rec.games.board.marketplace (r.g.b.m.) web auction posting FAQ
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INTRODUCTION
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This FAQ was designed to help users of online auction
services (eBay, yahoo, etc.) craft unobtrusive and
effective posts to advertise their auctions in
rec.games.board.marketplace. The guidelines in this
FAQ are primarily designed to assist those posters who
may be unfamiliar with the format and conventions
of usenet newsgroups.

Please understand that these guidelines are just that.
There are no mandatory rules for posting to unmoderated
newsgroups and typically users are free to post in
whatever style they wish. However, following these
guidelines should ensure that your auction posts are
complete, professional, and well received (though there
is no way to guarantee that anyone will be interested
in what you are selling!)

Please submit any questions or comments regarding this
FAQ to Joe Scoleri at themaverick@volcano.net. Thanks!


GUIDELINES FOR POSTING WEB AUCTION ADVERTISEMENTS TO R.G.B.M.
=======================================================================

1. Please make sure your item belongs in the
r.g.b.m. newsgroup.

This is a group for board games, not computer games or
video games. Although role playing games have their own
marketplace group located at rec.games.frp.marketplace,
some cross-over RPG/boardgame items are posted to r.g.b.m.

TIP: Taking a look at the items currently posted in
r.g.b.m. can help you decide whether or not your item
is appropriate.


2. Please include the name of the web auction site in
the subject line of your post.

Your subject line should start with the name of the
auction service you are using. For example, an
eBay post could start with something like "eBay:",
"[ebay]", or "(EBAY)" for identification purposes.

TIP: Do not use the abbreviations "FS" (for sale) or
"FA" (for auction) in the subject line when your
item is not being sold or auctioned directly through
the newsgroup.


3. Please include a complete description of your item.

The body of your web auction announcement should include as
much of the following information as possible:
- game name
- publisher
- year of publication or copyright (use latest)
- condition of box/components
- whether counters are punched/unpunched
- whether game is known to be complete
- current/minimum bid
- reserve price
- whether pictures are posted on the auction page
- a link to the auction page.

The minimum suggested description could be satisfied by something as
simple as this:

R.A.F. (West End, 1986) Box: GOOD, Components: MINT, complete, and
unpunched!
Current bid: $15, Reserve: $50. Photos at http://ebay.link (Who's computer is this?)

Additional information you might want to include in your post:
detailed condition description, copyright/publication
date, edition number, auction ending date, and any
special features of the game you are selling.

TIP: Some auction sites e-mail you status updates for
your pending auctions. These can make a good "template"
for your newsgroup post as they save you the trouble
of typing in game names and links. You can cut and
paste your descriptions from the auction site and have
a polished and informative post in no time at all.


4. Do not repeatedly post an ad for the same auction.

Generally speaking, you will not want to post an ad for
a single item more than once or twice. Newsgroup posts
remain readable for days or weeks. Just because you no
longer see a message on your newsgroup server, it does
not mean that it is not still out there for prospective
bidders to see.

TIP: The preferred technique seems to be to post an
initial "auction started" announcement, sometimes
followed by an "auction ending" announcement posted
towards the end of the auction.


5. Please combine multiple items into a single post.

Generally speaking, if you have more than a half-dozen
items, you should either combine them into a single
post or not post them all to the newsgroup on one day.
Traditionally, large newsgroup sales or auctions occurred
in a single post and floods of single item posts were
frowned on.


6. Do not post updates for the "last hour" or "last few
minutes" of a web auction.

Unlike auction web sites, which are updated "immediately"
for anyone trying to view them, the method used to
distribute newsgroup messages can take hours or days.
If you want to post a "last chance" announcement,
it is generally a good idea to make it a "last day"
announcement and post it at least 24 hours in advance
of the auction's ending time.


7. Do not post HTML to the newsgroups.

While some web browsers can be used to read newsgroups,
and some news readers support HTML, this format is not
an accepted means of posting to r.g.b.m. Please
post all newsgroup messages in plain text format and...


8. Do not post attachments or binaries (i.e. graphic
images) to the newsgroup.

Binary files and other attachments (such as word
processing files or web sites) should not be posted to
r.g.b.m. Feel free to include direct links to any
pictures of the game you have posted online, but do not
attach these images to your newsgroup post.

TIPS: You can tell that r.g.b.m. is not a binary
newsgroup because it does not have the word "binary"
in its title.


9. Please include a valid e-mail reply address in your
post.

This allows newsgroup users to follow up with any
questions about your item.


10. Don't let the bastards get you down!

If you make a "mistake", generally a regular user of
the newsgroup will contact you by e-mail to explain
what you have done wrong and what corrective action you
should take. Some mistakes may result in you being
"flamed" or criticized in the newsgroup. Your best
course of action is to correct the error and move on.
These guidelines have been crafted to help you avoid
such a situation, but nobody is perfect!

TIP: Don't be afraid to ask questions! Everyone was
"new" to the newsgroup at one time or another. If you
are unsure about an item or about posting to the
newsgroup, you can always post a request for help.
Most any such inquiry will receive at least a few
responses to the newsgroup and/or by e-mail.


FAQ MAINTAINER CONTACT INFORMATION
=======================================================================

Please submit any questions or comments regarding this
FAQ to Joe Scoleri at themaverick@volcano.net. Thanks!


--

"Never give up -- never surrender!" Commander Peter Quincy Taggart