Yep, I agree with alot about what you've said. There are a few folks there that aren't interested in doing anything other than sit and talk about others on the forums. Or worse yet, play smiley games.

I'm all for a small listing fee now and a requirement to have multiple items listed in order to post on the boards. The fee would instantly eliminate alot of the folks who post their no sale items up, just so they get the seller title.

Better yet, add a listing fee for everyone unless you own a store.

The listing fee would eliminate a lot of people when the sell-through rate is so low. I think that would finally kill off BV.
As for the boards, I think if they just revoked posting privileges when people break TOS, that would solve that problem. The ones who are just there for the social hour would leave.

Joe, I have been reading your posts and just want to let you know-the old members that are returning to BV are not 'evil'...they are folks who spent years trying to build BV up, and are hopeful that now the new owners will help them do that. The mass suspensions that got rid of them last year were not necessarily their faults. They are not there to start trouble, and if you'll give them a chance, you'll find out what great folks they actually are.

TT,
You've lost me. I've said nothing about evil folks in any of my post. Nor do I intend to. So what's up with that post?

I'm sorry if I phrased that wrong! I see you as a openminded person who will give people a chance to prove themselves, rather than take some one else's word about them. That's all I meant-so many new folks are assuming that everything being said about returning members is gospel, rather than deciding for themselves. I don't think you let anyone else do your thinking for you-that's what I meant! sorry, by the time I've spent 9 hours with a room full of rug rats, my brain is fried and I don't always say things clearly!

BV is about to lose its boards entirely. If uBid starts advertising BV the boards won't be that integral to the success of the site. But, they are useful for member communication, and it's a terrible shame to lose a valuable tool just because of a few people. Besides, if they close the boards everyone will probably just abuse the Ask the Seller feature as if it was an instant messaging service. I say remove the abusers and carry on with the day.