An educated consumer is the best customer. I see no harm. Cheesy, maybe. There are a ton of people here who participate only in the Gear Swap. That's the saddest thing going on here. How about a trip report or something? Once in a while even.

And the key word in the OP is "family." For me and many here, BPL is a sort of extended family, and with family we believe in sharing the wealth. We don't sell to family to make a profit. I like the idea that someone new is recognizing the inherent and significant value of this kinship of spirit. You just can't buy that. Welcome to the fold, brotherman.

Nothing wrong buying and selling - I think the complaint really was that he was sold something at a good price the seller thinking that it was going to good use, and in a matter of days it was relisted here again at 50% markup - hence the apology.
I have absolutely nothing against buying and selling on this forum, but if the above is what actually happened, then it does leave a bad taste in my mouth. That said, I appreciate the OPs post.

???

Per Ben:

"never once participating in any discussions whatsoever -- never answering a single backpacking question to help out others -- nothing."

Not trying to fan a flame, just pointing out facts: see OP's post on 3/22 about sleeping pads....

Todd:

Sorry if it came out this way -- but my post wasn't directed solely at you. As above, I appreciated your first post. I found it classy. :)

As for the others, I hope they will participate as well. This forum is so much more than a gear outlet.

As for the others, I hope they will participate as well. This forum is so much more than a gear outlet.

+1

"This forum is so much more than a gear outlet."

Most certainly! It's where EVERYTHING, including a simple apology, gets debated and bandied about ad nauseum (gosh, I've used ad nauseum twice this week! What other forum can you do that in!?).

I think it was just a heads up that if you "grip and flip" everyone will notice. People are selling here below standard pricing because they have love for the place. That's all.

Just don't come down as a know-it-all despensing your superior wisdom to us peons

"come come now girls"

Brian,
That's a bit much, isn't it?

Tom

Brian wrote above, "Ben seems like a nice guy, but is so far off base I can't even see the ballpark.... Really, who's to say its not ok to just buy and sell on this gear forum."

Brian wrote earlier in Gear Swap Etiquette thread, "I concur with Ben. This is under the "community" tab - we are a BPL "community. Nice is proper and both buyers and sellers of the same import and worthy of the same considerations. Certainly not what a "free market" forum would expect, but definitely in line with a community forum. My two cents.

Sexist remark notwithstanding, I guess Brian and I have different views about what constitutes a "BPL community". To me, a community where members only post to sell stuff in the hope of profits is not much of a community at all. Brian is absolutely free to disagree, but to say my view is "so far off base that he can't even see the ballpark" -- it seems to me that Brian's ballpark doesn't extend very far beyond his person...

I've seen this subject touched on before. BPL's gear swap is, in my opinion, the best place to get the gear I want to purchase or even look at/research and at the best prices. I have a "home" forum that I try to post on as much as possible, but really don't even have time for that.

Between my home forum, scouring the forums and online outlets for great deals, and trying to follow the world news, I hardly have time to check out the other forums on BPL, let alone post. Go ahead, open up the GEAR forum and open each topic, on just one page, that seems interesting to you in a new tab, then read all of those threads and see how much time you have. All with an actual life, work, family, and trying to get outside, etc.

IMO, there should be absolutely no animosity towards someone who can only visit the "community" in very limited amounts of time, choses to check out the gear, and doesn't have time to share.

That being said, I completely understand the animosity towards someone using this place just to make a good buck. I mean buy it here and sell it on ebay if that's what you're into.

"come, come now girls".....



On BPL that should not fly under the radar. Other forums, perhaps, where such attitudes are well accepted. But here?

Edited by Kat_P on 04/07/2011 18:13:42 MDT.

"...admit that what I have been doing on the site is not right, sometimes it takes me a while to realize it, but eventually we all get there."


Good for you!! Disclosure and communication is often the only thing needed to avoid problems.

I can't tell you how many times I've been smacked upside the head for not "getting it" or just becaused I desearved it.

Learn and happily continue to hike with the same crowd. :-)

"come come now girls"
That's a bit much, isn't it?

+1

(I wasn't going to bother commenting on this, but since I don't want anyone to think I spend ALL of my time here at the Gear Swap... :-D )

As the one who brought this up, I greatly appreciate what Todd said and his actions today.

Just on Brian's point - there's an entire massive site where unfettered trades take place. I've read BPL for years, and hope that this site doesn't become a miniature camping eBay. If this site does descend into a mercantile morass, I think you'll see a substantially smaller amount of high end gear on Gear Swap.

Edited by barryannarbor on 04/07/2011 18:37:34 MDT.

Ben, my ballpark is just not your ballpark. Thats ok. Your ballpark, in this case, consists of your own personal opinion and perspective on this issue. Which again is fine. Its just nowhere near mine. And guess what, thats ok. You see - thats how a community works, room for both of our perspectives on this particular issue. So i still think Todd is fine, haven't heard he doesn't ship when paid or anything. Everyone else, lighten up on the girls thing. You guys have to stop putting your thing on others so seriously. This is a community, not your household. Lots of room for different perspectives and different sensibilities. I grant you all, within reason, and even courteously! But different nonetheless. Be happy. (you too Tom)-Brian

With all these "two cents" I find myself giving, you'd think I'd find money for a membership, alas, here I am...

Just curious (and I mean this in the nicest of nice ways that are nicely possible)

"On BPL that should not fly under the radar. Other forums, perhaps, where such attitudes are well accepted. But here?"

Though I do think I know your intent (and probably agree with you in your intent), I can't help but ask: If he were to have written "and boys" after his comment, would you have responded the same?

If your answer is "yes", I might ask what it is you think should not fly.

If your answer is "no", I may suggest that you think about the implications this might have on people who might consider themselves boys and girls. (and what this might do to our understanding of the complicated situation)

What I mean is, and what I would like to at least mention is, sexism - could feasibly be - just a silly concept someone created. (that shouldn't even need to exist) It may only really exist because someone, at some point, decided we needed to discriminate an uncool lad, or lass, from the bunch. (as if a so-called sexist really needed more attention)

I don't think it is, or should be, so cut and dry -- due to it's complexity. What I do know, and what I think we can agree on is: uncool is uncool.

Was that his intent in this forum? I don't think so.

I'll end with a poorly devised haiku :P

If we recognize
intent, we may realize
we all get along.

Katharina, your hats rock. Can you make one with a peace sign? :)

Hey,
If you buy something dirt cheap then turn around and sell it on here for a good deal and make a buck then its a win, win.
Who cares? If people didn't want to buy at the price your asking then they wouldn't buy.

relax people. Go hike.........




Love,
Brian
www.tacksman99.blogspot.com