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Ben Socratous
TryHard
SA
Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!

Posts: 430
Reg: 07-2005

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Friday, June 16, 2006 - 06:17 pm, by:  Ben Socratous (Socrates) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have a few things around here that have been bugging me a bit lately, just wanted to know your thoughts.

First, wtf with all this group buy stuff? As soon as someone finds something decent on ebay, other online stores, shops, etc, someone always pops up and says GROUP BUY and strums up all this interest, then it all seems to end! Does anyone actually think about contacting the seller(s) and asking if they would do a multiple order discount PRIOR to getting everyone interested in a group buy? You guys also have to know that the aftermarket car part trade is very similar to the hardware trade, every Tom, Dick and Harry is selling some form of aftermarket gear. Ergo there is a lot of competition which results in parts being sold with not much mark up at all! I only say this as I remember a post a few months back about getting a group buy organised for some suspension. Lets say that the retail was $1500. Why are people so upset when the 'group' price is only $1420?!?

As I said, there isn't much mark up on 'most' of the parts that we are after, so 1 check that they will do a discount before asking everyone here and 2 don't expect the price to be substantially cheaper. Furthermore, you will have to accept the fact that for most group buys, it is not unrealistic for the retailer to ask for ALL of the moneys PRIOR to placing the order. ie if I sell coilovers (or anything else that a shop doesn't have a big turnover of) at $1000, and I say that I will do them for $900 if you order 10 sets, I am quite within my legal right (and using good business sense!) to ask that I have the ENTIRE $9000 (or at the very least a 50% non-refundable deposit) in my account before I even pick up the phone to place the order. This would be just to cover my arse so that I'm not left with multiple items that I can't sell or send back.

Next, the amount of people that are joining up here just to flog stuff is starting to get to me too. As it is stated in the rules, you must be an established member to do so. Obviously so we don't get ripped off by some dodgy clowns. So I raise this, how about someone needing a minimum amount of posts before being allowed to advertise something here, say 80ish? Surely this could easily be arranged (Pen?). Or if they belive that they are genuine and don't have the posts up, maybe they could pm a moderator to state their case?

Well, that's about enough for now.

my 2 bob
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 4958
Reg: 11-2004

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Friday, June 16, 2006 - 06:57 pm, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ben, a reasonable post.

The first problem is that the "group buy" proponents probably won't read it as there are too many words and not enough paragraph breaks.

We do try to stay on top of newbies posting for sale. If you actually count how many there have been in the last couple of months, the number isn't that high and most got deleted and often the poster was banned. Check the Sin-Bin occasionally.

Having an X post rule is pointless, you want to read x posts of garbage just so people can then post for sale?

The only other way to control selling would be to charge for it. That then can introduce bad feelings from established members and may also be a nightmare to administer, or just a lot of extra work.

It could also make it harder to knock back dodgy offers, though probably having to pay would filter most of the dodgies out.

Overall, continued vigilance by the Mod team is probably still the most workable solution.
Ben Socratous
TryHard
SA
Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!

Posts: 431
Reg: 07-2005

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Friday, June 16, 2006 - 07:27 pm, by:  Ben Socratous (Socrates) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Fair call Peter, was just airing some thoughts.

So, if the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, someone pass the mod team another cup of coffee, hehehe.


Peter Nitschke wrote on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 06:57 pm:

Having an X post rule is pointless, you want to read x posts of garbage just so people can then post for sale?




Thought about that right after I presses enter
Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 1401
Reg: 09-2005

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Friday, June 16, 2006 - 07:49 pm, by:  Callum Finch (Sigeneat) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I agree whole heartedly, Ben.
Ben Lipman
Tinkerer
NSW
Soarer TT

Posts: 47
Reg: 04-2006

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Friday, June 16, 2006 - 10:40 pm, by:  Ben Lipman (Ben12a) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Ben Socratous wrote on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 07:27 pm:

the price of freedom is eternal vigilance




What a great quote! I'm going to use that somewhere.

