All valid points, although I must have missed the 'none relevent trades' bit, I've certainly not had any pointed out to me recently. When they are the user is warned, repeated offenders will have traderoom rights removed.
We now have a much better system in place for hadnling this tpy eo thing and preventing relistings/countdowns. It will be lauched within the next week or so. Not full proof, but a definate step forward. It will also make it easier for people to report them and action taken even after the item has been deleted.
As for not seeing ebay items - this will also soon become a subscriber option, similar to the way you can choose not to see certain items or users.
Items for sale in the showroom is a bigger issue and a constant thorn (and probably cause this debate to become another long rambling one) Just to give you some background.
When it was originally set-up it was definated seen as a black or white thing. Either an item was for trade or it wasn't. Nice and simple. As time has passed though its become clear its not and as always there are issues. Basically we have users, that have had a model a long time built up some nice comments and basically want to keep the item in their showroom (Set to extra info) but have decided its time for whatever reason to sell it on. Understandably these people don't want to lose the comments or the item from their showroom (esp if they might end up not selling it), so list it again in the traderoom telling people to go look at it. I don't really have a problem with this. Also some people make items, which they want to show-off as part of their showroom. It maybe they have more to sell, but with a B&W rule they would have to list it in their traderoom and it woould never be seen by anyone browsing their showroom - that seems a bit odd too. These are just a couple of examples off the top of my head, there are probably others. We also have people that post things in their showrooms and the copy reads 'Haven't decided if I'm going to keep it yet, might do, might let it go for the right offer' They would argue this is a valid description of their feelings towards the model, others see it as an offer to sell. If we wanted to make a rule on this last type we'd need to start defining what was allowable language and what wasn't etc
The ones I do have an issue with is the ones that list in both places on the same day. Taking up two spots on the home page. As a rule we will contact the owners of these and explain the situation and on the whole people do tend to understand once its pointed out to them. We do this when we can calmly and politely, and members are welcome to do the same. As long as no once goes steaming in, name calling hurling abuse etc, like I said most people are open for a bit of friendly advice. A lot of the people that do it come form other boards which allow this type of thing or ebay where most of what you try and do is about getting your items exposed to as many people as possible even if they are not interested.
One thing I have noticed though is that people are using the 'don't show user' function and simply blocking people they don't like the practices of - hopefully at some point they will spot much lower 'views' on showroom items and trades.
As always though I am open for suggestions. The only way we could make it never happen is stop any item appearing until a mod clears it. Easy enough to do, but feels a bit heavy handed.
Chris
]
]
