Geocoin Discussion Forum

[avroair]

Recently, I have seen more and more postings for individual coin sales linked directly to ebay. I click on the thread expecting to see a list of coins or a new coin for sale and all I get is a link to ebay.

 

I have no problem with people listing coins on ebay, heck I even don't mind new coin sales threads or collection of coins listed for sale. But can we please not turn these forums into a classified section for ebay. I just find this kind of promotion irritating, the forums are meant as a discussion center for the geocoin community, not an opportunity to individually list your ebay sales.

 

I know I could just ignore it and move on, I just find it tasteless and in my opinion, these forums are not the place for it.

 

Or maybe I'm just getting crotchety in my old age.

 

edited: spelling

Edited September 26, 2007 by avroair

[+WWC-World's Worst Cacher]

Hmm . . . well I tend to agree, but I think it is facinating to see this happen because it is one more indication that the world of geocoins is changing. The buyers are being more selective in what they are buying and you can no longer sell 250 of anything. People are trying to move coins any way they can.

 

I suspect that given some time we will see few new coins issued and that the quality of those coin designs will improve . . . I don't know maybe not . . . .

 

My Thoughts!

[+moscow32]

I tend to agree with Avroair. The solution may be to have a pinned thread for ebay listings. That way people can get the traffic they want, without junking up the forum with "classified" ads.

[+Renegade Knight]

I agree. eBay on eBay for individual coin sales. I don't mine an eBay link where that's the management tool for a larger coin release. However I could care less about any one coin and if I did want that one coin, odds are I'm using eBay's search feature to find it. Not the forums.

[+Kealia]

Really? I don't see the issue here. I mean these forums went from being a discussion group a LONG time ago and turned into classified ads. What's the difference between linking to an eBay individual sale or linking back to somebody's website or asking somebody to email them directly for a sale?

 

 

Take a look at the last 100 threads or so and see how many of them are sales related versus actual discussions . The few discussion threads qucikly fall off the page.

 

 

If I had my way, we'd have separate forum altogether for discussions versus sales.

[+Mauison]

I tend to agree with Avroair. The solution may be to have a pinned thread for ebay listings. That way people can get the traffic they want, without junking up the forum with "classified" ads.

 

I also wouldn't mind seeing a pinned thread for eBay listings.

[+9Key]

Really? I don't see the issue here. I mean these forums went from being a discussion group a LONG time ago and turned into classified ads. What's the difference between linking to an eBay individual sale or linking back to somebody's website or asking somebody to email them directly for a sale?

 

 

Take a look at the last 100 threads or so and see how many of them are sales related versus actual discussions . The few discussion threads qucikly fall off the page.

 

 

If I had my way, we'd have separate forum altogether for discussions versus sales.

I think if you look back people have always offered coins for sale here in this forum with announcements of new coins. The eBay links that avroair mentions are fairly new though.

[+Hula Bum]

I agree that this should be a discussion board, but I don't see the difference between an ebay sale and a private sale. The board has been overrun by them for a long time now.

 

It would be very nice if TPTB would split the coin forum into sales and discussions, maybe someday?

[+AtwellFamily]

Really? I don't see the issue here. I mean these forums went from being a discussion group a LONG time ago and turned into classified ads. What's the difference between linking to an eBay individual sale or linking back to somebody's website or asking somebody to email them directly for a sale?

 

 

Take a look at the last 100 threads or so and see how many of them are sales related versus actual discussions . The few discussion threads qucikly fall off the page.

 

 

If I had my way, we'd have separate forum altogether for discussions versus sales.

Funny, I just did a count (rough count) on the first page of the forum.

- 45 Non-Sales related

- 18 Sales related (most near middle and bottom of page)

 

I would say other than the eBay listings the number of new coins has slowed and this has turned to more discussion about coins.

 

Back on topic. I have listed a group of coins here to sell off at a set price. I have "yes" sold some on eBay. I did not post here that I had some for sale on eBay.

[+Hula Bum]

I just started on thread in the gc website forum about splitting the coin forum, if you're interested go chime in, seemed like a good time to hopefully get the attention of TPTB.

[YemonYime]

Or maybe I'm just getting crotchety in my old age.

 

Considering your actual age, gawd help us when you hit 60.