Sorry off topic I guess
Ben Socratous
TryHard
SA
Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!

Posts: 433
Reg: 07-2005

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Friday, June 16, 2006 - 10:58 pm, by:  Ben Socratous (Socrates) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Off topic a bit, yeah. Are you seriously saying that you've never heard that quote before? That is WAY old, even Georgie Dubya and 'ol man Howard have used it in speeches. Wouldn't mind knowing who first came up with it though...
Paul Irwin
Trader
NSW
GT-T (1JZ-GTE)

Posts: 256
Reg: 07-2005

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Friday, June 16, 2006 - 11:21 pm, by:  Paul Irwin (Rival) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i love the idea of bulk buys, but i think there are two key things to making them successful:

1) establish a price with a seller/reseller before you go advertising it.

2) take a 10% deposit from everyone who is interested that it not refundable. once they say "Yeah I'm in!!!" they should put their money down, nothing worse than being in a bulk buy of 10 people and finding out only 3 actually go through with the sale.

obviously this would require the one organising the sale to be trustworthy mind you...

i wish people would approach me for a bulk buy now and then actually, haha.
Peter Burrett
TryHard
ACT
2.5 VVTi ST

Posts: 362
Reg: 07-2005

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Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 12:32 am, by:  Peter Burrett (Burrett) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The quotation originates from Thomas Jefferson...
Don Bagnall
Moderator
New Zealand
I have LESS Soarers than Hayden :-(

Posts: 3868
Reg: 05-2005

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Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 12:36 pm, by:  Don Bagnall (Baggs) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

He was a wise man
Daniel Czechowski
Goo Roo
Western Australia
Soarer GT-T

Posts: 1238
Reg: 07-2005

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Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 03:10 pm, by:  Daniel Czechowski (Dan) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Ben Socratous wrote on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 06:17 pm:

Next, the amount of people that are joining up here just to flog stuff is starting to get to me too. As it is stated in the rules, you must be an established member to do so. Obviously so we don't get ripped off by some dodgy clowns. So I raise this, how about someone needing a minimum amount of posts before being allowed to advertise something here, say 80ish? Surely this could easily be arranged (Pen?). Or if they belive that they are genuine and don't have the posts up, maybe they could pm a moderator to state their case?




How about if we have some sort of a system where you can verify a new member. Let me explain. Say a Bob from WA joins us. Until we meet Bob physically, we won't know if it really is Bob, or if it is Jane, or if it is Harry the Dodgy Fella, or Barney BanMeALot... what I was thinking is to have the new members that want to sell something, first have to attend a social meet, whether a cruise, drags, trackday or whatever we organise, there's usually something on every month at least here in WA. When they turn up, we'll see that yes that person does in fact exist, we've seen him/her, and we got to know him/her a little. We'd then get like minimum 5 established (or verified, whatever) members that have met the person to send a quick PM to Pen to change the guy's status to verified. It would make new people more social that way too. Just an idea guys. Not sure what we'd do about someone that lives in woop woop 500 k's away from everyone, I guess that's not 100% workable in that respect... but something to think about maybe?
James Harris
DieHard
QLD
TT

Posts: 697
Reg: 07-2005

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Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 03:22 pm, by:  James Harris (Haro) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The whole group buy thing needs to be done very carefully to make sure the right money gets to the right person and so on.

When Benny and I organised that group buy for the LEVOC shifters from Gregg Holden (
www.importscene.com.au) a while back it worked out a treat.

Benny set up an ALSC bank account and everybody's money was thrown into that and then transfered in one big go to Gregg.

Group buys are not as easy as one may think. A fair bit of time and organising needs to go into them and unless a product is found that nearly everybody will be interested in (clear indicators for example) and doesnt cost a packet it probably will not work.
Damian Ware
TryHard
Victoria
Soarer TT

Posts: 150
Reg: 10-2005

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Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 05:22 pm, by:  Damian Ware (Frozenpod) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I organised one once for DC power supplies. Regular price was $400 for a purchase of 10 I got them for $200. I charged everyone an extra 20 which covered postage which cost me 12 bucks and the rest to pay for phone calls I had to make.

