"Caution Trading" Userbar

[Ryan~]

I'm not sure if I like this, honestly. It reminds me of "The Scarlet Letter". It's like placing blame before anyone is found guilty. You know? It seems like a "too much info" thing since disputes are private anyways.

[Slasher]

I don,t know if it's a good idea. When someone do something really bad = banned.
If you get into a dispute, it's maybe because one of the other haven't clearly given all the details of the transaction, maybe because one have much less experience in trading. Both cases are often not using a middleman.
I would probably not trade with someone rated as cautious trader.

[eli]

But you wont get the userbar unless you've done something dodgy.

if you've been dodgy you'll be banned.. will you not?

[Meercat]

if you've been dodgy you'll be banned.. will you not?

A dispute will often run before a scammer is banned.
In my experience, the scammer conned more people into buying his things in the time between the dispute opening and him/her being subsequently banned.

[Rain]

I think it's a good idea.
Honestly, I've been scammed by someone who was under investigation - around 20mil.
(This was a long time ago, but they had like 20 iTrader back then, I had 10, I trusted they wouldn't scam, so I didn't use an MM, usually it all goes well).

That was because they scammed someone, and the site was too slow to ban them / was still checking it up, and they were on a scamming rampage.

In all honesty, I don't think it'll dent your reputation.
I mean, if someone has had the bar, then it's gone, I honestly won't remember.

If you're worried about someone scamming, use a Middleman, simple as that.

[Nodochi]

I'm going to agree with Meercat here

If someone is doing something dodgy, and is scamming people, there is STILL A DELAY between when he commits the crime and when he gets banned.

Between this period, he could scam a multitude of people. Its just a way to keep people safe. There's no reason someone can't wait until AFTER a dispute is cleared before trading, if they really didn't do anything wrong.

[Ryan~]

Bottom line in my head, use a middleman. There is no need to have to label someone as a possible crook because someone else scammed them because they didn't use a middleman.

While you all raise valid points, you have to trust staff to do their job and to do it quickly. I can see where the whole "scam multiple people" comes in. But, use a middleman, that's what they're there for.

Good idea, though.

[Kristin]

Or you could just use a middleman EVERY TIME like you're supposed to.

[SmileYaDead]

If we used a middleman for EVERY SINGLE TRADE on site, it would just be too slow. I have used a middleman twice, twice, with my 35+ trades. Middlemen are people as well, they can't stick around every single minute of every single day to help us with trades. There are 12 middlemen at the moment and it still takes a lot of time to get one to help you. For example: (you need an account to see links) Do this with all the trades, are you kidding me? I'd prefer to do bigger trades with MM, but to bother someone for a $10 transaction, please.

[zxzero]

I have to agree with smileyadead, I don't use a MM for lower transactions, I still do send them a legal binding contract but using a MM is to much of a hassle to do every time you need to trade. Also like he said MM aren't ALWAYS online and sometimes you need the money quite quickly for things.

I see where you are going with the scarlet letter thing bammeh, and yes it does seem a bit unfair to be judged fora short period of time, but also people know that it is only temporary and once it is gone you know it is safe to trade with them again.

Also while we are on the topic visit (you need an account to see links) to help with those small transactions and the big ones.