Hi Brian,
We know such problems (and much more) related to disputes arising from certain sales on our french forum...
Maybe an idea for this space too...Here are the translated rules of our regulation (thanks to deepl).
Article 1: SPECIFIC PROVISIONS REGARDING SALE LISTINGS
The forum features a “Sales” section, intended solely for the resale of items related to the 1914–1918 and 14–18 themes among members.
Items from after 1918 may only be sold during multi-era sales organized from time to time by the staff.
1.1 A member may list an item for sale if, and only if:
- they have posted at least 100 messages. (Welcome messages will be distinguished from other participation messages.)
If these conditions are not met, the listing may be removed by the moderation team without prior notice or justification. The team assumes no responsibility for any transactions that have already begun.
1.2 Access to the “For Sale,” “Trade,” and “Wanted” sections is available to members who have posted more than 100 messages.
1.3 A listing may be created for a single item or a set (which must be indivisible, unless an exception is approved by staff) for sale. If you have multiple items for sale, you must create one listing for each item. There is no limit on the number of listings. Any listing containing multiple items will be automatically deleted.
Each listing must include at least two photos of the item in question, as well as a fixed price. A complete description is required, along with a mention of any defects or missing parts. In the event of non-compliance with this clause:
a. First, a message will be sent to the seller to correct the listing.
b. Second, if the seller does not correct the listing, it will be removed, regardless of whether a transaction has begun (the seller and buyer are then free to continue the transaction between themselves, at their own risk).
1.4 Auctions are not permitted under any circumstances. There are specialized sales sites that offer this option.
1.5 A member wishing to sell on the forum must ensure that the sale is exclusive to the forum for 5 days. No item may be removed before the end of this period for any reason. After this period, if the item has not been sold or no transaction has been initiated, the member is free to list it for sale elsewhere (online, classifieds, private sales, etc.). In all cases, the member must update the forum listing to specify that the item is being sold elsewhere.
This provision will ensure greater transparency in sales.
1.6 The terms of sale (price, shipping costs, etc.) may be modified at any time by the seller, provided that no transaction or inquiry is currently in progress. In such a case, any modification would be null and void, and the buyer would be entitled to demand that the transaction proceed based on the original terms, or even to withdraw their offer.
1.7 During a sale, priority is given to the member who is the first to respond with a message posted in reply to the listing, regardless of the message’s content. A member who clearly states in their response that they are no longer interested does not have priority.
1.8 The buyer of the item is the person who was the first to respond to the post (see Section 1.6). In the event of a withdrawal (duly noted in the post), priority passes to the next member.
If the seller receives no response or is unable to complete the transaction with a buyer, they may:
a. Offer the item to the next interested member.
b. Relist it by writing in the post that “the item is still available.”
IMPORTANT: The decision period is set at 12 hours, and the buyer must confirm their purchase by posting “I’ll take it” within 12 hours. After this period, the item will revert to the second member who posted a message.
1.9 The seller must update their listing regularly, specifically:
- specify when and to which member the item was sold.
To do so, they may create new messages following the original post and may also use the “edit” function.
1.10 A “Multi-Era” marketplace will take place every third weekend of the month, from Friday evening at 8:00 PM to Sunday evening at 8:00 PM. After this time limit, the marketplace will be locked, but will remain visible for a few days before being removed.
The date may be changed on an exceptional basis in the event of organizational or technical issues. A message will be posted to notify forum members. This marketplace will be opened by the administrator or a moderator and will feature a section dedicated to listings specific to the marketplace; this section will be locked (but visible for ongoing transactions) outside the times designated for the multi-era sale.
The same sales rules apply to this marketplace.
1.11 When a buyer commits to purchasing an item, the transaction must be completed within a reasonable timeframe, as agreed upon with the seller. Once this timeframe has passed, the seller may notify the staff of the buyer’s failure to comply with the terms of sale, and sanctions may be imposed against the buyer (see 1.14). We remind you, however, that dialogue between buyer and seller is the foundation of any transaction and that, in many cases, this dialogue resolves 99% of potential issues…
1.12 Sales listings remain active for only one month. After this period, a moderator may delete them. A listing for an ongoing sale will not be deleted, but members are expected to “play by the rules” and update their listings!
1.13 Penalties: Any failure to comply with any provision of these rules may result in penalties for both the seller and the buyer, following consultation and a decision by the moderators/administrators.
1.14 Payment methods are at the buyer’s discretion, subject to agreement with the seller. Under no circumstances shall the forum or its staff be held liable for any payment issues, whether made in person, by mail, by check, or by bank transfer.
1.15 For the sale of weapons and military ammunition, refer to Article 11 below.
Note: Comments on sales:
Comments on prices are discouraged.
However, if a price is found to be higher than that of professional websites (for items of equivalent quality, legal status, and description), other members may mention these websites to bring the matter to the seller’s attention.
Comments regarding the authenticity of an item for sale must be constructive and substantiated but are by no means prohibited.
1.16 Since the forum is, above all, a place for exchanging and sharing knowledge about World War I, members are encouraged to participate responsibly in both the information sections and the sales and exchange sections. If it becomes apparent that a member is using only the sales, wanted, and exchange sections, access to those sections will be blocked.
Philippe
