Selling on bst now

[jschwarb]

Sorry about the bars, man. I know the feeling. As I've shared here before, I became "BST Banned" despite being a regular seller with perfect feedback that made a ton of guys happy by selling brand new stuff for well under retail. Which is kinda what you want out of a BST board. So I got put in the penalty box forever while riffraff continue to populate the place and the overall selection of merchandise, in my opinion, isn't as attractive.

[GoIrish17]

My post wasn’t regarding the bars. My bars have nothing to do with BST, and my question wasn’t a personal experience. I just wanted to know for future reference - I thought if a buyer cancelled a sale or returned an item, it could be re-listed immediately.

[brkuck]

I haven't listed anything on here in a while, but the comments are about the same. People have been getting fed up with the changes, but I don't own the site so they are free to change what they want. Ive been here since 2008 and have definitely seen the changes, both good and bad. I think the worst has been with the BST. I would take posts as feedback when selling and be careful who I do business with. It sucks, but it seems like the safest option. I will admit that the amount of people that have been tire kickers seems to be going up and up, but there have been more and more posts with people putting things for sale that are nothing special as far as deals. Over the years, there were ideas floated around for the BST to be a post minimum plus a monetary buy-in to participate or a yearly fee has been floated on the boards, but nothing came of it. The mods and owners seem to believe that they want this site to be ran this way and I guess we all have a choice in the matter. It takes money to run a site and therefore, we have sponsors and ads. We can chose not to come on here and go other places. Personally, it won't stop me from coming on and enjoying the conversations and the new threads.

 

 

[Unteachable]

Generally speaking, if someone reaches out to a moderator they can get approval to either relist or have the old ad re-opened. I spent about a year as a BST volunteer mod (it disappeared when the software change happened even though it still shows up under my profile) so I see things from a totally different side than many. I did it only because I felt like I got so much out of the site that I wanted to give back a little but I hated it with a passion because it was almost always the same people breaking the same rules over and over again. I never bought or sold anything on here either. I was quite relieved when my moderator functions didn't work anymore after the "upgrade".

What I would tell you is to tag gx and easyy in as many of these threads or threads in the help section so they actually get an alert to see them. Then maybe we all can get some answers to these questions. I can also tell you that the people who moderate the BST are normal people with regular jobs/lives. What some see as selective moderation usually is not. There were times when days would go by when no ads got reviewed because we all had lives outside the website. A lot of listings are pulled from reports from other members and sometimes ads were reviewed at random. Even though there was a long list of moderators, it usually was very few people who ever did any ad reviewing.

The feedback thing taking over a year now is squarely on the site owners and vanilla, not any moderator. I would guess the amount of clicks the bst generates is the reason it is still around because it seemed to be the biggest headache you could possibly imagine when you spend just a small amount of time on the other side. I hope, for the members that use the bst, that they are working on a feedback fix because its vital to the long term health of that portion of the site. But, you have to remember, after the software change, we (the members and mods and presumably the site owners) were told it would be back in 3 weeks, then June, then August, then another month, etc. If enough people quit clicking on the classifieds, something will probably change, but as many of you know, it gets the most views of any part of the site, it's free, and there is a very very large group of members that are on this site solely for the BST and never read these threads.

There are parts of this website that are still fantastic sources of information though, and I still enjoy it so much.

Seeing things from the other side of the fence for a year makes me enjoy being a normal member MORE now

[larciel]

That site has Old layout of WRX!

 

I can't believe it's been more than a year since the 'UPGRADE' was done. I'm a marketing/sales consultant and I've met so many clients/companies that just do not 'get it' about customer experience. Reason Amazon is the king of eCommerce is mainly because they make everything about customer's ease of use. Whether it's using their website on PC or mobile, app. Returns are easy. And most important of all, they LISTEN to customer.

I've been suggesting and giving feedbacks on errors on WRX early days of Upgrade and it's never been met with "Thank you, we'll work on it" , It always has been "This is best we can do FOR NOW" "Wait and it will be improved"

I gave up and rarely came to WRX but there is no alternative site I can find!!

