*POLL* should pictures be required when selling/trading?

[PoopyPants]

Ya know i have been coming here for a long time, and aside from the sloppy layout of the forum i have been utterly appaulled at the lack of anyone posting pictures of their goods when they sell/trade something. from the newbie to the #1 heatware guy. no one posts pictures of their goods. and a link to newegg isnt a picture of YOUR goods. thats a picture of a similar piece of hardware.

Anandtech fs/ft forums, i am afraid to say, has become a scammers/troll paradise.
there is more scamming going on here than any other forum i see. well, aside from hardforum. and xbox-scene.com

I love coming here and dealing with people because there is always alot of goods floating around this forum and this place is filled with alot of really great people. but not everyone is like that. There are, as we know, those who's sole purpose is to lie, cheat and steal their way around the internet because they think its the internet, they can get away with it.

In this day and age it's hard to find a forum that doesnt require pictures of the hardware you are selling/trading. and on top of that, you must put in the picture a signed piece of paper with that days date and your forum name.

So why hasn't AT adopted this form of member security? WHY!

Well i am here today to ask that question and formally request that Anandtech.com take the initiative to put in place this form of security and enforce it.
If you post a thread you must immeidately include pictures of your hardware w/ a piece of paper with that days date and your forum name on it, or your thread is locked or deleted. (most places lock it until you contact a mod to let them know you have pictures ready to post.)

PLEASE ANANDTECH INITIATE THIS FS/FT RULE !!

Nothing FS/FT, doesn't belong here, Sorry.
Anandtech Moderator
Gillbot

 

[aphex]

I wouldn't mind seeing this implemented, definitely might help.....

However, I think this thread is more appropriate here; http://forums.anandtech.com/ca...tid=63&flcache=5954372

Also, might need to advertise the free picture hosting/sharing sites as a resource for people without their own webhosting to use.

 

[PoopyPants]

very true aphex, if you have the power (like he-man "I HAVE THE POWERRRRRRR" )
Please feel free to move it there.

although i think its going to get ALOT more attention being in here.
i mean this is a poll about the FS.FT section and how many people truly visit the suggestion box ?

but feel free to move it if the mod's wish.

 

[crosshairs]

I voted no simply because I don't think it needs to be a rule.
I often list things with no pictures.
If someone requests a picture, I always try and take one and post it.

anyone can post pictures of their items to prove they have them, getting them to actually send them to you is another story.

I could look around my room and take pictures of well over 5,000 dollars worth of computer parts, simply doing that in no way assures you that I will send them to you after you pay.

I could also browse other forums for pictures of things I might want to "troll" someone for.

with 5 minutes and photoshop, I could have a date and my screen name added to those pictures.

Wile I understand your point, I don't see how it would help in the situation

 

[Cybercraig]

Some stuff it would help, but you can always ask for e-mailed pics anyway.

 

[fuxxociety]

While I understand that pictures of items help verify the integrity of the seller, I (once again) believe that a full scale "picture for all items" policy is out of bounds.

In my opinion, the requirement of a picture should vary with the asking price of the item being sold. I don't want to have to post pictures of every little thing I want to put on the forums (but I still do)

In my opinion, items over say, $149 should be required to be posted with pictures, but let the little guy selling single LEDs alone.

 

[mitchhamlin]

Originally posted by: crosshairs
I voted no simply because I don't think it needs to be a rule.
I often list things with no pictures.
If someone requests a picture, I always try and take one and post it.

anyone can post pictures of their items to prove they have them, getting them to actually send them to you is another story.

I could look around my room and take pictures of well over 5,000 dollars worth of computer parts, simply doing that in no way assures you that I will send them to you after you pay.

I could also browse other forums for pictures of things I might want to "troll" someone for.

with 5 minutes and photoshop, I could have a date and my screen name added to those pictures.

