Definition of a Vendor

[GetMeMyStogie]

I was just on my favourite golf forum, checking out their B/S/T forum. In their sticky about dealers, they define very precisely what they consider a dealer. Not only that, but their definition can actually be policed by anyone. Here it is, slightly cleaned up:

No Dealers. Use of this forum for commercial purposes is prohibited. A dealer is defined as anyone who is selling more than two (2) new items of the same type or three (3) used items of the same type within a thirty (30) day period. A maximum of four (4) new items in total and nine (9) used items in total can be sold within a thirty (30) day period. An item type includes and is not limited to: drivers, fairway woods, putters, wedges, irons set, fairway wood sets, wedge sets, etc. If you have access to products and sell them in volume, you are defined as a dealer. If you are interested in advertisements, promotions or becoming a sponsor within our forum, please use the contact us form or email us at ...

It's simple and to the point. Any forum member can trace anothers B/S/T activities and know if they've broken the rules.

Compare that to the MM.net definition:
MercuryMarauder.net defines a vendor as any company or individual that sells, markets, promotes, manufactures or distributes any products or services for the purpose of generating a profit, regardless of the product or service's cost or profit margins.

Now, it's fully MM.nets prerogative to define whatever rules they see fit. However, this definition of a vendor is vague and not easily policed by anyone. Rather, it allows anyone to claim someone is a vendor based on speculation alone: "Hey, so-and-so is a vendor. He's a barber!". By this definition, anyone running a business of any type at all can't sell/trade parts from/for their Marauder. It may lead some to try to fail to disclose information about themselves. With the golf-forums' definition, nothing can be hidden.

I'm sure this has been discussed before. I don't really want to look for old posts, as I have no plans to sell anything here any time soon. I just found the differences in these definitions of a Vendor striking, and potentially interesting to people here.

[ImpalaSlayer]

im really not sure i see your point.

[GetMeMyStogie]

im really not sure i see your point.

I have yet to see anyone question someones vendor status on the golf forum. But here, it seems to come up fairly regularly on apparently random FS threads. I think the "Vendor" definition is at least one reason for this.

[musclemerc]

Believe me I see your point.

[SpartaPerformance]

im really not sure i see your point.

I don't either. I think this might actually be a waste of bandwidth. :lol:

[SC Cheesehead]

im really not sure i see your point.


I don't either. I think this might actually be a waste of bandwidth. :lol:

Aren't our vendors supporting the site through fees? If so, why would we want to limit/prohibt dealers or anyone else wishing to pay the fees and support MM.net?

[SpartaPerformance]

Aren't our vendors supporting the site through fees? If so, why would we want to limit/prohibt dealers or anyone else wishing to pay the fees and support MM.net?

Yes I pay fees every year and donate products to events, so do all other vendors here.

[Blackened300a]

Aren't our vendors supporting the site through fees? If so, why would we want to limit/prohibt dealers or anyone else wishing to pay the fees and support MM.net?

Who is being prohibited? :confused:

[SC Cheesehead]

Yes I pay fees every year and donate products to events, so do all other vendors here.


Who is being prohibited? :confused:

No one that I know of, Paul, just wondering what the point of the OP was. As Tommy indicates above, vendors pay fees, so why should it make a difference if a vendor is a dealer or a private individual? The site, and the membership benefits from vendor involvement, win-win from my perspective.

[Marauderman]

."............for the purpose of generating a profit..........."

The above is from MM.net I believe , stated in post 1.

That is the simple key wording --fits all --regardless-------so if you do this then your a vendor and must abide by vendor rules or its not allowed.
Simple--whats not to understand.

Takes out all the math work --plain and simple to me!

There are many folks who provide sercvices , products but NOT for a profit or for purposes of generating a profit --hobby status---big difference---by the amount if any asked for in return for their assistance towards helping another member out. ( That can easily determne if profit is being generated normally)

My .2 C

[-Matt-]

How about if the venders want to sell the same kind of products? I.E. a rear cooling kit?



Edit: 3000enth post!!!

[-Matt-]

I was just on my favourite golf forum


oh and.... golf sucks

[RF Overlord]

I don't quite see the point of this thread, either.

We have 2 kinds of "vendors" here: supporting and hobby.

Vendors who sell parts and services as a business, and wish to profit from the members, become supporting vendors and pay a small fee to the site.