 

As far as the eBay sales stuff, yeah...it can get a little thick at times. But let's not shut it off just yet. I'm thinking of having a surgeon laser-brand a tracking code on one of my kidneys, and then selling it on eBay as a "geocoin" to avoid them shutting down the auction. Afterall, ANYTHING can be a travel bug! What's even better is that I could technically advertise the auction here...because it's trackable! LOLZ, I M SO WIN!11111

[avroair]

Really? I don't see the issue here. I mean these forums went from being a discussion group a LONG time ago and turned into classified ads.

 

You didn't quite get my distinction.

 

I am talking about listing individual coins and links to each ebay listing, not a new coin coming out. I agree both are classified in a sense, but the former is now becoming prevalent, whereas the later has always been around.

Maybe just another step closer to a sales forum, but just wanted to point it out.

[+ThirstyMick]

I agree. Ebay sales threads are different than other coin sales threads.. Announcing and selling a new coin; I like those threads, it's new. Even if I don't want it, I like to see the pictures, and people give feedback, etc. those are totally appropriate threads But opening a thread for a link to ebay? If I were looking for a coin I can no longer get from the store, I'd already be looking for it on ebay.

 

Actually thats a lie. I don't even have an ebay account.

So I'm really one to talk, I have even less interest in the ebay links!

 

But then again how much of a nuisanse is it really?

[+The Moop Along]

Well, I guess I'm in Captain Mark's boat. I find the links directly to Ebay sales solely for personal profit very annoying. I would like to see a pinned thread for Ebay stuff as well. I've been thinking that to myself for quite some time now, just never really knew how to put it out there.

 

Charity auctions, new coin sales, etc. are all very different.

 

Oh yeah, btw, I have two coins on Ebay now. Go bid

[+Kealia]

I suspect that given some time we will see few new coins issued and that the quality of those coin designs will improve . . . I don't know maybe not . . . .

 

 

I dunno, I've been saying that for the past 2 years now....careful, you may start to agree with me.

 

 

Really? I don't see the issue here. I mean these forums went from being a discussion group a LONG time ago and turned into classified ads.

 

You didn't quite get my distinction.

 

 

Ok, I see your point. You're talking about the individual sales of coins that were previosuly sold, and now the owner is selling them on eBay one-by-one out of their collection.

 

 

I guess for me, they are all one and the same. There is still very little discussion about coins IMO.

 

 

I'll go count the threads when I have time, but I'm willing to be that the ones that are not direct sales are still being used to promote the coins. MOST of the contests, not all, seem to be a way of promoting a coin sale (indirectly) intentionally or not. Not saying this is right, wrong, good or bad, just a fact.

 

 

The threads about "your favorite coin" or "heart's desire" are just the same as either the trading thread, or another way of getting your hands on a coin, too. Essentially, a craig's list of what you are looking for so I would hardly call that a "discussion" either.

 

 

But, just like coins, there's something here for everybody I suppose....

[+Woletrap]

think about this:

you have a new coin, do you start a thread in the Sales forum or the Discussion forum, or both forums?

I can see some issues with trying to split them up, and trying to moderate them to keep them separate might involve some crazy decisions at to what is a sales discussion and what is a discussion discussion.

 

i think the "one coin one thread" rule is a necessary evil to keep the forums sanity intact (or at least to keep the INsanity to a minimum).

[+MustangJoni]

It isn't just the ebay threads that bother me, but the ones where people are selling off part of their collections. It does seem that there could be one pinned thread for these types of posts.

 

Edit for spelling

Edited September 26, 2007 by MustangJoni

[+cache agent]

I hardly click on any threads because I know theres a coin for sale and I'll want it... kinda makes it boring in here when you don't click on threads... like the secret missions and other non selling threads...

 

CA

 

edited to say.... mmmm never mind not editing ....

Edited September 26, 2007 by cache agent

[+Team Shydog]

 

It would be very nice if TPTB would split the coin forum into sales and discussions, maybe someday?

 

Do you think the TB forums would take us back if we asked reallllllly nice?

 

Screw Geocoin sales, let's talk trading!! Oh wait, that has been said already(Sort of)

[+Eartha]

I don't like the ebay auction links, one reason is because they end so quickly it's a dead link most of the time. All sales links should lead directly to a coin, whether it's a coin store, or ebay.

 

I've been in this forum since the beginning, and it's always felt like one advertisement after another. I remember taking the matter to Groundspeak to separate it from the travel bugs. I said to Bryan, I said "These geocoins could get big, we need to do something" And they did. The forums were split off. And the TB forums slowed down. Everyone is always welcome to come back to Travel Bugs!!! But there is angst in there too.

