I have been wondering this for a while, and poor Lostboys thread jarred it to the front of my memory long enough to type this LOL
Is it considered "soliciting" on here to have a fan "trading post" where we can trade different Disney souvineers etc. for instance pin fans could trade pins like Disney encourages people to do so badly?
Dunno it hurts my head to even think about all of the different technacalities that could be implied or otherwise in mousepad's rules.

I don't think it could be a part of MousePad, but how about MouseShope? Perhaps like a public announcement bulliten board.

Tigertail777 -- believe me, the moderators have discussed this issue long and hard for a long time (in all honesty, probably from when we first started MousePad).

After extensive discussions, the decision always ends up with a "no." I realize it doesn't make much sense to the regular member. After all, you're just asking for a cork board in which to thumbtack a little index card telling folks you have something to sell (or want to buy). However in today's world of online auctions and rampant abuse, we simply do not have the resources to be responsible for such a liability.

We do not have the staffing to monitor and scrutinize every transaction. eBay has a whole department of people who handle abuse issues, and there is no way we can even consider that a viable option. This kind of electronic anonymous forum makes it too easy for scam artists to exploit, and to take people's money and not mail merchandise, or provide misleading descriptions, etc.

What happens, out of the goodness of your heart, if you decide to help someone by buying them a limited edition T-shirt, and the person keeps putting off paying you back? What if they complain because your package "got lost in the mail"? What if you bought the wrong color or size shirt for them, and they complain? Here you were, being a good community member by helping out a person in need, and they turn around and dis you by not paying you (or their check bounces and they won't return your email or PMs).

Who in the world would you complain to? The moderators?? The most we can do is cancel a membership, but nothing prevents the same person from registering again under another name.

Also, there are people who make selling on eBay a full-time occupation (the power sellers). They are now demanding health insurance coverage from eBay! Ridiculous! We do not want to support the bandwidth for professional power sellers who might decide to post hundreds of new items a day.

The prospects of such a liability is exhaustively daunting.

In fact, just thinking about all the potential problems gives me a headache. It gives all of us a headache.

So the short answer is no. N-O.

We now return to our regular programming. Thank you. :D

Originally posted by RStar
I don't think it could be a part of MousePad, but how about MouseShope? Perhaps like a public announcement bulliten board. RStar -- seeing as MouseShoppe sells products from the park, I somehow highly doubt that they would look kindly upon people selling the same items for cheaper and undercutting them on purpose (perhaps by using a CM discount or something).

By the way regarding my previous post with the long explanation, one other thing I forgot to mention -- I know on eBay there were a lot of pirated videos of "Lilo and Stitch" that were available as early as August and September of last year (bootlegs that were shot with a camcorder in a theater). That stuff is just plumb illegal, and if we knowingly allowed such transactions to take place, we would be opening ourselves to some major issues of legality.

FYI to anyone wanting to trade pins online - there are other sites that deal with such things. Pinpics.com is the one I know and have used a few times with success. Yes, it is only for pin trading, not for asking favors the way LostBoy was, but still, it's something.

I totally understand the moderator's decision. If only people weren't so quick to rip each other off....:(

Originally posted by RStar
I don't think it could be a part of MousePad, but how about MouseShope? Perhaps like a public announcement bulliten board.

I just want to jump in here and point out that MousePlanet / MousePad and MouseShoppe / CharmingShoppe are two totally different companies.

Decisions that are made about MousePlanet / MousePad have no bearing on MouseShoppe / CharmingShoppe, and MouseShoppe / CharmingShoppe decisions have no bearing on MousePlanet / MousePad.

As far as hosting a sale board on MousePlanet / MousePad, Lani gave a very good explaination about why that is really problematic for MousePlanet. Those reasons have nothing to do with MouseShoppe.

As far as hosting a sale board on MouseShoppe / CharmingShoppe, both stores offer a consignment service, where people can list things they want to sell. But that's a completely different issue, and it's not proper to discuss it here, because it has nothing to do with MousePlanet decisions on this issue.

