CAG Trade gripes... Ideas to better CAG trading?

[psiufoxx2]

Maybe it's just me, and believe me I appreciate the CAG Feedback listings thoroughly.. BUT:

I hate the CAG Trading forum. Every day it's full of bumps/updates/people scrambling to make their trade lists visible. I can barely keep up with the sheer number of CAGers that post their want/sale lists and I certainly find it hard to look for specific titles in all this mess.

I don't presume to have a solution, but I think if we put our collective mindshare to it we can come up with a better system than this. Does anyone have any ideas to better the way we do trades on CAG?

[onetrackmind]

If im looking for a game i usually use the search feature and specify that it only search in the trading forum. That could be something that you could use to help you weed through all the tradelists.

[evilmax17]

If we could add 2 text blocks to the profile screen (Haves and wants), and then a way to search through them, we'd be set.

[Derwood43]

If we could add 2 text blocks to the profile screen (Haves and wants), and then a way to search through them, we'd be set.

That is a great idea. You have to have a way to search it though.

[CheapyD]

If we could add 2 text blocks to the profile screen (Haves and wants), and then a way to search through them, we'd be set.I could set that up in about 3 seconds, if you really thought it would be useful.

[Derwood43]

I could set that up in about 3 seconds, if you really thought it would be useful.

Do you see any issues with it?

What are your thoughts?

[Miller2847]

This is just an idea and would take a lot more work to set up, but what if we had something like IGN's collection lists. Each person could select their haves and wants from a list and add that to their profile. You could have the option of rating each games condition(sealed, mint, disk only, etc.) as well as any other information that might be helpful like prices. You could then set up a search page where you could search all users for their haves and wants as well as the condition of the game.

I think this would help in finding exactly what you want, but it is a lot of work on the backend getting it set up and keeping game lists up to date.

[b0bx13]

I could set that up in about 3 seconds, if you really thought it would be useful.
It sounds like a great idea to me. I mean, people can still keep their TL threads to help advertise, but having a searchable list as well would help out a lot. Plus if there's one or two games that someone wants but doesn't think there's much of a chance of getting, they can always have it in there, instead of having a dedicated thread that'll just get lost in the confusion.

[psiufoxx2]

If we could add 2 text blocks to the profile screen (Haves and wants), and then a way to search through them, we'd be set.

Agreed CheapyD. That would kick major ass. Then we could search profile for haves and wants. Perhaps you could add text boxes for the games, and for respective prices? That way we could search by title and price? Is that too much to ask?

[shrike4242]

This is just an idea and would take a lot more work to set up, but what if we had something like IGN's collection lists. Each person could select their haves and wants from a list and add that to their profile. You could have the option of rating each games condition(sealed, mint, disk only, etc.) as well as any other information that might be helpful like prices. You could then set up a search page where you could search all users for their haves and wants as well as the condition of the game.

I think this would help in finding exactly what you want, but it is a lot of work on the backend getting it set up and keeping game lists up to date.

And something else to cause server drag at the moment, with either a second database, or some pretty large entries for the one we're using for the users. Might be something to look at when we've upgraded/moved to another server.

[wubb]

Honestly I like the fact that we have trading threads here that lend themselves to discussion and back and forth between users.

Nice change of pace from GTZ and TGN where you just list your collection and either make formal offers or have formal offers made to you. That's great too, but why change CAG to make it more like that? psiufoxx2, you should check out those sites and see if that is more in line of what you are looking for. Adding a couple fields to the profile might not be too bad, but I'd hate to see the threads die.

But I also think that when a trade thread is being bumped every couple minutes for seeming days at a time and it's just a long convo between 4 or 5 CAGers that should be taken to the OT forum or wherever is appropriate and not kept up at the end of a trade list.

[shipwreck]

And something else to cause server drag at the moment, with either a second database, or some pretty large entries for the one we're using for the users. Might be something to look at when we've upgraded/moved to another server.

I've got a pretty complete spreadsheet for all the US releases on major systems from the Atari 2600 to the Xbox. It would be a pretty good starting point if something like this ever did come to fruition. I'm pretty anal about keeping my lists up to date. I lost some PS2 data to a corrupted file a while back, but it wouldn't be too hard to fill in the gaps. Let me know if this project ever gets off the ground as I would be glad to help with game lists.

[psiufoxx2]

Adding a couple fields to the profile might not be too bad, but I'd hate to see the threads die.
I was certainly thinking of ideas "in addition to the thread posts" because while cumbersome, you are right, they are enjoyable and useful.

[fugazi_chichimon]

Maybe we can have a Trade forum and a Classified section, one area strictly for your haves/wants list and one for things that you want to sell only.

[Javil]

But I also think that when a trade thread is being bumped every couple minutes for seeming days at a time and it's just a long convo between 4 or 5 CAGers that should be taken to the OT forum or wherever is appropriate and not kept up at the end of a trade list.*Cough* MillerTime. *Cough, cough* :lol: