At a date yet to be set a new policy will apply to the Wanted and For Sale forum as the current rules have rarely been either observed or enforced there. In response to a recent posting here in General Discussion and a few private conversations with some VR members, the following changes will be applied, again on a date to be set.

1. The submission form will be redesigned so that posting a [wanted] ad will be as it is now. Just a simple text box where the original poster can describe what they are looking for and include item condition, quantity, etc. Replies will still be available but e-mail addresses and phone numbers will only be viewable by members who are signed in.

2. Posting a [for sale] comment will see the big changes. You will see separate form fields for a brief heading, product description, price, e-mail address and/or phone number. The phone number can be either a landline or mobile number. Again, all contact details will be only viewable by members who are signed in.

3. No replies will be permitted in threads advertising a [for sale] item. Members showing an interest in any advertised item for sale will need to contact the advertiser directly via their supplied contact details.

4. A [for sale] ad will no longer be permitted to instruct a potential buyer to make an offer. A firm price, including postage, must be provided at the time the comment is submitted. The description may, if necessary, explain whether the quoted price is for a single item or a job lot.

5. A typical ad will look like this:-

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FOR SALE: AWA Radiola Mantel Radio

AWA Radiola 520M, also known as the Fridge, brown cabinet with no chips, cracks or scratches. Radio is complete and in good condition but requires servicing and thus power cord has been cut off. Original Bakelite plug will be included with the radio.

Price (incl. postage): $300.00

E: userdomain.com.au
P: 0400 000 000

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6. As has been the case in the past, Vintage Radio is not an auction site or sales agent. All transactions on the Wanted and For Sale forum are directly between the buyer and the seller only. The owner, administrator, site staff, etc will not mediate in disputes and are not responsible in any way if a transaction goes sour. Buyers and sellers agree to this without conditions when using the Wanted and For Sale forum. None of the above excuses any buyer or seller from obeying all relevant laws. When an agreement is made, the buyer should pay for the items and postage and once this is received the seller should send the items without undue delay. Trading on credit is not recommended.

7. At this stage, commercial sales (sales from corporate entities or sales of components, parts, etc) will continue to be permitted. However, should this prove to be as troublesome as it has been in recent times, I will not hesitate to ban commercial sales in all forms. One thing everyone should not forget is that the site owner has better things to do with his time than come home from work to mop up after arguments have started. A ban on commercial sales would come with some popular support, as many members have asked for either a separate forum for these or a complete ban on them altogether. The warning has been given. It's down to all sellers to do the right thing.

A further notice will be posted in this thread when preparations for the changes are ready to proceed.

Fully understood and agreed whole heartedly.

A small request: please have the system itself put FOR SALE: or WANTED: in the subject line.

In the past it has not always been clear from the subject line which category a post falls into.

A small request: please have the system itself put FOR SALE: or WANTED: in the subject line.

That is part of the plan, yep.

Yes agreed. That looks like a very sensible policy.

Andrew