A board protocol/rule question

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Posted By: Bob S

Hi folks,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend.

Please forgive my forgetfulness, but I need a board rule clarification.

I know that if a board member is selling an item through eBay, other auction sites, or through B/S/T here at VBC, that that information should not be posted on the main board, but rather only on the B/S/T forum, under the proper subforum.

What I'm not sure of is this. If a member sees an auction, (which is not their's) with an item relevant to our board, must they also only post that on the B/S/T forum, or is it OK to post it on the main forum.

I think one of the reasons I'm unsure is that there may be exceptions made for reps of the major auction houses in regard to this issue.

Anyway, if someone can set me straight as to the rules on this, I'd be very grateful.

Best regards to all.

Bob

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Board etiquette is to not point out ebay auctions on here until it is over...unless of course the auction is fraudulent and a warning is being given. I'm not so sure about ongoing house auctions, but I personally would not point out one of those either until it was over.

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Posted By: Steve M.

if a poster wants to bring an auction item to the attention of the board and it is his item he should post it in the B/S/T.

If, on the other hand, a poster wants to let the board know that XYZ Auction House has a PSA 8 Ruth rookie in its auction and the poster is in no way affiliated with the auction house that it could be posted on the main board as an item of interest.

Finally, if an auction house wants to announce that it is on-line with its auction I think posting such information on the main board is appropriate and welcomed.

Finally, finally...I'm just a peon here so da Boss will have the final word.

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Posted By: Josh Adams

I have a similiar question.

Why is it "against board protocol" to post a link to an ongoing ebay auction?
Perhaps a prospective buyer wants opinions as to whether a certain card is authentic/trimmed, etc? I would think this board is specifically the place to post such questions.
Just wondering.

Thanks,
Josh

Go Go White Sox
2005 World Series Champions!

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Posted By: steve f

Josh,

Because there may be a board member who has a snipe in que. Any communication on the board can be picked by members and non-mbrs alike -raising the bids considerably. This site likely gets hundreds of hits per day.

Although I think the world of the guys here, I'd slit their throats if out-bidded



PS. If you win an auction that may be fraudulent, post the thing here AFTER closing and before paying. Otherwise, buy graded only.

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Posted By: Bob S

Guess i'm still not absolutely sure about my question, so maybe Leon will chime in and give the definitive rule.


Josh, is it true that a link to any ongoing auction cannot be posted, even on the B/S/T forum?

Thanks.

Bob

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Posted By: jay behrens

Part of the reason people don't want ongoing eBay auctions posted is that often times it is an item that might be poorly described or in the wrong catagory. People that spend the extra time to find stuff like this hate having exposed to the board. Some cards can also be hard to tell if they are legit or not. Those with intimate knowledge of the set will have better chance knowing it is real than others adn and they don't want it exposed on the board until after they've had a chance to profit from their knowledge.

Jay

I love pinatas. You get to beat the crap of something and get rewarded with candy.

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Posted By: leon

I try to let things "just flow" but sometimes they flow the wrong way...Here's some clarification and my views on some rules for the board.

1. I am always trying to help the hobby so if an auction house wants to come on the main board and advertise their auction, it's ok by me. Again, in moderation...I have never seen it be abused.

2. There is no rule, and will be no rule, against pointing out ebay auctions on the main forum, or providing a link to them. We have been over this before...but exposing an ongoing ebay auction is going to piss some folks off as they don't want the attention drawn to it....ie more bidders. I don't think it should be done but there is no rule against it.

3. It is NOT ok to advertise what you have for sale, privately or on ebay, on the main board. There are a few extraordinary occasions when it has been permitted but for the most part it's a no-no.

If there are more questions post them in this thread and I will answer them. My answers so far are consistent with how the board has been run the last year and a half.....

regards
moderator dude..


edited to say...btw, Steve F....this board does in fact get at least a few hundred hits a day here's this month until right now....

Fri, Sep 1..... 17,167
Sat, Sep 2..... 13,480
Sun, Sep 3..... 10,754
Mon, Sep 4..... 12,525
Tue, Sep 5..... 7,492

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Posted By: Steve M.

Leon:

Those hits can't possibly be unique hits, can they?????

If I am automatically logged off because, for example, I'm playing poker on line or have gone to the store with the missus, and then log back on, does that count as two "hits"?

