Great idea, but it will need restrictions... IE: Everything must be free or trade..
Or maybe if someone DOES sell something... you get a portion of the sale to go towards LQ... just an idea...

Definitely worth a try. I wouldn't mind the postage charges if I can receive some distro disks. Getting Linux CDs in India is a tough proposition -- unless you receive one through your tech magazine subscription and downloading ISOs is really a big problem. True broadband hasn't really arrived in India by any stretch of the imagination.

I'd rather not see a classifieds section, for many reasons I've stated over the years being a member here.

The only exception I would make is if the trading is opensource involved, like Linux cd's trading or something like that.

Just thought of a point now.

Trading is based on trust. Which is a tricky area. How much can you trust that the other person will send you his disks when you send your disks to him? Are you prepared to take the risk of sending a CD with absolutely no certainty that you'll receive another one in return?

I think if you are prepared to gift somebody Linux CD(s) then this idea is worth it. Essentially because it could be a one-way transaction. I'm not saying this *will* happen, but it may, so it is better to consider it.

I think, on the whole, this idea needs deeper consideration than at first I thought. Trading shouldn't lead to personal vendettas between members which can also spill over into the forums.

This is one of my many reasons against this. If a deal goes bad, LQ certainly will get caught in the middle no matter. I don't think its worth the hassle and I know Jeremy is a busy person already. I myself would hate to get caught in the middle of a heated dispute, trying to determine who's telling the truth, who screwed who over.. etc..

I think that passing cds back and forth is fine as long as no money is involved. If someone feels they have been overcharged or ripped off - rightly or wrongly - we will have problems. So I say, if you want to go away from the forum and make a private deal, go ahead. But not on the forums and not for money.

The best way to judge how this idea would work out is to give it a fair trial run. I say that if it works and everybody's happy with the system, keep it. Otherwise ditch the idea and ask the members to keep it between themselves by e-mail or other private communication channels.

I don't agree. I think all trading and selling should be kept off the forums and kept private. Opening that door, members who try to get around the rules to sell something and post it will say member X was trading cd's with member Y, what's the difference in my thread trying to get rid of some stuff that I own? It crosses that fine line where some members don't see the whole picture and will want to bend the rules for themselves. I feel it will also open up the door for more spammers. In example, the free ipod crap. They can claim its a free giveaway promotion but yet you have to buy services and ask friends to join.. and so on.. I think any type of trading, selling or putting up a classified type item should be off limits to the forums and this site.

It would be hard to implement an idea that X amount of members like and then if its taken away for any reason, we'll have to deal with the whining and complaints afterwards, etc.

Stick to private I say if anyone wants to trade cd's.

hi there,

i just came in now. but i strong agree with trickykid here.
it doesn't matter who make the mistake LQ will get caught if something goes wrong.
this also requires a lot of work to control/moderate.
i think we should keep LQ out of this trading things.
my

regards

slackie1000