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Problematic Buy/Sell/Trade Areas...

Discussion in 'Support & Feedback' started by digitalpoint, Jan 14, 2014.

  1. #1
    There are a few Buy/Sell/Trade areas that I'm contemplating doing away with, so I'm opening up discussion to get people's input/ideas.

    There are a few problematic buy/sell/trade areas that ultimately at the end of the day just generate a massive amount of content that we really don't want to be associated with. This is ultimately about balancing the wants of users vs. keeping a high standard of content for the site.


    Link Sales/Exchange

    This area was originally was intended as a dumping-ground to keep those threads out of other areas, but it's still somehow grown on it's own and now comprises over 1.1M posts. It was never something we condoned, recommended, etc. And now we basically have 1.1M+ posts that really just amount to pointless gibberish threads clogging up resources (ours as well as search engines like Google).

    We already tried curbing that area without totally doing away with it by forcing sellers to verify domain ownership (and also prevents duplicate threads for the same domain).


    Vouchers

    Is there *any* company that allows their vouchers to be sold? This area has become a cesspool of people trying to sell things that ultimately are free (AdWords, Facebook and Bing vouchers are a way those companies bring in new customers and they ultimately are free and don't work for existing customers).


    Adult

    Again, this was a way to allow users to do something they want, but without tainting other areas of the site.

    Here's some of the options I've been weighing for these areas...
    1. Just shut down those areas completely (solves all the problems except the one about giving some users what they want).
    2. Make those areas viewable only to certain logged in members (solves the problem of getting all that content out of Google, but doesn't solve the problem of getting it out of our site). There are a lot of possible variations of this... Fully usable/viewable to all members, private area only to premium members, viewable by all but posting new threads only by premium members, posting Buying threads by all but only viewable by premium members (people selling stuff), etc.

    "Buying" Threads In General

    Is there *any* real marketplace out there that even allows posting "buying" listings? With a few exceptions in a couple categories, these tend to be people just being lazy and can't be bothered with searching the Selling threads for what they want.

    Maybe not totally disable "Buying" threads, but I'd really like to put a massive curb on them somehow (maybe making it a premium member feature or something).

    All ideas are on the table at this point, and nothing is going premium-only at this point... that option is just on the table as a possible compromise vs. just shutting some problematic areas/things down completely.

    Looking forward to hearing constructive ideas for solving the underlying problems...
     
    digitalpoint, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  2. LayerNode

    LayerNode Member

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    #2
    i suggest you should make only registered users are allowed to see all the threads
    thats all i know :)
     
    LayerNode, Jan 14, 2014 IP
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  3. Spoiltdiva

    Spoiltdiva Acclaimed Member

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    #3
    I don't use any of those forums but it would seem to me that is a viable solution. These areas of the site cause you and staff extra work to monitor, why not then get something for it? At least if they generate some extra revenue, (Premium memberships) the site benefits from it.
     
    Spoiltdiva, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  4. kingofking

    kingofking Prominent Member

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    #4
    For sections which generate a huge amount of content, why cant we have some "purge" criteria on threads like - threads which are closed before 6 months gets auto deleted or threads which are idle (no active posts or the hits on the thread is less than some predefined number of visitors) gets removed automatically. I am not sure how much effort this would put on your plate or even if this is doable. But, if this can be done, then I believe it would clean up all the gibberish threads.

    I do not use any of the sections and hence I cannot comment much on its usage. As far as "BUYING" threads are considered, I agree to the point that it "might" make people lazy to search the items that are already on sale. But, what if I am looking for something which is not on sale currently? I would definitely like to leave a "BUYING" thread open so that the sellers can contact me. Probably you can add more moderators and make sure people are not creating multiple "BUYING" threads. I have seen people creating "Buying PR3 and PR4 domains" thread on day1 and then they create "Buying PR4 domain" on day2.

