Classified Ads Opinions Needed

[Eric M]

Hey everyone! I'd like to gather some opinions on the Classifieds ads section. Mainly, it is regarding SOLD items.

One thing I absolutely hate about searching Gun Broker, Google, etc., for pricing history on guns, handloading supplies, etc. The problem is, GB drops the ads after a certain amount of time and it is difficult to navigate through the "Advanced Search" to find actual sold prices. Google results are not specific enough. Especially, because their are so many results from sites that have sold guns and remove the sold price.

Here's my question for everyone. I would like to save SOLD Classified posts in order to build a history of sale prices. I'd like your thoughts on this. Pros, Cons, ways to set it up for our use and any issues you feel should be addressed.

Let me know!

Eric

 

[kiwishooter]

To me this is a valuable aid to anyone contemplating selling something, but doesn't have any idea on the current value.
It also gives someone an idea of value when purchasing something.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Eric, I agree with kiwishooter in that this would be a valuable tool for everyone here. Lots of reasons it's a good idea.
Pros: Lots
Cons: Can't think of any

 

[M_Strohmeyer]

Respectable idea. Do you have memory space for that data? GB has to keep a log for ATF and FFL rules. They are limited on usable space doing thousands of transactions a day. Might see what the data costs are or limited too.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Im sure it isn't free to keep them around. But it also doesnt seem like thats going to matter unless traffic picks up a lot

 

[kiwishooter]

Im sure it isn't free to keep them around. But it also doesnt seem like thats going to matter unless traffic picks up a lot

I'm sure the traffic will pick up over time, if we could add the old data from Saubier I think that would add to the traffic.
But how do we get the "word" out about the forum to help increase traffic and discussion?

 

[rickiesrevenge]

I dont think that would have any impact. The last 2 or 3 years of Saubier had about the same, maybe even less traffic than this site has now. Sure there was good info there, but it was old stuff almost nothing new.

 

[kiwishooter]

I dont think that would have any impact. The last 2 or 3 years of Saubier had about the same, maybe even less traffic than this site has now. Sure there was good info there, but it was old stuff almost nothing new.

Rick I think you have hit a nail on the head, the traffic (or lack of)

There were a number of people that looked and used the "old" stuff on Saubier, I saw a lot of posts on other forums referring people to Saubier for the info they were looking for.
There were a lot of "lurkers" on Saubier with very few "active" members over the last few years...........why?
Has the popularity of small calibers and wildcatting diminished, or just that people don't question or discuss it?

I think for any forum to survive there needs to be various discussion topics of interest, a number of active members and new visitors asking questions. The stored information is an attraction for those looking for it, even though it wasn't easy to find on Saubier.

There was a good bit of information about 22 Hornet cases on Saubier, different case makes, volumes, hardness suitability for fireforming etc
I would love to have access to that information as from memory RWS cases needed a hotter temp for annealing than Win, Rem etc
Step by step case forming for some wildcat cases, I learnt a lot from the earlier information on Saubier and miss those resources.

I miss the posts about someone's day out and the photos of flowers etc

Someone posted they have formed a number of wildcats by running a ?? reamer in to varying depths, I know the person from Saubier that sent me a lot of cases for my collection did the same thing.
That would be an interesting subject especially when it comes to fired case resizing etc

How do we get those discussions and the information sharing going again and how do we get members posting and sharing?

 

[TheCZKid]

I do notice something in the Classified ads that needs help. I put on a set of dies the other day, and they sold quickly on another site. I tried to edit this ad to mark it SOLD, or delete it, and there are no options to show Wanted, Selling or Sold, or to delete a post. That would help make the section more functional.

Here's a snip from another site I frequent, which would add some options for sub-categories

 

[rickiesrevenge]

I dont know what the answer is for getting traffic. Forums have been struggling with that since places like fb took off.

 

[TheCZKid]

Should we be inviting folks from other forums that we think are a good fit?