Interesting (and sad) to see the negatives pop up first. What a sad world that people assume the worst first and not acknowledge any chance of a forum like that being a positive thing. I see this as a chance for someone just starting his musical life and is on a tight budget to find deals from people here, where he can have a pretty good sense of security rather than a stranger on eBay or craigslist. I see maybe a young parent who needs to sell something to give his kids a better Christmas or a decent birthday and would like to have his friends on the PG forum have first dibs rather than spam from opportunists.

I would so rather have the opportunity to ask veteran forum users "Hey, this Eddie guy has been around a while and I am thinking about buying his spare synth. Has he ever displayed any kind of behavior that indicates I shouldn't trust him to send my payment to him?"

To me that helping hand mentality far outweighs the occasional spammer. Geeze we get them now one or two a week.... I get spammed on SOUNDCLOUD in posts about my tracks!! Any place that there is interaction there is a potential for the nonsense. (And to the last one, no, I don't want to sell Avon....)

I have been able to buy 2 items here and sell two items. In all 4 cases one party had to reach out to the other rather than viewing a public post. Never once did I have reason to be anxious about the deal going bad. That comfort zone was the result of being in a place where reputation precedes, as well as the open window to spread the word to peers had I been ripped off.

As willing as people are to share knowledge here, it seems like a logical step to offer unused gear to each other before venturing into the land of craigslist. Remember, if they put it in, you don't have to participate.

I must have missed Matt's Asian Escorts.....!!!