Milweb?

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

What's with Milweb? I go there occasionally to see what's up in the MV world and lately it seems to be very thin on listings and interspersed with adds for restoration services, etc.

Is this just Milweb or is Milweb indicative of what's going on on the MV market? Have all the trucks and jeeps and tanks found their forever homes or are they selling via another method? I expect there are fewer and fewer being restored which may or may not be fueling things.

[Robin Craig]

Bruce,

I think there are several factors at play. One major one is a shift by many to the realms of Facebook, that has been a big change. In fact I would odds that Hanno could show you a decline in users one here. I have even heard from many in Ontario statements like "i don't bother with MLU these days"

The big drawback is Facebook does no archive nearly as easily for us older folks.

Anyway, Milweb, I think the hobby is changing and it doesn't do fit with the younger kids.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Robin Craig

In fact I would odds that Hanno could show you a decline in users one here. I have even heard from many in Ontario statements like "i don't bother with MLU these days"

Members come and go but actually, the number of users is pretty stable - read more here: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...760#post271760

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

What's with Milweb? I go there occasionally to see what's up in the MV world and lately it seems to be very thin on listings and interspersed with adds for restoration services, etc.

Is this just Milweb or is Milweb indicative of what's going on on the MV market? Have all the trucks and jeeps and tanks found their forever homes or are they selling via another method? I expect there are fewer and fewer being restored which may or may not be fueling things.

Loads of free specialist facebook groups which have a much bigger international following for all sorts of stuff. I have found a huge number of parts via facebook, many I would never have found via Milweb. Stuff appears daily and often sells in minutes... and offers people the chance to chat about things too. A far more flexible environment that Milweb. I still look at Milweb as some stuff still goes there too.

[Terry Witiuk]

I agree with both Robin and Tim. Although Facebook has it's drawbacks and has had issues, it's very flexible, easy to use and has a greater appeal to all...especially those who do everything through their cell phone. Facebook marketplace has become very popular. The OMVA Facebook page/group has quickly surpassed 500 members and the Canadian Military Vehicles Facebook page/group has surpassed 5000 members.

[rob love]

I guess thats where I differ from today's user. I do my computer stuff on a computer, I take pictures with a camera, and I talk on my flip up phone. I use my truck's GPS for a map.

I recently joined one of the facebook pages, and while I peek on there to see whats new, I don't see myself becoming addicted to it any time soon. I far prefer this site where I can look at the accumulated knowledge and experience of the past 20 years, as opposed to seeing just the recent posts.

[Tim Bell]

I still prefer here to the MLU facebook page - the forum approach makes it far easier to categorise stuff and have technical discussions... and to review this later.

Facebook though gets a massive audience globally, lots of diggers and collectors who find MV stuff, but are not MV owners, so that is a great forum to look for stuff to buy and sell.

Tim

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

I agree with Rob and Tim I far prefer the approach and thought process of MLU to faceplant.

My opinion is that this old school approach of people using real names on MLU means people take time and think about what they are saying. Thus more accurate information, as people are making effort to help friends that may have known for years though we may never meet in person.

Cheers Phil

[Jordan Baker]

I’m heavily involved both here and on Facebook. I find both sites totally have their place in this hobby. I love this website and community built around it. There is such a fantastic amount of knowledge here both in old and new posts/threads. However Facebook has some fabulous very directed groups with some very good information sharing going on. One advantage I enjoy with Facebook is the ability for anyone to post in their native language and the reader can get an instant and reasonably accurate translation.

As mentioned by another, there are some great parts buy/sell pages. That’s how I found the original wire-3 seat risers. A seller in Italy posted them for sale, they went to Czech Republic and I was able to get them from there. Turns out the Czech buyer and his friend are infrequent members here

The positives of both places make for pretty great online experience with regards to the hobby. I don’t see them as competitors since they support the hobby in vastly different ways.