[Arlendius]

+1 to what sicboater and BeBerlin said about RSS feeds.
They are just brilliant for keeping track of new listings without even having to pay attention.

You don't even have to install any software to be able to use RSS, many e-mail programs has some support for RSS, or you can do what I do and use Google Reader (http://www.google.com/reader) to keep track of as many RSS feeds as you would like.

Why not try it out? Add the classifieds RSS, add a few of your favorite newspapers RSS feeds (almost every newspaper, magazine and sportssite on the web has a RSS feed, look for a orange symbole thats either says RSS or XML). Google Reader is free to use, all you need is a free Google account, and you can use Google Reader from any computer in the world, as long as it is connected to the internett, without installing a thing.

Arlendius

[hoglahoo]

I love the new Classifieds

Dwessell is the bomb.

Thumbnail view is great, and sorting is so much easier this way

[junkinduck]

I don't so much mind the format but miss the personal touch. I attempted to make a purchase the other day. I had a question about the item that I relayed through a PM. I informed the seller that I would take the item if it met my needs as outlined in the question. He promptly returned the PM and told me that I could have the item. He later PM'd me that the item had sold to the "buy it now" after we had made the deal but before he pulled it. I had spoken for the item but someone else got it. This would not have hapend in the old forum. BTW it wasn't a price issue.

Don

[iron maiden]

I liked the old BST better...but this new way is still nice, just harder getting used to.

[Steelforge]

Don't like it at all, sorry. The old forum was much nicer IMO.

[Bart]

I find myself hardly ever roaming the new classifieds section.
With the B/S/T forum I followed most of the threads.
B/S/T had a cosiness and straightforwardness that the classifieds lack.

Just my opinion,

Bart.

[JimmyHAD]

Originally Posted by Bart

I find myself hardly ever roaming the new classifieds section.
With the B/S/T forum I followed most of the threads.
B/S/T had a cosiness and straightforwardness that the classifieds lack.

Just my opinion,

Bart.

+1. I go there once in a while but now that the classifieds have been up for as long as they have I am sure that I liked the old BST better.

[Bart]

Upon rereading this thread, after I shared my opinion in the previous post, I feel mike making a suggestion. (I hope that's allowed).
Why not reinstate a slightly altered version of the old B/S/T forum?
Maybe a forum where every thread expires after one month. That way the database doesn't get cluttered, and we can all enjoy a never ending stream of shaving related items being traded again. I believe it such a thing could peacefully coexist with the Classifieds section, that 's better equipped to sustain more permanent offers and services.

Just a thought,

Bart.

[The Topher]

You know what... I like the new classifieds but it does not work as well in selling our stuff. Stuff that I would have to fight people off of stick around and I don't think it is just the economy. I liked the personal touch and am trying to post on the classifieds to being that back but noone responds or even looks at it. The new classifieds are pretty and efficient but they lack character and are not patrolled by even 1/3 of the people who used to.

[hoglahoo]

I like the separation between the classifieds and the rest of the forum

I also miss the BST, but between the two options side by side I prefer the way it is set up now

[badboris]

BST was the first i look every time i came in (several times /day) now classified is the last but most times
i don't even look there
i come to SRP a lot less lately

[CDpyroNme]

Originally Posted by badboris

BST was the first i look every time i came in (several times /day) now classified is the last but most times
i don't even look there
i come to SRP a lot less lately

+1 to this, sadly. I noticed a decline in my visits here when the BST disappeared despite still being very interested in straights and the community. I think the BST was the central hub of activity here and now when I do log in to SRP, there's not that "wonder what's just posted for sale" running through my head. Lately I haven't been able to afford anything, but that never stopped me from browsing. I don't have any particular distaste for the layout of the Classifieds and I do think it has a much cleaner feel, but it was the mildly chaotic messiness that gave the BST it's character. I don't mean to be unappreaciative, but I do think it's a been a blow to the community. I second (or third) the motion of a coexistence between a BST forum and a classifieds system. Maybe even a BST that links to an ad in the classifieds... I don't know.


Quizzically,
Adam

[Buckler]

I am now with you guys. Couldnt understand what you meant when this thread first started.
I want to get two things from one seller in the classifieds and am not sure how to contatct him. I ended up doing about 3 different ways and am unsure wether they work.
I realized the samthing as stated befor, im not drawn to have a brows through them as much as the BST.
It does look neet and clean and efficient, but as has been said previously, its not as warm. People would just write freely in the BST, i think here it requires a bit more effort.
I think its a great system, but... just not sure about it.
We will see if it becomes more functional as we get used to it.
Great initative guys who set it up (thumbs up), it does have strong points.

+Buckler

[BeBerlin]

Originally Posted by CDpyroNme

Lately I haven't been able to afford anything, but that never stopped me from browsing.

Believe you me, I have been watching prices very closely. They have gone down rather than up. There are quite a few excellent deals to be had in the classifieds. If only the wife had not taken the credit card away.

Originally Posted by CDpyroNme

I don't have any particular distaste for the layout of the Classifieds and I do think it has a much cleaner feel, but it was the mildly chaotic messiness that gave the BST it's character. I don't mean to be unappreaciative, but I do think it's a been a blow to the community. I second (or third) the motion of a coexistence between a BST forum and a classifieds system. Maybe even a BST that links to an ad in the classifieds... I don't know.

Now then. You get what you pay for. Point in case, you get a razor when you pay for it. Sterling stuff. I really do not understand what the problem is. Admittedly, the discussion thread is not where it should be. Maybe a tighter integration with the forum would be desirable - but no doable.

Pros and cons weighed up, the Classifieds win. Hands down, and all that. Your mileage can, and maybe will, vary.

[SIB]

I also liked a lot more the old way...i hardly go anymore to classifieds and have never bought or sold anything there.....

[Bruno]

The thing about the BST was that is was more cosy and friendly. But that was when the number of members was less than now.

At the end, the number of threads per day became so large that it took a long time to browse through them, and you never knew what was for sale and what not.
The majority of the posts also amounted to nothing more than 'wish I had money', 'I am tempted', 'glad I am not tempted anymore' and 'good deal'. Not that useful, all in all.

We are looking at a better integration between PM / Classified / discussion, but as it stands now, the old BST is not coming back.

[hoglahoo]

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Now then. You get what you pay for.

Actually, I'm of the opinion that here at the SRP forum you get a lot more than what you pay for ($0)
SRP is the bomb

Bruno put it well. The increased BST activity was driving it away from small, personal, and cozy already. I don't think it's a loss at all. We have a place to buy sell and trade that includes more features now and more options for sellers to put more of their things on the market.

[Bart]

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Bruno put it well. The increased BST activity was driving it away from small, personal, and cozy already.

A good point. I didn't consider that when I posted my thoughts about this. I'm sure with a few adjustments to connect the Classifieds section a bit more to the rest of the SRP activity, the Classifieds can gain a lot of appeal. I'd like to express my full confidence in the people that are thinking and working behind the scenes to continuously make SRP a better place. And it is already such a fine place!

Bart.

[Chris L]

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

The increased BST activity was driving it away from small, personal, and cozy already.

+1. See that's what I thought too. Towards the end IMO, the BST was already shifting from the member to member sales and seemed to be largely dominated by a small number of frequent sellers.

Chris L

[ByronTodd]

For the record, and I don't have the exact numbers, the Classifieds are seeing more traffic than BST did.

From the webhosting / bandwidth side, the advantages of Classifieds in handling that extra traffic is outweighing the traffic overload that the BST would have caused on the rest of the forum.