Zero-count buyers and sellers

[Leigh]

Current thread in FS: http://www.largeformatphotography.in...29-5-for-20-00

The seller and presumed buyer both have zero post counts.

I thought that section was for forum members???

Or have we turned into a free ebay???

- Leigh

[Victor Loverro]

From FAQ guidelines:
"Classifieds (for sale or wanted ads) should only be posted in the "For Sale/Wanted" sub-forum, which is open only to those who have been members for 30 days or more."
I don't see anything about post counts.
Seller has been a member since 2007 and buyer since 2013
Am I missing something?

[tigger_six]

Zero posts would mean that they didn't even post the post they posted It's a bug of some sort, there's more people that have it.

[Bruce Barlow]

Zero posts might mean that while they read, and maybe even study, forum threads, they don't feel that they have anything to contribute, and so remain silent.

Admirable.

[Ralph Barker]

It's not a bug, it's a "feature". Posts in the "Community" sub-forums don't add to one's post count.

We have considered limiting access to FS/WTB to members with some number of posts in the primary forums, but there is no way to determine, with the software, whether those posts are substantive. Plus, the consensus was that attempting to limit access to active LF users who participate in the discussions might preclude member access to potentially useful LF gear. So, in the end, we allow people who are here only to sell something, and the 30-day wait period ends up being only a spam-reduction mechanism.

The zero post count can be used, however, as an indicator that extra caution might be appropriate when dealing with the person.

[lecarp]

Are you suggesting the forum needs post count police.

[Jmarmck]

Oops!

[Ginette]

It's not a bug, it's a "feature". Posts in the "Community" sub-forums don't add to one's post count.
...
The zero post count can be used, however, as an indicator that extra caution might be appropriate when dealing with the person.

If you go in the member profile you will see all posts that didn't count.

[jnantz]

Zero posts might mean that while they read, and maybe even study, forum threads, they don't feel that they have anything to contribute, and so remain silent.

Admirable.

+1

much better than someone who posts 1,000,000 posts in 7 years
and has nothing but hot air and stress to add ..

[Corran]

Who cares?
You don't have to post constantly to be a valuable member of the community, or at all, if you are just learning from reading.

I have purchased and sold to a few people with no or very low post counts. Not a problem. The risks are, as ever, up to the buyer/seller in this case.