FAQ: Readers' Ads

[Forum Admin]

How do I find Readers' Ads?

SOS READERS ADS has now migrated into a subforum of this main SOS Forum.

You will find it on the Forum Index at the bottom, and can use the [+] and [-] button at the far-right to show/hide and collapse the section category completely if you so desire.

[kezstone]

The new look is an absolute ugly mess. The old readers ads...simple, easy to filter, if you want photos the seller would email and everything worked. This is a perfect example of fixing something that wasn't broke!

[Forum Admin]

The new look is an absolute ugly mess. The old readers ads...simple, easy to filter, if you want photos the seller would email and everything worked. This is a perfect example of fixing something that wasn't broke!

Sorry you feel that way - give it time and you might think differently.

Whilst the old system DID work well, it failed in attracting a growing number of eyeballs, such that Sellers often did not find a Buyer for their wares.

The SOS Forum represents over 64% of the traffic on our site, and that is 57% higher than the old Readers Ads part of this site.

It took a lot of money to develop the old system, and we are currently in the process of migrating the entire site from v7 of the bespoke, customsied CMS (Content Management System) that we use, to v10 -- we *have* to do it, we have no choice as End Of Life support for that version of the CMS means we would not be allowed to run the v7 on any servers we use to host this site. The company whose servers/cloud we use would not permit it, because no support means no security patches to the CMS, and that's not permitted by them or any other hosting service.

The cost of rebuilding the old R/Ads system's functionality and deep integration into every single registered user's My Account far outweighs the benefits of building a replacement, we determined, especially given the reducing numbers of visitors to that part of the site.

So we looked for a solution... and we found it, in incorporating Readers Ads into the main phpBB SOS Forum.

If you visit other competitor websites in our core subjects, you will find they have only ever offered their "classifieds" in the form of a subforum.

[Forum Admin]

I forgot to mention...

The replacement R/Ads subforum is presently a single subforum - this is what the majority of members who completed our SOS Reader Survey a year or so ago said they wanted.

The old R/Ads had one "show me everything" forum and that was by far the most viewed. We know that because we monitor clicks, scrolls etc in the abstract using Heat Map software analytics. Again, few people used the sidebar Categories.

It would be feasible for us to introduce sub-categories as separate subforums of the SOS READERS ADS forum, were that deemed to be sensible.

SOS is adaptable, and we're always listening and do change lots of things behind the scenes that members request in this here Feedback forum (and in PMs and Emails).

[Wonks]

As I've said elsewhere, the all-in one linear format is awful for finding specific equipment.

There's no filtering available, no keyword look-up, and no way of deleting an ad after something is sold. If the forum search engine was better, then it might just be usable for finding things, but it's not. I know it's the one that comes with the standard forum software, but it is pants.

E.g. there's an ad for a Marshall JVM 205C combo. I type 'marshall' or 'Marshall' in the search box and it comes up with nothing. Really?

How on earth do you think it can work once you get a few pages of ads without any filters or sub-forums?

[Forum Admin]

As I've said elsewhere, the all-in one linear format is awful for finding specific equipment.

There's no filtering available, no keyword look-up, and no way of deleting an ad after something is sold. If the forum search engine was better, then it might just be usable for finding things, but it's not. I know it's the one that comes with the standard forum software, but it is pants.

E.g. there's an ad for a Marshall JVM 205C combo. I type 'marshall' or 'Marshall' in the search box and it comes up with nothing. Really?

How on earth do you think it can work once you get a few pages of ads without any filters or sub-forums?

Wonks,

Thanks for the feedback. It's early days and the Search box within that R/Ads forum will be working soon - unfortunately, our lead developer is off sick and cannot address the tweaks we need.

Also, as I know it is a bugbear of yours, we will be removing the appearance of Adverts in the QUICK LINKS hamburger very soon, too, if that happens to be where you access the new posts across all subforums.

AFAIK we managed to keep R/Ads out of all other "Latest Posts" listings - let me know if you spot any and tell me the URL or path so we can locate any such items.

Thanks!

Bear with please.

[Hugh Robjohns]

E.g. there's an ad for a Marshall JVM 205C combo. I type 'marshall' or 'Marshall' in the search box and it comes up with nothing. Really?

The reason, as I expect you realise, is because that particular ad uses MARSHALL in capitals, and the forum search engine is frustratingly case sensitive.

Type in MARSHALL and the ad is found. Marshall or marshall find nothing because those forms aren't in the advert.

Yes, it's hugely irritating, I agree, but it is a limitation of the forum's built-in search function which seems to have no intelligence whatsoever.

I've advertised a MoogerFooger rack... but if I search for Moogerfooger or moogerfooger nothing is found Moog* gets it, though!

