Having recently purchased a wrecked Evo I've spent the last few weeks tracking down parts and ordering everything I need. I thought this process would go pretty smoothly considering I pay IMMEDIATELY and am not too worried about delivery speed.


I've noticed that a high percentage of the people I have purchased from do not ship out the items I have ordered for at least a week or more after I have already paid for it. To me this is completely unacceptable especially considering that one or two of the orders I have placed have been with Vendors ( I even had one Vendor tell me a package was shipped out one day, but when I went to track it it had actually been shipped out 4 days after the quoted day).

Also almost no one leaves tracking numbers or any shipping information. To me I think this should be a necessary bit of information after a purchase.



I propose that the whole Private FS section be revamped rule wise along with some changes to the vendor rules. It should be a requirement that the seller has their contact information available along with having the ability to ship within 2-3 days of purchase. So I think the following should be considered:

• Required ship time. If you can't ship it in a certain amount of days, then it should be noted in the sale thread. This seems like common sense.

• Certain amount of time to contact the buyer with the shipping information and carrier.

• Madatorily offering shipping inurance. Doesn't mean it has to be accepted, but the seller should be required to offer it. I recently purchased a hood for my car and it arrived completely unusable. I assumed it would be insured because who would ship a hood or a large item like that without insurance. Well, it turns out I will be losing $100 because "I didn't ask." The cost of the extra insurance should be factored into the shipping cost because it's a very cheap option that can save you a ton of money.

• i-trader rating! I've gotten feedback for about half the things I have ordered. And all of those are only after I leave them feedback. I don't understand this. I payed IMMEDIATELY. I completed my end of the deal so I should get the positive denotation for such.

I feel a lot of these changes would help promote a better and safer FS section. SRTforums really tighened up there FS section along with a couple other forums I've seen. The fact that I have had to order 2 crash bars along with duplicates of a few other items because I'm getting the run around from sellers on when they will be able to ship out my item is not right. Such actions should not be tolerated by the EvoM community as people work hard for the money that they are using to buy these items and don't have the time to be sending 100 emails back and forth trying to locate an item they purchsed several weeks before.

 

this isnt ebay dude...

 

I'm wondering how difficult it would be to Moderate these proposed changes. We're almost at capacity in terms of dealing with the issues we have now (with a volunteer Mod staff, FWIW).

 

Oh I definitely can understand the amount of time goes into moderating the forum and making sure people are following the basics. The way I see it is that if there are simple set forth guidelines which have to be strictly followed it may make the entire job easier in fact.

 

Solution: Bring more mods on board JUST for that section...

-E

 

I know you're aware of the difficulties of Modding a site. We could do it now, but it would most likely be easier with additional Staff: we'd have to solicit and interview, etc. I'd like the IB Team to have an opportunity to review this and offer their view.

 

I have almost quit buying things off this forum because of things like stated above. Other forums make you list all your info (name, addy, phone, misc) when you make a sale thread or its deleted, but I dont like comparing forums to one another so im not going to. I would like to see some changes but also do understand how hard it would be to look over.

 

I wasn't volunteering but if the opportunity presents itself here, I wouldn't mind doing it. Sometimes I want to slash myself after ALL the PM's, emails and stupid crap I have to wade through just moderating my own forum. God forbid you give me this one to do too.

-E

 

That's the response I thought I'd get from you: you know it's not easy

I don't have any real objections to the concept the OP proposed, I'm just concerned about the logistics of making it work and the enforcement that will be needed.

 

I would absolutely volunteer to help Moderate. I know it's a lot of work, but I feel it is definitely in the community's best interest to instill some changes that make sections such as FS safer for everyone to use.

I would also happily submit a complete rule packet that can be reviewed and altered if need be that can be turned into a sticky.

One of my good friends who lives about 8 houses down runs his own forum and happens to be the FS section moderator on SRT-Forums so I've seen the crap they have to deal with when it comes to changes like this. But it seems to be for the greater good.

 

Please feel free to PM me this info for review; if you think it's appropriate. Please also include due credit to the authors and make sure they agree to share it. Should any portion be incorporated, we'd have to make sure they agree to the use and that we give credit to their creation. Thanks.

SASD209

 

I like some of the ideas above. I believe it is a step in the right direct to gain trust from the consumer and keep the vendor honest about what is available for purchase.

 

my question how would we (mods) be able to keep track of itrader ratings/shipping insurance/shipping dates?

do you have any clue how many private transactions happen here on a daily basis? it'd be a full time job and then some.

everyone is aware of the rules going into it. if you have specific requests for the seller ask them. if you don't feel comfortable in the transaction don't go through with it.

imo this is way overboard, all your requests need to be asked by you (the buyer) in each purchase you make. you need to ask for insure. you need to ask for a tracking number. how will we (mods) be able to get proof if the seller claims he came you a tracking number and you claim he didn't?

as sasd209 stated we volunteer our time

Ido this same type of work you are proposing as a living and even doing it while getting paid sucks.

 

I agree, if you want that information, require it on your own. There isnt really a way to make everyone do it. Mods would have to have access to all your personal info also. This is something you do on your own.

 

SRTRaceR04,

Thank you for a clear set of written suggestions. I agree with every point you've made, however, compliance enforcement is impossible. Not only does the volume of transactions (there are hundreds daily) preclude moderator involvement, so does the ability of the staff to require/receive factual and timely proof of shipping times, tracking numbers and I-Trader feedback.

I, like all staff members, receive 10 to 20 PMs weekly from new members wanting to know why they can't post in the for sale section. The point being that many people do not take the time to read the rules, let alone comply with them. We could create a set of 'Good Practices" based upon your suggestions, but requiring them for all transactions is unenforceable.

Again, we appreciate your feedback.