I spent much more time than I thought I would organising, the deal was simple, once 10 people agreed everyone pay first into an account and I will buy pick them up and send them. Took three weeks to organise many many hrs and I had trouble with one guy agreed to pay but didn't that wouldn't pay I ended up having to buy a second unit for myself as at that point it was too late to cancel.

I eventually sold it on ebay at cost price.

I wouldn't ever do it again. I lost money, on the upside 8 other people did very well by saving $180.
Heath Fox
Tinkerer
QLD
Soarer 4.0GT UZZ30

Posts: 19
Reg: 07-2005

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Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 05:40 pm, by:  Heath Fox (Lilfoxy) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

With individual sales, i believe it is more of buyer be aware, especially for new members. Maybe a rating / feedback in the members profile (like ebay) so we can help each other with experiences with good and bad dealings.

I like the idea of group buys, yet do agree that sometimes they fizz because someone throws around the idea but doesn't put the work in. How about the person who proposes it then has the responsibility to follow up the enquiry. And possibly mediated by a respected forum member.
Aaron Mead
TryHard
NT
TT

Posts: 297
Reg: 03-2006

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Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 07:16 pm, by:  Aaron Mead (Aaron) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

...freedom costs a $1.05......

Wow. I feel so ignorant. All this time there was hell going on and my biggest dilemma was that these rims I love so much, they wont clear Supra 4 pots.....I need to get my priorities right. Theres more to the world than rims I guess.
Ross Spataro
TryHard
victoria
uzz31

Posts: 214
Reg: 09-2005

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Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 10:01 pm, by:  Ross Spataro (Thfc) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

why not have like a 'sponsor'?...

if , say for example, someone i knew,(though you guys didnt know him/her),wanted to sell something soarer related, then why couldnt i vouch for him/her?...

if the seller of an item is unknown to anyone on this forum, in one way or another, then simply delete their opportunistic sales pitches...

if then, a seller with no previous posts wishes to sell something, and their sale is 'sponsored' by someone on our forum that person knew, then i'd reckon thats ok...the said person would then have to vouch for the seller...

if that condition, in itself, make the 'voucher' uncomfortable, or tentative, to put their name to the sale of an item from an otherwise unknown individual,the duly refuse....piss easy, eh?...


(long winded...apologies)...
Aaron Mead
TryHard
NT
TT

Posts: 302
Reg: 03-2006

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Monday, June 19, 2006 - 06:48 am, by:  Aaron Mead (Aaron) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

sound like................FEEDBACK RATING TIME!!!
Aaron Mead
TryHard
NT
TT

Posts: 303
Reg: 03-2006

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Monday, June 19, 2006 - 06:49 am, by:  Aaron Mead (Aaron) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

eg:

Seller: Rob
Buyer : Aaron

"Excellent A++++ Best eBayer ever A+++++ !!!!!!!!"

or some gay like that eh?
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 4987
Reg: 11-2004

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Monday, June 19, 2006 - 07:22 am, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Too hard. Keep in mind that our primary purpose is to be a Soarer forum, not a buy/sell site.
Shaun Stephenson
Tinkerer
Vic
Jzz30 TT

Posts: 49
Reg: 04-2006

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Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 02:11 pm, by:  Shaun Stephenson (Neonasty) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You could do what the toymods crew has done.

When you sign up, you have to be approved. Then before you can make for sale posts you have to have a minimum rep of 30.

People can give others + or - rep points depending on whether they feel the post has been good/bad/helpful.

Sure it can be a bit of a hassle but mods can still revoke someones rep points if they wish.

It might not be too hard to set up.
Daniel Czechowski
Goo Roo
Western Australia
Soarer GT-T

Posts: 1251
Reg: 07-2005

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Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 03:19 pm, by:  Daniel Czechowski (Dan) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Specify a minimum number of posts that the seller must make perhaps... Newbies and Tinkerers not allowed to sell for example... (I'm not discriminating )

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