I know this is a free site so the owners pretty much can do whatever they want without much pushback. But couldn't they at least make people here feel welcome?

 

And frankly, the website function has been so far no problem. Improvement from older site include, easier to upload pictures, quote function is better.

but why they can't bring back BST feedback for such a long time is totally mindblowing.

 

[Shilgy]

Lol, I had to check if you posted this on April Fools. There is about one post from 2020 and the News tab is from 2017.

 

Yep, you can do the child’s “made ya look” at us.

[third-times-a-charm]

lol try making a 'site suggestion' in the Website Help forum

[LeftyMatt24]

There are so many individuals who simply write. Sweet stick GLWS to hit their 75 posts. I got back into golf a few years back and love understanding more about shafts, different clubs etc that this site is helpful with. I Typically get extremely low balled and am forced to sell on eBay.

[GoIrish17]

I’d rather this than the members that join today, pay today, sell/buy today. At least over the course of making 75 token posts, they’re getting a feel for how the site works, the “vibe”, what is considered “ok” and “not ok” here. The “rules” beyond the rules, so to speak. Kind of like baseball’s unwritten rules.

 

Who knows? New members here only for the BST may actually become a contributing member over the course of accumulating 75 posts? I know that’s where I started 8+ years ago... I was a lurker, I finally saw something on BST I wanted, I created an account. The rest is history.

 

Those that join, pay, and have no use for the site other than the BST have no use for the place other than as another spot to buy golf stuff from other than from eBay. The non-posting members only here for BST are a low rent, flea market mentality group used to operating on Facebook groups, Craigslist, and the like, where bully tactics, misleading/inaccurate descriptions, and outright dishonesty are the norm. Impersonal, “me first”, inconsiderate, selfish, and rude are what they bring to the table.

 

The problem is, new members, site views, clicks... whatever metrics sell advertising, seem to be the motivating factors these days, rather than a quality site with solid members. Lots of bells and whistles framed as improvements, but it sure doesn’t seem like many folks’ experiences here have improved. This site has changed from the best golf forum on the web, to the best advertising platform disguised as a golf forum on the web. The times, they are a changin’.

 

*edit - Also, those lame GLWS comments in BST listings (or any comment in BST) didn’t used to count towards post count. Has that changed?

[awtryau89]

I look at this subjectively. I still list often on the BST but always list on eBay at the same time. I factor in Ebay fees with my prices to hit my desired numbers. On the BST I list it a decent amount lower but I have it in my mind that I'm going to push away any low ballers or idiots. About 80% of the time, the item sells on Ebay. If I get an interested buyer on here, I check their posts out and see how active they truly are. The word has definitely gotten out about our BST and there are many folks on here that don't belong. I have run into my fair share and even posted a few times about deals I just didn't think were right. I have had to refund a few deals and I have had members very angry at me for selling items out from under them for slow pay. That's where it gets tough for me because you get so many people asking for your PayPal and then nothing. So I just offer it and whoever pays first gets it. I understand there are extenuating circumstances sometimes but with so many flakes, its just a part of the game. Overall I just try to be careful and communicate well.

[GoIrish17]

I don’t understand this comment, care to expound?

[Olde Maroon]

I assume that he is laughing at/mocking the idea that making a suggestion will do anything at all. At least, that's how I took it.

[GoIrish17]

I think that’s part of the problem here with site feedback - people are afraid of repercussions, so they veil their criticism rather than putting it out there plainly.

[third-times-a-charm]

Yeah correct sorry now that I re-read my post it is open to interpretation. Also if your suggestion has anything to do with moderation, it will be mocked by said mods for reasons.

[GoIrish17]

Anytime meaningful conversations come up, it’s only a matter of time until a certain Superman pops in to wag a finger and explain that it’s his sandbox.

[Olde Maroon]

I completely agree. As you likely know, I am very direct about my feedback, criticism, and suggestions. That directness has been met every single time with deflection, mockery, dismissal, and rebuke. To that end, the owners/mods have been successful at keeping people like me from trying to help make this place the best community it can be. It is a sad state of affairs.

