[Steve Smith]

Pat yourselves on the back, guys, you're probably the only group at THR to ever be asked how you want to run a fourm!

Ok, Larry and I have been discussing ads on the Comp forum and we've had several sticky situations come up. I think we have a solution, but we need your opinions.

Oftentimes, Larry, I, or someone else will find a great deal on a comp gun and we want to tell you guys about it. Posting it in the regular For Sale forum is a waste, of course, and not only that, but 9 times out of 10 they're links to friends' guns. We don't want the Comp forum to become another for sale forum, so allowing retailers to advertise here isn't even in question. The grey line, of course, are profiteering guys out there just trying to make a few bucks. We can all help discourage their participation. The question is:

Should members be allowed to post ads or links for competition guns in the Comp Forum?

[Jon Coppenbarger]

you want my opinion:
NO with exceptions:
like you find a rifle somewhere and you try to let us here know about it, thats fine as thats sharing with everyone else in a way not to profit yourself except threw the betterment of this board and by helping posters.

now another exception to that rule for me is if someone ask's where to find something and you reply to that and you tell them up front that this is for the person seeking this item and not intended to be a open for sale ad.

I do not see a problem in refering everone here to the want ad section if you are selling some items that you might want the other competitors to get a good chance at.

it might go something like this.:



hey everyone just wanted to let you all know I have a complete rra's dcm upper with about 500 rounds threw it and a couple 20 round usgi mags that I'am also going to list in the for sale section after this post.
just giving you all a heads up. thanks jon

I know of no other board that allows for it other than kinda how I gave in my example.

my personal opinion is thats its hard to draw the line of whats ok and whats not and if you do it here what about the reloading section or general topics forum or ?

I voted no, but thank you for asking,
and hows the weather?

[Steve Smith]

The weather is really, really crappy. And rainy. And Windy. Did I mention it's crappy?

Hmm, what you're suggesting is kinda what my "yes" was supposed to mean. Should I rephrase it? If so, ya'll let me know and I'll redo the poll.

[John Forsyth]

I voted yes, but that comes with some bounds to it. I too do not want to see the competition forum becoming a for sale section. I would not have a problem with a member posting a link to a competition related firearm, but I do not really want to see the whole advert. for the firearm here.

[Grump]

I prefer it to be a heads-up referral to the FS board,

BUT I would prefer some limit on the number/frequency of the "here's my buddy's gun" postings.

Without question, your OWN stuff if you're not becoming a dealer. See the US Code and the related CFRs--something about "engaged in the business".

Alerts to hot deals are also okay, but similarly, not for commercial gain/dealers, etc. Limit even those to one per month per member.

BUT, no FS links allowed for first-time posters!!!!! Only after, say, 25 posts or so??

[TrapperReady]

I think it's an OK idea.

If that lattitude becomes abused, then pull it at that time. I would suggest that posts with an ad have something mentioning that in the subject line, so that those are easily skipped by non-interested readers.

[Steve Smith]

Ok, I think the results are pretty clear, and those who care have voted and/or posted. Thanks for the feedback, guys. You comments have "written the rules" and we'll go with that.

NOTE:
If you've been directed to read this, you have abused your "for sale" priveleges and are requested to heed the comments from our members. Place your commercial ads in the true For Sale forum, not here.