Buy, Sell or Trade access via log-in only?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Stuart Fedak

I have just noticed that the Buy, Sell or Trade section seems to only be available when you log-in with user name and password. Just wondering if this was done to keep non-MLU types out of the listings, or to encourage registration with user names? I had some of the local Ottawa Historic Military Vehicle owners, who were denied access to MLU in the past, ask why they could no longer see the Buy, Sell or Trade postings.

Stuart,

I have been adjusting some of the Forum settings, will check.

Re. "denied access": no genuinely interested HMV owner has ever been denied access to MLU. Yes, we have had big problems with registration, but self-registration has now been reinstated - see MLU Forum open for registration. Please forward the link to your friendly local HMV owners and invite them to sign up (with their real name!). We would be happy to welcome them.

Regards,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I have been adjusting some of the Forum settings, will check.

Settings for all sub-forums are now the same, so all sub-forums can be viewed by visitors.

Question remains if we want to Unregistered / Not Logged In users (=visitors) to view everything:
1) Currently the main differentiation between Registered and Unregistered users is that Unregistered users cannot open the thumbnail pictures to see the full size picture. That is often a reason why people want to join.
2) Other forums do not even show the thumbnails to Unregistered users.
3) Third option is to show nothing to Unregistered users.

Personally, I would prefer option 2) for all sub-forums. Option 3) has the downside that visitors cannot see anything, thus they cannot assess if there is anything of interest to join.

I would like to line up our opinions about this first before we move to other subjects, so can I have your input please?

H.

[Wayne Hingley]

I agree with "Option 2" setup.

[Eric R.]

I would say the option with smaller pics and no access to buy/sell/trade for non-members is best now that the registration is fixed.

[Bob Carriere]

I agree with Eric.

Cheers

[Marc van Aalderen]

I agree with Eric and Bob C.

Originally Posted by Eric R.

I would say the option with smaller pics and no access to buy/sell/trade for non-members is best now that the registration is fixed.

Cheers,

[Private_collector]

Same goes for me, too!

I don't really mind non members seeing what is written, or the thumbnails. I took a good long look at WHAT was in the content before I joined. I do not want this site to be access all areas with regards to ability to post, regardless of membership or not. We will, I fear, be easy prey for the one hit wonders to post something stupid or fraudulent then disappear back into anonymity. This is the issue with many of the no-membership places on the internet. Those of us who took the time to register and remain, would very quickly get discouraged from staying in touch with each other.

Too many things have been amended in the name of progress, only to discover at later date that it was a really dumb idea. Very difficult to reverse something, more often than not! Is it really such a big ask for someone to take the few minutes to join, before they expect to be able to contribute themselves? Not a problem now that membership is now easy to do, is it? Do we expect to receive access to any associations, clubs, professional bodies, etc, without joining that group officially? Try getting the discounts from a store without joining their 'loyalty' system. Try getting a road breakdown service provider to come fix your car for free without becoming a member.

Leave things be, I say. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In my opinion, it ain't broke!

[gordon]

Originally Posted by Marc van Aalderen

I agree with Eric and Bob C.

Cheers,

Gets my vote too.

Gordon

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for your input, will get back on this later as I have just spent most of the evening banning spammers - they sign up in far greater numbers than real enthusiasts!

Hanno

[rob love]

Make a subforum for them, and they can sell each other viagra, and get rich helping Jamican bureaucrats get their millions out of Jamica, or sending each other fake invoices.

Another option is to allow new members only upon reference of an existing member. Applicant would list who his reference is. Mod would have to PM the existing member to confirm and upon favorable response would then grant the applicant membership, at which time the applicant would head on over to the "introductions" section to tell a bit about himself and his interests. Actually, all that sounds kind of complicated. Must be all those years of military training that has made me acceptable of BS.

[rob love]

Stuart

Great points. But in the end, the band width isn't free, and opening up everything to everyone will be costly. As well, there are those fraudsters who love trolling and harvesting the interent, and count on the distance and different jurisdictions to keep them safe from retribution. It is kind of nice that we have a forum with no diet pill or viagra scammers popping up (although with the advanced age of most of us, the latter might be welcome eventually, and I know I could use the diet pills).

I believe option 2 is best, as a happy medium to both sides. Current google searches bring up the photos from the forum, which will draw those with interest to the site. Since sign-up is now working again, those that want in can get in with reasonable effort.

[hrpearce]

Option 1 works for me.

[Lynn Eades]

Rob has about summed up my views.