Public viewable frag selling forum (1 Viewer)

[dweingar]

Would it be possible to have a public site to sell coral? Just looking and seems lots of frag sale posts with no interest.

I don’t know if technically only members could make sale posts that could be publicly viewable.

That would keep in the spirit of the current site but expand to perhaps a wider audience of new reefers looking to fill their tanks.

 

[Nickz]

That would have to be something the membership would have to vote on since the membership as a whole wanted the closed classifieds.
Interesting idea, a good place to throw stuff that didn't sell in the club, but at the same time how would one make it so only members could post but everyone could see?

 

[ikserk]

but at the same time how would one make it so only members could post but everyone could see?

The permissions system would allow for this. Visible, but not able to create new threads or reply to existing threads in that forum. But at the point that its public, I'm not sure not allowing non-members to post makes sense. Isn't it publicly visible to allow them to buy it?

 

[Nickz]

Exactly, you wouldn't want non members to be able to post. I only commented because it is an interesting thought. Members could move stuff there after they gave up on selling within the club but not have to hit a national forum and deal with shipping if they didn't want to.

I don't know if it would be logistically possible or if the membership would even want it. Just thought it unique

 

[blennieluvr]

There used to be one. I used to like perusing. Not sure what happened to it. Never did buy anything. It was not a club thing that I am aware of. It was almost like a frag eBay. Bunch o’ corals from different sellers. Could potentially get the club name “out there” more. Maybe the club would get a percentage for running the site. ? It wouldn’t have to be open to only club sellers since we still would have the classifieds and would have the option to sell in either location. Worth discussing the pros and cons of each option, open selling or closed, maybe.

 

[ikserk]

oh, i did not understand that this would be a secondary ecommerce type site, not a forum on tcmas.org that was publicly available

 

[Nickz]

oh, i did not understand that this would be a secondary ecommerce type site, not a forum on tcmas.org that was publicly available

Me either

 

[dweingar]

oh, i did not understand that this would be a secondary ecommerce type site, not a forum on tcmas.org that was publicly available

My comment was to have a thread on this site that would be open to the public but limited to members posting. Not to setup a separate website.

 

[ikserk]

My comment was to have a thread on this site that would be open to the public but limited to members posting. Not to setup a separate website.

Gotcha, I did understand correctly. What you are asking is doable within our software. Business meeting is on Saturday.

 

[reefsponge]

There used to be one. I used to like perusing. Not sure what happened to it. Never did buy anything. It was not a club thing that I am aware of. It was almost like a frag eBay. Bunch o’ corals from different sellers. Could potentially get the club name “out there” more. Maybe the club would get a percentage for running the site. ? It wouldn’t have to be open to only club sellers since we still would have the classifieds and would have the option to sell in either location. Worth discussing the pros and cons of each option, open selling or closed, maybe.

It was www.frags.org This is no longer in existence, but was very nice and convenient way to list all of the stuff you have available and sell or trade to other hobbyists around the country. No fee’s, you did have to create a membership at no charge. Great way to find what you like and not pay and arm and a leg or without sitting through a 12 hour live sale.

 

[AmyZ]

I like the idea....

 

[dweingar]

I am thinking personally where I was 2 years after getting back into hobby and where I am today.

2 years ago I would have died to be able to buy what I recently posted. But today I wouldn’t buy anything I posted.

When I started goal was more to fill tank. Today goal is more to upgrade to higher quality.

Just looking at previous frag posts lots have no response, seems like there is an opportunity to bring TCMAS to more people starting out and then allow them to find value in the community and grow with it.


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[Uwdanno]

I like the idea too. There are a lot of great corals that “we” all have but new folks don’t. I imagine there is a supporting argument that this would eventually lead to an increase in the paid membership base by helping new folks get addicted like us.

 

[VikingsCrazy]

So essentially opening up a portion of the classifieds to the public just not all of the classifieds? Also, could it possibly even be more of a slap in the face to sponsors selling corals than allowing businesses to sell in the classifieds the way they are now?

Are sponsor pages visible to the public?

 

[dweingar]

My comment was to have a thread on this site that would be open to the public but limited to members posting. Not to setup a separate website.

So essentially opening up a portion of the classifieds to the public just not all of the classifieds? Also, could it possibly even be more of a slap in the face to sponsors selling corals than allowing businesses to sell in the classifieds the way they are now?

Are sponsor pages visible to the public?

That is correct. Opening sales and trading of frags to public, with members having posting rights.

I can’t really speak to the sponsor info, but looking at how many frag for sale posts have no responses, it seems the opportunity is more to grow the hobby by increasing outreach than competing with sponsors.

 

[ikserk]

Are sponsor pages visible to the public?

Yes

 

[AmyZ]

I am thinking personally where I was 2 years after getting back into hobby and where I am today.

2 years ago I would have died to be able to buy what I recently posted. But today I wouldn’t buy anything I posted.

When I started goal was more to fill tank. Today goal is more to upgrade to higher quality.

Just looking at previous frag posts lots have no response, seems like there is an opportunity to bring TCMAS to more people starting out and then allow them to find value in the community and grow with it.


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That's very well said

 

[RSnodgrass]

The couple of things I think that would impact this are...
1) Conveying as clearly as possible to the user base (say a sticky). What's up and if there is still a true members only section & still show it but blurred out on the site like it is now.
2) The BOD/Admin have been aggressively discussing value added items for full/supporter members and have a number of things in the works. This could potentially be one of those items.

Going to be a good meeting!

 

[ADeepBlueSea]

I like the idea of allowing public view of coral sale posts for some of the more common pieces. However I do think there is value in keeping the more rare/higher end pieces for members only. That alone should potentially drive more to get involved with the club for the nice deals we see on here regarding higher ends corals/colonies.


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[RSnodgrass]

Really I'd say to not complicate it in that IF this was to proceed it'd be two classifieds sections and not specifically for coral only.

1) Member's only (full/supporter), only those individuals can post and buy coral/equipment. If I want more faith in who I'm buying/selling from as I've likely interacted with them before or if I'm going to give my normal screaming deal it'll be there.

2) Public, however to sell you still need to be a member (full/supporter) and for coral/equipment. This would also be more consistent with how a sponsor can currently sell and they could post in this public version as well.