For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

[Dick W.]

Posters are reminded that the Discussion Board is not a venue to sell your products or post a wanted to buy thread. The Driveline which is available in print or online is the proper place.

[Loren L.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

We've now provided an on-line copy of the Driveline to members, with restrictions. I can almost understand the restriction on posting for sale ads in view of the Driveline option but why do we not allow "Wanted to Buy" ads that might put a seller and buyer together? Restrict if you want to the seller responding by ONLY private message (so as not to overburden the Board with messages) but banned in entirety????

[Dick W.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Once the number of members that have logged on the DB increases somewhat (over 50%) the Board of Directors will look at other avenues. Too few members that use it now

[Dave F.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

I really understand not wanting this board flooded with sellers simply hawking items. I'm also thinking that after looking for an item in all of the "usual" places and still coming up empty leaves many no place to turn other than making an inquiry here. The turn around time with the driveline can be painful when you're in need of a crucial item or service. Just my two cents respectfully offered.

[Dan A.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

[Gary C.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Dan, currently 18% of the total Members have signed up for the TDB. Of the 18% TDB Members only 14% or less of them TDB Members clicked on the Driveline On-Line. Regards, Gary....

[Dan A.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Gary thanks for the numbers. Sure gives me a better perspective.

With only 18% signed on to the TDB there is a long way to go to meet the criteria of better than 50% for the further consideration Dick spoke of. Could be similar to the "Second Coming". I may or may not see it.

On the other hand credit is due NCRS for providing an excellent and appreciated service to a minority within the membership. I do recognize that there is and likely will always be a large number of the membership who have no wish to participate any further than receive the periodicals. Thus the numbers participating in all the various areas will likely always be minority groups.

The mere 14% of the 18% of total membership that availed them selves of the on line "DRIVELINE" is something of a surprise considering what I read here when it was being asked for several times. Again I think this goes to the credit of the leadership for serving a small segment of the membership and moving with the times. I have no idea whether this number will grow with time. As nice as it is and I support it, it wasn’t on my wish list. I wanted classifieds allowed on this site, which isn’t looking good.

Having a new perspective are large numbers always necessary? I think it is established that there are services provided by NCRS that serve a number of groups that are minorities in numbers. Example, those that attend the meets, those that attend the schools, those that just read the periodicals, those that lurk on the TDB, those that post on the TDB, those that use the on-line "DRIVELINE"(disappointing number), those that buy from the store and so on.

I wonder with such small numbers participating in the TDB and on-line "DRIVELINE" what actual harm particularly to income is done by allowing the small group that wish it to do a little
"horse trading" on the NCRS site to do so?

Dan

[Dave F.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

While I don't question the percentages, I do allow for some statistical data to be misleading. My first question is regarding the 80 plus percentage of members who have yet to participate on the DB. Are they simply not "online" people? Is this ratio of DB members vs overall membership in line with similar organizations? Does this percentage reflect those who simply have no issues with their cars or need to discuss technical issues?

The 14% of DB members hitting on the driveline may be a reflection of need, plain and simple. I would be interested in knowing how that 14% uses it, and what constructive comments would be offered regarding user friendliness. And how long has the driveline been available online now? Could it be a need for classifieds for some members has yet to be a requirement?

[Marc R.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

The other day I had a message telling me I hadn't posted lately and encouraging me to post. I don't remember the exact language of the message, but it asked me to post something--the wording went well beyond asking a technical question. (I'm sure the powers to be have the message.) Anyway since the message board is asking for posts that go beyond technical questions, we have moved to a more forum-like setting.
I don't get the link between less than 50% using this board and not being allowed to post ads, etc. That's like saying that only 50% read the sports section so the newspaper can't print sports news. If we don't have enough posts, ie the call for me to post 'something,' perhaps we should open up to more types of posts such as ads. At least there would be plenty to read.

[Clem Z.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

we have about 500 members in our corvette club,about 80 to 100 show up for membership meetings and about 25 to 35 show up for club events. i think we have the same thing here,a lot of people interested in corvettes BUT are not into working or restoring them so there is little participation on the website as far as posters. most people we ask about why they joined our club say it is for the monthly newsletter and i think it is the same here. people with corvettes like to read about what is going on in the corvette world even if they do not participate in the activities

[Mark D.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Wanted: A job that pays more and works less so I can be just like Dickie.

