Registration and usage suggestion related to price check + commerce sections
I asked about this elsewhere and Paul suggested I post it here so here it goes.
We've seen some of the recent heat given about the appearance change here lately in relation to new members, but also old practices seemingly coming back to bite us and just people in general in the butt. While not NA fault being key in it, it is understood that people do flock here and may register or very likely will just lurk and read to get tips and clues. It has been an interesting ride with people talking about rarity of games, asking about prices and values on stuff, asking peoples impressions on the most desireable or profitable type titles for a system and other things going down that road including 'heads up' posts on what is speculated to go up.
Recently we've seen the effects of people speculating with Incantation, Firepower 2000, Run Saber, Guardian Legend, and even the already expensive stuff like Little Samson going nuts too in such a short gap of time. People are using the info we discuss freely I'm sure (as they are other sources) to play these games of buying up copies of games to create false demand jacking up prices to their benefit. Some games come back down (Guardian Legend) others still went from a five dollar title to a thirty dollar game now or so (Run Saber.)
My suggestion is something I'm familiar doing myself being a former gaming website administrator both for the top emulation site of the 90s and also in the gaming media in the 00s. Registration *and* usage gives full access. I submit if the board software can support it making it so lurkers can not see the Buy, Sell and Trade boards, nor Price Check. That speculation posts, rarity chitchat, and well business as usual are moved into those areas and kept under lock and key. For those wanting access they'll need to earn it. You will register. You will be a member for 30-90 days(?) and you will have a post minimum total limit required so they appear and you're granting access. This would cut off NA as a source for shenanigans. Secondarily it will stop registrations of people coming in here just looking to make a quick buck off people here and will thirdly safeguard members against people without a solid reputation from possibly fleecing them on a deal.
That's my suggestion, any feelings on the matter? Other popular gaming sites use a similar format to this now and I think it's a solid idea that really would help. Just a temporary invisibility cloak over the commerce sections.
We've seen some of the recent heat given about the appearance change here lately in relation to new members, but also old practices seemingly coming back to bite us and just people in general in the butt. While not NA fault being key in it, it is understood that people do flock here and may register or very likely will just lurk and read to get tips and clues. It has been an interesting ride with people talking about rarity of games, asking about prices and values on stuff, asking peoples impressions on the most desireable or profitable type titles for a system and other things going down that road including 'heads up' posts on what is speculated to go up.
Recently we've seen the effects of people speculating with Incantation, Firepower 2000, Run Saber, Guardian Legend, and even the already expensive stuff like Little Samson going nuts too in such a short gap of time. People are using the info we discuss freely I'm sure (as they are other sources) to play these games of buying up copies of games to create false demand jacking up prices to their benefit. Some games come back down (Guardian Legend) others still went from a five dollar title to a thirty dollar game now or so (Run Saber.)
My suggestion is something I'm familiar doing myself being a former gaming website administrator both for the top emulation site of the 90s and also in the gaming media in the 00s. Registration *and* usage gives full access. I submit if the board software can support it making it so lurkers can not see the Buy, Sell and Trade boards, nor Price Check. That speculation posts, rarity chitchat, and well business as usual are moved into those areas and kept under lock and key. For those wanting access they'll need to earn it. You will register. You will be a member for 30-90 days(?) and you will have a post minimum total limit required so they appear and you're granting access. This would cut off NA as a source for shenanigans. Secondarily it will stop registrations of people coming in here just looking to make a quick buck off people here and will thirdly safeguard members against people without a solid reputation from possibly fleecing them on a deal.
That's my suggestion, any feelings on the matter? Other popular gaming sites use a similar format to this now and I think it's a solid idea that really would help. Just a temporary invisibility cloak over the commerce sections.
Comments
Originally posted by: Tanooki
I asked about this elsewhere and Paul suggested I post it here so here it goes.
We've seen some of the recent heat given about the appearance change here lately in relation to new members, but also old practices seemingly coming back to bite us and just people in general in the butt. While not NA fault being key in it, it is understood that people do flock here and may register or very likely will just lurk and read to get tips and clues. It has been an interesting ride with people talking about rarity of games, asking about prices and values on stuff, asking peoples impressions on the most desireable or profitable type titles for a system and other things going down that road including 'heads up' posts on what is speculated to go up.
Recently we've seen the effects of people speculating with Incantation, Firepower 2000, Run Saber, Guardian Legend, and even the already expensive stuff like Little Samson going nuts too in such a short gap of time. People are using the info we discuss freely I'm sure (as they are other sources) to play these games of buying up copies of games to create false demand jacking up prices to their benefit. Some games come back down (Guardian Legend) others still went from a five dollar title to a thirty dollar game now or so (Run Saber.)
