A few suggestions for successful sales.

As a long-term Forum purchaser of items offered for sale here I thought it worth making one or two suggestions to would-be sellers and buyers.
Firstly read the previously posted guidelines.

1] Always include the whereabouts of where the item(s) is/are located, this will make it easier for would-be buyers to decide whether it's convenient to them. This is probably the most important of the suggestions, it isn't fair to offer items for sale without telling would-be buyers where they (the items) are situated.
2] In the words of the old saying: - "A picture is worth a thousand words" (I nicked that phrase from ebay) so, if at all possible try to illustrate whatever you're selling with a picture of the thing actually advertised (but if not possible and a picture to illustrate is available online, use that - but make it very clear the picture isn't the actual thing you're advertising).
3] I have observed that ads asking for offers very rarely get serious offers - if you know how much you're looking for for something it might be better for all concerned if you ask for that amount in the first place...you'll inevitably get someone who doesn't want to pay the asking price make a lower offer anyway so you might want to bear this in mind also.
and...
4] when the item is sold - please post on the Forum that it has gone - or, in the case of multiple items being offered, please amend your ad to delete items sold.

For buyers:

1] I find it helps others interested if you mention on the Forum that you have either phoned the seller (if he has offered a contact number) or sent a Personal Message...
2] If you don't want to pay the asking price please make a serious offer, not a derisory one.

I can't think offhand of any more suggestions, but will add any others as and when they appear.

John

It just occurred to me that perhaps some new members don't actually know when they have PMs.

For anyone not familiar with this (Underneath the ITFS Banner) - Top left it says "Private Messages" and beside that there is a little icon picturing an envelope. If that's 'flashing' it means you have a PM - underneath it tells you how many PMs (or none) you have awaiting you.

To help even further an email is sent to your email address notifying you that you have a PM and the content of that message appears. However, I must stress that if you reply to that email the reply does not go to the sender of the PM - you can only reply to a PM (even though you will have read it from your inbox) by logging into the Forum and sending your response using the 'PM' facility there.

John

Right,
Since so many 'For Sale' postings are still being posted without location information (which is a real 'bummer' for potential purchasers - they really do need this information) we are planning to omit any in which the seller has forgotten to add this.

To a lesser degree this would also be helpful to members posting 'Wanted' ads too so similar details are now requested as well.

The advertisements will be immediately reinstated upon the relevant information being provided.

This will apply for any future posting, but if you have anything currently 'on offer' or being 'requested' please amend them accordingly.

John

mickdeja wrote:

Any chance the location could show up on the profile area within the chat forum, maybe under the PM ONLINE PROFILE bit ? JOHN H. please...........would save u havin to tell folk to add their location...

I'll look, but I don't think it's viable.
But how much easier would it be if everyone offering items for sale just added their location as a matter of course?

John

Some very pertinent points here, firstly I have already posted that future 'unlocated' offers will be deleted - but so far we are trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt by prompting them once.

I personally don't think banning the use of 'PM sent' replies (having done it at least myself) would be necessary for the reasons Daragh gives - but if enough members send me a PM to the contrary I will delete them as soon as they are noticed.

The 'Bumping' of offers is another matter entirely, unless - as mentioned - something changes such as price or description this will also be deleted.

Another bone of contention is the same person using separate posts for individual items. If one person is selling several items they should be listed together in one post, not three or four individual ones...items sold from the list can either be deleted or marked 'SOLD'.

This will do for the time being.

John