tPF authenticator discussion

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#376
CinthiaZ said:
Swanky Mama has been very helpful to us authenticators in Michael Kors thread, with newbies coming along and giving out incorrect evaluations. She has been very good about taking care of that problem and it virtually solves it for us, by just removing their comments.

I think the way you have it now is working just fine, with all the authenticators for each brand being pinned to the top of each brand's forum. We have never had one complaint about being difficult to find.

HOWEVER, I personally think that 500 posts before being able to get an evaluation is something we need to seriously discuss. There are pros and cons to this, and I will tell you mine and then you tell me if I am off track, or what you think.

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with folks joining this forum to get an authentication. I do understand this might hurt professional authenticators that have businesses. So it makes sense in that regard. I have actually been sending new members here that are getting so much incorrect information off of facebook and other venues, misleading guides, etc. These people need help! What is the harm in sending them here, as long as they do not start authenticating! ?? I believe THAT is where we need to draw the line. Stating that no one under 500 posts is allowed to comment on authentications, should suffice and perhaps that can be in the user agreement, when they join?

But if they are here for an evaluation, why not give it to them? I agree with others here stating, "what in fact are others exactly 'contributing' because they have 500 posts??" For what? Oooh, aahhh, and I love that color?? lol! What contribution is that really??

I appreciate what you are trying to do by stopping these newbies from authentications, but I see no harm what so ever, in new members coming here to keep from getting ripped off by these criminal counterfeiters. I have faith that if we help them, they will stay on this forum and feel safe here. I often brag that this is a 'safe haven' for those of us that don't want to support the counterfeiting business. Why would we want to make it easier for the counterfeiters to sell their goods, by waiting so long to give folks an evaluation?

I think the TPF is perfect the way it is! Just allow us to keep reporting newbie authenticators, and that should continue to solve that problem. Newbies need to know to show respect for the long time authenticators here, not stepping on their toes, and not arguing with us on our threads. When I first started authenticating here, I contacted the other authenticators , after I had proven to them that I knew the bags really well, and I ASKED them, if they appreciated my input or not! I did NOT just start throwing out evaluations as a new member! I can't believe anyone does this! I think it is very disrespectful to the long time evaluaters here and shows total disregard for their positions! This is NOT facebook, where you can just do what ever you please, and even facebook has rules.

By continuing to remove their posts, this basically solves the problem. No need to cause a new problem , trying to solve an old one. I think not allowing authentications until 500 posts are made, is just going to send people to other forums. Why not keep them here?? Why not keep this the biggest and the best, with the most members?? Am I missing something here??
JMHO
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from what I understand, that is what Megs is suggesting…

One thing we would like to add to the Authenticate This threads to start is having a
500 post minimum requirement before someone can authenticate.


NOT that to obtain an authentication, a member would need 500 posts.

But in order for them to actually participate in Authenticating on the AT threads,
they would need a 500 post count.


New members would still be able to obtain an authentication, from
one of the Trusted Authenticators on the specified AT thread.
 
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#377
JustAgUrL said:
from what I understand, that is what Megs is suggesting…

One thing we would like to add to the Authenticate This threads to start is having a
500 post minimum requirement before someone can authenticate.


NOT that to obtain an authentication, a member would need 500 posts.

But in order for them to actually participate in Authenticating on the AT threads,
they would need a 500 post count.


New members would still be able to obtain an authentication, from
one of the Trusted Authenticators on the specified AT thread.
Click to expand...
OK, thanks for clarifying that. I was apparently confused, as usual! lol! That makes more sense and would be VERY helpful! Thank you!
 
#380
I think CinthiaZ was reading/remembering the other commenter's post asking about a 500 post requirement for people seeking authentications. (Not Megs.) I completely agree, that I have no problem with brand new members coming here for authentications. I think that is much better than them ending up with a counterfeit. It's when someone has been a member for a while and only seems to be using the free service time and time again, without participating, that has warranted a comment or gentle reminder about authentications being a service preferably offered just to our active members.