Wile I understand your point, I don't see how it would help in the situation

 

[hclarkjr]

how about those that do not have digital camera? or cell phone with camera? pictures are nice but are not always needed. if the seller misleads the buyer by his description of the product you return it and leave negative heat and so forth. it should not be a rule

 

[PoopyPants]

i would say effective immediately.
any current threads do not need to be updated but it would be appreciated

those who say no have valid reason, but your reasons are also why you don't post in other forums fs/ft sections, because attitude wont let you.

*its a hassel - no it isnt. you will spend 10x's more time making the thread. and imageshack is free hosting.

*it doesnt mean they will ship it - true, thats not the point of the picture requirements, its simply to prevent trolls and trolls dont own th hardware most of the time. and the name on a piece of paper ensures they atleast have it in their posession.

*misleading description. - This again is overwritten, someone what by the picture. sure if he says it works, and it doesnt a picture wont show that. but if its all beat to hell and he lists it as good condition. a picture will show it.

i hate to say this but you guys bitch and moan and scream about catching scammers. well this is a huge step in the prevention of scammers.


why don't you take a peak at my home turf, xtremesystems.
there is NO trolling over there in the fs/ft section. that place is lcked down tighter than a prison for their fs/ft section.
you even have to have 100 posts to even SEE the fs.ft section.
there was a time when justin davies (some of you know who this punk is) trolled alot of people for alot of money on XS and many other forums, and IRC) and that kind of stuff will happen. not every troll can be prevented.
but look at places like pcperspective, again another locked down fs/ft forum. there you even have to have a valid email in your thread.

there are other forums such as hardforum who go so far as to ban hotmail, msn, aol, yahoo, gmail, macmail, and many other because its an untraceable form of email.

no one is asking for that.

all this is is a simple picture to say hey, i do have the hardware, here it is.

 

[mitchhamlin]

I do not have Digital camera, i can only take pictures if my friends are over, and they happen to have a camera phone.

 

[minendo]

Although I feel this is a good idea, I do not feel as though it should be a rule of the forums. Not all members have access to digital cameras or means to take/post pictures. In my opinion, if a potential buyer wants to see their goods it is their responsibility to request such pictures from the seller. Remember, you the buyer ultimately agree to the terms of the deal.

 

[ctcsoft]

sometime posting pictures is a hassle.

lots of times when I post something for sale I don't post pics because its already boxed and ready to slap a shipping label on it.

If I'm selling a NEW item. It is what it is! NEW. Why do people need to see pictures of a box?

Now....

If its a used $500 + item. Something like a laptop, then yes... pics help a ton!

** Plus sometimes I post things for sale when I'm at work or on the go at a friends etc. So I might not have the item right in front of me to take picture, upload to hosting website, etc.


** Also pics don't mean the guy who just signed up at Anandtech really has that laptop. He can easily search around the web. Find a photo and post it.

 

[purplehippo]

I voted no. I don't think we need another rule to hamper trading. Anandtech continues to be one of the safest trading forums on the net. Although not perfect where else can you get people to hunt down someone who took you for a ride I provide pictures if anyone asks. I don't like using the free pics sites. They are difficult for me to use. I will continue to happily send pics via email though.

 

[PoopyPants]

---Remember, you the buyer ultimately agree to the terms of the deal. ----

TRUE VERY TRUE. and it is many times, the stupidity of the buyers that get them trolled. and i just want to smack those people.

i dont understand why people are so protective of NOT showing pictures. this type of forum rule is to protect the SELLER also, not only the buyer.

@purplehippo

ya know man i would agree with alomst everything you say on a normal day, but today i disagree.

anandtech is far from one of the safest places to do deals. on a per deal basis, yes there are thousands of more good deals than bad but simply hit the top of the fs section and you'll see on average 3 threads about trolls.

and i have yet to see anyone from here hunt someone down. all people do is make idle threats and pump them selves up like a bunch of badasses.

the community is pretty tight here, i can't deny that. but i don't know of anyone who has been found and tried for their crime because of action from the forum members.

as a whole i love anandtech. there is 99% of this place that i dont even visit. why ? mostly because i hate the layout of this place. its ugly and annoying to navigate.

and if imageshack is hard for you to navigate man,,,, then how do you browse for files on your pc? because thats all imageshack is, you click browse, go to the file, click upload, and it gives you a link you can post anywhere on the internet.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: PoopyPants
and i have yet to see anyone from here hunt someone down. all people do is make idle threats and pump them selves up like a bunch of badasses.

