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Post by josef on Jun 17, 2024 14:44:02 GMT
Personally, I would like to see more activity on our BUY and Sell portion. I have seen some great items here dor sale and its free to sell here compared to E Bay.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Jun 17, 2024 15:27:15 GMT
Personally, I would like to see more activity on our BUY and Sell portion. I have seen some great items here dor sale and it's free to sell here compared to E Bay. Exactly the point. The question is how to make the OGF Marketplace more robust/attractive to both buyers and sellers. Perhaps it starts with a simple name change for the thread. It all begins with the presentation/perception.
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Post by superwarp1 on Jun 17, 2024 15:39:10 GMT
Personally, I would like to see more activity on our BUY and Sell portion. I have seen some great items here dor sale and its free to sell here compared to E Bay. Yes would love to see the buy/sell board here expand. I've tried in the past to sell things here and have had no luck but I'll keep trying. Not that I can use the other forum anymore. 
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Post by josef on Jun 17, 2024 15:42:26 GMT
Personally, I would like to see more activity on our BUY and Sell portion. I have seen some great items here dor sale and it's free to sell here compared to E Bay. Exactly the point. The question is how to make the OGF Marketplace more robust/attractive to both buyers and sellers. Perhaps it starts with a simple name change for the thread. It all begins with the presentation/perception. Personally, I would like to see it moved to top of this page and kept there and once items are confirmed sold by seller, delete it. Not many may know its a seperate part. Myself, I only check it once a day. Those that aren't member, will see this activity and might join with no hassle. Just join and be a part of the Forum. I will say, that other Forums of a Military or Flight Aviation do require a minimum of 10 post before they can sell. This is just to keep the riff raffs out and get to know a member.
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Post by david1 on Jun 17, 2024 17:20:16 GMT
Exactly the point. The question is how to make the OGF Marketplace more robust/attractive to both buyers and sellers. Perhaps it starts with a simple name change for the thread. It all begins with the presentation/perception. Personally, I would like to see it moved to top of this page and kept there and once items are confirmed sold by seller, delete it. Not many may know its a seperate part. Myself, I only check it once a day. Those that aren't member, will see this activity and might join with no hassle. Just join and be a part of the Forum. I will say, that other Forums of a Military or Flight Aviation do require a minimum of 10 post before they can sell. This is just to keep the riff raffs out and get to know a member. That's a great idea, putting it on the main page and keeping it there would definitely help to get more eyes on it and hopefully some more sales. The ten post limit to use the FS thread will also get to know some people and keep some scammers away, its a thought. Dave
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Post by rtraincollector on Jun 17, 2024 17:30:42 GMT
I to have listed on here with maybe one results if that, can't remember exactly. I would love to see it moved and a sticky placed on it, for hopefully more traffic that way.
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Post by redjimmy1955 on Jun 17, 2024 18:47:12 GMT
Methinks that after a few/several OGR members get perturbed enough, they'll be coming over to this forum to use the buy/sell feature! They won't be making money by irritating and the losing customers. I like it here!
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Post by rockymountaineer on Jun 17, 2024 19:17:49 GMT
Folks... I'm not sure what to say about buy/sell activity on forums in general these days. I do know that I posted a "Virtual Bandit Meet" thread for the April 2024 York show, and the thread got a whopping 178 VIEWS as of TODAY... which is roughly 2 month's time. To be perfectly blunt... that is PITIFUL.
Now I suppose it's possible folks here don't know what a "bandit meet" is/was in the York heydays. But back in 2012 when I first started the concept of an online "virtual bandit meet" thread with 2 or 3 dozen items for sale over on the other forum, I probably saw 100+ views on the thread WITH THE FIRST HOUR OF POSTING IT... many of which resulted in interested parties responding either directly on the thread or through emails. Those were the days, indeed. A lot has changed over on that forum now too... so even now I wouldn't expect the level of buyer enthusiasm there once was 10+ years ago... unless you're selling at fire-sale prices. Too many sellers posted their wares... and many would drop prices DAILY if things didn't sell, which in essence conditioned potential buyers to wait before expressing interest.
But here on OGF, I can't even say THAT's the problem here -- especially not when you can't even get a couple hundred VIEWS in 2 MONTHS!!!!
While I haven't written off selling thru online forums completely, I won't hesitate to say that selling here just doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. It takes times to organize a large "for-sale" list... takes even more time to photograph the items... and then create a nicely formatted for-sale listing that catches buyers' eyes. I'm just being honest. I'd rather just sell at Allentown ATMA, and enjoy a MUCH higher return on my time.
Just keeping it real, folks. Although I'd still hope we can drum up better interest in selling here on the OGF. But getting visibility to our buy/sell thread might be half the battle -- especially for new members.
