Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

I just got back to using RCU after a few months off and notice private posts in the buy sell ads. I thought the purpose of a thread style ad was to give information and answer questions about the product for sale. In most cases someone would ask a question and the answer would assist many with their buying decision. If someone wants to ask a private question they have the option of an email or a PM. If they are making a private offer on the item for sale they can use the offer button.

What is the purpose of a private post in an informational buy sell setting? I would like to see this private post option discontinued.

Comments anyone.

RE: Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

Actually, the option has always been there; we just didn't display a "Private" post until recently. I made the change because it allows others to see that there is activity on the ad (they may wish to know in case they are delaying an offer or query). As for email and PM's, we try to DISCOURAGE use of those tools in relation to the market because it takes them out of our audit loop on communications surrounding an item. When someone uses the "Private" checkbox on a market discussion, the seller can see the post in his ad and so can our mods. This makes it easier to follow the transaction if anything should blow up.

Hope that helps!!

Michael

RE: Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

This is a dumb idea. Any questiuons should be available for all of us to read. Especially for people new to the hobby and not knowing what what questions to ask. More knowledge we can get on an a item, the value added is priceless.

JJC

RE: Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

I don't think I'd dismiss the option as "dumb." The for-sale ads are private listings by individuals; they are not designed to be educational. Education goes on in the forums. We don't mandate that people keep their messages private, rather, it is up to the individual asking the question. I suspect that taking away the power to determine whether one's own message should be private or public would upset the majority of those who use the market. On the other hand, the benefit of forcing them to disclose what they ask is not necessarily beneficial to anyone, including the seller.

The key here is that a privately placed ad is a privately placed ad and not necessarily there for the benefit of casual readers. Anyone who is interested enough can ask their own questions and keep them public!

Michael

RE: Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

Michael:

Sorry but I still don't see the value in the private posts in the buy sell forums. It's frustrating to click on an item with 6 posts hoping to gather some information on an item and get rewarded with a string of private posts. As a seller on RCU, I like to see members asking public questions regarding my items. It generates additional traffic and gives me a chance to elaborate on whatever it is I'm selling. Public posts add value to a sellers ad.

Mark

RE: Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

So are you suggesting that we eliminate the option for buyers to make their posts private (except to the seller, of course)??

Michael

RE: Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

This is no different from how it was done before. Before a prospective buyer would ask a question and decide if that question was to be posted in public or sent privately. ALL this option does is keep a running track so the seller can follow all inquiries on the site and keeps a record of discussions if a deal goes south later. If we went back to the way it was ALL that would change is that no record would be kept and the reply counts would be lower. what should be done is that the replies should not be counted in the totals if they are private questions or responses.

everyone has the right to ask a question in private. doing so is a disservice to our members and might cost you a real buyer

RE: Private posts in buy and sell threads
 

If RCU were to do the right thing, there should be vote on whether to provide the option of private posts when asking about an item for sale. From speaking to people in the RCU community, they all think it is a "Dumb" idea to have these private posts. There is more value in being able to read the posts. If you want to want to make the post private, then don't post the private message at all. That way we would never know whether there was a private post. I keep reading, "This is no different from how it was done before." Who cares how it was done before? It's more about being able to access more information about a product for sale. I don't see RCU's logic. It should be changed.

This answer- "everyone has the right to ask a question in private. doing so is a disservice to our members and might cost you a real buyer" ....Disservice to our members? What a joke. How could it ever cost anyone a real buyer? How deep could the question be? We are all about R/C community and the sharing of questions could never be a disservice to anyone.