A Humble Suggestion for the Staff Concerning the Rules

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Sounds to me like the administrators are trying to regulate everything. I see no distinction between a hobbiest and someone selling a personal item. Maybe the "rulers" need to lighten up.

Rev.

It's not that difficult to understand. The "For Sale" section, frankly, has nothing to do with the advertising available on the forum. Except for the fact that the "For Sale" section is not for advertising. It is for individuals listing products for sale.

So, for example, if I decide I need to clean out some space in my closet and want to sell two kilts, a jacket, and three sporrans, I could list those items individually on the for sale section, and hopefully a happy X Marker could take advantage of the deals before I had to list them on Ebay or something.

On the other hand, let's say I started making kilt pins. And every two days I listed another kilt pin I had made in the "For Sale" section. After a while it is going to become apparant that this is no longer the case of me selling the odd individual item, but rather I'm advertising for a new (albeit small) business venture.

And the problem with that is that there are folks who pay money for the privledge of advertising. And it's not really fair for someone to begin to advertise their product on the forum for free, when others pay good money for the privledge.

"But I'm just making a few kilt pins on my kitchen table! I only make $1.50 profit per pin! It's not like I'm a big business here, I'm just doing it for fun!" you might protest. How can you be expected to be a paid advertiser?

Well, in the past it might not have been feasable, but now that a new advertising level has been put in place -- "hobbyist" -- people have an very inexpensive option to join X Marks as an advertiser and enjoy all the privledges that come with that.

It seems to me that the guiding principle here is that the "For Sale" forum should not be taken advantage of by businesses (large or small) to advertise their products at no cost.

If anyone is interested, email Steve for the rates. He's actually made it a lot less expensive to be an advertiser than in the past.

[Paul]

It's not that difficult to understand. The "For Sale" section, frankly, has nothing to do with the advertising available on the forum. Except for the fact that the "For Sale" section is not for advertising. It is for individuals listing products for sale.

So, for example, if I decide I need to clean out some space in my closet and want to sell two kilts, a jacket, and three sporrans, I could list those items individually on the for sale section, and hopefully a happy X Marker could take advantage of the deals before I had to list them on Ebay or something.

Matt, with this in-mind then why did you advertise your companys sale of kilt hose in this section?

[be da veva]

Matt, with this in-mind then why did you advertise your companys sale of kilt hose in this section?

I think it was done before the Rules changed. There is now a forum for the Scottish Tartans Museum. I think he will advertise there from now on.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I think it was done before the Rules changed. There is now a forum for the Scottish Tartans Museum. I think he will advertise there from now on.

Quite correct!

I'll be the first to admit that I have been guilty in the past of using the "For Sale" section for things that were probably best posted elsewhere.

And, for the record, I don't think there has been so much a "rule change" in how the for sale section is to be used, as much as a tightening up of the enforcement of the rules that have been in place for some time now. I'm fine with that.

When we had the sale on Lewis Hose a few weeks back, I had to decide what part of the forum to mention it in. At that time we (the STM) did not have our own dedicated forum. I could post it in the General section. I could post it in the Accessories section. Or in the For Sale section. I opted in the For Sale section, knowing full well that it wasn't quite the right place for it.

But, I trusted that if I overstepped any boundaries that a forum moderator would let me know, and move the thread to the appropriate part of the forum. No biggie.

And that brings up another point -- it's not really up to me, or any of the at-large forum members, to make those kinds of determinations. That's what the moderators are there for. And now that we know BEEDEE is the one who is overseeing the For Sale forum, we know just who to ask if we have any questions. And if anyone does post something in the For Sale section that shouldn't be there, BEEDEE will let them know. No harm, no foul.

[bricelythgoe]

But, I trusted that if I overstepped any boundaries that a forum moderator would let me know, and move the thread to the appropriate part of the forum. No biggie.

That is true. They will definetly tell you when you overstep your bounds. I am speaking from experience