Classifieds feedback/rating system installed

[Sean]

Hi, All, I added an ebay style feedback system to the classifieds area. At first glance it seems that the system could be abused since it is based on good faith, but I would like to believe this will not happen. If it does turn into something that is a headache to manage I can remove it, but for now lets go with it. To access and leave feedback for someone you will see the link under their name in the classifieds area. Here is a screenshot:

 

[blaze-on]

Excellent Sean. I've purchased some expensive items from a couple APUG'rs that were good transactions and would like to know if a feedback can be added anytime? Seems that way.

What is to prevent someone from leaving a feedback for the heck of it (neg or pos), if they didn't purchase anuthing?

 

[Sean]

Excellent Sean. I've purchased some expensive items from a couple APUG'rs that were good transactions and would like to know if a feedback can be added anytime? Seems that way.

What is to prevent someone from leaving a feedback for the heck of it (neg or pos), if they didn't purchase anuthing?

Yes feedback can be left at anytime. I suggest everyone use the available option to include the url of the item which was sold. This should give a bit of credibility for those looking to research a buyer. Next step is to keep all of the old sales, so I may make an expired listing forum that old sales are moved into.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't think it matters too much one way or the other. If there were some particularly bad seller on APUG, I'm sure the injured party would make it known in short order, and in general, we seem to know who are the familiar characters around here.

It will be good to have a way to move sold items out of the current classifieds, though. I usually try to delete mine if they sell within the time frame when that's possible.

 

[resummerfield]

I thought the rating system was on EVERY post. But I just noted it was on classified ads. only. Which is much better than including it on every post.

But I still don't care for the idea-- I hate to see APUG turned into a SELLERS TOOL.

And yes, it would be nice to have some way to clean up the sold items.

 

[MikeS]

One suggestion I have, which is something that was done on a computer related mailing list I subscribe to would be to make a searchable text file with all the members eBay IDs (of course it's voluntary to add your eBay ID), which is good for a couple of things, first, if you're buying something from an APUG member it's nice to know, and secondly, at least in theory if you see something you're interested in, but see another APUG member is currently bidding on it, you can decide if you want to bid against them or not.

Just a thought.

-Mike

 

[Digidurst]

I like the feedback idea... I've had some great buying experiences here on APUG from some folks who have really gone the extra mile. I'm glad I can share my appreciation in a way that all of APUG will see instead of in a random thread that might not get much exposure.

Thanks Sean!

 

[MattCarey]

From what I see, you can leave feedback to someone who has posted a response in the classifieds. I have a case where someone responded to a WTB ad via PM. He hasn't ever posted to the classifieds. Is there a way to leave feedback in this case?

Matt

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

So we've had this for a few months, and there are 122 feedbacks posted, all positive. Do we need this? Maybe we should invite Cambridge Camera or someone to post some items for sale.

 

[jd callow]

We are simiply all above average.

 

[John Bartley]

Well, if it's negatives you're looking for, I could leave one for Jim Galli. Before he sold me that 16" Goerz Artar, I needed it for just about every other shot I could have taken. I could hardly wait for it to get here. Now that it's here, I have yet to find a need for it. It must be a defective lens .

 

[jovo]

Maybe we should invite Cambridge Camera or someone to post some items for sale.

Wow...does Cambridge even still exist? Their rep was soooo bad that even though they offered me a really good deal on a light meter some years ago face to face in the store, I was so distrustful I declined the offer and went over to Adorama and bought their 1 degree meter at bust out retail.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think they still exist as a mail order business, also as AAA Camera, and I think they are Airwatches on eBay. They probably still have a big warehouse of old stuff. I've actually purchased a couple of things from them--a battery pack for a Canon motor drive that was long out of production, but they had new in the store, and I think I got some Bronica thing from them once.

 

[MikeS]

I think they still exist as a mail order business, also as AAA Camera, and I think they are Airwatches on eBay. They probably still have a big warehouse of old stuff. I've actually purchased a couple of things from them--a battery pack for a Canon motor drive that was long out of production, but they had new in the store, and I think I got some Bronica thing from them once.

Yup, they're airwatches on ebay. I got burned by them there too! They listed a Super Rollex with an opening bid of $49.95, I won it at the opening bid, mailed them a money order, they claimed they never got it, took me a few months to get a refund from the PO. At the time I was fairly convinced they got the MO, and just tore it up, as they didn't want to sell it that cheaply, after hearing who they are, I'm sure of it!

-Mike

 

[pentaxuser]

Yup, they're airwatches on ebay. I got burned by them there too! They listed a Super Rollex with an opening bid of $49.95, I won it at the opening bid, mailed them a money order, they claimed they never got it, took me a few months to get a refund from the PO. At the time I was fairly convinced they got the MO, and just tore it up, as they didn't want to sell it that cheaply, after hearing who they are, I'm sure of it!

-Mike

With as many dubious sellers on e-bay as there seems to be, would it be possible to have a section on APUG devoted to bad e-bay experiences. I appreciate that we'd have to be careful what was said but provided that each experience was factual, it would be difficult to construe it as libellous. Anyway really dubious sellers would be unlikely to want to issue libel proceedings. They usually work on the principle that for every person who "discovers" them there is "the gullible" who like the poor will always be with us.

If there are e-bay sellers, be they individuals or organisations, where caveat emptor applies in spades it would be nice if APUG members could protect each other.

Pentaxuser

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

There's already a pretty well developed area for that on photo.net in the "neighbor-to-neighbor" section. I'm happy to let them moderate it.