Full name requirement in the classifieds section.

WebSlave · Jan 29, 2009

This thread just caught my eye, so I read on through it....

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125710

This is kind of unsettling..........

Me thinks it is time to REQUIRE full name info for anyone posting in the classifieds. Or maybe I would just be giving the mods and myself more unnecessary work to do around here enforcing something like this.... :shrug01:

Cat_72 · Jan 29, 2009

I think it's a most excellent idea, Rich.

But yeah....it may be a real headache for you guys.

Lucille · Jan 29, 2009

If the seller was a corporation or partnership, would the name of the company be enough or would you require an actual person's name?

You might be building a false sense of security with such a requirement: if someone with no last name is bent on scamming, your requirement for a full name would simply lead them to supply you with a fake full name. How much research are you willing to do before you accept a name? Birth certificate? Driver's license? And the more you require, the more the customer can say that he justifiably relied on YOU when he sent in his money.

A scammed customer would then look to YOU when the name was exposed as a fake; perhaps expecting that you had some responsibility in finding for him the true real name.

I'm not saying 'buyer beware', it would be good to provide some info, but I think it might be far easier to pen a cautionary statement to buyers stickied to the top of the classifieds, to help the particularly gullible with some basic ideas. Many classifieds have cautions now about payments sent or received such as cashier's checks and Western Union.

kmurphy · Jan 29, 2009

I think it is a great idea and I don't think anyone should be able to hide behind a company/corporate name.

Cat_72 · Jan 29, 2009

lucille said:
Many classifieds have cautions now about payments sent or received such as cashier's checks and Western Union.

And how many people are STILL getting ripped off from those sites?

If a scammer is going to scam, sure they are going to try to find a way around it....but trying to help people avoid it is better than doing nothing at all. :shrug01:

hhmoore · Jan 29, 2009

I just posted a question about the acceptability of that title line, lol.
As for the question at hand, though, I would have thought that getting the name of the person one is sending money to was just common sense (especially with people familiar with the BOI).
Personally, I think people posting ads SHOULD include their names...but requiring a name to be there doesn't give any assurance that it is real. At least with just a user name, first name, or fictitious (DBA) name, most potential customers would inquire...whereas seeing a name listed would appease a great majority of the people looking at the ads.
If the names don't have to be real, there isn't much sense in requiring them, IMO. The only simple way to verify the names is by requiring payment - and that's been unsuccessful here.

Mooing Tricycle · Jan 29, 2009

So how about this....

I Think the Name idea is GREAT. Sure, some will make up fake names.... but that could be anyone, and if a bad transaction happens, they go on the BOI *hopefully, im sure its not always the case*

I realize they could... hang about, and start anew.... But for my own personal opinion, i would participate and gladly. I really try to buy from people i know anyway, or at least, fairly known names.

You could really use the GGC in this instance, its already in place, and its already a way to verify. I think we need to advertise it more.... this way, you guys are able to verify who the payment is from, and that the name is the same, as the person sending the money. But that way, you could put a notice in the classifieds to check for VERIFIED Sellers before buying. maybe a little icon near ones username in the classifieds, or something, in each sellers actual ad? * i dont realize how difficult that might be?*

Again, its still OPTIONAL.... but, for peace of mind, and such, since you already HAVE the program.....

TheFragginDragon · Jan 29, 2009

Sounds like a good call to me Rich.

Shadera · Jan 29, 2009

What about those of us who want nothing to do with the GGC because people who haven't had an actual transaction with us can give negative feedback?

I think just a name in the ads will suffice. From there prospective buyers can do a BOI or internet search to look for anything bad.

Mooing Tricycle · Jan 29, 2009

MagickalMorphs said:
What about those of us who want nothing to do with the GGC because people who haven't had an actual transaction with us can give negative feedback?

I think just a name in the ads will suffice. From there prospective buyers can do a BOI or internet search to look for anything bad.

You paid for a membership right? Id say, youre probably verified. Either way....

DAND · Jan 29, 2009

I agree that a full name should be provided. It would at the least be a starting point if the transaction went bad. I for one would not purchase anything from an unnamed individual.

Cheryl Marchek AKA JM · Jan 29, 2009

Sounds like more work and headache for you and the mods just as your starting breeding season. As has been pointed out there is really no reasonable way for you to ensure the names being used are in fact the names of the individuals running the ads~ and lets face it.......you can't save every fool from himself/herself. If someone feels comfortable enough to buy from someone with no name~ well.......there is a fool born every minute.

KelliH · Jan 29, 2009

Sounds like it would be a total pain to have to deal with and enforce.

Seamus Haley · Jan 29, 2009

I think there are two issues here.

The first is the idea of creating a BOI thread without the subject's name or DBA. I've seen inquiries that use a message board login or an email address... rarely seen a good or bad guy thread that didn't have a name or DBA though, since few people are going to send money to someone without it. A good guy thread for User Number XXXXX is weird and pretty sketchy but it's also very obviously weird and pretty sketchy, so I don't think there's a lot of weight to the post.

The second about requiring a name for the classifieds is a little iffy. Some people do use a business name as a login. Some of them don't use the BOI. Some of them might want an employee to throw up some ads while the owner is busy. Given that a long standing puzzle has been finding ways to increase the use of the classifieds sections, I'm not sure having users jump through hoops or adding extra requirements is the way to go.

