Most Recent Posts Disappear from Thread Listings

[Ari]

I just noticed that the FS and WTB sections have some quirks right now.
The most recent post of each section is visible on the main page, but when I click on the "FS" or "WTB" sections, to see all the threads in those sections, that most recent post is nowhere to be found among the other threads.

[lucaas]

yes, I also have the same problem.

[Oren Grad]

Please read the news items about the new rules for FS/WTB that went into effect yesterday, and also the updated guidelines/FAQ page.

The immediately relevant point is that threads in the FS/WTB sections are now ordered by time of initial post, not by time of latest post. But please read the revised guidelines in full - there are other changes as well.

[obscura.lucida]

This detail about how the posts are listed stumped me too.

To get the posts to list by time of latest post, one needs to head to the bottom of the page to the "Thread Display Options" section. And in that section, select "Last Post Time" within the pull-down menu under the category "Sort threads by." Finally, hit the "Show Threads" button to see the posts listed by latest post.

I've found that once in a while--maybe after I close and then reopen my browser--the listing order reverts to the default setting. At that point, I simply go through the same procedure of changing the display options. Hope this helps.

[Randy]

Something is definitely wrong in the FS forum. Items recently bumped are not showing up at the top of the page. I can see them over to the right as a latest post but when I open the FS thread up that post is no where to be found.

Edit- I just read the above post and that worked-thanks

[Ralph Barker]

Something is definitely wrong in the FS forum. Items recently bumped are not showing up at the top of the page. I can see them over to the right as a latest post but when I open the FS thread up that post is no where to be found.

Edit- I just read the above post and that worked-thanks

You should also read earlier moderator responses and the revised guidelines. For-Sale threads are now ordered by the original post date. Bumping only affects the display from certain thread searches.

[Corran]

Thanks for posting that, it's good to know that reverting the forum back to it's "old" state is possible on an individual basis.

[obscura.lucida]

You're welcome.

By the way, if anyone is looking for the new rules governing the FS and WTB sections, click on the link "What are the basic usage guidelines (da 'rules')?" under the main FAQ heading seen up on top of the page.

The new rules are all laid out in there, and not where, I think, they used to be which was a sticky link at the top of the forum section itself.

[Oren Grad]

Everyone is welcome to set up their own Forum views in whatever way they find most convenient.

Regardless of the view, empty posts made for the purpose of moving listings up the queue are no longer allowed, and will be deleted. As mentioned in the revised guidelines, if you have a listing that is still open after 30 days, you may close the old listing and post a fresh listing of the same item if you'd like.

[Oren Grad]

The new rules are all laid out in there, and not where, I think, they used to be which was a sticky link at the top of the forum section itself.

The complete rules have always been on the FAQ page. The red "Please read the Guidelines..." statement has been added as a reminder. The "Usage Guidelines" tab at the top of the Forum page provides a convenient direct link; this, too, has not changed.

[Randy]

...threads in the FS/WTB sections are now ordered by time of initial post, not by time of latest post.Is it just me...I much prefer the way it was - when a FS thread is updated it jumps back to the top of the list. Can someone explain to me why "...ordered by time of initial post, not by time of latest post..." is better? I am sure I will get used to it...I think.

[Ralph Barker]

Is it just me...I much prefer the way it was - when a FS thread is updated it jumps back to the top of the list. Can someone explain to me why "...ordered by time of initial post, not by time of latest post..." is better? I am sure I will get used to it...I think.

There have been several long threads discussing the issues, Randy. The revised guidelines and new sections represent the optimal compromize.

[Randy]

Fair enough.

[goamules]

My first sale under the new rules also surprised me with my thread remaining down in the list after I revised the price. I'm a very technical guy, but don't spend time "optimizing my views" on this or any site. I suspect 99% of forum members don't either. So if I am lowering my price daily, with the assumption buyers will notice this, am I just risking lowering it too much, until a savvy hacker user "discovers" my listing after 5 drops? This invisibility when lowering prices (about the only good reason to bump more often than the once a month or whatever it has gone to) doesn't help sellers, buyers, or anyone. It hides a good deal for buyers, and causes me to risk lowering it way more than needed, because no one is noticing. Sorry, but changing how things bump to the top was not needed. STOPPING people from bumping daily for no reason other than list order was.

This was a solution looking for a problem.

[B.S.Kumar]

I thought the old "bump" once in 7 days was working okay.

Kumar

[goamules]

Me too. So the new sort works how again? By when an item is listed? It never can rise to the first page again, in it's life on the board? So why bump EVER? It's not a bump if it doesn't adjust the sort. So Johnny posts a desirable Struss Pictorial. By noon that day, it is pushed down by 10 people selling $3 shutter cables, 4x5 holder darkslides, digital camera filters? Johnny decides to add a few pictures to get more views, but by that evening it's 3 pages into the For Sale section.

The average person will never see an ad after the first 4 hours. People aren't advanced users, and don't like scrolling, much less adjusting their settings so things work "right." Can we just go back to "right" in the first place?

[goamules]

And honestly, the refrain of "please read the new (multiple links, multiple paragraphs per rule) rules" is getting old. If it's so complicated I have to sit there reading it for 30 minutes, re-reading sections, trying to find the hidden sub rules, it's too complex.

[Ari]

I thought the old "bump" once in 7 days was working okay.

Kumar

That's the new old bump; the old old bump was done as soon as your ad got to page 2. :)

[Oren Grad]

It never can rise to the first page again, in it's life on the board?

The revised guidelines say:

If an item has not sold in 30 days, the seller may close that thread and post the FS listing again. It is recommended that the seller include the results of any discussion in the original thread to avoid repeating them in the new thread.

That is the only way to bring a listing back to the top.

[Oren Grad]

Again, the issues have already been thoroughly discussed. That discussion is now closed.

As I posted in the other feedback thread on this, it's no surprise that it will take a little while before everyone notices that the guidelines have changed. A certain amount of "please read the new guidelines" moderation during the transition is to be expected. The faster people catch on, the sooner that will go away.