My suggestion is something I'm familiar doing myself being a former gaming website administrator both for the top emulation site of the 90s and also in the gaming media in the 00s. Registration *and* usage gives full access. I submit if the board software can support it making it so lurkers can not see the Buy, Sell and Trade boards, nor Price Check. That speculation posts, rarity chitchat, and well business as usual are moved into those areas and kept under lock and key. For those wanting access they'll need to earn it. You will register. You will be a member for 30-90 days(?) and you will have a post minimum total limit required so they appear and you're granting access. This would cut off NA as a source for shenanigans. Secondarily it will stop registrations of people coming in here just looking to make a quick buck off people here and will thirdly safeguard members against people without a solid reputation from possibly fleecing them on a deal.
That's my suggestion, any feelings on the matter? Other popular gaming sites use a similar format to this now and I think it's a solid idea that really would help. Just a temporary invisibility cloak over the commerce sections.
If you can't afford $5 a month to help run this place, then maybe you should not be making money off of our BS&T and Price Check section.
Just my opinion, one that I am sure A LOT of people are not going to like...but then again, everybody knows I don't like those dirty resellers
Originally posted by: Benihana
I think those area's should be closed to non-paying members.
If you can't afford $5 a month to help run this place, then maybe you should not be making money off of our BS&T and Price Check section.
I love that idea
The time + posts is also a good idea, but probably way too easy to get around. If the restriction is big like 200 then there will just be tons of crap posts.
Originally posted by: Benihana
I think those area's should be closed to non-paying members.
If you can't afford $5 a month to help run this place, then maybe you should not be making money off of our BS&T and Price Check section.
Just my opinion, one that I am sure A LOT of people are not going to like...but then again, everybody knows I don't like those dirty resellers
Tanooki's idea is awesome, and I think Benihana's is an excellent addition. Many people come here and use this site as a free eBay. It's really not too much to ask to have someone pay for this.
I agree that post count should not be a determining factor in this, as I don't tend to post that much but do support this site when I can. A monthly fee/regular donation is a great way to avoid this issue.
Also, while I think some of the price influx comes from here, I don't believe that closing off these sections to lurkers will change that, to be honest. You still have many other sites out there that say similar things.
One other thing to keep in mind as well is that with the rise of the Virtual Console and crap games that come out in heaps over the last generation, people having been resorting to the retro scene, which will always cause a price influx on higher demand titles.
As for the monthly membership, wouldn't that limit members to being 18+ years of age? Not that I would care, but we all know p33jay needs his 16 yr olds
Either way, I think the conversation is good - hopefully it will lead to something positive.
Take videogamemm for example. There auction section doesn't become visible until you hit 50 posts. So over 18 months I have 37 posts now, and half of them have been one liners here and there to boost my post count.
I really have no problem with a new guy showing up to sell his stuff here cheaper than eBay. You find awesome stuff that way. A random hits a yardsale and finds a gold mine, or someone inherits a collection, etc. These people will probably never be contributing members, but nothing wrong with them selling stuff here.
The price speculation threads are annoying, but they are coming from established members just as much as the new guys.
So I like the concept but I just don't see it playing out in a positive manner.
I don't see how applying that here, to certain sections of the site, is that big of a deal. So guests can no longer see the Buy, Sell, or Price Check threads? Now they simply have to register and login. You already kinda do something similar by limiting how many latest topics you can see if you aren't logged in.
It's a very small step to knocking back a large group of people, IMO. You guys should definitely do this, as the admins/mods and I both know how easy it will be to implement.
I also like having a very active BST area, it doesn't bother me if new people show up to sell stuff, that just means we get first crack at it. If it's overpriced or junk, it will quickly fall away and they will probably disappear on their own if that is all they were here to do.
Price checks don't get me bent out of shape like they do for some, and I really don't understand why people get so worked up about rarity discussions. I agree with what sadikyo said in that I think the perception of our influence is probably slightly more than reality.
Originally posted by: leatherrebel5150
I still wouldn't mind paying $5 a month the idea that we who use the BST and make a profit is a little wrong.
No, no, no. We shouldn't have to pay to get access to the site. But limiting what a guest can see is easy and free.
Originally posted by: Mog
Responsible for all the price increases? My, don't we have some big egos. Lets hide all of our top secret info so no one can see it!
No kidding. I suspect that the perception of some differs dramatically from the reality.
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
Originally posted by: Mog
Responsible for all the price increases? My, don't we have some big egos. Lets hide all of our top secret info so no one can see it!
No kidding. I suspect that the perception of some differs dramatically from the reality.
Someone comes on here, mentions some rare item they just got or need a price check on, the next few months see a price spike in said item on ebay. I fully believe this is happening.
