that would be tight.and would solve the problem for sure.
|
Private message 
|
I think you missed the point. It’s not that I’m "too lazy" to click the Trade Forum, it’s that I only check the Trade Forum when I’ve already decided I want to trade something or trade for something.
You can look at the "Recent Topics" as front page advertising to pretty much everyone that signs on, and the "Trade Forum" is no longer being advertised, so I’m not buying. If you owned a store, would you wonder why the goods you’ve got hidden back in the dark corner of the store are selling slower than the ones you’ve got out in the front window??? No, it makes perfect sense and so does the decline in Trade Forum activity.
|
Private message
|
nope...i actually think you just made my point.
so the only way you think to make trades is if you see advertisements for trading?? how do you buy any craft beer, since you rare see any ads for it??
there is nothing wrong with taking 30 seconds of your time, anytime you log on, to simply look at the trade forum and see if anything interests you. you use the excuse of "out of sight, out of mind". so it isnt on the main forum topics...but it also isnt clogging the list of actual beer topics with a bunch of FT and ISO threads...especially duplicates. all it takes is a simple one button click of the trade forum. why is that so hard for anyone?
and as for your back room reference, i think many people here can attest to going to a store and finding a rare gem because they took the time to look, or ask. if you miss out, its only your fault for not putting in the tiniest bit of effort.
|
Private message
|
|
You are going to miss out on the people that aren’t necessarily actively searching for a trade, but that just see the FT/ISO, click into the thread and then decide to pursue it. I’m not saying that things should go back to the way they used to be, but at the same time I would be surprised if trading wasn’t down, even if it was a very slight change. Yes, the person that misses out on a good trade because they didn’t click into this forum has only themselves to blame...but what about the person that ends up with an unfulfilled ISO or FT because the passive trader didn’t see their request?
|
Private message
|
nope... this just confirms that you’re missing the point completely.
I see plenty of ads for craft beer on RB.
I feel like a broken record, but for the last time... NO this is not hard, but YES it does change the nature of the Trade Forum (which is in fact what this thread is about).
This is completely true, but you’re focusing just on me missing out... what about the people that don’t get any bites on their trade just because someone like myself never sees it??? They are putting in the effort and suffer as well.
The overall question is: Is the decline in Trade Forum activity and spontaneous trading worth the limiting of off topic comments in trade threads and people having to sift through some ISO and FT threads on the main page?
IMO absolutely not. I have heard plenty of discussion about off-topic comments interfering with trades but have never witnessed it first hand, and I find the ISO and FT threads far less annoying than the homebrew threads that I have no interest in.
|
Private message
|
Its think thats it completly.
Plus maybe the Shift to Rares beers, is because now It only the More Serious Traders who goto the Trade Forum regulaly
If you post a few run of mill trades and dont get responces because the Casual Trader is no longer there. Then you’ll soon stop posting them.
I am Damn sure that one reason i stared trading was the exposure to the Trades posts in the Main list. As a newb id never have ventured into the Trade Forum. but did click on Topics that sounded interesting,some of which were trade and learned a lot that way.
|
Private message
|
I guess this also explains why the OT forums are dead and get no traffic.
|
Private message
|
Maybe we should just have a vote. Tack it up on the trade forum for a week, one vote per member and a simple yes/no answer.
I would feel better knowing the majority of RB traders wanted this change instead of it being done by one guy for no good reason.
|
Private message
|
Late to the thread but I can think of a couple things.
1. Not being on the front page probably doesnt help
2. The site is just slow these days. I find myself searching for beer reviews on BA just because the response time on RB has been poor of late. I spend less time on RB as a result.
3. RB doesnt seem to be bringing in new people at the rate as BA. A FT: Westy 12 on RB wont get much, if any action. The same post on BA gets a ton from a much more novice audience. Who’s to say if that’s good or bad.
4. If BA improves its trading features to allow for shipment history, like the discussed, I think the RB forum will die down further. I would trade on BA more but it just doesn’t feel as ’safe’ currently.
5. When’s the last time there was a new RB BIF? A few new active BIF threads might drive additional ISO/FT posts due to the increased traffic.
|
Private message
|
i asked for that in the beginning.which is where i got the response "ratebeer is not a democracy". 
|
Private message
|
