Now that this forum isn't linked to Leica....

[earleygallery]

are there plans to introduce a for sale/wanted section ?

I'm not sure personally if I want to see such a facility, although I can see the benefits - buying from people you can trust, who know about what it is they're selling & for sellers a targeted audience, and probably better prices than from dealers/e bay for the above reasons.

If it is to be introduced, I do think a small fee to list an item would be appropriate - not sure how that would work though without creating additional work for somewone. Fees could be paid by paypal.

The danger is that this becomes mainly a trading site, and we lose the integrity of the forum as we know it. Any thoughts?

[stunsworth]

I think a for sales section would be good for all the reasons mentioned. Plus any fees collected could be used to help finance the forum.

I doubt that the forum would be transformed into a trading site, but like yourself I would hope that the forum would remain the useful resource that it curently is.

And I still think Leica have been short sighted in pulling their sponsership.

[sdai]

I agree to charge a small fee for listing ... not only to benefit the site but also to discourage the internet wackos.

I would much prefer to buy/sell from/to someone on the forum than elsewhere. This is my primary Leica resource and it would be nice to be the place where I can purchase kit as well.

Charging a fee is not unreasonable and maybe a larger fee if one of the recognised dealers wanted to display items as well.

On one of the forums - now defunct - I used to manage 5 years ago we also had a rule that you had to have 50 posts to your credit to qualify for selling and then paid a fee to advertise. We also encouraged buyers to donate something.

Worked really well and the odd idiot who just wanted to trade was easily spotted as he would be posting spurious replies, starting threads etc to get to his 50 posts and was easily sorted.

[earleygallery]

Originally Posted by sdai

I agree to charge a small fee for listing ... not only to benefit the site but also to discourage the internet wackos.

Yes - if it was a case of just posting your own for sale thread the site would be full of porn and viagra ads in no time!

[jmr]

Sounds like a good idea to me - particularly the mechanisms to keep opportunists at (e)bay.

Who knows, if I could buy from someone I trusted, I just might upgrade from my C-Lux

[stnami]

.... hmmmmmmmmmm.......... a secondhand M8...... buyer: can the camera be trusted that it won't jihad itself........ seller: reputation akin to George Bush's in a flash

[Irishimage]

I think its a great idea and also logical to have a buy/sell forum for the members of this site,as we all have a common interest in the product ,

My own idea of a simple set of rules are ....

1) Only Items made by or carrying the Leica brand name to apply.

2) A join date of at least 3 months prior to eligibility to sell an item but any join date to buy an item, this should eliminate the fly by night chancers

3) A fixed fee payable by the seller according to the price range of the item for sale.
say €5,- fixed fee and a small percentage thereafter .. maybe 1-2% of total.

Anyway thats my 2 cents input for what its worth ..

Noel

[Angora]

The problem with asking a fee for a transaction is that it's making the forum owing something to the user.
I mean, you pay for eBay because you know that if a problem happens (whether from the buyer or the seller) then eBay must do something about this. It's in the contract.
Can the LUF handle or just wants to deal with such hassle ?

A buy/sell section is very useful ; it shouldn't charge a fee but refuse any responsibility in case of problem, as a counterpart.

[brunom]

I think this would be a great idea, but it should not be restricted to just Leica branded equipment - just think of all the Canon screw mount lenses, the Hexars, the Minolta CLE and all the screw mount variant bodies, plus of course all the Zeiss ZM and the C/V lenses.

Bruno

[sdai]

Originally Posted by Angora

The problem with asking a fee for a transaction is that it's making the forum owing something to the user.
I mean, you pay for eBay because you know that if a problem happens (whether from the buyer or the seller) then eBay must do something about this. It's in the contract.
Can the LUF handle or just wants to deal with such hassle ?

A brief classified ad doesn't constitute a contract involving the "publisher of the ad", the relationship is between you and the person you're dealing with ... so you buy a broken camera listed in the local newspapers' classifieds, will you bother with the newspaper or the con man who takes your money?

[earleygallery]

Keep it simple. 5 euro by paypal or similar, e mail your ad to Andreas or A N Other and they then list in a 'read only' For sale/Wanted forum, all enquiries etc to be made by Private Mail or e mail.

There's no responsibility on the part of the forum for any problems with transactions - all it is offering is the ability to place an ad. Anything photographic to be allowed.

Of course its up to Andreas if this happens at all and what the rules are/aren't - just my suggestions for consideration if it's on the cards.

[Angora]

Originally Posted by sdai;258647[B

]A brief classified ad doesn't constitute a contract involving the "publisher of the ad"[/b], the relationship is between you and the person you're dealing with ... so you buy a broken camera listed in the local newspapers' classifieds, will you bother with the newspaper or the con man who takes your money?

It depends, that fact has to be precised (especially for an Internet forum).

[admin]

Just a short notice - I leaked it on the German forum already:

1. A classifieds / used gear section will come
2. I'll charge a fee for it (Paypal)
3. It'll be open only to registered users
4. Only Leica related stuff but not only Leica branded stuff

No more facts until now, only thoughts. And I'm very interested in what you write - go on...

Andreas

[earleygallery]

Andreas,

What you have proposed sounds fine. Listing fee via Paypal, registered users only, Leica related gear.... maybe include a pic but all Q&A's etc between sellers/buyers off forum.

[like_no_other]

I would think about the following points before introducing the new service:

- now we find selling/buying messages in all categories of this website, more or less hidden. Could any conflicts arise due to allowing related postings only in one new sub forum?
- how much will you charge and when? For each posting in the new sub forum or if the deal is done? How will you control the latter?
- shouldn't you allow sellings of Canon or Nikon equipment which is done to finance Leica equipment. Many people sold other cameras before buying the M8.
- shouldn't you allow to offer different customer-to-customer services in the new sub forum? For example M8 profiles, repair service, coding services, printing services, camera and lens rental services etc. I think it would be a good idea to think about this and include a definitive list of allowed services into the buying/selling rules
- will the business exclusively be done between the buyer and seller or should you be involved to track what really happens in your forum?
- you should make clear right form the beginning if professional dealers will be allowed to trade in this forum and include your decision into the rules to avoid conflicts which could arise probably.
- you should take care not to sacrifice the family character of the forum by allowing professional dealers' postings. Many user will be very sensible with this, I think.

Take care and good luck with he forum!

[brunom]

Andreas

That is good news - and it basically sounds good as described by you, but I feel a fee should only be charged if a deal is done, and I believe the registered users here would not abuse such a good system, and if any do, you of course, have the ultimate sanction available.

I also think that sellers should notify the forum when an item has been sold so that the item could be removed - perhaps to a categorized sold listing which could prove a valuable source of values etc.

A 'wanted' section would also be very useful.

Please start it soon !

Good luck

Bruno

[andybarton]

IMHO, we definitely need to make this a non-professional market-place (i.e. between users, and not allow companies to advertise their stock through the pages) and there should be a fee for listing, paid for at that time, and not at the time of the sale.

After all, placing a small-ad in the local paper is paid for at the time, regardless of whether you make a sale or not. This seems to me to be the only fair way.

[stunsworth]

I think it should be kept as simple as possible. Flat rate fee fee paid at the time of placing the ad. I'd be tempted to make want ads free, but I'd understand if that was not the case.

Would a digital SLR body capable of using Leica R lenses count as being ok? :-)

[jc_braconi]

Hello,

In France there is a web site dedicated to Leica and different chapter to use including buying and selling FREE of charge.

summilux.net :: Index

6 different chapters for used items.


Regards

jc