[Rapatt95]

-ain’t no one caring about Pennsylvania golf

 

easy there bucko, them there’s fighting words these last few weeks!

[jblough99]

To answer your question, I recently had a set of iron shafts posted here and eBay, ended up selling on eBay, closed the ad here, few days later the eBay buyer still hadn’t paid and ended up backing out on the deal. Contacted a mod here about reposting and was told I couldn’t relist for 30 days, I shouldn’t have closed the ad until I received payment, and the only accepted situation where I could relist prior to 30 days was if the item had sold/shipped and then the buyer returned it.

[SubaruWRX]

Seriously? What’s the difference if it sold/shipped/returned or if the buyer backed out last minute? Either way, the sale wasn’t concluded and the very same item still needs to be sold. I don’t get it.

[GoIrish17]

That's kind of what I was asking. Obviously if the item sells on eBay, regardless of the outcome of that sale I'd fully expect to wait 30 days to relist. But, in past disputes from the BST, I've seen mods comment that the seller could relist without worrying about the 30 day rule. It happened to me once, but it was a few years ago so the details are a little hazy. If I remember correctly I had something listed, someone bought and sent payment, I closed my ad, they reached out later that night and asked to cancel the sale. When I reached out to a mod and explained, they were able to open the ad back up.

[red5standingby]

I noticed this myself. It took me 9 months to hit 75 posts which is probably fast for some. I was a member of this site a long time ago but forgot my user details or they were deleted due to inactivity. I have my first post listed now for some grips I want to use to test the waters. I usually use eBay or Facebook marketplace or buy sell groups.

 

If any of you old timers bought some Z101 Tourstage irons or anything else from a small shop in Iowa in the mid 2000’s it may have been me you emailed or communicated with on eBay.

[Albatross85]

This made me spit out my coffee. We all know exactly who you're referring to. :)

[CCUgolfer23]

EXACTLY! Sites definitely gone downhill since the “update”. Still no feedback is a MAJOR issue and seems like site mods don’t care. It’s the main thing people want, but it’s consistently ignored.

 

BST is awful now too. I’ve seen many ads get posted with no pictures, or multiple times, or violate some other rule and they get left up, but i got a warning and ad removed a few days ago because I forgot to close an old ad from 2-3 weeks prior. Just seems like the owners and mods don’t care anymore and it’s showing.

[Duffer222]

For years the owners have made the claim that the BST is not important to the site, and generates no income for the site. I’ve always believed that was BS. Just look at the pinned ads. If that’s the logic, I’m guessing you can count on the BST never changing.

 

[third-times-a-charm]

Wanna know how we know this site is slipping? This thread and these comments have been running for DAYS and no one from the website or moderation has chimed in.

I'm surprised its not 'locked without comment' tbh lol

No other huge forum network in any other hobby would have a thread like this go unnoticed or commented on by the staff/mods.

[courcy75]

The below is an actual message I received for a TeI3 sole stamp putter I sold. Clearly showed damaged to the insert and priced based on ebay listings in similar condition. It sold for list price on ebay. I've never wanted to not accept someone's money more than this bozo lol. Can't understand how he thought I would want to deal with him.

 

"Hey man, how much you actually looking to get for the putter? Refinished you’d be lucky to pull your asking price. The insert will need to be replaced as those aren’t dings, they appear to be gouges. New shaft and grip. And a headcover that’s worthless.

I am interested as I will do those things and get her back out on the moss, but not sure if you are willing to come off that number

[Yanki01]

that's an easy no reply or tell him to pound sand and block. classic car salesman tactic on pointing out flaws on your trade in to lower the price in your head.

[GoIrish17]

The funny thing is, if you could see how much thought and effort went into suspensions, it'd make you even more upset that there's no feedback.

[GoIrish17]

Don't think for one second it's not being paid attention to. If this thread got closed for harmless discussion, I think they'd have to rename the moderators here the politburo.

[Bad9]

Not that I think its called for very often but a succinct "fuck you" would seem an appropriate response to that message.