Proposed Changes in Swap Forum Rules

[Clubs & Arrows]

Hello.
I don't post too often, but I have used the Swap Forum to trade pieces with other collectors/dealers in the past. I haven't posted anything in the past with prices, because when I trade, prices aren't discussed, due to the fact that everyone usually has an idea of what they want, or what they think your piece/pieces are worth. As far as taking away the ability to advertise personal websites....I have one, and although it is ethnographic, I haven't advertised it here because it isn't weapons based. The sites that are advertised in the swap forum are weapons based, and from time to time the site owners will remind us that they are still updating the sites, or having sales, etc. If you block them from advertising, will people discussing particular items from so and so's website (past or present) be a problem? What about people using captured images of pieces from other individual's sites?
As for ebay, I have both sold and bought there, and don't really see a problem with linking ads to it. I've seen people post on the swap forum first, and after a while post that they have moved the item to ebay, because of lack of interest. My thought is just to keep things as they are.

Thanks,
Joe

[fearn]

I'm not an active user of the swap forum, but I'm not happy with some of these rules:

1. General: Vikingsword is *easy* to get to on Google and is also cited as a reputable source on Wikipedia. In other words, anything posted here is readily findable. How much information did you want to post about ourselves and our collections on this extremely public site? If I was running a scam, this would be among the first places I would look for plausible information.
2. We don't give appraisals, but you want us to post asking prices? These policies seem to be contradictory.
3. The biggest question: what will it improve?
--Will it stop scams? Absolutely not.
--Will it make us and our collections less secure? A bit. We would have to link an object with a price, an online name, and an email. It's the risk we take selling stuff online, but since it won't stop scams, I'm not sure what it will do.
4. Links to commercial sites: I'm absolutely unclear about why this is warranted. Here's an example: I'm working on getting a manuscript published, and I know that it might be of interest to people here. When it gets published, I was planning on posting a link to amazon so that people could buy it if interested. That's obviously a no go under these rules. But it would be okay if I posted that information in the main discussion forum? How about if I posted a link to a museum gift store as opposed to Amazon?

Right now, I'm on the list of people who don't understand what problems these rules are intended to fix.

Best,

F

[Lew]

Fearn

You said We don't give appraisals, but you want us to post asking prices? These policies seem to be contradictory.


1-You are correct no appraisal on the public forum but that does not stop any member from contacting another member in private to see what he or she thinks something is worth. Also one can just go to ebay or one of the many dealers of antique weapons web sites to get an idea of what a piece is worth

2-Have you ever gone into a store that did not post prices? When you go into a store to buy a camera do you expect the store to post a price or do you take the camera with no price tag and go up to the store owner and let him decide how much he wants to charge you? He might decide to charge you more because you drove up to the store in a BMW while the next person might get a different price because they drove to the store in a Honda civic. Please don't give me that line that has been used before by some "I tell you a price privately and if it's too much then you don't have too buy it". Try that line at your local food mart store excuse me sir there is no price posted on this quart of milk? Pssst over here.... Well the price for you is $20 if it's too much than don't buy it! It should be all about transparency here. If you want to use the swap you should be able to come up with a asking price that you think meets your expectations of what you want to get from the sale of said item and post it for all members to see. I think this is a pretty reasonable request.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Lew

Fearn

You said We don't give appraisals, but you want us to post asking prices? These policies seem to be contradictory.


1-You are correct no appraisal on the public forum but that does not stop any member from contacting another member in private to see what he or she thinks something is worth. Also one can just go to ebay or one of the many dealers of antique weapons web sites to get an idea of what a piece is worth

2-Have you ever gone into a store that did not post prices? When you go into a store to buy a camera do you expect the store to post a price or do you take the camera with no price tag and go up to the store owner and let him decide how much he wants to charge you? He might decide to charge you more because you drove up to the store in a BMW while the next person might get a different price because they drove to the store in a Honda civic. Please don't give me that line that has been used before by some "I tell you a price privately and if it's too much then you don't have too buy it". Try that line at your local food mart store excuse me sir there is no price posted on this quart of milk? Pssst over here.... Well the price for you is $20 if it's too much than don't buy it! It should be all about transparency here. If you want to use the swap you should be able to come up with a asking price that you think meets your expectations of what you want to get from the sale of said item and post it for all members to see. I think this is a pretty reasonable request.

Hi Lew,
I don't want to comment on anything said above, EXCEPT the need to post a price when an item is up for swap. Often price or worth does not come into it when a swap is arranged. If both parties to the deal are happy, the actual value of the pieces exchanged may be way apart.
No mandatory listing of prices remains my vote.
Stuart

[Lew]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Lew,
I don't want to comment on anything said above, EXCEPT the need to post a price when an item is up for swap. Often price or worth does not come into it when a swap is arranged. If both parties to the deal are happy, the actual value of the pieces exchanged may be way apart.
No mandatory listing of prices remains my vote.
Stuart

Stuart

In a trade situation you mean? I think price is only required if you are selling not trading that is my take on it.

[kahnjar1]

Yes Lew. I thought the term SWAP meant just that.
Since you are obviously "live" I think that the Members need some comment from the Moderators as to the perceived need for ANY of these changes. If the Forum becomes too difficult with large numbers of rules, I feel that people will start looking elsewhere. It would be a great pity to break something which is in my opinion working well anyway.
Stuart

[fernando]

Hi Stu,

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

... If the Forum becomes too difficult with large numbers of rules, I feel that people will start looking elsewhere ...

Bitter feelings, my friend .
Say, aren't you 'swapping' things ?
Improving swap rules is the issue here
I would never dream with your assumption that, utilizing the swap section, is the major reason to frequent Vickingsword forum .
Fernando