Hobby vendors, like fastblackmerc for instance, only do one or two things, and don't do them as a regular business, but do them as a way to give back to the club for the good of the membership.

[SC Cheesehead]

I don't quite see the point of this thread, either.

We have 2 kinds of "vendors" here: supporting and hobby.

Vendors who sell parts and services as a business, and wish to profit from the members, become supporting vendors and pay a small fee to the site.

Hobby vendors, like fastblackmerc for instance, only do one or two things, and don't do them as a regular business, but do them as a way to give back to the club for the good of the membership.


Exactly, Bob.

For profit = pay vendor fee.

Not for profit (e.g. cover cost of services only) = not vendor/no fee

Like my uncle Heinrich used to say, "Wenn es nicht gebrochen ist, muss nicht es repariert werden."

[GetMeMyStogie]

I know it's been nearly a year since I posted this, but every time I check out the For Sale section, I see threads of people who do not appear to be "vendors" (ie. they do not have their own section under the Vendors forums) who meet the criteria of being a vendor.

The intent of my original post was to point out that almost anybody selling anything in the FS section could be classified as a vendor, and must therefore pay vendor fees.

I wasn't saying that this sites concept of a vendor was somehow unnecessary or inappropriate - rather, I was saying that this sites definition of a vendor sucks because it applies to almost anybody.

For example, take these threads:

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76145

With respect to the individual selling customized grilles:
Is said individual a company or individual? Yes
Does said individual sells, markets, promotes, manufactures or distributes any products or services for the purpose of generating a profit? Who knows - is his purpose to provide the MM community with unique items not available anywhere else so that he can pat himself on the back when people talk about his handiwork, or is his purpose to generate a profit? There's no way to tell for sure. We could ask him, but I reckon "to generate a profit" would not be the answer. Is there any other way to determine said individuals purpose? Well, we could look at how many items he's selling and say "Hey, you're selling lots of items - you're a vendor". But, since that's not in the rules, we have to take said individuals word that no fee is due. Or, more likely, the forum could accuse this individual of selling for a profit, the individual would have to defend himself, and we find ourselves in the middle of another Vendor status dispute.

In cases like this, the golf forum rules are superior, because they don't care about motives and do not depend on anybody trying to guess what those motives are.

Let's look at every person who ever parted out a wrecked MM, such as:

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76180
http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=75523

Is person-parting-out-an-MM a company or individual? Yes
Does person-parting-out-an-MM sells, markets, promotes, manufactures or distributes any products or services for the purpose of generating a profit? Are used MM parts are considered "products"? If not, then these inidividuals are in the clear and do not have to pay vendor fees. But, if they are, then we have to ask each one what their intent is. Is it to spread hard to find products amongst the community? Is it to generate a profit? Cover the cost of a replacement vehicle? Get more money than the insurance company was offering? Again, I'll bet few would answer "I'm here to make as much profit as I can".
What about new or NOS MM parts - are they considered "products"?

How many persons selling floor mats for more than they paid for them have payed vendor fees? I'm pretty sure most of those, especially of late, are classified as vendors, since we know what the original costs were and (the ballpark) of the sale prices - unless new/used/NOS MM parts aren't actually considered "products".

What about individuals selling off their collection of accumulated MM parts? Sure, they might just want to clear out the garage or the basement, but who's to say they're not interested in making a little extra $$ at the same time? Maybe some will, maybe some won't - again the inflated price of certain items sold, such as floor mats, is a good indication. How is anybody supposed to know the purpose of the sale?

And as to the whole idea of making profit - what if someone is handed a bunch of MM parts for free? They could come here, sell them for "list" price or less so as not to raise suspicion, make a tidy profit and not pay vendor fees. This probably hasn't happened, but the point is in order to determine if a profit was made, you have to know the costs involved. Sellers might not be willing to disclose the costs involved if they're not interested in paying Vendor fees, or they might be interested in provided false information. Who's to know for sure? Well, there's the honour system, I suppose.

With the golf forum definition of a vendor, it doesn't matter who the person is, what they're selling, why they're selling it - all that matters is how many they've sold in a particular time frame. Numbers that anybody could verify just by reading the threads. There's no need to try to figure out what a sellers intentions are.


