I completely agree, pictures can only help so much when buying any second hand goods- doesn’t matter what the item is people’s perception of VGC, good condition, needs work etc... will vary. I think it just helps with the overall forum look and ethos, attracts new members to the forum and sport? I’m not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs i’m active a few different forums (non gun related) and over the years have seen some flourish and some stagnate and fall away.

Unfortunately it’s inevitable that you will get the chancers, closet dealers and scam artists on any forum, just as a suggestion why can’t the sales section have limited access, say 3/6 Months and a minimum post count? May help with wheedling out the undesirables..... I for one wouldn’t have minded waiting to access it, haven’t bought anything as of yet, just a good reference point for me seeing what second hand bits are making.




Quote Originally Posted by T 20 View Post
OK then.

After six years of being on the Admin team and seeing thousands of sales on here, the number of reported disputes in that time would be less than 100 --- it's probably less than 50 but I'm being generous.




A superb photograph of the item being offered for sale alongside a piece of paper with the vendor's username and date is worthless if the item never shows up.

Another problem with buying from a photograph rather than a written description is that a gun could look mint in a photograph but when it lands on the buyer's doorstep it could be a complete knacker, in the event of a dispute the vendor can then simply turn round and say "you saw what you were buying"', leaving the buyer with no comeback.



Earlier this year Admin ran a running battle with Freeads dealers trying to join the forum and invade the sales section, some got through and a few had sleeper accounts and were already members --- thankfully they seem to have moved on now.
The only way Admin can keep the sales section in order is by removing access from dodgy sellers and folks who are only on here to trade, and by completely banning anyone who we consider to be a scammer --- this has worked for the last twenty years and I see no reason to change it now.





All the best Mick