The rules following, or lack of it, is a problem yes. The biggest problem is the market itself....crap-tons of product (cues, cases, etc) and an ever-shrinking market that can't absorb it all. Now there are all these new 'dealers' popping up every so often. If they are crazy enough to want to be a part of this, I say the more power to them. lol
It's not a "little guy" vs "dealer" thing that's the problem. If you look at legitimate dealers, those are not the ones flooding this section with stuff. Just my observation.
My point being that if there are multiple items for sale from ANY individual, they should all be confined within one FS thread. It cuts down on the clutter, and provides a mini 'storefront' for both buyer AND seller. There are a few here that do group their listings into a single thread, and they do not seem to be affected by that practice. But when you have a few individuals, some long time members, listing four or more cues, all in their own threads...it doesn't take much for those who are selling single items, or who are occasional sellers, to have their threads dropped back to page 6,7,8 within a matter of mere hours. Often, those same sellers are the ones getting the 'shill' bumps as well or prematurely bump their own threads by from a few minutes to a few hours of the actual 48 hours from the initial posting or bump.
As to cues being 'overpriced'...that is a bit subjective. Yes, there have been instances where an item has been grossly overpriced...and it will typically languish as a result. The rest, may not be so much as overpriced, but have a bit of 'wiggle' room built in for haggling. Or, they may be priced within reason, only to have those 'flippers' who call themselves 'dealers' want to steal the item, only to re-list it at a higher price shortly thereafter, because they have built a small following that they can sell to because they have a higher iTrader rating...because there are still those here that think that iTrader ratings are gospel, which they are not. How many posts have we seen where someone felt wronged by a seller, whom they purchased from based solely on the seller's iTrader? Searching the seller's past transactions via posts tells a truer tale than the iTrader, IMHO.
Ugly cues? Eye of the beholder. I have seen some pretty ugly cues from Tim Scruggs, for instance, that still manage to sell, even though I wouldn't spend a penny on them. Hate stained forearms, shoot me. Once upon a time, Bocote cues were a hard sell...until people began to realize just how great a player bocote cues could be and how stable a wood it is...and makers began seeking out more figured examples of it. Now, bocote is not a 'deal breaker' that it once was. Personally, I still cannot get past the utter butt-ugliness of purpleheart and bocote together...but others love it. Go figure. Brazilian tulipwood didn't used to be a tough sell at all, but now...it's the new bocote. Which is pretty stupid, seeing as it is one of the last true rosewoods (dalbergia genus) still available to purchase and import...although that will be changing fairly shortly, and will go the way of Gabon ebony, Brazilian and Madagascar rosewoods. Prices are already up for it. Finding the darker tulip is nigh on to impossible anymore...most of it is light and peachy. Another great playing wood that is ignored. It is what it is.
The continuation of the illegal bumps is still a big problem. I have quit reporting them, because when it comes to certain members, it doesn't matter...so what's the point any more? Make the penalties more severe for the trangressions, especially on members who know better, and the behavior will cease. It's all about fairness across the board...no matter who you are.
Oh, and before I forget...the newest tactic: Links to FS threads as a member's sig line. If people spent half as much time doing right, as they do trying to get over, in life in general, the world would be a much better place.
