<!--quoteo
(post=8402:date=Feb 24 2008, 09:49 PM:name=Bobactial)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE
(Bobactial @ Feb 24 2008, 09:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=8402"><
{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>... I recieved my Auth email in
under 12hrs</div>
<span style="font-
family:Comic Sans MS">I did the same thing. I checked my e-mail immediately. The
message to check in to verify "membership of the Forum" was there.
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<!--quoteo(post=8402:date=Feb 24 2008, 09:49 PM:name=Bobactial)--
><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bobactial @ Feb 24 2008, 09:49 PM) <a href="index.php?
act=findpost&pid=8402"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I find
the biggest road block to be the inability to PM a user...
To be able to purchase fish
from a forum is one of the best parts to me. If you are a seller or a buyer. You can see peoples
posts, to include past posts by same user that has been selling through the ACA for some time one
can tell all he has to do is go back and see the same person post a new topic on their stock list
dating back for months or even years. Those people are the ones that I as a keeper would tend to
lean toward as a good breeder that has great fish.</div>
<!--
fonto:Comic Sans MS--><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS">I was under the
impression that TP ads were removed at the end of a month. Is this NOT true? I see the value of
tracking old ads. Maybe we could put it under the seller's profile. (Ron, if you're reading
this can we add new stuff to the profile areas?) Wait, that won't work. Most haven't even
entered a profile. How do we encourage them to do a thorough profile? I think we need a sample
profile in the pinned: If You're New to This Forum topic in the Forum Use section. Wait !
No one reads that either. (Ron, I still want to add things to the profile area)
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<!--quoteo(post=8402:date=Feb 24 2008, 09:49 PM:name=Bobactial)--
><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bobactial @ Feb 24 2008, 09:49 PM) <a href="index.php?
act=findpost&pid=8402"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>But the
roadblock is that you cannot PM the person and ask them a question about the fish or about bulk
purchase deals, or hey anything you would like to ask, and trust me to that seller, that roadblock
just cost them a potential large sale. many new people feel intimidated to post a reply to ones
sale list. If its because they haven't done it before or they don't want to look like the
newbie i am not sure.</div>
<span
style="font-family:Comic Sans MS">I'd think if a seller KNOWS that Guests and
Forum members CANNOT private message(PM) them they'd do something smarter, like include another
way to contact them- phone? e-mail? carrier pigeon? No, that'll only work with Gary
Chin.<grin>
</span>
<!--quoteo(post=8402:date=Feb 24
2008, 09:49 PM:name=Bobactial)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bobactial @ Feb 24 2008,
09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=8402)</div><div
class='quotemain'>I hope that this information is compelling enough for some
features to be allowed for Forum members not just Paying ACA member to have...<!--QuoteEnd--
></div>
<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS"><!-
-/fonto-->Bob, you always have good input, as usual this is great. BUT... in your garage, what do
you do when the customers each ask the same question? each day, new customer, same question?
Eventually you'd put up a sign so you didn't have to answer the same question or set of
questions all the time. You probably already have, more than one.
I don't know how
to implement these ideas but we've probably got someone that does...
I'd like to see
new members presented with a screen asking them to complete their profile the first time they
check-in to verify their membership in the Forum. We should have an example of how to do it
properly and completely.
After the new member has filled out their profile, they should
be shuttled to the article, or a copy of the article- If You're New to This Forum. Here
they'll be presented with the different categories of ACA Forum activity. AND that they can
check profiles but NOT PM.(They should also be told what PM is)(PM= private message) Here
they'll also find out how to inform Ron that they are currently an ACA member so that their
status can be upgraded. Ron's e-mail address is in the article as a link. It works fine with
Firefox.
Now they're presented with the ACA Forum. GO PLAY...
When
they're drawn by whatever means to the TP area they can read it all. Remember, right now
Guests and ALL members have access to the Trading Post. First time sellers should be
immediately moved to a screen giving them an example of a GOOD ad. They need to be told that where
they live and how they ship is going to be important to the buyer. They also need to be told again
that ONLY ACA members can private message(PM) them. They need to be told to provide an alternate
way for the buyer to contact them. They also need to be told that the buyers will want to know HOW
they expect to be paid. Check in advance? Collect at the airport? Credit cards? Paypal? How are
freight charges determined up front? Sellers should also be told that fish with photos sell faster.
I've stated , I still feel it's important, especially because we don't have or intend
to have a gallery(At least that's how it stands now, and in the foreseeable future), we need
reference guides for photos of fish so both the buyer and seller will be discussing the same fish;
not working with two fish, with or formerly with, the same name. (While on the name thing: Jim or
whoever oversees the Trading Post area checks the names being used. The accuracy of the name
isn't as important as customer satisfaction in a Trading Post transaction.) Sizes, ages,
sexes, pairs, trios, bag quantities, price and any discount rates should be mentioned so the seller
can provide buyers with the answers to the most common questions. Once the buyer and seller agree
to the terms, phone numbers should be exchanged, if they haven't been already, so that any last
minute changes can be updated between the buyer and seller. Sellers need continued access to this
area to refresh their memory of a good ad AND the process of the sale. Sellers need to be reminded
that they are entering a contract with the buyer. Shipping something lesser or otherwise different
than the agreement constitutes fraud. Buyers can and will prosecute.
There should also
be a special area for first time or relatively new buyers. </span><!--
fonto:Comic Sans MS--><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS">Buyers need to be able
to access this area even after they are initially exposed to it. </span><!--/fontc--
><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS">They should be
given advice on how to buy fish that they can't see before purchase. They should be advised on
what questions to ask the sellers. They should be told that there are ways to use a check or credit
card for a purchase even if the seller doesn't take charge cards. They should also be told that
they can use this method to make a purchase and keep their credit card numbers a secret from the
sellers. First time buyers should also be told to ask how the fish will be packed. Are there any
guarantees? What are they? A first time buyer should be informed they're entering a contract
with the seller. Buyers should also be informed that insufficent funds merits more than a
fistfight. It's illegal. Sellers can and will prosecute.
The ACA has taken the
stance that they have NO POSITION in any transaction between buyers and sellers. IMO, what a
chicken move. I believe buyers and sellers should receive a rating like on eBay. Unresolved
complaints that are carried into court should be reported on our Trading Post section by the
offended party and the resolution reported when final. At the very least potential miscreants
need to be informed that chronic abusers of the Trading Post system will be BANNED from it's
use FOREVER. (I know. I know. What are the chances that the BOT will change the stance on TP
transactions?) (If they did, how many years would it take?)
This information we're
providing the sellers and any buyers new to the process needs to be so good that Aquabid and other
auction sites will ask us if they can use it. (I think we should let them use it as long as they
acknowledge they got it from the ACA Forum and have a link to our site) It should be a model for
even individual and/or private web sites.
Now, if we were to do something like this,
would it solve your concern about using private messenger(PM)? Sure it's easier to use PM vs e
-mail. So? If you don't have a browser that will take you to your e-mail provider from a link
with a single click, who's problem is that? Why should the ACA provide a service that Forum
members are unwilling to look for, or pay for, from others for free?
Dan<!--fontc--
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