[Wonks]

Well, that's really going to help people find things on an all one big list ads section.

[Hugh Robjohns]

It's not ideal... but seriously doubt it's a complete deal breaker for most users, either. We're no texpecting ebay volumes of sale items here!

This forum's search engine's limitations are well known, of course, and on the list of things to be improved as and when circumstances allow... but being realistic, that probably means a newer generation of forum software.

On the glass half-full side of things, Ian hasn't been forced to axe the Free Readers' Ads... which was the alternative.

The facility is still available, still free, and still appreciated by many, even in its new form. Let's see how it goes, shall we?

[Arpangel]

My things have sold, how do I delete my ad to stop getting lots of unnecessary replies, when I try and see my ad all I get is a box telling me about editing rules, no delete option. This new system isn’t good, if possible please could you delete my ad?

[Dynamic Mike]

I think it says to report the post and the mods will delete it.

[Hugh Robjohns]

My things have sold, how do I delete my add to stop getting lots of unnecessary replies, when I try and see my ad all I get is a box telling me about editing rules, no delete option. This new system isn’t good, if possible please could you delete my add?

I don't see any ads from you in the new Forum Readers Ads, Tony — and welcome back, by the way.

Are you referring to ads in the previous system? If so, I can get one of the web admin peeps to delete them for you.... although those listing will all disappear soon anyway.

[Forum Admin]

Tony PM me if it is the old system advert and I will delete it.

Ian G

[oldbetsey]

The new look is an absolute ugly mess. The old readers ads...simple, easy to filter, if you want photos the seller would email and everything worked. This is a perfect example of fixing something that wasn't broke!

Sorry you feel that way - give it time and you might think differently.

Whilst the old system DID work well, it failed in attracting a growing number of eyeballs, such that Sellers often did not find a Buyer for their wares.

With all due respect the only thing the new format is giving these eyeballs is eyesore.

I sincerely question the wisdom behind the new format as being the solution that sellers need to find buyers.

Not to pile it on and sorry but, like Kezstone says, it is an ugly mess.

R.

[Forum Admin]

Not to pile it on and sorry but, like Kezstone says, it is an ugly mess.

Care to elaborate on this comment please, so we can learn and adapt/improve anything we can?

[BillB]

Folks, the Forum Admins and senior SOS-ers (who we are blooming lucky to have at the helm) have explained, perfectly clearly, why the Readers Ads needed to move into this format. I am perfectly content to accept their fundamental point that it has to be done this way, or not at all. And whilst you may think that there are other routes they could have pursued, they are in charge of managing this as they deem most appropriate, and are entitled to a life (and our thanks and courtesy) as well.

There is no doubt that they will do everything they can to make it work as smoothly as possible. Cut them some slack, adapt a little.

This is a free service, and it is moderated by the best. It will all work out in time.

[Forum Admin]

Thanks for the generous worrds BillB.

I have created a POLL so members should Vote and make their opinion count. It is open for 90 days from. today, then we'll see what the results indicate.

POLL is here: https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... hp?t=90987

[Forum Admin]

This is a perfect example of fixing something that wasn't broke!

Kezstone, it was broken. Numbers of users was down, and when surveyed in late 2022 as to why they were using SOS Ads less and less, over 3000 respondents said they preferred dedicated Seller sites (you know who they are) as they offered useful functions like:

- Photos
- Bookmarks
- Bold/Italics and lots of words
- Links to external sites
- etc
- etc

This SOS READERS ADS forum addresses all of these points and delivers some extra icing on the cake. We do NOT charge members commission on their ad sales either...

To develop these features in-house in our bespoke CMS-based Readers Ads was going to cost valuable WebDev team time and £££thousands - money we'd much prefer to allocate to implementing new features for the main Core Site (which is what we are doing) where they are likely to get used by over 1 million users every month.

[Arpangel]

My things have sold, how do I delete my add to stop getting lots of unnecessary replies, when I try and see my ad all I get is a box telling me about editing rules, no delete option. This new system isn’t good, if possible please could you delete my add?

I don't see any ads from you in the new Forum Readers Ads, Tony — and welcome back, by the way.

Are you referring to ads in the previous system? If so, I can get one of the web admin peeps to delete them for you.... although those listing will all disappear soon anyway.

Hugh, things haven’t been good, I'm still recovering, and I'm not in the right frame of mind to join in, medical reasons, I can’t explain here.
I had a chat with Will, and Mr Bladder, and thanks to them for their concern.
Stay well all of you.

[Hugh Robjohns]

...things haven’t been good, I'm still recovering, and I'm not in the right frame of mind to join in, medical reasons, I can’t explain here.

Really sorry to hear that, Tony. I wish you a speedy recovery. Take care of yourself.

[OneWorld]

I too wish you well