Should the Wanted forums be viewable by Supporting Members only?

[Iridescentone]

I really think the "vote" should be based on supporting members input!!

Good point. If the folks who are footing the bill around here don't have an incentive to continue doing so, vis a vis some sort of benefit or privilege, then many will simply stop supporting altogether. Then at that point, are the remaining supporters expected to pay even more, to make up for the lost supporters?

 

[dslapster64]

I guess I'm just a little sensitive. A couple of the posts in this thread kind of struck a nerve. As far as being "safer", that's pretty much what happened to me. Since the person was a member, it made me let my guard down long enough to get zapped. Actually, the IP address of the of the guy came from Nigeria (according to the folks here at TB), but the money went to China (according to PayPal). What makes it funny is supposedly the bass was coming from Canada. When I filed my claim with PayPal, the person I spoke to assured me that my money would be refunded....but I would have to wait 10 days to allow time for the seller to respond. I guess we'll see what happens...

 

[dslapster64]

It looks like it was the same guy. Wow! I guess there's a first time for everything. Never again!

 

[Iridescentone]

I'm not sure I agree that it's disrespectful, but it certainly is a loophole. It does in fact allow non-supporting members to "sell" on Talkbass. That should be changed.

The issue of scamming isn't exactly relevant though; that's just been the catalyst for this discussion. You can just as easily be scammed by a supporting member as by a a non-supporting member. Still, it's not a bad idea to put up a obstacle to this sort of "targeted phishing". I've been in plenty of other forums that required supporting memberships for anything sale/buy related, and that never put me off from visiting or participating in other areas.

-Alan

Right. And let's not ignore that scam/phishers don't just choose one forum to probe for victims. They do it all day long, on many different fronts. So even a small SM requirement is likely to deter them, as they will no doubt prefer to attack the "free" sites.

 

[Iridescentone]

I am suggesting, actually, non-supporting membership should change to not being able to view or post in classifieds. I think the TGP forum does this.

Just throwing out an idea.

Then I apparently misunderstood, my bad.

But I think your proposal goes too far. If non-SM's cannot BUY from the classifieds, the end result could be to further choke an already difficult selling situation.

 

[blipndub]

Thank you for asking Paul, what an awesome way to make decisions for this (generally incredibly trustworthy) community.
I voted for the supporting member option, because it's ok to have a perq for supporting members. We want supporting membership. It builds affinity and binds the group.
And the monthly option makes it completely affordable, so why not?

I've been a member for 14 years and NEVER had a bad deal. I know there are scammers out there and I'm sorry it leaked in here.

 

[JeromeH]

As far as the

1. No, but restrict viewing of the WTB forums to users with >30 posts and/or 30 days of membership Somebody looking to Scam someone is more than likely gonna have more posts than average!!!

 

[blipndub]

I stand by my vote mostly because I think TB is worth supporting. But I also see the posts/feedback system for viewing that makes sense, although technically it sounds kind of burdensome!

 

[JeromeH]

Do I look different? Felt like a Hypocrite so I supported!! I think "Sellers" should be restricted "Buyers" not so much!!!

 

[JeromeH]

NOW I VOTED!!!

 

[JeromeH]

And NO! I'm not looking to sell anything!!

 

[Marcury]

Isn't there a talk bass rule against using Paypal gift?

 

[JeromeH]

My biggest suggestion would be add $1 to the membership fee and use it to reimburse (as much as it could) anybody who gets screwed over here! would be MORE than worth it to me!!

 

[JeromeH]

My "seller" didn't even almost suggest it was my idea to save the guy a few bucks!!! As a "newbie" I don't know!!

 

[Iridescentone]

C'mon people brainstorm!!!

Use our brains? Now you've definitely gone too far, sir! lol

 

[red_rhino]

I am suggesting, actually, non-supporting membership should change to not being able to view or post in classifieds. I think the TGP forum does this.

Not really a good idea, IMO. I pay a supporting membership to "sell" on Talkbass. (Well, that, and because I'm also great guy.) I want to cast that net as wide as possible, and I have no problem selling to a non-supporting member if we agree on a price. Why would I want to restrict my audience for something I am paying a "fee" to sell?

WTB is different, because the current arrangement allows persons without supporting memberships to "sell" on TB (i.e. using TB to passively sell your merchandise without paying a supporting membership.) If you truly want everyone in the world to see your WTB thread, post it on Craigslist. No scammers there.

I look at it this way: I can go to the mall and buy a pair of jeans from a store there, or perhaps I'll run into someone selling jeans out of a van in the mall parking lot. Whether the person in the van is honest or not (or perhaps has the perfect pair of jeans I've been looking for) is irrelevant. Mall security will have van owner escorted off the property because they don't pay store rent and are just leveraging the mall's customers.

A supporting membership should be required to post items for sale, or to sell items to people who want to buy.

-Alan

 

[JeromeH]

You guys do realize that when the wife sees the charge I have to explain it and say "No Honey it's not a porn site" not that there's a history of that sort of thing!!

 

[JeromeH]

She's still a little peeved about the Genz Benz amp I just bought!!

 

[Syxz_ML]

Didn't get a chance to vote since I'm on the app and it doesn't give an opportunity to vote. Don't even get me started on the app and its many problems but that's another story for another time. From what I've read I've seen a lot of confusion on people thinking this is a change to effect all of the classified section. This is strictly just the WTB section. Now I do think it might suck for those posting a WTB ad limiting the views on their thread. Imagine someone who's been a member for years but never has sold a thing, reads a WTB add of an item they've had for years and never use So wouldn't mind seeing go to a good home. They decide to finally become a supporting member to sell that item. Now this person already has previous feedback from buying to begin with. In this scenario the WTB poster gets his item, seller gets to see his item go to a good home, website gets a new supporting member. But in the interest of safety if you guys think WTB threads work best to already supporting members then I'm ok with that.

Now just out of curiosity what where the screenames of the members that created the fraud? I had an interesting conversation 2 week's ago that I didn't follow up on, but was not WTB related, but sounds eerie similar.

 

[Syxz_ML]

I asked because the member who messaged me isn't a member anymore, and if that was the same person, and an attempt at a scam, wow you guys are gonna get freaked out by the level of effort scammers are willing to go now!