Wants Sub-Forum Discussion - User Input Needed!

[James Rice]

Hey everyone,

We're currently throwing some ideas around regarding the 'Wants' sub-forum and would like some user input.

At present, we think that the 'Wants' section could benefit from some more relaxed guidelines regarding topic discussions and comments on posts.

This would mean that any 'Wants' topics primary use would still be to satisfy the want but if related discussion were to arise then we would allow it to continue, any off-topic communication would be removed as normal.

These changes would relate to the 'Wants' sub-forum only. Pre-existing guidelines will apply to all the other sub-forums.

What does everyone think to this?

We'd really appreciate any input as to whether you think this is a positive move or wish to carry on as usual.
Thanks!

James

[John Reed]

I'd like to keep it as it is and apply the same rules as for "sales".  In a similar way to sales, if i put up a "want", I don't want people coming on and telling me that they bought it in 1974 for 15p.

[James Rice]

That's a fair point, John. Thank-you for your input!

[soulman no1]

If it ain't broke don't fix it, I'm more than happy with the way it is 

[Amsterdam Russ]

2 hours ago, John Reed said:

I'd like to keep it as it is and apply the same rules as for "sales".  In a similar way to sales, if i put up a "want", I don't want people coming on and telling me that they bought it in 1974 for 15p.

Absolutely that!

[Frankie Crocker]

I think a bit of discussion doesn’t detract from a wants posting. A comment on how rare the record is or current availability would not be out of place. Warnings regarding bootlegs would be invaluable. Someone offering a priced-up VG+ copy instead of a minter could save a bit of hassle. A comment on current alternatives might be helpful even, citing second issues, UK releases etc.

Too many wants posts on here are over-optimistic, unrealistic and terse so a bit more information would enlighten readers.

[Chalky]

As Frankie C says, I don’t think a comment that gives some sensible discussion or advice can’t harm. 
 

Comments relating to 30 or 40 years ago shouldn’t be allowed. 

[James Rice]

Some really great feedback. Thanks for taking the time to post. Hopefully we’ll get some more interaction over the weekend.

[Soultime81]

If someone is looking for a "want", they are seeking willing sellers and details of the particular records for sale. They are not seeking a conversation about how good or bad the tune is, who played it back in the day or how much it sold for years ago.

Keep it the way it is please.

[Peter Richer]

I think it is right that the rules should be fairly relaxed, and that in turn could lead to a more interesting forum.

I would base it around these three simple principles:

i) comments should be designed to be of assistance, and helpful to the original poster;

ii) comments should be well intentioned and not rude; and

iii) the original poster should be as clear about what they are after as possible.

Which, I would hope, ought to work reasonably well without being too prescriptive or difficult to follow.

[Kjw]

If I was looking for a record generally valued at £100 I wouldn't want someone ruining my chances of getting one by posting on here that's it's worth £200 just so they can justify recently overpaying for their own copy 

[James Rice]

24 minutes ago, Kjw said:

If I was looking for a record generally valued at £100 I wouldn't want someone ruining my chances of getting one by posting on here that's it's worth £200 just so they can justify recently overpaying for their own copy 

This is something that I hadn't really considered before

[Okehdownsouth]

It sounds like a good idea to me.

[James Rice]

@Okehdownsouth,

Anything specific about the idea that you like? 

[Kev Cane]

On 24/06/2022 at 11:08, James Rice said:

Hey everyone,

We're currently throwing some ideas around regarding the 'Wants' sub-forum and would like some user input.

At present, we think that the 'Wants' section could benefit from some more relaxed guidelines regarding topic discussions and comments on posts.

This would mean that any 'Wants' topics primary use would still be to satisfy the want but if related discussion were to arise then we would allow it to continue, any off-topic communication would be removed as normal.

These changes would relate to the 'Wants' sub-forum only. Pre-existing guidelines will apply to all the other sub-forums.

What does everyone think to this?

We'd really appreciate any input as to whether you think this is a positive move or wish to carry on as usual.
Thanks!

James

Works for me  

[Smudger]

Any info on a want has got to useful as long as it is relevant.

 

 

[Jnixon]

1 hour ago, Smudger said:

Any info on a want has got to useful as long as it is relevant.

 

 

What does relevant mean and who decides what is and isn't. How do you Police that.

Sounds rather messy to me and would cause more problems with people's wants becoming reality than adding something. Same old comments will get rinsed around none of which are helpful. Look at what goes on on Facebook. 

Best left alone imho. Let the two parties deal with the transaction without others making an unnecessary mess around it.  

[Still Diggin]

I would hate to have some guy have his want posted up, for me to then go and look for it in the loft knowing full well I had been trying to shift that turkey for years only for someone being allowed to post up they thought it was crap. causing the prospectve buyer to have a re- think. Bit like trying to shift your old car full of rust and a piece drops off just as they hand over the cash! IMO pretty much everything menshioned is spot on dont rock the boat.

[James Rice]

Thanks for the input everyone. Some really interesting points for us to dig into. I think the main reason for us wanting to get user input was due to the fact that the wants section seems to inherently attract more user input/comments than the other ‘sales’ sub-forums and we didn’t know whether this was something that would be preferred by users or not. It has been fairly eye-opening for me as I’d expected it to be one sided on the side of allowing comments, so it really shows how useful these types of questions can be! 

[James Rice]

So, we've allowed this to run for a week now and we're really thankful to everyone for their input. It's been really eye-opening!

The conclusion we've come too is to leave the wants forum as is and not change the guidelines regarding comments.

As the 'wants' forum does inherently attract more discussion we will be splitting anything that we deem worthwhile to other appropriate areas of the forum where the discussion can continue and hopefully this will prevent the original want post becoming diluted.

Comments are discouraged unless they actively help the user with sourcing their want, anything else should be sent via PM or start a new topic in a more appropriate area of the forum.

Users posting 'wants' who 100% do not want any comments and would prefer to receive info via PM then we recommend 'locking' your topic upon posting but do include a message to encourage users to get in touch via PM otherwise you might find your want goes unsatisfied.

Again, thank-you for all the input we've received.
James