire after certain time
* Simple browse and search capability, esp. list of recently added/updated ads

Any others? How about undesirable features? (i.e. things that would put you off using an ad feature)

undesirable features?  a limit to three foto's, no links to other websites allowed...   

doug s.

[JohnR]

OK, sure. In fact, perhaps a feature to consider would be an easy way to post links for "More info" and "Reviews" - ?

[MaxCast]

OK, sure. In fact, perhaps a feature to consider would be an easy way to post links for "More info" and "Reviews" - ?

Bravo!
One for the manufacturer link
A couple for review links or a link to a thread at AC  aa

[Nick B]

I don't know what volume AudioXsell generates and it's not that much of an issue for me. If the idea is to create long term competition to a site like Agon, then what difference does it make to pay a few dollars for an ad?
I never heard of Agon until Audiomart was bought out and the new owner did not continue the business. Other than Agon, I don't know how many sites there are to post audio and video ads. Maybe some of those could form a joint venture. Sites like AC and others could provide links to promote Agon's competition. All kinds of things are possible with a good marketing and business plan and with a positive attitude.

[JohnR]

For the record, AudioCircle is not going into competition with audiogon. AudioCircle is also not partnering with any other site to do it either. That is the official and actual position.

I would, however, like to improve the buy/sell functionality that the AC community uses here already.