For the grey area between owners and dealers, can we have a section called 'For Sale in Bulk' or something of that sort for people who want to sell more than 5 (10?, 15?) things. Whether to charge them, or to keep it free is a different issue and can be decided by the mods. However, what it does is that it at least sets the expectations right. Everyone knows that in all likelihood, it is a somewhat commercial venture and not the conventional sale of used stuff that you would expect in the owners' section.
The nature of social behaviour of a group of people can, in many ways, be judged by the way they drive on the roads. If we open a few more forums, that will also be misused and, in a short time, we will all be discussing how to control the new menace.
As far as I can see, there are just two types of sellers. An owner who has a few extra items, and a dealer who wants to hawk his items. If you bring a 100 sealed items from somewhere, you should become a dealer and hawk your stuff. Please remember there have been many other large item sales by members. For example, I have seen Srini and many others sell off their BR collection in batches as they either ripped them or got bored with them. There were no issues then. Why? Simply because the very nature of the transaction did not raise any doubts in our mind. Recently Absolute Phase has listed some 250 LPs. Have there been any questions? Absolutely none. Why? The same reason.
What I would appreciate is a member who has some smart way of laying his hands on a number of movies and CDs and makes them available to us at discounted prices - meaning prices that are lower than the market. I do understand that the market can take a particular price. If I am ready to pay a market price, why would I buy here? I would buy from a shop that would at least give me a guarantee.
I think some dealers are doing better service to HFV members in terms of the group buys. You not only get products at very low prices, you get them delivered to your home, and you get a guarantee to boot.
Ultimately my dream is to make HFV a one stop shop for all our AV needs. You want a cable at a particular price? You can get it here. You want a CD Player? You can get it here. You want, for example, a difficult to get product from the US? No problem, HFV will get it for you. All these at prices much lower than the market price. That will be the ultimate camaraderie. You want a product to be reviewed without bias? We will do it for you. You want some specific information? We will give it to you.
Frankly if you want to make money as a owner / seller or other form of mask you are wearing at that moment, go to Ebay. As I said in a disputed sale thread, I want the buyer and seller to continue to be friends and help each other after the sale. Remember, if the transaction leaves a sour taste in your mouth, however good the seller is, you will start disliking him. That is something I don't want to happen in HFV. I have learnt a lot about AV here at HFV, and I consider this to a storehouse of knowledge for all of us.
And that is more important than anything else.
Cheers