Template for Sales Threads

[benupton]

Hi,
Just a suggestion for the for sale section. Having a sale template that must be used.

Im not sure about others but I find it annoying when I open a sale thread and there are almost no details about the item or its location.

My suggestion for template.

Body:



Item full name and model etc. (include things like colour, size, year etc).
Location (where you live, and whether or not you will see interstate etc)
Item condition description (provide as much details as possible, try to give the buyers a visual description of what to expect from your words.)
Reason for selling (Provide a reason, even if its only to say that you need the money).
Price and price conditions (such as negotiable, non-negotiable, will or will not consider selling parts separately).
Extra Info: (If there is any other info that you'd like to add put it here)
Pictures


Thanks Ben

[Luke Maddux]

Hi Ben,

I'm glad someone shares this sentiment. When I list, I often feel like I'm rambling and pointing out too much minutiae, but I feel like that is better than the other option of saying almost nothing and expecting the photos to be enough of a description of the item.

Hopefully what you've suggested resonates.

Cheers,
Luke

[NCArcher]

I disagree. If you try to force people to include information in their add, many will just sell it elsewhere, depriving members of the first opportunity to purchase. A suggested template is fine but don't try and make it mandatory.
If you feel there is not enough information, ask a question or just don't buy it.

[benupton]

I disagree. If you try to force people to include information in their add, many will just sell it elsewhere, depriving members of the first opportunity to purchase. A suggested template is fine but don't try and make it mandatory.
If you feel there is not enough information, ask a question or just don't buy it.


Yes understood, but it is a joke if someone uploads just photos of an item with no information whatsoever

[doug3030]

It would be a bit hard to make a "one size fits all" template.

For example, power of the motor is critical information on a tablesw, bandsaw, thicknesser etc, but meaningless on a stanley number 5 plane or a slab of timber.

Any template you propose would have to be very flexible to accommodate the wide range of items put up for sale. You would still have to have a free-flow field for the description. then in five years time someone will come along and suggest a template for the free flow description field because nobody is doing that right.

The marketplace is the hardest place in the forum to regulate and the moderators are powerless to intervene when buyers or sellers break the rules in any case.

Nobody makes you buy or sell anything in the marketplace. I have not sold anything there in a long time by choice. If you do not like the ad, ask questions to find out what was not included or just do not buy. You can use it as a kind of intelligence test really - if the seller is not bright enough to tell you all the information you need in their ad, were they bright enough to look after the item well enough that you would want to buy it in the first place?

Cheers

Doug