I think a 500 post minimum is a decent start Megs, thank you. I just worry very much about that verbiage being added to the rules, if reading that will spark the idea in others or new members wondering if they CAN start "authenticating" once they have enough posts. When maybe they still shouldn't be. I have seen newer members come in and post 40 or 50 comments a day, so really 500 isn't much at all. I think it's far more important to change/increase some brand-knowledgeable moderating abilities across the forum, or add wording/disclaimers at the top of EACH page of the AT threads regarding that thread's mods/current contributors. So that it reads less like a free-for-all for the majority of people, who don't read page "1" :-) If contributors or mods alter in any way or if someone's doing well and added to the list of people who know what they are doing, or if authenticators leave.. it could be revised with each new fresh thread starting up when the old one gets full/closed. Just a thought. I think if authenticators do feel they have a little bit more mod-response/control, then they won't ever again feel too overly frustrated, and stick around.
 
#381
I think 500 posts as a minimum requirement to authenticate, just a baseline that weeds out the random silliness of late is a great quick fix.

I think the other point that was mentioned was something I was just debating proposing. I think it is a shame that many members come here and abuse the authentication system, which is what I believe one of the earlier posts was talking about, forgive me not quoting.

I often wondered why many authenticators insisted in active participation and a live auction link before they would give an opinion. Then, one said recently it is to deter resellers from coming here to authenticate their wares, rather than paying money to have their items authenticated and practicing their own due diligence. Also, it is grating to have people come here ONLY to authenticate items they are trying to buy. It takes an incredible amount of time for authenticators to check links, photos, advise, REPEAT THEMSELVES over and over asking for proper format, research to stay ahead of counterfeiters, and the myriad if other things they do that I am I awe of (just found out about most if it, and am just so grateful for them providing this service). They do this for this lovely community and fellow members, and it ticks me off to see people with no interest in giving something in return. They even let most of them continue to take advantage, just being kind and avoiding petulant drama, and simply say...hey, maybe stick around and join in...

But some of these folks are egregious. I clicked on one name recently that was declined an LV authentication and rightly so, they had over a hundred posts, and they were ALL authentication requests over a few years!

I'm not an authenticator of course, but I get being annoyed by this. So,as I have said before, I personally don't think it would be bad to have a minimum post requirement to request an authentication. If it was global across all brands, it would save them having to seem like the bad guys, and having to deal with the animosity incited by ignoring certain people who just keep bumping their request over and over. Also, it would be quick to click their post count and see who is just posting "hi", and "yep" in an attempt to boost their number.

It seems to me to be a fairly significant percentage of requests that are just those who saw a seller refer them to the forum in the auction details to get the item authenticated for free before purchase.

I know some will say..."but new members will be turned away, what if they were going to stay and play after the authentication..." I say no one has a right to a free authentication. I didn't come here looking for one, I came looking to find like-minded people with a shared (very indulgent) interest.

50 posts...100.. not too much to ask, you can't even start a thread with less, but again only the people who actually DO this can really say what they mind and don't mind. I just think some sort of requirement reduces them having to get into arguments, be disrespected and over-run.

JMO. :smile1:
 
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#382
I don't mind one bit authenticating for someone who is new to the forum. That is the way I found the forum. I wouldn't ever have joined if I hadn't wanted an authentication. I'm sure I "abused" the system somewhat in the beginning. It was the way I was treated in the AT thread that encouraged me to check out other parts of the forum.

Once in awhile, we'll get a newbie who will post all over the place as if in a mad rush to get the most posts. It gets annoying to see the same question posted in 10 different threads. These posters don't take the time to learn forum etiquette, and usually they disappear quickly. The best newbies are those whose first post starts "long time lurker, first time poster..." These are people who familiarized themselves with the forum before jumping in. I'd hate to see this type of poster blocked from requesting an authentication.

We have a few other threads that people sometimes mistake for the AT thread. One is the ID thread and another is the "Answers to Authenticity Questions." If posters are blocked from the AT thread for a low post count, I think they will attempt to post their requests in these threads.
 
#383
lshcat said:
I think CinthiaZ was reading/remembering the other commenter's post asking about a 500 post requirement for people seeking authentications. (Not Megs.) I completely agree, that I have no problem with brand new members coming here for authentications. I think that is much better than them ending up with a counterfeit. It's when someone has been a member for a while and only seems to be using the free service time and time again, without participating, that has warranted a comment or gentle reminder about authentications being a service preferably offered just to our active members.

