Re: alfa-digest V8 #135 - A Simple Plea

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

       Brian, I guess I expect the seller to extend me the courtesy of 
complete information.  I do not want to waste my time trying to figure out if 
something for sale is of interest or not.  In the case of complete cars, 
location is EXTREMELY important.  I ain't gonna go to Italy for anything less 
than a GTA.
       On the other hand, you are right, Brian.  We do not need any stinking 
guidelines for posting to OUR digest.  So what if people post worthless 
gibberish posing as a for sale listing.  They are not going to sell the car, 
so why should we care?
       Curmudgeon hat on, I care, because I have to read it.  And read it 
closely enough to figure out that either I was not interested due to distance 
or that I could not tell due to lack of information.
       Why should we have to write someone off line to ask where something we 
MIGHT have an interest in purchasing is located?  Why should we not complain 
when people post to the digest without thinking about what they are posting?  
Email is so easy, too many people put their brains in neutral went posting.
       I still feel there is NO excuse for failure to tell the reader where 
something for sale is located.  I really like the fact that Alfa Owner and 
many magazines list the seller's state of residence in the ad.  One of the 
first things I look at on eBay is where the item is located.  Or I do if it 
is something that would cost more than a few bucks to ship.
       Being a selfish old curmudgeon, I do not want to have to waste time 
searching the front of the phone book for a seller's area code (I used to do 
that before I discovered an on line area code book).  I have always disliked 
seeing something that might be of interest but not knowing where it was 
located.  Nor do I think I should be forced to email the seller because he 
did not take time to give me complete information.  I can even recall going 
to a seller's listed web page for more information and not even finding the 
location there.
       I do not want this list to degrade into a "my stereo if faster than 
your stereo" discussion and / or flame group.  I can skim down past anything 
that is obviously of little interest to me, but I hate it when I take time to 
read something only to figure out it was gibberish due to a lack of relevant 
information.
       If you notice, I always include my city of residence.  I wish more 
people did, but I do not get upset if they do not.  I do not list all my 
Alfas as it takes up too much space.  And I do not get up tight about 
indications of AROC and / or ARA club affiliation, although I encourage that. 
 And I wish everyone used the spell checker and that spell checkers would 
make sure I used the word I meant to type.
       OK, rant mode off...

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City



In a message dated 10/15/2001 10:16:26 AM Central Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 11:09:52 -0400
> From: "Brian Shorey" <bshorey@domain.elided>
> Subject: RE: A Simple Plea
> 
> > Gonna put on my Fred hat for a bit here:
> >
> > IF YOU HAVE A CAR FOR SALE, TELL US WHERE THE HELL IT IS!!!
> 
> Just curious why people get so worked up over this.  If the seller leaves
> out this basic piece of information, then he's only limiting his own
> potential market.  If somebody is seriously interested in what is for sale
> they can always ask.
> 
> In an international forum such as this one, there are pretty much three
> possibilities for items for sale:
> 
> 1) Within easy driving distance,
> 2) Somewhat remote,
> 3) In a different country.
> 
> It's probably safe to assume that 90% of the time the item falls into
> category #2 or #3, so if something comes up on the digest that you're
> interested in there's probably going to be some travel or shipping involved.
> So why get worked up over it?  Chances are you have additional questions for
> the seller anyhow, is it such a big deal to tag on one additional question -
> location?
> 
> Consider that this is a simple oversight on the part of some sellers.  Does
> it really warrant yelling at them over it?  And having just raised the
> location issue to all current digesters, how does this help the individual
> who joins tomorrow and forgets to note his location..
> 
> We just had a long time Alfa person join the digest.  His first official act
> was to try to find a good home for a car, he left out the location and got
> yelled at as his reward.
> 
> Not an ideal welcome to our community, is it?  We'll be lucky if he sticks
> around.
> 
> bs

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