As a group the TrollHunters as well as moderators not only from AnandTech, but many other forums work closely together to put an end to such trolling. Not only have we caught trolls long before they are able to do any damage at AnandTech, but we have worked together to reach resolutions on hundreds if not thousands of deals gone bad.

 

[purplehippo]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: PoopyPants
and i have yet to see anyone from here hunt someone down. all people do is make idle threats and pump them selves up like a bunch of badasses.

As a group the TrollHunters as well as moderators not only from AnandTech, but many other forums work closely together to put an end to such trolling. Not only have we caught trolls long before they are able to do any damage at AnandTech, but we have worked together to reach resolutions on hundreds if not thousands of deals gone bad.

So True - Anandtech has led the way in this as I reiterated before. Many of the Troll Hunters are members from Anandtech. This is the place to be despite the lousy layout

 

[isekii]

If pictures are required I hope AT allows pictures to be seen in the threads themselves instead of clicking a link.

 

[max347]

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
how about those that do not have digital camera? or cell phone with camera? pictures are nice but are not always needed. if the seller misleads the buyer by his description of the product you return it and leave negative heat and so forth. it should not be a rule

I think nowadays that's not very likely. You can get a 2.0mp camera for around $40. I make minimum wage and have secured myself a 3.2mp sony. Its not too much to ask really. Just a few weeks ago I picked up a 6mp aiptek (I know I know) video camera for $25 shipped from pbnation. Really, if you dont have a digital camera or cell with camera, how can you afford to be bst'ing anyway? Idk, just my view

 

[hclarkjr]

Originally posted by: max347

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
how about those that do not have digital camera? or cell phone with camera? pictures are nice but are not always needed. if the seller misleads the buyer by his description of the product you return it and leave negative heat and so forth. it should not be a rule

I think nowadays that's not very likely. You can get a 2.0mp camera for around $40. I make minimum wage and have secured myself a 3.2mp sony. Its not too much to ask really. Just a few weeks ago I picked up a 6mp aiptek (I know I know) video camera for $25 shipped from pbnation. Really, if you dont have a digital camera or cell with camera, how can you afford to be bst'ing anyway? Idk, just my view

well i disagree, i have been selling things here since 1998 and not one time have i ever had pictures of anything i have sold here. i have no need of a digital camera and if a buyer doe not like the fact that i have no pictures of what i am selling he is free to buy it from somebody else.

 

[uwishurockedthishxc]

i dont see a problem with implementing this as cheap as cameras are these days

 

[crosshairs]

Originally posted by: mitchhamlin

Originally posted by: crosshairs
I voted no simply because I don't think it needs to be a rule.
I often list things with no pictures.
If someone requests a picture, I always try and take one and post it.

anyone can post pictures of their items to prove they have them, getting them to actually send them to you is another story.

I could look around my room and take pictures of well over 5,000 dollars worth of computer parts, simply doing that in no way assures you that I will send them to you after you pay.

I could also browse other forums for pictures of things I might want to "troll" someone for.

with 5 minutes and photoshop, I could have a date and my screen name added to those pictures.

Wile I understand your point, I don't see how it would help in the situation

Any particular reason you quoted me without adding a response?

 

[jlee]

It may be a good idea, if some members would wish to do so - however, I am not to keen on making it mandatory.

 

[JWade]

i really dont think requiring pictures will circumvent trolls too much. someone good with photoshop can incert a piece of paper with their name, blur it and say they are bad at picture taking and you definately wouldnt be able to tell.

i voted no on the picture requirement btw, because it would give a false sense of security, see my reason above

 

[masterxfob]

i'd probably stop trading here if such a rule was put in effect. unless of course you want to come over and take pictures of all my junk.

 

[SilentVixen]

I voted no. I firmly believe that people can ask for pics if they aren't provided and use common sense when it comes to new traders.