It's nice when a good geocoin discussion thread comes up. But I don't think splitting them into sales and discussions would do any good for the reason mentioned above. Coin threads start out as discussion first, they go through stages and become sale threads. FSM and I are not going to spend time every day moving threads back and forth.

[+Hula Bum]

I don't see why you would have to move threads back and forth, it's either a sale or it's not. Or to clarify even more, sales, cointests, auctions, benefits, would fall under one group and anything that's just talkin about coins would go in the other group.

 

Adding also.... If it's getting to the point where this would be too much for just 2 mods, maybe another mod should be added, or each mod could take one forum. I know Eartha already has the bugs to deal with too, so maybe more manpower is in order.

 

I like reading about how far a coin has gone, or what special coin you found, I hate having to weed through all the sales.

Edited September 26, 2007 by Hula Bum

[+Eartha]

I can see your point HulaBum, and it's a good one. It bears thinking on it some more. And it might help those who are trying to avoid buying every coin a place to go, not be tempted and still get to talk about geocoins.

[+pghlooking]

I don't see why you would have to move threads back and forth, it's either a sale or it's not. Or to clarify even more, sales, cointests, auctions, benefits, would fall under one group and anything that's just talkin about coins would go in the other group.

I vote for the second forum, but would leave cointests in the talking group. I also agree its time for a thrid mod to take some relief for the other two. Where's that thread about how to become a mod now?

[+Hula Bum]

The reason I put cointests in there are that most of them are an indirect promotion for a coin that's for sale or going to be in the future.

[+MustangJoni]

I don't like the idea of a second forum. I do like the idea of having a pinned thread for ebay sales, and older coins. And keeping new coin sales, discussions and cointests in the same place. Sometimes a new coin thread evolves into a discussion.

[57chevy]

Hypothetically, if this evolves into a situation where the sales gets separated from the main geocoin forums, just how convoluted will that thread be? The trading thread gets pretty diluted sometimes, and the activation code clearing house is worthless from a practical standpoint, unless you have the time and wherewithall to wade through all the posts. I am all for the sales and promotion of new coins having their own corner of these forums, but there really needs to be a method to the madness.

[avroair]

I guess this has slipped into a commercialism debate, and now two forums. The only thing I was objecting to was the one off ebay postings that seem to be occuring more frequently.

[+Eric K]

If there were two threads don't you think that the majority of readers in the geocoin forum would just then have to spend time going through two different forums instead of one?

[+Hula Bum]

If there were two threads don't you think that the majority of readers in the geocoin forum would just then have to spend time going through two different forums instead of one?

 

Nope, some of us don't care about the sales threads or ebay threads, so it'd just be one to go through!

[+forthferalz]

maybe just get a $ bb icon thingy to put next to the sales threads? The bit about hampering discussion is not valid imho - if people were interested in a thread it would stay active.

[+AtwellFamily]

If there were two threads don't you think that the majority of readers in the geocoin forum would just then have to spend time going through two different forums instead of one?

 

Nope, some of us don't care about the sales threads or ebay threads, so it'd just be one to go through!

Just a question, do you buy geocoins or just trade?

[+cache agent]

*hides*

[+Hula Bum]

If there were two threads don't you think that the majority of readers in the geocoin forum would just then have to spend time going through two different forums instead of one?

 

Nope, some of us don't care about the sales threads or ebay threads, so it'd just be one to go through!

Just a question, do you buy geocoins or just trade?

 

Neither actually, my collection are all ones that have been given to me by their owners/makers. I am only into coins that come from someone I have a connection with.

[+ArtieD]

If there were two threads don't you think that the majority of readers in the geocoin forum would just then have to spend time going through two different forums instead of one?

 

Nope, some of us don't care about the sales threads or ebay threads, so it'd just be one to go through!

Just a question, do you buy geocoins or just trade?

 

Neither actually, my collection are all ones that have been given to me by their owners/makers. I am only into coins that come from someone I have a connection with.

 

[+PengoFamily]

I guess I'll chime in with my 2 cents (maybe it's worth 3?? LOL ). I don't agree with splitting the geocoin forum into 2 sections. I don't want to wade through 2 forums. I would wager a guess that the majority of people that use this forum buy geocoins or trade for them. Seems like it would be a shame to have to jump back ad forth from forum to forum.

 

As for the ebay topic I think there have been a few more advertisements for personal auctions lately and I wouldn't mind a pinned thread for that sort of thing. I think that charity auctions should not have to fall in the pinned category though.