People with subtle "WTS" attempts

[The Deacon]

So, is it wrong then to point out knives at a certain dealer or just say how good they are in general? Being in Canada, it's a bit harder to obtain things, and I'm gonna help all the people I can. I'm not selling my knives, but pointing out a good Spyderco dealer - business for Spyderco - not a bad thing.

- best wishes, Jazz.

Again, opinions are going to differ, but my take on it would be that pointing out a source, or sources for a discontinued model that's become hard to find is ok, but really better done by PM to the person who has mentioned an interest in it. Otherwise someone else may grab it up first, especially if there's a chance it could be resold for a profit. OTOH, when the knife in question is current production or brand new model, I think it's unnecessary.

EDITED TO ADD: Simplest thing to do is to report any post you think crosses the line. If the mods edit or delete it, you know you were correct. If not, you have a pretty good indication that particular type of hinting is considered acceptable.

[dbcad]

This is a very subjective issue. A lot of these veiled attempts go over my head because personally buying or selling is not on my mind when posting here now. Not that I haven't dropped a hint or two in the past that I was interested in selling. I can say for certain that all transactions have occured elsewhere.

The blatant WTB, WTS posts turn me off and I call them out publicly immediately. The ban on WTB/WTS/WTT exists for a reason. I think the reason is to preserve as much harmony among forum members as possible. In that it seems to serve it's purpose well.

Call them out as you see them Kristy and friends seem to do their stuff pretty well. We can still help as much as we can

[FroOchie]

Why isn't there a classifieds section? Is it because Spyderco doesn't want to step on it's distributors and retailers toes?

I don't mind it on other forums but I haven't noticed it here. I do however wonder how stringent the rules are... I just offered someone my spot in line in waiting for a Ti Fluted. I promised I wouldn't make a dollar off him but would stay in line and when I got it would send it off to him since he wasn't on any preorder list. In reading this thread I'm starting to feel that wasn't the right thing to do even though I was just trying to pay it forward.

[gbelleh]

I do however wonder how stringent the rules are... I just offered someone my spot in line in waiting for a Ti Fluted. I promised I wouldn't make a dollar off him but would stay in line and when I got it would send it off to him since he wasn't on any preorder list. In reading this thread I'm starting to feel that wasn't the right thing to do even though I was just trying to pay it forward.

I personally wouldn't consider that crossing the line. You found yourself in a situation, and offered to help someone else obtain a hard-to-find knife from a legitimate dealer.

[The Deacon]

Why isn't there a classifieds section? Is it because Spyderco doesn't want to step on it's distributors and retailers toes?

"Sal's house, Sal's rules" is good enough for me, but that may be one of the reasons. Potential liability issues may be another, as may the additional workload for moderators having to police such a venue. Then too, there's the problem with deals gone sour and the venom that can unleash, the recriminations over why A chose to sell to D, rather than B or C, the injured feelings of members outside the USA when someone puts CONUS only on a sales thread, and the hundred other potential ways feeling can get hurt.

I don't mind it on other forums but I haven't noticed it here. I do however wonder how stringent the rules are... I just offered someone my spot in line in waiting for a Ti Fluted. I promised I wouldn't make a dollar off him but would stay in line and when I got it would send it off to him since he wasn't on any preorder list. In reading this thread I'm starting to feel that wasn't the right thing to do even though I was just trying to pay it forward.

While I applaud the gesture, IMHO, things like that are best done by PM and, if "member X" is doesn't have PMs activated on a forum where overt buying and selling is frowned upon, that's too bad.

Please keep in mind though, that all I am doing is expressing my own personal opinion. Only the Spyderco folks get to decide what's ok and what's not.

[FroOchie]

"Sal's house, Sal's rules" is good enough for me, but that may be one of the reasons.

That would be a good enough reason for me too. I'm not a guest that complains but I was curious if there was a reason other than just "because we say so". As someone with many of those rules personally I would totally get it either way. As far as my offering I just wont do it again, I'd rather not deal with sneaking around and if it's a gray area I'd rather stay in the black.

[Blerv]

I have no problem referring dealers similar to writing reviews. When they do it personally that's when it becomes solicitation, IMO. I've been members of forums where that right costs you hundreds of dollars per month for such exposure.

Personally I would rather just have people PM rather than say, "dude, I'll send a PM".

These aren't my forums and while I would prefer to avoid a classified-type site I wouldn't fight it if proposed by Spyderco. In the meanwhile we should treat it as intended: Perhaps the most considerate info sharing place on the web.

Edit: spelling

[dbcad]

These aren't my forums and while I would prefer to avoid a classified-type site I wouldn't fight it if proposed by Spyderco. In the meanwhile we should treat it as intended: Perhaps the most comsiderate info sharing place on the web.

+1, In a word I believe the sentiment is called respect.

[TazKristi]

If you are posting about a find and you are not the seller and are in no way associated with the seller (be it a dealer, Ebay, etc.) then it's ok.

I think Deacon's thought of if you question it, report it is the best. If you report it, I'll look at it. If it's against our rules I'll address it and you can see how I address it. There will always be an "Edited by" note or "Deleted by" note.

As for the wishlists in signature lines, those really shouldn't exist anymore. We were fairly lax on those for a while but there were some issues and we were forced to include those in our rules of what not to do.

Our forum is a very unique place. Even with new members joining daily, this place functions more like a family than just some internet forum. We would like the focus to remain on discussion and shared knowledge. There are a lot of potential issues that can come up with a classified section and we would prefer to avoid those.

Speaking of discussion... this thread is a good one.

[Jazz]

Thanks, Kristi.

- best wishes, Jazz.

[Ferris Wheels]

Thank you Kristi. My signature has been edited.

[gaj999]

I did it once by accident. I wasn't being subtle, I just wasn't thinking that way. Then I got a pm with an offer to buy a particular knife ... oops. I don't check my pms so months had gone by. Oops again. Lots of apologies all around.

Gordon