For Sale:Original used L88 undershorts. I wore these when I drove my L88

[Louis T.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Hello all,

Regarding the relatively low number of users accessing the Driveline online so far, or the TDB for that matter, we mustn't discount the different computer skill levels of the membership, even among those with regular access to a computer. Some are inquisitive with respect to their computers, and even if they aren't very computer-literate, are confident enough to venture to learn a new application, new features, etc., while others treat the computer as a somewhat necessary evil and just don't feel confident or comfortable enough to get beyond the very little they know.

With respect to increasing computer-related skills and education, these folks often have to be dragged along kicking and screaming, sometimes because their jobs require it, or need to be otherwise motivated. Often, they just don't know what they're missing, or are doing things in such slow and inefficient ways that they don't see the benefits, and either don't realize that there may be more efficient methods, or are afraid to ask someone, much less venture out to find out on their own. The lack of reliability and high-maintenance needs of Windows operating systems, as well as vulnerabilities from the internet don't add any confidence to these users. For them, why fuss with an electronic version when they can skim through their hardcopy in - for them - less time? I imagine that the most motivated at this point are the members in locales that traditionally have been late to receive their Drivelines.

I don't have the answer. I once suggested conducting training classes for fellow members of a Corvette club that I belong to but there was little interest. It seemed to me like many were in denial or just weren't willing to admit they could use some help. (Pride sometimes gets in the way too.)

That said, to borrow a phrase from the movie Field of Dreams: "if you build it, they will come." It seems to me that all we can do as an organization is continue to build and improve over time, keep the membership informed, and hopefully, they will come...

Regards,

Louis

PS (just curious) - 18% of the membership have signed up for the new TDB. Is that more or less than the active number of users using the old one?

[Gary C.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Louis, on the old TDB it was hard to tell how many users there were. It looked to be somewhere around 1600~1700. 2007 U.S. Census bureau shows that 90% of households in the average NCRS Member financial demographic have a broadband Internet connection and more than 1 PC. Gary....

[Larry S.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Let's see if I can get kicked off this DB. The Board is waiting for 50+% of the membership to use this DB before considering allowing cars/parts ads??? That's horse hockey! And totally arbitrary, capricious, and unrealistic.

Someone please correct me if my logic is faulty, but it seems to me that almost all of the DB participants own a C3 or older Corvette. These cars, with a few exceptions, are the ones being restored because they're worth it. We're the ones who want/need to buy parts and cars, and we work on our cars ourselves. Owners of C5's and C6's can get their parts over the counter, but I'd bet that not many work on their cars because (1) the cars probably don't need it, and (2) who has the expertise?

We owner-restorers are the vast minority of Corvette owners, but we are the only ones interested in cars/parts ads. Every NCRS member knows this DB exists (if they read their Driveline), but most aren't interested in/don't need the DB. The DB is as big as it's gonna get!

I started a thread on this a few months ago that had 75+ replies, and 99% were in favor of a 'classifieds' section. I don't see any disadvantages to it, plus it's another way we can help each other. I have several rare C2 parts that I'm not going to sell on eBay because I don't want them going to someone who'll just re-sell them, but I would sell them to a fellow member in a NY minute, because I trust every one of you and the parts would help restore one more Corvette.

I respect the NCRS Directors, but their position of this issue is just out of touch.

[Gary C.]

Re: For Sale or Wanted To Buy Ads

Here's an idea for you all. Contact your respective Chapter Chairperson. Initiate a petition for new on-line services. Ask the Chapter Chairperson to have the Chapter endorse the petition and get as many Chapter Members (with their NCRS Members, name, address and NCRS number) to sign the petition as soon as possible. Put a team together to contact all of the other Chapter Chairpersons and ask them to do the same. Send the petitions to me for presentation at the March 2009 NCRS Board of Director's meeting and a copy to your Regional Representative. The contact information is in the Restorer and on this website contacts page.

Respectfully, 100 Members requesting a new service is not a significant number of even the 2750 plus NCRS TDB Members.

Am looking forward to receiving the petition(s). Regards, Gary....