APC For Sale Forum Guidelines

[hooha]

it's 'broken', on the to-do list to fix....

[pawslover]

4. Descriptions should be as complete as possible. Include such things as the number of stems per bunch, the size of the patch. Including the size of the plants is recommended.

Any chance of modifying this guideline to include seller's tank parameters? I know I would find it helpful if seller's included their conditions when listing items for sale. Since all of my tanks are low tech, I have better luck purchasing from similar set-ups than acclimating plants from drastically different conditions. It's nice to know if the plants are used to high light, CO2 and dosing schedules or not. Maybe other buyers would find that useful as well. It would save users a little time on trying to verify that info before committing to buying.

[AaronT]

Originally Posted by pawslover

Any chance of modifying this guideline to include seller's tank parameters? I know I would find it helpful if seller's included their conditions when listing items for sale. Since all of my tanks are low tech, I have better luck purchasing from similar set-ups than acclimating plants from drastically different conditions. It's nice to know if the plants are used to high light, CO2 and dosing schedules or not. Maybe other buyers would find that useful as well. It would save users a little time on trying to verify that info before committing to buying.

While a good suggestion, I'm not sure we can require that sellers add this information to their ads. We do have the Plant Finder that should allow buyers to do research on most of the plants listed in the For Sale forum to help them make informed purchases. Of course, everyone here at APC is usually more than willing to help out as well.

[MacFan]

I don't want to call anyone out specifically, but it should be noted that Paypal prohibits the addition of a surcharge for accepting Paypal:

From the Paypal User Agreement:
4.6 No Surcharges. You agree that you will not impose a surcharge or any other fee for accepting PayPal as a payment method. You may charge a handling fee in connection with the sale of goods or services, as long as the handling fee does not operate as a surcharge and is not higher than the handling fee you charge for non-PayPal transactions.

From the Paypal FAQ:
PayPal is designed to be free for buyers. PayPal believes that surcharging for PayPal payments can harm the vibrancy of the marketplace by causing buyer confusion and complicating the transaction process.


I agree, fees suck, but Paypal increases the likelihood I will buy because I don't want the hassle of getting and mailing a money order, and as a seller it means more people will buy, I will get paid immediately, and I don't have to keep fresh plant cuttings alive somewhere while waiting for a money order to arrive.

Increase your price a dollar or two if you must, but otherwise, don't ask buyers to pay extra to use a service that really makes this whole online plant trading thing practical.

Michael

[smackpixi]

On the WTB issue mentioned above.

Only people with 25 posts can start new threads cause you want to limit ignorance and flaunting of the rules by dubious sellers. Which is great. Was noticed that this prevents buyers from posting want to buy threads. Was stated that it's a side effect of the rule, oh well (more or less).

This would seem easy to resolve my simply setting up a separate WTB area. Would also separate two different desires...buyers would troll the selling area, sellers the buying area.

I realize that you don't want to turn the forums into an auction site, something better for buyers might be nice.

I'm a prospective buyer of plants, won't be for a month, so i have time to establish myself, get my 25 post and not worry about this...however, i feel like this is a pretty practical forum...as a noob to planted tanks, i have little to offer in suggestions, and could really become annoying with questions and lack the personality to say "oh pretty tank" in a worthless post.

but would still like to post a wtb thread. something on the order of a noobs desire, "fill my 55 gal with anything for under 50 bucks".

considering that many of the sellers are senior members, your main and valued members, and often, to my eyes see their selling offers passed by, they may relish the opportunity to drop a bunch of prunings for a small profit. On something they'd otherwise throw away.

Yes, I know, anyone can buy as it is. Seller has to be motivated to sell though. Where as, a buyer's forum, which naturally consists generally of more noobish types, can provide an outlet for excess plants one's about to toss.

Just saying.

[AaronT]

Originally Posted by smackpixi

On the WTB issue mentioned above.

Only people with 25 posts can start new threads cause you want to limit ignorance and flaunting of the rules by dubious sellers. Which is great. Was noticed that this prevents buyers from posting want to buy threads. Was stated that it's a side effect of the rule, oh well (more or less).

This would seem easy to resolve my simply setting up a separate WTB area. Would also separate two different desires...buyers would troll the selling area, sellers the buying area.

I realize that you don't want to turn the forums into an auction site, something better for buyers might be nice.

I'm a prospective buyer of plants, won't be for a month, so i have time to establish myself, get my 25 post and not worry about this...however, i feel like this is a pretty practical forum...as a noob to planted tanks, i have little to offer in suggestions, and could really become annoying with questions and lack the personality to say "oh pretty tank" in a worthless post.

but would still like to post a wtb thread. something on the order of a noobs desire, "fill my 55 gal with anything for under 50 bucks".

considering that many of the sellers are senior members, your main and valued members, and often, to my eyes see their selling offers passed by, they may relish the opportunity to drop a bunch of prunings for a small profit. On something they'd otherwise throw away.

Yes, I know, anyone can buy as it is. Seller has to be motivated to sell though. Where as, a buyer's forum, which naturally consists generally of more noobish types, can provide an outlet for excess plants one's about to toss.

Just saying.

This option was actually discussed, but eventually voted against in the interest of keeping the forum as streamlined and clutter free as possible. Thanks for the suggestion though.