    If nothing works, then some features should be linked to "premium" memberships without increasing the subscription fees any further.
     
    kingofking, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  5. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #5
    That really is the biggest problem with the Buying threads as far as I'm concerned.

    With the Selling threads certain areas force domain verification so we can automatically prevent duplicates (Sites, Domains, Web Hosting, Link Sales, Link Exchange, etc.). But with a Buying thread, there's no way to force the user to verify domain ownership because well... they don't have the domain yet.

    If people actually followed the rules about duplicate threads, it wouldn't be the issue that it's become.

    Another idea would be to do something similar to how we do thread "bumping"... like 1 Buying thread per month (or 1 per week for premium) or something like that...
     
    digitalpoint, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  6. MikeLugar

    MikeLugar Well-Known Member

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    #6
    I say do away with them. I previously have used BST link exchanges in the past, but I don't see much relevance there anymore.
     
    MikeLugar, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  7. kingofking

    kingofking Prominent Member

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    #7
    Yes. This should be good. But, we can have this restriction at section level. Say, only 1 Buying thread per month in "Domains" section. Also, if the user tries to create a buying thread the 2nd month in the same section, probably, we can give them an information message saying "you already have a buying thread in domains section. Do you want to bump it without creating a new one?"

    This should atleast make some % of the users to bump an existing thread without actually creating a new one.
     
    kingofking, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  8. MikeLugar

    MikeLugar Well-Known Member

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    #8
    That's a good idea, I'm just glad that as of now there is a filter in BST to filter out buying threads
     
    MikeLugar, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  9. kingofking

    kingofking Prominent Member

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    #9
    I feel like it should be made premium member only advantage if and only if there is no other way to handle it or the cost/effort is going to be more than the benefit. Adding this point because if some "existing" feature is taken away from the members, it might not sound right to everyone.
     
    kingofking, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  10. khemraj

    khemraj Well-Known Member

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    #10
    I've seen people creating threads separate threads for PR 1 links, PR 2 Links, PR 1 domain for sale, PR 2 domains for sale, 200 words article for $1, 300 words article for $2.

    It'll be great if there could be any limit on such posts. I even notice that a single person is creating more than 10 threads on daily basis for selling his PR 1 to PR 5 domains.

    Sometimes, it feels so irritating when you see 15 alerts highlighting and mouse hover shows that all the threads are created by single person for selling his 15 domains :mad:
     
    khemraj, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  11. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #11
    If they are domains and they are validating ownership of each one as part of the listing process, I don't mind that at all.
     
    digitalpoint, Jan 14, 2014 IP
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  12. sundaybrew

    sundaybrew Numerati

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    #12
    Awesome - Here is my OPINION ( Please people don't freak out ! )

    There are a few problematic buy/sell/trade areas that ultimately at the end of the day just generate a massive amount of content that we really don't want to be associated with. This is ultimately about balancing the wants of users vs. keeping a high standard of content for the site.

    DELETE IT - Selling links is now considered SHADY by ANYONE in the REAL industry ,

    Years ago it was cool for us that cheated by buying links, now its just not classy at all.

    Again, This section had its time, but now , its almost illegal / not permitted by any company via their TOS

    DELETE THAT SECTION



    yeah - so NOT classy - IF they need that there is http://gfy.com .....millions of dirty threads......

    I am actually surprised you even had that here.......

    YEP - DELETE THEM TOO - Waste of time,[/quote]
     
    sundaybrew, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  13. qwikad.com

    qwikad.com Illustrious Member Affiliate Manager

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    #13
    I can only comment on three points:

    Link Sales/Exchange - I don't think any site owner who really cares about his/her site will ever do link exchanges. Who is it for then? I really don't know.

    Adult - the entire adult thing is really silly. There's really never (NEVER) a value in an adult section. Yes, it can be profitable, but, in a long run, it really only diminishes the value of a site. Of course, someone may say: Look at backpage, they are prospering on their adult section! Well, that's true, but I tell you what, it may only take just one more lawsuit before someone shuts that entire crapshack down.