I think a 500 post minimum is a decent start Megs, thank you. I just worry very much about that verbiage being added to the rules, if reading that will spark the idea in others or new members wondering if they CAN start "authenticating" once they have enough posts. When maybe they still shouldn't be. I have seen newer members come in and post 40 or 50 comments a day, so really 500 isn't much at all. I think it's far more important to change/increase some brand-knowledgeable moderating abilities across the forum, or add wording/disclaimers at the top of EACH page of the AT threads regarding that thread's mods/current contributors. So that it reads less like a free-for-all for the majority of people, who don't read page "1" :-) If contributors or mods alter in any way or if someone's doing well and added to the list of people who know what they are doing, or if authenticators leave.. it could be revised with each new fresh thread starting up when the old one gets full/closed. Just a thought. I think if authenticators do feel they have a little bit more mod-response/control, then they won't ever again feel too overly frustrated, and stick around.
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That is a GOOD point what your concern is that they will think they start authenticating after 500 posts?? What is their knowledge? But the 500 post requirement is a good step in the right direction. I think it will help with this newbie problem. I also like the idea of posting the rules at the top of each page! That would come in really handy. Us gals on the MK thread, as you can see, put some of those rules right in our signatures as a way to have folks see the rules on every page. It also helps OPs to see who the regular authentictors are, in the MK thread. I think this would be a good idea for all of the authenticators here, to have similar signatures, to segregate us from the rest. It helps posters to know who is valid or not. Just a suggestion.
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#384
CinthiaZ said:
That is a GOOD point what your concern is that they will think they start authenticating after 500 posts?? What is their knowledge? But the 500 post requirement is a good step in the right direction. I think it will help with this newbie problem. I also like the idea of posting the rules at the top of each page! That would come in really handy. Us gals on the MK thread, as you can see, put some of those rules right in our signatures as a way to have folks see the rules on every page. It also helps OPs to see who the regular authentictors are, in the MK thread. I think this would be a good idea for all of the authenticators here, to have similar signatures, to segregate us from the rest. It helps posters to know who is valid or not. Just a suggestion.
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I like that idea a lot too, actually even if the mods had a more defined uniform "look" to their sig's or profiles or the caption under their avatars... would be helpful, to especially newer members. In line with that thinking perhaps whomever they deem proven commenters in the AT threads could share a similar "label" or appearance. Although missbanff and I have seen newbies/ highly mistake-prone members actually label themselves under their avatars as "authenticator" lol :p So while I understand why the Purse Forum may not want to facilitate a certain specific or consistent across the board distinction, it's another idea worth exploring, to avoid member confusion.
 
#386
CinthiaZ said:
That is a GOOD point what your concern is that they will think they start authenticating after 500 posts?? What is their knowledge? But the 500 post requirement is a good step in the right direction. I think it will help with this newbie problem. I also like the idea of posting the rules at the top of each page! That would come in really handy. Us gals on the MK thread, as you can see, put some of those rules right in our signatures as a way to have folks see the rules on every page. It also helps OPs to see who the regular authentictors are, in the MK thread. I think this would be a good idea for all of the authenticators here, to have similar signatures, to segregate us from the rest. It helps posters to know who is valid or not. Just a suggestion.
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Honestly, I don't think that would be an issue.

It is just a way for them to deal with the issue of people
who are new trying to authenticate.

This way, they can at least have a minimum criteria set as a starting point.

Then when somebody just decides that they are going to step in and authenticate
when they only have 50 posts,
somebody can point to the 500 Post rule to nip that in the bud.

I assume that other ideas will also be tossed around as far as vetting possible authenticators.



(sorry if my reply is a bit disjointed, I just woke up and I'm still a bit fuzzy.) :D
 
#387
Is the 500 post rule been used from now on then? In all AT threads because what happens if one gets authenticated and then the next one not because of the rule? Just asking BTW no nastiness intended at all just asking :)
 
#389
Baglover1982 said:
Is the 500 post rule been used from now on then? In all AT threads because what happens if one gets authenticated and then the next one not because of the rule? Just asking BTW no nastiness intended at all just asking :)
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I am not sure what you mean… :smile1:

as far as I understand, it would be the same as it is now,
it would just be that people who have less than 500 posts
would NOT be able to Authenticate an incoming request….

They would still be able to ask for help authenticating a bag…. :smile1:
 
#390
JustAgUrL said:
I am not sure what you mean… :smile1:

as far as I understand, it would be the same as it is now,
it would just be that people who have less than 500 posts
would NOT be able to Authenticate an incoming request….

They would still be able to ask for help authenticating a bag…. :smile1:
Click to expand...

Sorry ignore me I misread.... I'm way to tired 😩
 
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