What would you like to see in a site geared toward online trading and seller ratings?

Gamers Abyss and I have been going back and forth over his idea to set up a site where buyers, sellers, traders, etc. could go to post comments on one another and rate their experiences.

Much in the vein of Heatware, which focuses primarily on computers and software, our site would serve as a resource to people who buy, sell, and trade game consoles, games, and arcade merchandise, making online trading safer for everyone.

I've volunteered to build the site, and Gamers Abyss has volunteered his years of experience in the business, so what we need now are more ideas on what would make the site really useful. I suggested incorporating a tips section, so people could write articles advising newbies on the fine art of online dealing (much like the excellent advice Gamers Abyss provided on how to deal with a bad seller who refuses to cough up the merchandise after you've paid).

We'd like your opinion on what we could offer that would make the site truly valuable. What features/services would you like to see in such a site?

Yeah guys come on and give us your input. We are tired of our community being destroyed by theifs and we are determined to put an end to this and make it stop!! Years ago my wife use to breed Exotic Cats, Mountain Lions, Bobcats ect. (we still have 1 Bobcat <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">) and there was a wildlife Blacklist of people all over the US that were selling animals illegally. This was very useful and it gave everyone a chance to see just who was doing business on the up and up.

Both parties could plead thier case and you as the consumer could be the judge. My wife and I watch these boards often and it really did save us a couple of times from getting burned.

For instance one time my wife posted a wanted Ad to buy a Breeder pair of Lynx. We were contacted by an individual about a pair and thought seriously about sending payment. We decided to check the Blacklist before we did and came to find out this guy was taking money and not sending the Animals.

Needless to say I think this sort of list would help us all and make people think twice before ripping someone off. Well any suggestions you have will be appreciated. Thanks....Sonny.

This is sort of out there, but maybe we can get people to contribute money to a fund for legal services to start legal action against these dead beats under a class action of some sort. Just a thought!

Some way of to check that a transaction actually took place, so we do not wind up with a bunch of wankers making free e-mail accounts and building up their own ratings with deals that never happened.

Here are some things I'm thinking about.

First, you must have an account to post anything. People can't post anything without setting up a membership.

Second, I'd like to ban free e-mail addresses. No hotmail, no yahoo, none of that crap. ISP-based e-mail only. People who own their own domains can get around this since they can set up infinite addresses, but banning freemail will go a long way in keeping people from registering multiple accounts.

I'm also considering requiring full real names and addresses for each registered member, which would be kept confidential unless requested by the authorities to investigate possible fraud, for example. No person should really fear having their name and address on file with us unless they have something to hide. I know how people feel about handing out that type of info though, so I don't know about it yet.

Since the majority of transactions will occur between two private individuals, there's no real record of the transaction. That makes it pretty much impossible to prove that it ever took place (or that it didn't take place).

Unfortunately, the reason forums still have problems with people setting up multiple accounts is because there's no real way to prevent it. You can take certain measures like those outlined above, you can track IPs, ISPs, drop cookies, whatever, but it's impossible to stop people from registering bogus accounts. If the world were perfect, we'd all have static IP addresses, and the problem would be solved. That's not the case though, so the best we can do is keep our eyes open for suspicious behavior and try to catch them in the act.

Why not opening a section in this site/these forums?!?
We're the largest Neo community on the net...

I definitely agree with dropping all free e-mail providers. Let them use a real one. Hell, I wish we did it here.

This sounds like a real cool idea, I'm all for it! I'm sick of all that shit that goes on out there.. If you ever need any spare space, you can get with me because I too host my own webserver. Thumbs up!

I agree that would be nice, in order to join the site, you have to give your mailing address, in which you could sign a binding document. Have a phone number to call them to make sure everything is legit. Sure, this can all be bypassed, but the point is to make it as hard and annoying as you can to prevent thieves from just walking in and stealing somebody's shit. It sounds like a lot of work, right? but it's indeed worth it, I believe. To know that each and everyone of the people on the site has been went through thoroughly would ease my concience at least a little bit.

[ January 05, 2002: Message edited by: SonGohan ]

Bio we are hoping to get a link from Shawn on this site. I plan to ask everyone to link the site and give thier support. Thirdkind and I are dedicated to making this work and making the gaming community a safer place to trade. This board is one of my main concerns because I do almost all of my trading, buying and selling from it. Because of this board I havent had to use ebay in months. I am thankful for this service and I think it is time we give something back.

As of late I have seen an increasing number of people getting ripped off right here in our own backyard!! This will ruin the trade market on this board and will do it quick if someone doesnt step in and take some sort of action. I know Shawn has his own business to run and basiclly provides the board as a free service to his members to do thier trades. We cant expect him to do it all folks, run a huge Neo board, his own store, ect.

This is something we need to do for ourselves. I invite everyone to give a helping hand.

