Should we add a Buyer/Seller Feedback forum?

[Jbroad572]

I have seen this on other fourms and I think it would work well to be able to keep track of the good buyers and sellers. Sorry if this has already been posted, but I feel this would be beneficial.
Maybe something like a Good Guy's List?
On an old forum (Headfi) There would be a topic created under the username and you can just keep adding feedback. It'd be good to keep the feedback link in the profile or give the feedback link whenever a transaction is completed.
Here's an example....
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=58397&highlight=jbroad572
That's mine on the forum mentioned above....

[gary]

It could lead to some bloodshed and require more moderator activity, time which they might not have to spend, but I think it's a good idea, particularly if you are referring to Forum buyers/sellers.

I know there have been a couple of times when I have seen something for sale and withheld public comment on the seller because such a thread is for the business details of the sale and I wasn't sure it was appropriate to deep-six a seller. I have, however, used my prerogative and sent PMs to prospective buyers if I know that prospective buyer.

I think such a thread might provide an open rating of sellers and buyers. Many have no idea whether or not something is a good deal and this could help. For example, I got a great mpc from mephipps but when I first saw his email handle and didn't know who he was, I was very reluctant to purchase anything from him. Tim Price endorsed him and that was good enough for me, but without that endorsement, I wouldn't be sitting here with a great mpc.

[mostly alto guy]

One possibiliy would be to create a link in a SOTWer's profile that takes you to his or her ebay feedback. I've seen this done on another forum (not music related). There are several problems with this, including:
1) The person might not have an ebay account or might not wish it to be linked (could be a profile option). But as we know, ebay feedback can be padded in a number of ways.
2) Ebay usernames can be changed or added in seconds, providing cover for an unscrupulous seller (or buyer).
3) The person's ebay feedback aside, buying through SOTW provides not even the minimal protection afforded by ebay (but using a service such as PayPal or escrow dot com for your transactions can provide some relief).

The best way to be sure of who you're dealing with is to know the person, and having other SOTWers vouch is about as close as a buyer is likely to get. As with ebay or any other venue, a trial and return policy is the safest way to keep from getting burned, but there's no way to compel a seller to do it. Anyway you slice it, the bottom lines seems to be caveat emptor.

[GAS_Wyo]

The "In Praise Of..." thread is used for this purpose (when the deal was good). When the deal is bad between members, it's usually done via Private Messages when someone is considering buying and posts the famous "sent a PM". My dealings on SOTW so far have been mostly very positive, but there are a few...it seems that dumping mouthpieces that didn't work for you is a problem here.

I'd vote no to this idea.

[Randall]

On first thought it seems like a good idea.

However, when I first came here quite a few years ago, there was a kind of good ol' boys network going on and they all had glowing words of praise for each others goods/deals.
It was only through PM's that I found out the real story on many accounts. Even then, members of this informal network of good ol' boys would rat on each other in PM's!:shock:

So, because I have seen what this can turn into ( a kind of quid pro quo), I would have to say no to the idea...

Same with the "gig" points idea saxpics came up with.8-)

[Quatschmacher]

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread but I wanted to comment on this. There is a sort of feedback sticky on the Marketplace but it is becoming a bit sprawling and disorganised.

On another forum I'm on (talkbass.com) they have a feedack system which would be fairly easy to put into place as they use the same software to code their site. Check out an example here (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446709), it looks eerily similar to this site. You'll see that under the username in the first post there is a number in brackets, click on that to go to that person's feedback rating.

The other suggestion (if you don't want to go down the route mentioned above) would be to have a subsection in the Marketplace section headed "Feedback". Then each member could start a thread for his/herself, the title of which will simply be his/her user name. Into that, each person who deals with that user (sale or purchase) can submit a post with detailed feedback. Doing it this way will make it much easier to search for a person's feedback in one place, as comment will be contained in the same thread for just one username.