I second CP's suggestion - PinPics.com has a pin trading engine, where you can make trade offers. And DizPins.com has a buy and sell board, where people can post exactly the type of request LostBoy posted.

AVP

Yeah, I figured it would be something like that. When you get involved with a "community" like this, you feel you can trust the people. That leaves you volnerable for someone to exploit.

But I forgot about the fact that it could grow into something unmanageable. After all, eBay started as a Pez trading site, and look at it now!

It's best to have some friends that could do you such favors (and you can return the favors of course) and leave MousePlanet out of it for legal reasons.

And I seem to have missed something. What is CharmingShoppe?

I'll have to go check it out. Also, I understood that MouseShoppe needed to be a separate entity, or buisness. As mentioned in another thread if MousePlanet goes, then Mousepad will too. But MouseShoppe, if I'm not misstaken, could continue if everyone involved so desired.

Thank you all for letting us know. Sometimes I wonder if we are prying. (I know some people definitely do;) ).

~Bob

Charming Shoppe (http://www.charmingshoppe.com)

Adrienne K
I don't own it, am not employed by it, etc, etc.

Originally posted by RStar
As mentioned in another thread if MousePlanet goes, then Mousepad will too. Actually (I know this is a little off-topic, but it was brought up), AVP said in that thread (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13409): If MousePlanet folds, which is a really big "if" and not going to happen in the forseeable future, MousePad could possibly become a self-supporting community and continue on. I'm involved in other message board communities that are doing quite well on their own and are able to sustain themselves. There's no reason that MousePad would automatically go away if MousePlanet did.

Doh, I thought I read that it could "not" go on!

I figured same equipment, same people, and financing from MousePlanet are all what makes MousePad happen.

My bad. Sorry for the missquote.

And thanks for the link Adrienne. But I'll stick with Mouse Shoppe, looks like the same type of thing. I like the Ron Lee Dopey, but there is no picture at eaither site. But I saw it on eBay, I think. Medical bills are about to put me under, so it'll be a while anyway.

Thanks Lani and everyone else... I can see you have really thouht on this issue, and have at least considered it... for that I thank you, at least it wasnt just swept under the rug.
So I am bit fuzzy on MP policy....is it ok to mention websites for people to go to do things like this? Seems that could sorta fall under soliciting...or am I giving myself a needless head-ache here?:confused:

Yes, for instance we could have told Lost Boy to check out the pin trading site for the pin if he couldn't make it there. There is no problem asking where to find merchandise, or to direct someone to a website.

The point is, don't use MP for personal gain.

Am I right here Adrienne(s) or Lani?

Originally posted by RStar

And I seem to have missed something. What is CharmingShoppe?



Now, Bob, I'm officially hurt. You should read every thread (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11130&highlight=charming+shoppe) I sstart.;)

Originally posted by Not Afraid
Now, Bob, I'm officially hurt. You should read every thread (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11130&highlight=charming+shoppe) I sstart.;)

:eek: Lisa! I must have been off the board those days. I only read the new posts due to time restraints. I'm sorry I missed it! Congrats! That sounds sooooo coooool:cool: !!!!

But you never answered where the location was and hours in the thread. Can you reveal, or would that be frowned upon here? I'll check the website first. And I would have been there a long time ago, had I known.

I'll try to get by soon. The next few weeks has several Dr. Appt.s, Aa trade show and Jury duty so I'm not sure when I can sqeeze it in. But I will try. And I'll spred the word too!

See you there.:D

Ok, I got the info from the web site. And signed up, for when I place on order (Gotta have that Ron Lee Dopey for my wife. Her B.Day is in April!).

The hours aren't condusive to an 8 to 5 job, but perhaps after one of the Dr. Apt.s.......

See you somewhere around a mouse:rolleyes: ...

~Bob