ATM's Virtual Phonograph Show & Sale April 4 & 5

[Moooperator]

Learn all about it at

http://victrolagramophones.proboards.co ... thread=224

We invite all to participate as buyers and sellers!

[brianu]

I checked this out on the other board after discussing it briefly with someone yesterday... and I'm confused as to why one has to sign up as a member of that board in order to even access the link on that board with information about the "show," let alone participate in that show as a potential buyer...???

are statistics and numbers of "members" a board can claim that important? if this event is really about having a virtual phonograph show, then why make it so difficult to take part (especially when that show is being marketed/advertised through other boards)?

[USlakeside]

I found it tedious as well, but just registered anyway. I don't know about other users, but there are probably upwards of 20 sites I now have had to register to use, and I am so over it!

[brianu]

ha... right, I hear you. but it wasn't just registration to use the site iself... I can agree with asking people to register in order to post messages and all that... but in this instance, a virtual online phonograph sale/show is being promoted through various sites, but you can't "attend" it or participate in it (or even find out more information about it by following the link provided above) unless you first register with the host site. it just seemed like a lame attempt to boost membership.

[USlakeside]

I can see that, but at the same time, they are trying to create a 'safer' buying ground so its less anonymous. While you could easily forge that info to register... it is all they can do.

[brianu]

its really just a forum for that... bringing seller and buyers (if not just lookers) together, and they I imagine will take it from there... by email, phone, etc.... so any sort of anonymity a person might have while participating would be gone (in so far as it needs to go) once people are actually doing buying and selling. if that's the reason for requiring registration, that's ridiculous.

[MordEth]

I can see that, but at the same time, they are trying to create a 'safer' buying ground so its less anonymous. While you could easily forge that info to register... it is all they can do.

It’s not like it takes all that much effort to create an e-mail address to register for a forum, and to quote from your profile:

Name: uslakeside
Email: hidden
Account Status: Not Activated

You haven’t even confirmed your e-mail address, so the one that you have on file doesn’t even have to be real. As long as you can post as a member without activating your account, how secure is that? This isn’t even factoring in other concerns with ProBoards.

So the idea that they are trying to provide a safer buying ground seems rather questionable to me (and when we were on ProBoards, you had to activate your account to post)—besides, how many people buy things from other members on these boards without having gotten to know them or know their reputation beforehand?

— MordEth

[brianu]

the jobber speaks! ha.

and for that matter... although I hate throwing this tank of gasoline on the fire... consider ebay, where people are conned and defrauded all the time despite that sites "heightened" security and overly conscious efforts to make EVERYTHING identity protected - until the auction ends and buyers and sellers id's are shared... but only to a certain extent.

[USlakeside]

I didnt even know i wasnt registered, where is that option? there was no mention of registering beyond what I did to join in any introductory emails. And its not so obvious if i view my profile. Which says I am registered, but that box may be a link to registered users?

[Moooperator]

Guys, We are not trying to boost membership for the sake of a number - afterall when the sale is over anyone can withdraw their membership. And signing up is not difficult at all. Key in 4 or 5 lines of type and you're in the door. You'll have to do more work getting in Union and it costs hundreds less!!! They won't even let you on the parking lot til 8 am.! This has been a lot of work and real cash out of several pockets to put on this show and advertise it so many would sell and many would buy. It stops being a lame attempt at anything when I let go of cash! I don't know about you but I'm a member on 5 boards/forums so I don't guess I have any problems boosting other boards numbers.

And of course there may be some that would want to put in false information and there is nothing we can do about that but for regular folks it gives us come kind of contact. We are just trying to make it as safe as you can with what few tools we do have even if computer geeks can easily get around those fences. Most collectors have trouble posting a picture so fake IP's and such are really out of many collectors' grasps - mine included.

THE MAIN reason is that we don't want completely rouge guests creating havoc for people who are trying to enjoy the event. At least with membership those people can be banned even if we have to do it over and over. Sadly there are people out there that have nothing better to do than be jerks.

We just want to give those folks that can't get to the live shows a place to experience one even with the limitations of the virtual world.


That being said... here is some more shameless promotion! Enjoy!