I believe that this sites definition of a vendor is poorly written, and unfair to those who pay the vendor fees, and I believe that's why many a vendor has gone away.

Clear rules also lay out the law for individuals selling what they have without them having to worry about whether or not they'll be asked about their intentions. They would know up front if they volume of product they have to sell means they're a Vendor or not.

Dump the honour system, and make it easy for everybody to figure out Vendor status. That's what I was trying to say.

[MM03MOK]

Please read this again. This is the way it is. Not sure why this matters to you. We've been very fair to supporting vendors and if any supporting vendor has an issue, they know they can contact me. Honestly, I don't have time to read every post in the Marketplace. This is also not a full time job for me. Hopefully in the end, the Membership are the ones that benefits most from Supporting Vendors and Hobby Vendors.


I don't quite see the point of this thread, either.

We have 2 kinds of "vendors" here: supporting and hobby.

Vendors who sell parts and services as a business, and wish to profit from the members, become supporting vendors and pay a small fee to the site.

Hobby vendors, like fastblackmerc for instance, only do one or two things, and don't do them as a regular business, but do them as a way to give back to the club for the good of the membership.

[Spectragod]

If it bothers you so much, go back to the golf forum, since you appear to like the rules they have set forth much more.

I think it's up to the owners/moderators of the board to do what they like with it. So, why stir the pot? As far as marauders being parted out, all members that want extra parts benefit from that and usually get a deal on parts that are either way expensive or unobtainable for a reasonable amount.... and then we have you, bitching about it, WTFO?

[Spectragod]

I know it's been nearly a year since I posted this, but every time I check out the For Sale section, I see threads of people who do not appear to be "vendors" (ie. they do not have their own section under the Vendors forums) who meet the criteria of being a vendor.

The intent of my original post was to point out that almost anybody selling anything in the FS section could be classified as a vendor, and must therefore pay vendor fees.

I wasn't saying that this sites concept of a vendor was somehow unnecessary or inappropriate - rather, I was saying that this sites definition of a vendor sucks because it applies to almost anybody.

For example, take these threads:

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76145

With respect to the individual selling customized grilles:
Is said individual a company or individual? Yes
Does said individual sells, markets, promotes, manufactures or distributes any products or services for the purpose of generating a profit? Who knows - is his purpose to provide the MM community with unique items not available anywhere else so that he can pat himself on the back when people talk about his handiwork, or is his purpose to generate a profit? There's no way to tell for sure. We could ask him, but I reckon "to generate a profit" would not be the answer. Is there any other way to determine said individuals purpose? Well, we could look at how many items he's selling and say "Hey, you're selling lots of items - you're a vendor". But, since that's not in the rules, we have to take said individuals word that no fee is due. Or, more likely, the forum could accuse this individual of selling for a profit, the individual would have to defend himself, and we find ourselves in the middle of another Vendor status dispute.

In cases like this, the golf forum rules are superior, because they don't care about motives and do not depend on anybody trying to guess what those motives are.

Let's look at every person who ever parted out a wrecked MM, such as:

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76180
http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=75523

Is person-parting-out-an-MM a company or individual? Yes
Does person-parting-out-an-MM sells, markets, promotes, manufactures or distributes any products or services for the purpose of generating a profit? Are used MM parts are considered "products"? If not, then these inidividuals are in the clear and do not have to pay vendor fees. But, if they are, then we have to ask each one what their intent is. Is it to spread hard to find products amongst the community? Is it to generate a profit? Cover the cost of a replacement vehicle? Get more money than the insurance company was offering? Again, I'll bet few would answer "I'm here to make as much profit as I can".
What about new or NOS MM parts - are they considered "products"?

How many persons selling floor mats for more than they paid for them have payed vendor fees? I'm pretty sure most of those, especially of late, are classified as vendors, since we know what the original costs were and (the ballpark) of the sale prices - unless new/used/NOS MM parts aren't actually considered "products".

What about individuals selling off their collection of accumulated MM parts? Sure, they might just want to clear out the garage or the basement, but who's to say they're not interested in making a little extra $$ at the same time? Maybe some will, maybe some won't - again the inflated price of certain items sold, such as floor mats, is a good indication. How is anybody supposed to know the purpose of the sale?