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Post by rtraincollector on Jun 17, 2024 20:31:22 GMT
Rocky some of us ( me included ) can't do shows because of distance. or the final outcome to do so. ( food, lodging, gas, and cost to rent tables. ( not sure where you are but here a 3' x 6' table is $40 ( to get a decent revenue you need 4 tables + )
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Post by rockymountaineer on Jun 17, 2024 23:19:02 GMT
Rocky some of us ( me included ) can't do shows because of distance. or the final outcome to do so. ( food, lodging, gas, and cost to rent tables. ( not sure where you are but here a 3' x 6' table is $40 ( to get a decent revenue you need 4 tables + ) To be clear… I’m not in business to sell trains — just thinning out the herd as the saying goes. So I can afford to be very selective which shows I attend. Allentown ATMA works best for me… as I live in southeastern PA. And Allentown draws a GREAT crowd for a 2-day show. But it’s a major investment for a casual seller. Tables are $75-$90 each, and I usually configure a U-shaped, 3-table arrangement. Then there’s a 9-ft U-Haul cargo van to rent for the weekend too. However, even with all those expenses, I still prefer selling at Allentown vs. selling via forum buy/sell posts these days. It’s a lot of physical work though. But usually worth the effort. And it’s great to reconnect with folks in the business as well as fellow enthusiasts! |
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Post by JDaddy on Jun 18, 2024 0:26:27 GMT
It will take time to get the For-Sale Forum going. It's not going to happen overnight. Here are some ideas: Need to advertise - Pick a social media / Facebook / YouTube/ Ebay / link the details back to OGF. Anyone have some junk box items? List them here Free to good home just pay shipping! those are deals that will keep people coming back link in Hobby shop sales / discounts / Holiday sales / Custom run announcements/ photos of what's in you Hobby shops case that is on sale! Maybe you have a friend that is selling off some items - list them here Also list items people are looking for... WTB post are important too. If I see someone is looking for something I have, I will dig through by boxes to find it. Lastly, allot of foot traffic is obtained through NEW product reviews. Post something you bought new or used and note which hobby shop you bought it at, or possibly it was at a flea market or train show. Only reap what you sow. It takes time for a good forum to grow! sounds like a catchy rock tune   |
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Post by firewood on Jun 18, 2024 16:01:00 GMT
I found the site largely unusable after they moved the search-function behind the subscriber/member curtain as well. There is always a way. Say you want to know more about installing Kadee couplers. Go to google Type "OGR Forum Install Kadee Couplers" Pick one of the choices provide It's takes to that thread without signing in Yes, I’ve always used Google as it’s a more effective search engine than most website/forum searches. I find it hilarious that sites that try to keep a closed-shop subscription format are still wide open to a well-worded Google search. The info is out there!
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Post by trainman9 on Jun 18, 2024 16:06:17 GMT
One thing I have noticed over the years is that most of the posters on the buy sell sections are not participating or providing any other input over there except to post stuff for sale. One individual is selling so much stuff that he is a defacto dealer.
When I was a member I tried to post solutions to issues that people had. I was well versed in the Lionel command systems and also part of the TMCC demo group. Unfortunately in many instances I was overshadowed by one individual know it all and I stopped providing any help. While I did sell some items from time to time I found that unless the items were heavily discounted they did not sell. I’ve had the same experience here when I posted items for sale. I guess it’s just human nature.
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Jun 18, 2024 16:16:22 GMT
One thing I have noticed over the years is that most of the posters on the buy sell sections are not participating or providing any other input over there except to post stuff for sale. One individual is selling so much stuff that he is a defacto dealer.
When I was a member I tried to post solutions to issues that people had. I was well versed in the Lionel command systems and also part of the TMCC demo group. Unfortunately in many instances I was overshadowed by one individual know it all and I stopped providing any help. While I did sell some items from time to time I found that unless the items were heavily discounted they did not sell. I’ve had the same experience here when I posted items for sale. I guess it’s just human nature. Well, yes, IME that *is* just human nature, to use resources in a manner that seems best to each participant. Some of us enjoy extending a helping hand when needed, while others have little to contribute or are attracted to other benefits. Forums are IMHO a great resource and an opportunity to share hard-won lessons and fellowship with others, but if some just want to conduct their business, that's also fine with me, as long as it doesn't interfere with my participation. Live and let live is a pretty good all-purpose motto IMO . . . 
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Post by JDaddy on Jun 18, 2024 16:22:18 GMT
If I find trains on the cheep or handed to me. I don't mind passing along the deal. I have not constructed my layout yet, but when I do I am going to post items at a price ' that I really don't want to see them again' number.
I figure if I can pass the hobby on to someone else then my job here is done.
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