(06-28-2015, 01:57 PM)ryanmo5 Wrote: I don't think he was being rude at all, sounds like your just being a little too sensitive. I've completed 20 trades this month and have over 600 total since I've been here and I haven't had any problems making trades here whatsoever. Granted when I ask for trades in the open forum the responses I get are considerably less than before but then again my trade bait is less than stellar. I find that I have to actively seek out trades much more these days, but honestly that works out better for me. I don't have to sift through offers I'm not really interested in i can just go after what I really wanna trade for. Your right about beckett for sure though the site has lost a ton of people with having to pay for the org. I'm not sure if there's anything they can do at this point, they chased away so many regulars! I do think however that the constant complaints in the open forum are a big negative as well, people tend to shy away from negativity.
A LOT of good points here. The trades are there if you seek them out. There are a lot of people that are passively active on the site now. They might not be actively seeking deals or posting on the boards, but if you send them offers, they will respond and are willing to make deals.
Is it the same as it was? No, obviously it's not. But if you're willing to put in the "work" they're there. Like with anything, you get out of it what you put into it.
I feel that a lot of the guys on this site that have been around for more than 5 years could be great ambassadors of the hobby and excellent resources for new/returning collectors that stumble in.
But instead they focus on what's wrong with the website, what's wrong with the hobby, how bad Topps is, etc., etc., etc.
It's not going to go back to how it was - it's not going to be free again, it's likely not going to be sifting through page after page of trade offers and the boards aren't going to be overflowing all the time. The sooner everyone accepts that, the better.
Having said all of that, I do think it can shift back that way by doing some small things:
- Post some positive things from time to time. Not every negative thought that crosses your mind has to be shared. Why would anyone want to join or rejoin such a negative place?
- Be helpful to new members. Welcome them, answer or offer to answer any questions for them, offer suggestions for products without adding a negative statement to it (i.e. Topps sucks, but this is the least sucky of the bunch).
- Keep the drama off the boards ... if possible. If someone screws you over on a trade, by all means put it up for public consumption. If someone annoys you, send them a PM. (I'm guilty of this and also need to work on it.)
Sorry for the tangent, but these are all small things that are within our control to improve the boards and trading.
Fin.