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Posted By: barrysloate

Steve brings up a question I have- how do you stay permanently signed in? I log in every time I go on. What am I doing wrong? As far as discussing ongoing auctions I agree with Leon that you can't stop people from mentioning them but you won't make many friends on the board if you keep doing it. People spend hours a day scouring ebay for hidden values and one post will kill all their work. It is more an issue of courtesy than of right or wrong.

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Posted By: leon

Since you asked....the answer is no, those are total # of hits....I probably hit the site 50 times a day...and yes, I believe if you go out and come back that is 2 hits....Here are uniques for the month...been slow due to the holiday...generally, during the week we get 1000-1200....and if some folks login at work and home then that's 2 unique IP's. My guess is on an average weekday there are about 800-850 folks that visit our board...remember the 2nd,3rd, and 4th were holidays.....so those numbers would be very close to actual different people/IP's....

Fri, Sep 1.....1,081
Sat, Sep 2.....823
Sun, Sep 3.....804
Mon, Sep 4.....895
Tue, Sep 5.....743

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Posted By: Ben

Wow. With those #'s, it would appear as though only about 10% of the people viewing the site are actually posting.

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Posted By: Steve M.

impressive!

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Posted By: barrysloate

When talking to collectors I find that many of them feel intimidated and are afraid to post. They feel they don't know as much as the regular posters and will sound stupid. Hey, I post all the time and I'm as dumb as the next guy.

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Posted By: steve f

The silent majority have gotta be closet Jay B. fans!

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Posted By: Matt E

Hope this post is OK. What a bunch of crap this auction is.



http://cgi.ebay.com/old-baseball-autographs-cut-from-auto-books-and-letters_W0QQitemZ280023939743QQihZ018QQcategoryZ27 263QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

"honestly am unsre (sic) whos autographs they even are", yet he's sure enough to place a "Lou Gehrig" and what appears to be a "Babe Ruth" in a prominent position in his scan. Private auction, too.

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Posted By: dstudeba

And she was able to go to a baseball card dealer for her previous auction of a Piedmont Wagner......

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Posted By: Brian Goldner

Yes, there are many lurkers.
They don't post for a variety of reasons, i suppose.

I don't post often, but am also just as dumb as the next guy.

Not at all intimidated, but reserved.

I just find it more interesting, to listen to what others have to say.

BTW, it is difficult not to be a fan of Lee and Jay B.

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Posted By: DJ

I have a good feeling that eBay will catch this auction and kill it in no time.

DJ

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Posted By: John S

The only time I get upset at eBay auctions being posted prior to closing is when an item is listed improperly (in the wrong category, improperly spelled, etc.) and brought to the attention of others. That spoils the opportunity for a lucky or diligent individual to get a good deal on a card. Otherwise, I would have to believe that most of us scan the pre-1930 items daily. I cannot imagine anything listed in that category would receive much extra bidding simply by being mentioned on the board.

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Posted By: David Vargha

Barry, a lot of the readers of this board are afraid to post and feel that they appear foolish. I however, boldly go forth and post, thus removing all doubt.

DavidVargha@hotmail.com

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

I have to agree with the last two posts as reflecting my feelings as well.

ItIsCertainlyOnlyGil

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Posted By: dstudeba

Interesting, I was always under the impression that Vargha was one of those who was afraid to post on internet boards.

I agree that it stinks when someone outs an auction. I like finding buried auctions because then I only have to worry about Zach bidding.....

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Posted By: jay behrens

Geez, with all those unique IPs, guess I am not doing a very good job of scaring away people.

Jay

I love pinatas. You get to beat the crap of something and get rewarded with candy.

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Posted By: Joann

So according to Leon's numbers, the average unique ID hits the page about 15+ times per day. If we assume that the regulars hit it more often than lurkers, say ... 75% only hit it once, then that means the rest are somewhere around 50x per day. Yep - that sounds about right to me! lol. Actually, I hit the BST pretty frequently b/c I've lost some good cards being a few minutes late.

And I agree with John - if an ebay auction is mis-listed, then those that spend hour trolling for them have earned an advantage and it shouldn't be exposed here - not by rule but by a sense of consideration. But correctly described and listed should be fair game even while auction is underway.

Joann

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Posted By: Bob S

Sorry I'm so late getting back with my thanks, but, I can tell you that the day after a major holiday is the wrong day to make a doctors' appointment. I made it several weeks ago, and forgot about Labor Day. I had a nearly 3 hour wait after my scheduled visit time, and am just now settling in to do a bit of cyber "work".

Thanks, again. Courtesy is the watchword, as it always should be.

Bob

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