Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I find that the guys with very low posts - sometimes 1 or 2 - coming here to post outrageous pricing on ammo and guns to be disruptive to the community we have. Yes, it may drive traffic, but it also send the wrong message to new members, IMHO. Rick, I fully appreciate it is your web site, and your rules, but is there any wiggle room here? I don't mind capitalism, but new posters that have never contributed to the community trying to take advantage of the current climate... well, frankly, it rankles.

I definitely appreciate your feedback. The moderation team and I generally try not to delete posts or disrupt discussions in any way. There have been a few occasions where we have had to intervene and delete or moderate a post, but that's the exception.

With that said, everyone is free to post as they please here at VGOF. If you wanted to try to sell a stripped AR15 lower for $800, then you could. You would likely get a lot of funny looks, and maybe even a comment or two (though, we discourage comments in the for sale ads). If you see something that interests you, there's nothing stopping you from sending the seller a PM offering a more reasonable price. Otherwise, I'd suggest ignoring the post.

I could never get into the role of setting prices in the VGOF Marketplace. Where would I draw the line? How would I keep track of every post to ensure that it was within whatever arbitrary guideline that I chose? If the market will support you when you ask $800 for a stripped lower, then more power to you.

I'm always open to ideas and thoughts, and I don't disagree that this is a potential problem. So if you or anyone else has an idea that will help the Marketplace run smoothly (or anything else within our community), then please don;t hesitate to bring it up!

Only thing I could think of is access to the WTS forum after X posts, but then you'll just get X spammy comments until they hit the number to post in the WTS forum.

ShotgunBlast wrote:Only thing I could think of is access to the WTS forum after X posts, but then you'll just get X spammy comments until they hit the number to post in the WTS forum.

Hmm..I remember considering that in the past, but never got to implementing it. I'll give this another look soon.

What if you came up with some restrictions, passed a few new rules, then made all members go through additional registration and maybe a special fee and THEN they could post in the marketplace.

Why does that sound familiar and potentially not effective?!?!

There is no cure for stupid.

Thank you for allowing me to share my opinion.

PS I am posting a pre-ban 16" Bushmaster on the marketplace for $1,000,000. If you haggle with me you may get me down 30 or 40%.

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Maybe require either a $5 contribution or have at least 25 posts to be an eligible thread starter in the marketplace?

Doesn't smell like gouging to me, If you don't want it, don't buy it.

Let the market forces find the balance. See Walter E. Williams @townhall for an economics lesson, etc.

It's like a reverse auction, if nobody will meet the reserve, watch the price fall 'til somebody will. Or the seller just holds onto the goods.

Molfeens wrote: PS I am posting a pre-ban 16" Bushmaster on the marketplace for $1,000,000. If you haggle with me you may get me down 30 or 40%.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Please consider my most generous offer of one sheep!

ShotgunBlast wrote:Only thing I could think of is access to the WTS forum after X posts, but then you'll just get X spammy comments until they hit the number to post in the WTS forum.

if all your posts are "welcome to the forum" or "me too" then we delete your add, and your spammy posts.

Thats how it works over at hkpro, they run a VERY tight marketplace.

It isn't like there are very many of them. This will pass when the crisis clears.

Or those prices may someday seem a bargain.

Care to place bets on which outcome will prevail?

Palladin wrote:Doesn't smell like gouging to me, If you don't want it, don't buy it.

Let the market forces find the balance. See Walter E. Williams @townhall for an economics lesson, etc.

It's like a reverse auction, if nobody will meet the reserve, watch the price fall 'til somebody will. Or the seller just holds onto the goods.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Palladin is 'zacktly right, I think. Besides:

Any of those regulation schemes impose a significant burden of administration on the moderator.

There are potential legal issues when people act in concert to restrain trade and/or administer prices; and this also applies (last time I checked, anyway) to imposing MAXIMUM prices. And I sure wouldn't expect Mr. Holder's Justice Department to look kindly upon a bunch of folks trying to keep guns cheap. I don’t think it likely that this kind of trouble would descend upon our forum, but it ain’t impossible.

Bottom line is that the same principle that leads us to tell the government that our guns are our property and none of their business also dictates (as I see it, at least) that I must be free to offer to sell my gun for any price I choose and any buyer must be free to pay any price that suits him. If I am willing to incur the disdain and opprobrium of my fellows by gouging rapaciously, I should be free to be just as big an azzole as I want to.

At most, I think the forum administrator might add a "smilie" indicating something like highway robbery so knowledgeable posters who are offended by gouging can warn newbies and others who don't know better.

And that's all I know about thay-ut.

Like this

Taggure wrote:
Like this

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I was thinking more along the lines of something a little less ambiguous; like a mask and a gun. My other idea wouldn't fly in polite company.

This reminds me of the fellow that couldn't give away a cat. He advertised it for $100 and sold it to someone that wanted a $100 cat. Folks that can access this site can access search sites and make up their own minds about the value of a deal.

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By the way, when I saw the title "GOUGERS", it didn't register right at first, and the first thought I had was "Is that some special kind of COUGER?'. Come to think of it, the answer is "yes, sorta - and THAT led to that other idea for a smilie that won't fly in polite company.

the other day I was in the Mannassas Wal-Mart off Liberia and was looking in the Ammo case and saw that WWB .40 cal for 50 was priced at $46.99. 2 months ago they were ~$24 for the same box. I guess that is the world of supply and demand for you, and No I did not buy it as it was the last one in the case and figured some un-prepared person might need it more then me. Aint Realoading wonderful?

Taggure wrote: Aint Realoading wonderful?

only if you have /can get components.

I concur. I know it's annoying for the "LowPost/HighPrice" WTS ads.

But in truth? We find the humor on it, and they eventually cycle out the bottom, or realize "Ahm'a d'bahg for over pricing", and go away.

What I think would be a good idea? If you have less than 10 post, and haven't posted in a year? Your id, and all postings are deleted.

It would clear the forum, and allow those who want to be here from having to sift the forum when looking for a post.

Maybe I'm not being clear. I understand how the free market works, and the market will take what it can bear. (My degree is in Economics...) My point was about the community. Just seems...

It's like you have a neighborhood BBQ every week, and everyone brings beer, and everyone chips in. Then one weekend, some newbie shows up with Bud Light, and says, "HEY YOU BETTER CHIP IN $20 A BEER!" You can ignore him and choose not to drink his beer, but you really want to tell him to go do something else.

OK, rant over. I was in a bad mood last night from the flu and dealing with idiots at work. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

Man, selling here is gonna be a tuff row to hoe!

Everybody knows everybody, n when these market mavens come busting up in here you guys give 'em the stink eye.

Reminds me of those country stores in WVA where you push the door open and step inside, and everybody stops talking and watches you.

"Mmmm hmmm, I'll just be getting my Pepsicocola and Nabs and be movin' along. You fellers have a nice day."