All the tools are on-site for buyers and sellers to protect themselves, I don't think that the reward is worth the effort of enforcing a name rule for the classifieds. Might be a good thing to suggest or strongly encourage on the part of people posting ads but that's a little different than enforcing it.

SPJ · Jan 29, 2009

I don't see how this would prevent people from sending money to people they don't know the names of.
I mean, c'mon. If you are dumb enough to send money to someone across the country without even knowing their name (real or otherwise) than there really is no way this requirement would help these people.
I saw that thread and all I can say is that buyer let what I would think is common sense go right out the window. They are just lucky this anonymous person didn't rip them off.
Sometimes people are just too dumb to help.

John E Dove · Jan 29, 2009

I'm a little torn on this one.
For one I am a firm believer in letting people know up front who they are dealing with to the point I use my real name on every site I join. I really dislike the use of pseudonyms with no real identifiers like you see on most sites.
I realize that some people might create false identities but if they were regular sellers it is quite probable that someone would quickly expose them based on email communications containing contradictory information.
It would function similar to the BOI where full names are required but seldom verified.

On the other hand, instituting this rule would make more work for the mods. Unless someone were to report a violation the mods would have to take on the added responsibility of checking every ad every day for violations of the rule. And if a violation were spotted what then, delete the ad?

Also if this were to become a rule I would think that a company name would not be acceptable any more than it would be on the BOI. A good example of this would be Chris Sulwer aka Memnoch1790 who when exposed as being questionable resorted to killerfroggs. Rather than attach his name he made up a company name which got a post deleted from the BOI for a violation of the full name rule.

StrictlyExotics · Jan 29, 2009

Here is the thing however... If people actually have a legal business name ie... LLc or Inc, why wouldnt their "Legal business name" be more than enough. For example, when I go to my local McDonalds, they don't list the owner by name but rather by their LLc or Inc on the door as stated by law. When dealing with an LLc or Inc, should they list the total board of directors in the classified ads to see all who may or may not be legally responsible? I think in regards to individual persons names, we put too much on it. Just my opinion

WebSlave · Jan 30, 2009

Seamus Haley said:
I think there are two issues here.

The first is the idea of creating a BOI thread without the subject's name or DBA. I've seen inquiries that use a message board login or an email address... rarely seen a good or bad guy thread that didn't have a name or DBA though, since few people are going to send money to someone without it. A good guy thread for User Number XXXXX is weird and pretty sketchy but it's also very obviously weird and pretty sketchy, so I don't think there's a lot of weight to the post.

The second about requiring a name for the classifieds is a little iffy. Some people do use a business name as a login. Some of them don't use the BOI. Some of them might want an employee to throw up some ads while the owner is busy. Given that a long standing puzzle has been finding ways to increase the use of the classifieds sections, I'm not sure having users jump through hoops or adding extra requirements is the way to go.

All the tools are on-site for buyers and sellers to protect themselves, I don't think that the reward is worth the effort of enforcing a name rule for the classifieds. Might be a good thing to suggest or strongly encourage on the part of people posting ads but that's a little different than enforcing it.

Well, after a lot of thought on this issue (well, not a LOT, but some....), I think the points made in this post (and others) make a lot of sense to me. I guess this would be another one of those mistakes where I am trying to rubber baby buggy bumper this site, and all it would do is get people pissed, cause more work and headaches for everyone, and probably not accomplish anything near it's intended goal. If someone is willing to send their money to someone who is basically anonymous here, then who am I to stand in their way? If someone wants to try to do BUSINESS in this manner, then more power to them, I guess. That is between the buyer and the seller without me or the mods sticking our noses into their business.

Sorry gang, but old habits die hard with me.... But I'm working on it.

RJK890 · Jan 30, 2009

I guess you have made your decision already Rich, and I think it was the right one. For whatever reason "Marcy" does not want to include her name in her ads is her business. I guess using her zip code as her ID lets people be able to know where she is located, and get shipping quotes.

I am going to be purchasing a Helix and a 1.2 trio of Blizzard Leopard Gecko's from her this weekend.

Obviously a red flag went up because she has no name in her ads. Another one went up after I sent her a PM asking her to call me to discuss a purchase, and she replied to me saying that she did not like using the telephone and would prefer to haggle via email, and PM's.
She did call me after I made another request, and introduced herself as Marcy. Maybe she is paranoid to put her name and telephone out on the web, and in todays world who can blame her.

I am going to be driving to Orlando to make the purchase. Honestly, I am not comfortable sending money to unknown people, and avoid shipping/receiving animals if at all possible.

She is a contributing member here, and so far has only positive feedback in her "good guy" thread. Why don't you take the time to send her a PM explaining to her that being an anonymous seller sends up a red flag and that she should consider putting at least her first name in her ads.

hhmoore · Jan 30, 2009

RJK890 said:
Why don't you take the time to send her a PM explaining to her that being an anonymous seller sends up a red flag and that she should consider putting at least her first name in her ads.

Why should that be Rich's responsibility??
There is a BOI thread with her username, she might have noticed it...and the comments on that subject. Besides, you're already communicating with her, and will be face to face with her in the near future - if you think such an explanation would benefit her, go for it.

Interesting, though, that she would be Marcy to you...and Mandy to the person that posted the thread on the BOI.

Full name requirement in the classifieds section.

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