And as to the whole idea of making profit - what if someone is handed a bunch of MM parts for free? They could come here, sell them for "list" price or less so as not to raise suspicion, make a tidy profit and not pay vendor fees. This probably hasn't happened, but the point is in order to determine if a profit was made, you have to know the costs involved. Sellers might not be willing to disclose the costs involved if they're not interested in paying Vendor fees, or they might be interested in provided false information. Who's to know for sure? Well, there's the honour system, I suppose.

With the golf forum definition of a vendor, it doesn't matter who the person is, what they're selling, why they're selling it - all that matters is how many they've sold in a particular time frame. Numbers that anybody could verify just by reading the threads. There's no need to try to figure out what a sellers intentions are.


I believe that this sites definition of a vendor is poorly written, and unfair to those who pay the vendor fees, and I believe that's why many a vendor has gone away.

Clear rules also lay out the law for individuals selling what they have without them having to worry about whether or not they'll be asked about their intentions. They would know up front if they volume of product they have to sell means they're a Vendor or not.

Dump the honour system, and make it easy for everybody to figure out Vendor status. That's what I was trying to say.

Reading this, makes me ask, why don't we make it a rule that you have to be a supporting member to post bull_***** like this.

[PonyUP]

Wow, I can't believe I just re read this waste of a thread.
I don't understand why this is confusing. Furthermore in a year old thread it only seems one person has an issue with vendor status.
Are you trying to get more people to pay vendor fees the mm.net?

Guess what? Not your place, the mods can and will decide who should pay the fees, suggest you go back to trying to fix your slice


Pony seal of Approval

[GetMeMyStogie]

If it bothers you so much, go back to the golf forum, since you appear to like the rules they have set forth much more.

I think it's up to the owners/moderators of the board to do what they like with it. So, why stir the pot? As far as marauders being parted out, all members that want extra parts benefit from that and usually get a deal on parts that are either way expensive or unobtainable for a reasonable amount.... and then we have you, bitching about it, WTFO?

I don't care about what's being sold to whom or for what prices. I'm pretty sure anybody buying items from whomever, be it Vendors or guys parting out cars, benefits.
What bothers me is seeing valuable members leave because of disputes over Vendor status.
I was just asking for clarity on what it is the owners/moderators "like". I think it's better to figure stuff like this out when the seas are calm, instead of waiting for the next storm.

Is asking for clarity asking for too much? Heck, if the rules said "Your're a vendor if we say you're a vendor", that'd be more clear than what it says now.

[GetMeMyStogie]

a year old thread it only seems one person has an issue with vendor status.
Yeah, I was sorry to see musclemerc go, too.




Are you trying to get more people to pay vendor fees the mm.net?

Not really, but if it helps than why not? I like this site and wish it to survive for a long time. I'm trying to get the owners/moderators to write a better definition of who is to pay Vendor fees.

[GetMeMyStogie]

Hmm, maybe some examples would help to illustrate the problems with the current rules. Actually, I can't even find the Vendor rules anymore. But assuming they're still there somewhere:

A user comes onto the boards to sell 4 MM rims for $100 a piece. Does this member owe a Vendor fee?

A user comes onto the boards to sell 8 MM rims for $100 a piece. Does this member owe a Vendor fee?

A user comes onto the boards to sell 20 MM rims for $100 a piece. Does this member owe a Vendor fee?

A new user comes onto the boards to sell 16 MM rims for $100 a piece. Does this member owe a Vendor fee?

[PonyUP]

User comes on the board and sells one Marauder, who cares

User comes on and sells 8 Marauders, who cares

User sells 20 sets of floor mats, who cares

Members have a community to trade, buy, and sell parts for discontinued car from other members, everyone wins

Again this thread is absolutely pointless, don't like the vendor definition? Go back to hocking three woods


Pony seal of Approval

[martyo]

The Supreme Court said that it would know pornography when it saw it.

In the same vein, I suspect that the forum owners will know a vendor when they see one.

[fastblackmerc]

This thread makes no sense.........

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/pointless_photo.jpg

[fastblackmerc]

This thread is pointless...

Like this picture.....

