mickeysreef <*))))<
NJRC Member
This is sort of an open letter to the directors and membership here.
I made this post because I think it deserves discussion by the membership. Today I posted an ad for a friend who is getting out of the hobby. I was notified that the ad was taken down because I am not allowed to sell an item for a friend and that the friend would have to join the club to sell his items.
Really I thought they were joking because even though I haven't been here that long, maybe a year or 2, I have seen many ads titles "Selling... for a friend." So I responded, that its kinda normal here to sell something for a friend, it's done all the time. A search for "selling for a friend" on the site showed many hits where people were making posts for friends and answering WTB with "my friend has..." At least one of the posts even had the moderator "like" the post when it was marked as sold. The posts were closed but still up. Since then it looks like all of the posts I was pointing to were removed.
So first I wanted to let everyone know that this seems to be the "new" rule enforced. I was told that the rule is not new and it does not say you have to own what you are selling, but its the spirit of the rule and being enforced now.
Second, I wanted to say that even if this was a legitimate rule, it doesn't make any sense at all. Here's why, someone getting out of the hobby is not going to join a reef club, particularly not a New Jersey reef club when they may, like my friend, be moving to Florida. So lets go back to the reason for formation of this club in the first place, it's not meant to be a clique or something other than an actual reef club. That is, it's meant to introduce like minded people to the hobby and facilitate knowledge, friendship, trade and promotion of conservation, at least that's what I believe. Every now and then someone is getting out of the hobby, that means that at some point in time they will have to break down their tank and sell everything inside and the tank itself. Well what happens if they cannot sell it for the price they want? They have to sell it for less or give it away for free. I only brought what will eventually be a firesale and freebie fest, but its not wanted.
Not to knock the club, everyone I have met here has been great I don't have any personal issues with anyone but maybe the volunteers here could spend more time recruiting more membership and creating a greater presence. I don't know first hand but I've been told that the club has seen better days.
I volunteer for many things and I know that as a volunteer I have limited time and resources to promote whatever it is I am doing, like my HOA, food banks, shelters etc., So what I'm saying is that you guys can be great, but maybe just change your focus a little, try to look at things in a different way, find out what works and what doesn't. Chasing pet peeves and enforcing rules in an arbitrary manner will just drive people away.
I will remain a member for now but I have ended my automatic enrollment.
I made this post because I think it deserves discussion by the membership. Today I posted an ad for a friend who is getting out of the hobby. I was notified that the ad was taken down because I am not allowed to sell an item for a friend and that the friend would have to join the club to sell his items.
Really I thought they were joking because even though I haven't been here that long, maybe a year or 2, I have seen many ads titles "Selling... for a friend." So I responded, that its kinda normal here to sell something for a friend, it's done all the time. A search for "selling for a friend" on the site showed many hits where people were making posts for friends and answering WTB with "my friend has..." At least one of the posts even had the moderator "like" the post when it was marked as sold. The posts were closed but still up. Since then it looks like all of the posts I was pointing to were removed.
So first I wanted to let everyone know that this seems to be the "new" rule enforced. I was told that the rule is not new and it does not say you have to own what you are selling, but its the spirit of the rule and being enforced now.
Second, I wanted to say that even if this was a legitimate rule, it doesn't make any sense at all. Here's why, someone getting out of the hobby is not going to join a reef club, particularly not a New Jersey reef club when they may, like my friend, be moving to Florida. So lets go back to the reason for formation of this club in the first place, it's not meant to be a clique or something other than an actual reef club. That is, it's meant to introduce like minded people to the hobby and facilitate knowledge, friendship, trade and promotion of conservation, at least that's what I believe. Every now and then someone is getting out of the hobby, that means that at some point in time they will have to break down their tank and sell everything inside and the tank itself. Well what happens if they cannot sell it for the price they want? They have to sell it for less or give it away for free. I only brought what will eventually be a firesale and freebie fest, but its not wanted.
Not to knock the club, everyone I have met here has been great I don't have any personal issues with anyone but maybe the volunteers here could spend more time recruiting more membership and creating a greater presence. I don't know first hand but I've been told that the club has seen better days.
I volunteer for many things and I know that as a volunteer I have limited time and resources to promote whatever it is I am doing, like my HOA, food banks, shelters etc., So what I'm saying is that you guys can be great, but maybe just change your focus a little, try to look at things in a different way, find out what works and what doesn't. Chasing pet peeves and enforcing rules in an arbitrary manner will just drive people away.
I will remain a member for now but I have ended my automatic enrollment.