Originally posted by: Ferris Bueller
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
Originally posted by: Mog
Responsible for all the price increases? My, don't we have some big egos. Lets hide all of our top secret info so no one can see it!
No kidding. I suspect that the perception of some differs dramatically from the reality.
Someone comes on here, mentions some rare item they just got or need a price check on, the next few months see a price spike in said item on ebay. I fully believe this is happening.
Key words... "some rare item". The thing was very likely already on the way up, given the current general enthusiasm for retro and vintage games.
I think a lot of people are getting correlation confused with causation.
Also, restricting access to the forums is probably cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I pay 8.99 for Netflix and I watch it 1 every 3 months, I wouldn't mind paying 9.99 here or something similar for a place I spend hours a day.
Also we can have different packages, and we can start printing the monthly e-zine.
There is only about 300 active member may be more. we could have a very solid thing going.
also If there is a member that does not have cash for the monthly fee, there could be an option of a Godfather member paying his monthly membership and for being so nice they will pay less? etc.
Funding could go to the servers, printing the ezine, homebrew projects, and We could probably fund our own Game expo.
But is that really what we want?
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
^^^ On the monthly fee... it doesn't need to be a potentially prohibitive amount to work. I suspect even a $1/mo fee would deter the majority of users from participating in those sections of the forum, just due to having to deal with the inconvenience.
But is that really what we want?
People end up donating that anyways. SO I wouldnt mind honestly
Originally posted by: daywalker2k2
Money should not even be in there..I think it would make people a little iffy..About joining with us..I think it should be the way it is. If the site needs money then people can donate, but let's not force people to pay!!
Well we would be forcing the people to make an account of 30-90 days and make a # of posts to be able to see the rest of the site.
time is money
whatever is good for me.
All I ask is we limit what guests(lurkers) can see. At the least make someone register before they can prowl, and if the other temporary locks(either) can work, that would be a bonus.
I'll say though on the fee thing, it's a nice idea in practice, but it will drive a lot of people just not to bother buying and/or selling depending how that would be set up.
pay 1-10 bucks a month to sell all your stuff
or pay ebay like 12% for every single thing you sell.
Like I said, The subscription can have other features, NA could grow bigger like have a youtube channel. Expos and cons.
and all would be kept out for lurkers. I see about 3-6 "Hi im new" "been lurking for a while but i decided to join"
every day.
This is a cool site, and it deserves to be kept out of people with bad intentions.
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
Originally posted by: Ferris Bueller
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
Originally posted by: Mog
Responsible for all the price increases? My, don't we have some big egos. Lets hide all of our top secret info so no one can see it!
No kidding. I suspect that the perception of some differs dramatically from the reality.
Someone comes on here, mentions some rare item they just got or need a price check on, the next few months see a price spike in said item on ebay. I fully believe this is happening.
Key words... "some rare item". The thing was very likely already on the way up, given the current general enthusiasm for retro and vintage games.
I think a lot of people are getting correlation confused with causation.
Also, restricting access to the forums is probably cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I'm willing to wager that if any of these suggestions get put into place, it honestly won't make the slightest difference. There's more retro communities out there besides NA, regardless of which site/community is better.
All of you people who think NA's posts are responsible for price hikes, do yourselves a favor and go to Google, and search "retro video game forums". Guess which site doesn't pop up on the first 3 pages. NintendoAge. It shows up on page 4 due to a thread that has similar keywords. On the first page, however, is DP, AtariAge, RetroGamer, etc. Most people, unless they're doing some hardcore research, won't find NintendoAge first, especially without it being on the first few pages with a phrase like that.
Hell, even "Nintendo Forums" doesn't yeild NA on the first page. Quit being silly.
ETA:
Search for "Next rare retro video game", "next rare nintendo game", etc. Same results. Sure, we get a lot of lurkers, and as much as I love NA, we're not the be all, end all on video games here. Just because one or 2 people speculate that a game will be rare doesn't dramatically affect the current prices.
By the way, Faxanadu is going to be the next hot item, so you should all grab a few extra copies.
Originally posted by: pichichi010
but tanooki, imagine,
pay 1-10 bucks a month to sell all your stuff
or pay ebay like 12% for every single thing you sell.
Like I said, The subscription can have other features, NA could grow bigger like have a youtube channel. Expos and cons.
and all would be kept out for lurkers. I see about 3-6 "Hi im new" "been lurking for a while but i decided to join"
every day.
This is a cool site, and it deserves to be kept out of people with bad intentions.
I imagine fine. But it's the same reason why I like gamegavel but I won't sell on it, userbase. I'd take the larger cut from ebay to get more exposure, plus in general on here people want less than ebay plus less the ebay cut too so it isn't really a factor.
I do agree it's a nice site and problem types trying to game the system here should be shown the door.