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/pointless_photo.jpg

[GetMeMyStogie]

go back to trying to fix your slice

Let's see, you guys are hating on the rules I mentioned because they're from a golf forum. Okay, let's pick some forums you might like better:

Clear group buy rules:
http://mustangforums.com/forum/vendor-for-sale-group-buy-classifieds/526186-this-section-is-for-official-site-sponsors-to-post-group-buys.html

Same forum, but the general BST rules:
http://mustangforums.com/forum/parts-for-sale/397107-rules-read-me-first.html
In particular:
Sellers:
1. Joining this site for the sole purpose of selling something is frowned upon unless you're a site sponsor. In some cases your posts may even be removed!
2. If you are suspected of selling and/or advertising products as a part of a company, your thread will be removed, and you must consult Administration about becoming a Sponsor.

Even that is better than the MM.net 'rules'. They want to make it entirely up to the admins, and that's fine. And it's clear enough to anybody selling stuff that it's up to the admins. If you look like a company or smell like a company, don't be surprised when the admins come knockin'. They leave it up to the individual to tell the truth about if they're selling for a company, but it doesn't matter because they said they only have to 'suspect' you're selling for a company.


Here's another Mustang forum with a clear definition of who can sell in their classified section:
http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/2005-2010-mustang-parts/240309-mm-classifieds-rules-read-these-rules-before-continuing.html

Way simpler than the mustangforums.com rules, but so straightforward anybody could figure it out.

[PonyUP]

Let's see, you guys are hating on the rules I mentioned because they're from a golf forum. Okay, let's pick some forums you might like better:

Clear group buy rules:
http://mustangforums.com/forum/vendor-for-sale-group-buy-classifieds/526186-this-section-is-for-official-site-sponsors-to-post-group-buys.html

Same forum, but the general BST rules:
http://mustangforums.com/forum/parts-for-sale/397107-rules-read-me-first.html
In particular:
Sellers:
1. Joining this site for the sole purpose of selling something is frowned upon unless you're a site sponsor. In some cases your posts may even be removed!
2. If you are suspected of selling and/or advertising products as a part of a company, your thread will be removed, and you must consult Administration about becoming a Sponsor.

Even that is better than the MM.net 'rules'. They want to make it entirely up to the admins, and that's fine. And it's clear enough to anybody selling stuff that it's up to the admins. If you look like a company or smell like a company, don't be surprised when the admins come knockin'. They leave it up to the individual to tell the truth about if they're selling for a company, but it doesn't matter because they said they only have to 'suspect' you're selling for a company.


Here's another Mustang forum with a clear definition of who can sell in their classified section:
http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/2005-2010-mustang-parts/240309-mm-classifieds-rules-read-these-rules-before-continuing.html

Way simpler than the mustangforums.com rules, but so straightforward anybody could figure it out.

So if you want to be a vendor, pay the fee and be a vendor, otherwise wtf do you care what defines a vendor and what doesn't?


Pony seal of Approval

[GetMeMyStogie]

User comes on and sells 8 Marauders, who cares
User sells 20 sets of floor mats, who cares



User sells 20 sets of big brake discs. Now who cares?

[PonyUP]

User sells 20 sets of big brake discs. Now who cares?

No one, he's no longer a vendor here and there's a hell of a lot more that went into that and you know it

But either way, he offered a product for the Marauder, some wanted it, many didn't, but no one except you was asking for a clearer definition as to if he was a vendor or not and what defines it
Tell you what, many people have asked, you never answered

What's your end game here? What's your point? What the hell are you trying to accomplish?

I suspect you can not answer any of the above without saying "I just want a clear definition of what a vendor is like on other forums"

Now answer the real question, why?


Pony seal of Approval

[GetMeMyStogie]

wtf do you care what defines a vendor and what doesn't?


Because valuable members with whom I enjoyed discussions have left the forum because of this, that's why.

Oh well, I gave it a shot. I guess the admins are happy with the way things are.

Nothing to see here, carry on everyone.

[MM03MOK]

Here's what you pointed us to:

POSTING REQUIREMENTS:

* Minimum post count of 50 [There's no way to govern this automatically. You can look at the OP's post count if you want]
* Member minimum of 30 days [There's no way to govern this automatically. You can look at the OP's Join Date if you want]
* No posting of the same item in different sections. [Rarely, if ever happens. Not that many options for sub-forums]
* No third party sales [Happens occasionally. Not an issue]
* Must put FS, FT, WTB, etc. in thread title [Already happens automatically when the thread is posted in the appropriate forum.]
* Must put asking price in thread [Always enforced, especially by the Membership]
* Picture highly recommended but not required [Always strongly suggested, especially by the Membership]
* No post whoring or unwarranted comments in seller's thread [This is a HUGE issue at times. And if it does happen, it's not always the OP's fault that others have to throw their two cents in.]

