Poll: Create an additional, structured, paid-for, B/S/T section

yes i agree $10 is a good figure. Once I can get some money coming in..looks like i'll have to look at other forums to raise the money..

So long as the price is fixed. I'm put off by sitepoint's 20 or 25 dollar fee..10 isn't too high nor too low.

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Yes..so I support the suggestion for this and fee to be $10 per listing.

yup.
I like the idea of $1 highlights..

How about a section for services..where the posting is a permanent thing..kinda like an advert...say$2usd. like a classifieds section...this could be done in many ways..just an idea..i apologise if it doesn't make sense..this headache is no fun.

 

Yep, second that.

 

A section for the sole purpose of paid listings could be good, although who gets the money?This could be a real cash cow for the admins..

 

solution #1 money strictly goes towards upkeep of dp..maintaining servers..
#2 revenue sharing?<don't know how we could implement this..

 

Where the money goes is none of our business!

I just want to see the forum improved!

Notting

 

Agreed! None of our business where the revenue goes.

We all know, or at least those who have used the BST section, that the deluge of junk and dross has greatly devalued it, so much so that people are moving elsewhere, creating a cycle of less quality right across the entire forum as the 'quality posters' leave and the junk levels increase. It's something of a vicious circle and will only result in the eventual death of DigitalPoint forums. It's not too late to turn it around but I do believe it needs actioning soon. I also believe introducing an additional, NEW, structured, paid-for, BST section will help do this.

 

The whole idea of making BST paid is to keep the low quality threads out. Adding new, paid features won't solve the problem.

Another point I would like to mention: Making BST a paid section will discourage a lot of newcommers and remember that most of us started here from zero.

EDIT: In any case, Shawn doesn't seem to be interested in (or simply doesn't have time for) adding new features or doing any other modifications, seo work or anything else for this forum other than fixing servers when they crash from time to time...

 

It will affect me because I will only be able to post with the junk posts, like it is now. This will not help me at all, which is why I say the B/S/T should be more organized.

 

I'm against a paid model. The strength of the forum is that it's so busy. I buy a lot of links in there, anything that dilutes the number of traders is a bad thing IMO.

I do agree that things could be structured better. For example dividing some of the sub-forums up into WTB and WTS would help. I don't see having a two-tier paid/non-paid forum would help, I'd still have to trawl both of them so it wouldn't make my life any easier - I'm guessing a lot of people would be the same?

 

Not really. The existing BST section stays as it is and a new, paid-for section is created. I don't see how this will put off any newcomers.

Yeah, I hear that. Don't know if it's true or not but it does appear that way. Must be difficult being a millionaire and keeping up the motivation to put time into this place.

Having scanned through your posts in the BST section I have to say that's exactly where they would belong.

 

What's up with everyone being so bitchy on this thread?
A thread like this is going to get people talking..and ideally discussing our options and ways to overcome it.
Instead every suggestion that's made is screamed down.

How about lettings the suggestions flow?? Or is that too hard?

and i'm expecting to get flamed over this post too..please direct your anger elsewhere,i just can't take it after the bad news i've just recieved..not that anyone cares.
pfft whatever..

 

I have to agree with you 100%.

We just need a better structured marketplace.
A High Paid listings fee will only throw more and more sellers and buyers out.

I already suggested a year ago implementing an ebay style auction system to help with bumping and the like in the BST. Having an ebay style auction system in place for placing bids, comments, questions and the like would save a lot of hassle.

 

For me that would be the best solution

 

Un yeah. Gee maybe they have experience and the time behind them to see that there maybe a few bad apples in the bunch. Or maybe there is a change that needs to take place. They are just the few that would like to keep quality here at DP. Its, I am sure what Shawn has intended alongside of keeping this forum free of charge. Regardless of him having less time.

Maybe, Maybe not. But I think you forgot to insert about some kind of payment exchange in addition. You know Paypal for Egold exchange so that you can make your listing fees. Something of that general nature.

They probably raised the prices to help minimize lost income to their users from scammers, liars and cheats. Most scammers liars and cheats will try and automatically move their funds immediately out of their paypal for one reason or another. I agree it is to high. But it stays on the front 2 pages for atleast 2 weeks or more vs being pushed down to the 10th page by the end of the day.

I am still thinking if this would be a great idea for DP. Having a paid section. I would have to agree it would slow down some scams, liars, cheats. It will also help not flood a particular section. And your listing will not be on page 10 at the end of the day.

If I were to be in favor the fee should not be $1 or $20+. Something in the 10 to 20 range. But still thinking about the question.

 

LOL..see my suggestion in the other thread..i am referring to the ebay comment..i was thinking along similar lines..and posted a suggestion in the other thread.

 

Hello folks,
I think a paid section would be condusive to getting people to sell quality and buyers will find that these quality products. I think a membership tier would be great. Also note for every person who doesn't want paid membership/section, ten people will be totally fine with it.

Every great forum will have issues, just how you cope with the matter does it become solved.

Jim

 

I can't say I'm overly happy with the idea of a tiered membership as I believe it would be to the detriment of the forum as the top tiers would ignore the lower tiers who would not have access to the upper tiers, etc.

No, I think a restructuring of the current B/S/T (keeping it free) AND a NEW, paid-for, BST would provide the best all round solution.

 

I just don't see how this would really help things. I really don't understand how the BST is viewed as so disorganized. I check it daily. The main BST has about 4 pages of new posts. Services usually has 2 and a half. Content Creation has 1-3 depending on the season. I open new tabs for each one that looks interesting and then review the 10-15 open tabs. 20 minutes at the most and it's usually interesting.

What you're discussing could just be accomplished through a basic restructuring of the sites for sale section and the WTB/WTS idea for the BST. Having to pay a few dollars wouldn't really discourage the good scammers either. They'll just pay the fee, look really credible, and then make a bundle.

I think there does need to be a restructuring, but the paid section would only confuse things more.

 

I definately agree with the OP. For a long time now I have avoided posting in B/S/T or even considering listing there. I go there once in a while when I have some money to see if there is anything I would like to buy, but however can never find anything that is even worth visiting...
Because of the garbage over there I usually list on Site Point.

I also think that by introducing a paid B/S/T this will cut down on the amount of scammers over here. We all know they are running rampant...

But if nothing we say is going to change anything around here, why bother right??