How would you set up the list? How would you be sure that the person reporting the transaction isn't lying or just trying to flame someone? Or just to be sure that the reporting person is OVER exaggerating? Would you have a form on the site so people could update their transaction experiences? Or would you have them send by email and someone could review the transaction?


I'd like to do this... I was thinking about starting up a section on my website....called "you've been tagged" or something to that extreme in which it the same ideas you guys are talking about. I have dealt with only 2 bad buyer/seller. but I lost a lot in the last transaction.
If i can help.. I will.

D†W†W :hat

totally awsome idea i think that would be awsome. latly there has been soo much fraud i cant wait, i woudl definatly contribute all that i can ne thing u guys need if i can help out i will. good luck and keep us all posted!

Originally posted by Bluevoodu:
<STRONG>How would you set up the list? How would you be sure that the person reporting the transaction isn't lying or just trying to flame someone? Or just to be sure that the reporting person is OVER exaggerating? Would you have a form on the site so people could update their transaction experiences? Or would you have them send by email and someone could review the transaction?


I'd like to do this... I was thinking about starting up a section on my website....called "you've been tagged" or something to that extreme in which it the same ideas you guys are talking about. I have dealt with only 2 bad buyer/seller. but I lost a lot in the last transaction.
If i can help.. I will.

D†W†W :hat</STRONG>

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Just like people post good buyer/seller/trader posts in the forums here, they'd do it on our site as well. How can we write to someone and say, "Geez, your comment on seller XYZ seemed a bit overzealous. Could you tone it down a bit?" We have to rely on the person leaving the comment to be accurate.

How do you feel about somehow coordinating all transactions through the site itself? All messages between buyer and seller must be posted through the site's engine, and users get e-mail notifications when they receive responses, much like PMs work here. That way, entire transactions are catalogued for moderator review should a dispute ever arise. It would also make it a real pain in the ass for someone who set up two bogus accounts to fake a bunch of transactions.

Of course, this would add a slight delay to the communication process, and members might also take issue with us storing all communication between buyer and seller. It would be confidential naturally, but it's still enough to put some people off.

Originally posted by Bluevoodu:
<STRONG>How would you set up the list? How would you be sure that the person reporting the transaction isn't lying or just trying to flame someone? Or just to be sure that the reporting person is OVER exaggerating?

D†W†W :hat</STRONG>

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I was thinking about that also, there is always the chance people will pop up claiming things that didn't happen, or people trying to "kill off the competition".


It happens in E-bay all the time, people just straight-out lying. Also I don't think I personally would trust Thirdkind with a project of this magnitude, I have seen him fighting with board members, even telling off some guy for not buying his stuff, not very professional, well that's my opinion.

[ January 05, 2002: Message edited by: Devilman78 ]

Originally posted by Devilman78:
<STRONG>It happens in E-bay all the time, people just straight-out lying. Also I don't think I personally would trust Thirdkind with a project of this magnitude, I have seen him fighting with board members, even telling off some guy for not buying his stuff, not very professional, well that's my opinion.

[ January 05, 2002: Message edited by: Devilman78 ]</STRONG>

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I never told anyone off for not buying my stuff. You can see that if you simply read the post. I got angry when he jumped in afterward and started getting in my face about something that had absolutely nothing to do with the sale. That's when the harsh words were exchanged. He interrupted a legitimate selling topic with a flame. I feel completely justified in replying to rugal2000 with the posts that I did. It was a stupid flame war, and it's over. Even though you don't seem to have been here very long (neither have I), you are entitled to your opinion, and you are free not to participate in this venture when it comes to fruition.

The only other member I had differences with was Fran, and that was over our opinion on the prices of home carts. Another stupid flame war that is now over.

I build web sites for a living. I may have my differences with members here, but anything that will reflect upon my professional reputation is handled with the utmost respect and confidentiality. My livelihood depends upon it.

The goal here is to build a safe place for everyone to trade, including Fran and rugal2000.

I love your picture! devilman, that is hilarious!

D†W†W :hat <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by Bluevoodu:
<STRONG>I love your picture! devilman, that is hilarious!

D†W†W :hat <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

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If you think that is funny, you might enjoy this;
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/devilman78/__sig/YANO.jpg

<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Yeah, that is funny too
D†W†W :hat

Hey lets face it, who hasnt been in a flame war here? I been into it with Bobak, Shawn, Tonk, Evilwasabi, Rade, Metal SLug, TOOL, man this is a seriously long list, must I go on?...LOL

The fact is me and some of the guys may have had our differences in the past but that is just opinions. This issue goes to the core of what Gamers Abyss really stands for, right and wrong, good vs. evil.

Yeah I have faught with the best of them but in no way would I ever want to see any of them get taken to the cleaners and I am sure they all feel the same way about me.

I have forsaken all of my grudges on this board and I am trying to do something possitive here. The past is the past.

Just because I fought with somebody in the past means nothing. If someone tries to rip them off I will fight just as hard for them as I would my best friend.