Failure to comply with the above requirements will lead to your thread being deleted.

Thanks for your concern.

[SC Cheesehead]

Because valuable members with whom I enjoyed discussions have left the forum because of this, that's why.

Oh well, I gave it a shot. I guess the admins are happy with the way things are.

Nothing to see here, carry on everyone.


http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070526081822/uncyclopedia/images/thumb/1/15/CaptainobviousChooseOption.jpg/200px-CaptainobviousChooseOption.jpg

:rolleyes:

[guspech750]

This thread sucks. Instead of wasting Internet space. Go find something productive to do. Paint a wall. Put gas in your car or something.

Maybe buy something from someone and feel good about it instead of ruining your keyboard by typing this really useless thread.


---
- Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!


And your not even a supporting member. So that there tells me enough. And your going to ***** about others. Go figure.

[MM03MOK]

I don't mind him asking the questions. He's been given the answers. We are not the golf or the mustang websites.

[Spectragod]

Because valuable members with whom I enjoyed discussions have left the forum because of this, that's why.


Define valuable???

if you miss them so much, you should abandon this forum, and go join your valuable friends some other fu*#ing place.

This is where we start calling you a troll.............

[GetMeMyStogie]

Define valuable???

if you miss them so much, you should abandon this forum, and go join your valuable friends some other fu*#ing place.

This is where we start calling you a troll.............

Beligerance, really? Now I feel really old :( Anyway:

Valuable member: someone who provides answers to questions, helps people solve problems, provides solutions, and the like.

[guspech750]

Beligerance, really? Now I feel really old :( Anyway:

Valuable member: someone who provides answers to questions, helps people solve problems, provides solutions, and the like.

You seam so concerned about others giving money to MM.net to help keep the lights on. Where is your donation then? Until then. I don't think you really have any concern about who gives $$ to .net.

And most importantly. It's up to the owners. Their site. Their rules. Plain and simple.


---
- Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[GetMeMyStogie]

What's your end game here? What's your point? What the hell are you trying to accomplish?
(snip...)
Now answer the real question, why?

I've seen many threads closed or deleted, and several members angered and even leave over issues related to vendor status. Now, maybe I'm wrong about that, maybe vendor status had nothing to do with it. But maybe I'm not wrong.
And, maybe the site admins could care less about losing vendors and members. But maybe they do care a little bit (if not for the membership, perhaps for the revenues). I could be wrong about that too.
But, if I'm not wrong, and there is a problem there - and I admit I'm taking a chance here - as a car guy with an innate need to fix things, I tried to point out what I thought the problem is, and one way to maybe solve that problem.

Now, if the RPM of your member and vendor revolving doors isn't a problem at all, then I was obviously mistaken in thinking it was. My bad, sorry for wasting everyone's time.

What do I stand to gain? A happier forum, without the constant bickering* about vendorship, which I see nowhere else but here. That's all.

[GetMeMyStogie]

Here's what you pointed us to:

POSTING REQUIREMENTS:

* Minimum post count of 50 [There's no way to govern this automatically. You can look at the OP's post count if you want]]

I was in no way suggesting this site copy some other sites rules. Sheesh!
But this rule here makes a perfect example of fair, easily enforced rule. Yes, I can check the users post count. And so can you, and so can any admin, and so can any member. There's no question if their post count meets the requirements.

But you can't say the same about the mm.net 'profit' rule. Where do you or I or an admin check to see if the seller is out to make a profit? Which line in each For Sale thread contains that information?
So, it's left up to the best educated guesses of one or more admins.

If the owners really want profit to be the dividing line between vendor and private seller... They should come up with a better way to determine that. Or the disputes will continue.

[MM03MOK]

I wasn't inferring that we would copy the policy above. I was explaining the way things work here compared to that policy. Sheesh!

Profit? A member will either pay the asking price or negotiate a price and be satisfied with the end result - buying something they want. Why should it matter to anyone if the seller sold at a loss, profit or broke even? Still not sure why you care. I think you're the only one that is talking "dispute." This conversation is going nowhere fast. So, on that note - we're done.