    Vouchers - what percentage of your forum visitors cares about vouchers? 0.05%? I think I am even exaggerating the number.
     
    qwikad.com, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  14. browntwn

    browntwn Illustrious Member

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    #14
    You do realize that it contains the Godaddy coupon thread you recently fought to keep. For that reason alone I would ask that Vouchers be kept, unless that thread could be moved to some other section.
     
    browntwn, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  15. sundaybrew

    sundaybrew Numerati

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    #15

    Oh - hey ! How ya been :)

    Ummmm,......oooops.....I did not know that .......@digitalpoint .......scratch my comment above

    @browntwn thanks man ! Good looking out ;)
     
    sundaybrew, Jan 14, 2014 IP
  16. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #16
    Still weighing all the options... one thing is for certain though, I want those threads out of Google, so at the very least that is now done. The threads themselves are only viewable by logged in users.

    The discussion is still open for what the end solution might be...
     
    digitalpoint, Jan 15, 2014 IP
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  17. DomainMagnate

    DomainMagnate Illustrious Member

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    #17
    I think buying threads are essential. Many people might consider selling their site/domain/whatever, but don't want to make a selling thread for many reasons, so starting a buying thread can be the only way for buyers to reach sellers. Banning buying threads would be like saying you don't want buyers much in your forum, just sellers!
     
    DomainMagnate, Jan 15, 2014 IP
  18. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #18
    Yeah, I don't see Buying threads going away completely (they do serve useful purposes). Just trying to figure out how to best manage/control them better (in a realistic way).
     
    digitalpoint, Jan 15, 2014 IP
  19. khemraj

    khemraj Well-Known Member

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    #19
    It's just not about the domains. It's about the links and content threads as well.

    and IMO, for domains as well there should be some daily limits. Just a suggestion!
     
    khemraj, Jan 15, 2014 IP
  20. averyz

    averyz Well-Known Member

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    #20
    I don't spend much time in the BTS, I just drop in once and a while. But I will try to give some feedback.

    I like the BTS section because I like free markets.. Free markets just have something paid listing places do not.
    I do realize their has to be a balance and the host has to pay for the host. I like the way craigslist has charged for certain listings like jobs and has manged to keep other areas free. I have seen nice markets destroy a great market place from turning into all pay models (like sitepoint)

    Link sales- I mostly see dropped domains with spun content trying to sell links. Basically low quality rubbish. If it is clogging up databases I would auto delete the content every 4mo. I mean it is just useless info as far as archived content.

    Vouchers- like you said “a cesspool of people trying to sell things that ultimately are free” it reminds me of street urchins trying to sell free brochures to the tourists before they get to the info booth.

    Adult section – I have no opinion on. I have looked in there a few times ? Low grade porn is not my thing. Personally if it was my site I would close it, just to keep the image clean.

    Buying threads – I actually made one this week, after searching for what I was looking for and only found one seller and the rest where more then 3mo old.
    IMO if I needed to make a “buying” thread I would not mind paying a buck or two. I figure if I am going to spend $20 or so I would not mind spending $1 on a listing, I probably wouldn’t spend more then 5% or buy a subscription.
    The payment system would have to be very easy. for me to use it. I wouldn't fill out a page of info submit it to...?
    I don't mind spending a buck or two but I would mind putting my financial info into a unknown system. I will not use the pay button on the listings now. I do not like going through a site to get to a secure site.

    Selling threads- I like how not all sellers have to pay, over the years I have hired a couple of dozen people from the BTS and most of them were not hardcore regulars they would drop in do some work make a little money and leave. That’s one of the things I like about free markets is it opens a door for people to do that. I notice in paid models that goes away and you just get a few sellers that take over the markets with high out put and low quality.
     
    averyz, Jan 15, 2014 IP
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