THIS is why I get angry and want to take a break from all of this sometimes.

[Kmad]

Hi

On my first joining he pestered me to sell to him at a great price (to him) , when I didn't sell he was he was quite abusive and tried to de-rail one of my threads in some form of petty revenge. 

I saw his name change and I would not use the reference to Germany, I like to define people as people with no reference to countries of origin.

Keep well all,

Ken 

 

 

[Alex A]

You deserve help Brian, its a FULL TIME jobs, 24hrs.

 

We get to come and go, disappear for a month or whatever, you have the responsibility of running the forum.

 

I don't get why some folks are so tight, its ridiculous.

[vajo]

Brian, you are the CO on board. You make the rules. I think that issue was going into a bad direction. I didn't noticed what happened at all. The sword community is so small we all should try to make a bad world a little better. 

Its happened the life goes on.

 

I'm sure he had make a donation from the sells to the forum like the most do. 

From my side i make very less sellings here because i think i have nothing to show with interest. The last Waki offer was non interest so i gave it in an auction for 1 EUR start price  (sorry for the sidekick Marco) If i sell something i donate. 

[Brian]

1 hour ago, vajo said:

I'm sure he had make a donation from the sells to the forum like the most do. 

No. And nope...most certainly do not.

 

Anyways.....

[Baba Yaga]

2 hours ago, Alex A said:

You might get a few "blood dripping vampires" Baba,  but plenty of newbs do well from advice given and also get to buy swords at a lot less than was originally paid by the seller.

 

All evens itself out.

 

 

Oh, I know of a lot of those Vamps and they've been around for quite sometime. Some of them have died by the stake and others just keep on stalking. I'm not sure if the Web created more, or helps more. I call it a 50 / 50. 

[Ed]

Brian, I do not think you are being unreasonable at all.  When you first began the dealer section, I considered it.  Ultimately I decided it was an additional expense I did not wish to incur.  However, out of respect for your hard work as well as this group I also stopped posting anything for sale here.  No reason other than I didn't feel it was right to offer anything for sale without joining the dealer section. 

[Brian]

Ed, that doesn't seem logical and in fact is a downside for the forum. As one of the most trusted dealers, it is an advantage to us to have you listing things here.
Please reconsider, as you are most welcome to post anything and I know you won't take advantage. Plus you are welcome to throw a percent or 2 if you sell something here like some do....that way no sales, no expense. It's voluntary.. always has been as you know.
And please ALL...remember that the dealer section was not intended to force people who are dealers to pay for their own section. It was an optional area where I feel dealers have an advantage where they can list, edit, delete, control comments, remove negative stuff and basically have full control themselves over their listings, and be more visible at the same time. There is no editing time limit, and they can delete their own posts and replace with new ones. They are basically moderators in their own section. It's an optional upgrade. not a forced paid feature. Some dealers find it useful, some not. It's $10/month, so if I dealer sells one decent item it should cover costs. But it certainly isn't mandatory and you don't have to feel like you need to use it @Ed You are welcome to post in the regular for sale section and are encouraged to. I know you won't go wild and post 50 items overnight 
Go for it!

[Sansei]

20 hours ago, Kmad said:

Hi

On my first joining he pestered me to sell to him at a great price (to him) , when I didn't sell he was he was quite abusive and tried to de-rail one of my threads in some form of petty revenge. 

I saw his name change and I would not use the reference to Germany, I like to define people as people with no reference to countries of origin.

Keep well all,

Ken 

 

 

I like to define people as people with no reference to countries of origin.

 

Ken, personally I like to look at the country of origin. It gives me an idea of the international nature of the interest in swords and related items. You can see that the interest is not just in a few countries or a particular region. It is worldwide, no?

[DTM72]

9 hours ago, Brian said:

 It's $10/month, so if I dealer sells one decent item it should cover costs.

If I had enough to sell, the $10 a month is well worth it!

 

1 table at a local gun show is $80 now. <-- Not even a good target market.

Tables at a military antique show are $100. <-- better market but still not target market.

Tables at a Japanese sword show are $175-$195 each. <-- Target market

 

In my humble opinion, $120 a year is a great deal. If I had enough to sell, I would 100% jump at this.

[sbf]

Brian,

 

  Good for you!

 

I have been collecting arms and militaria for over 50 years. I have owned everything from 14th century Japanese swords to WW1 machine guns. I like it all, from flintlocks to M16s, much to the detriment of my bank account. In my time I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of collecting and dealers. For some reason, the Japanese sword world seems to have a higher proportion of unscrupulous dealers than any other, with the possible exception of Third Reich dealers. I think the prospect of finding a rare sword with the potential of a large profit has pushed some people over the edge, or maybe that is what attracts them to the market.

 

 I am not saying all sword dealers are like this. I enjoy this forum because of the scholarly and friendly sharing of knowledge, freely given, especially by the dealers here on the forum.

 

The forum is also a reflection of your personal values and standards, and I for one appreciate them.

 

    Thank You.

 

     Steve

[Baba Yaga]

3 hours ago, sbf said:

I have been collecting arms and militaria for over 50 years. I have owned everything from 14th century Japanese swords to WW1 machine guns. I like it all, from flintlocks to M16s, much to the detriment of my bank account. In my time I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of collecting and dealers. For some reason, the Japanese sword world seems to have a higher proportion of unscrupulous dealers than any other, with the possible exception of Third Reich dealers. I think the prospect of finding a rare sword with the potential of a large profit has pushed some people over the edge, or maybe that is what attracts them to the market.

 

 I am not saying all sword dealers are like this. I enjoy this forum because of the scholarly and friendly sharing of knowledge, freely given, especially by the dealers here on the forum.

 

 

 

I'm in the same boat of collecting and opinion. The only other collecting market which rivals is jewels. 

[Mike Z]

On 5/9/2023 at 7:59 AM, Sansei said:

".....maybe a Gold Membership would be appropriate for someone listing over 100 items here and who has never really supported the forum...."

 

Brian, I agree with your comments.....and "ranting" can be cathartic for both the ranter and the audience. Would it be possible to have a policy where the membership level is tied to the number of listing? That is, LISTINGS and not SALES. For example, if the total number of listings reaches certain levels, the membership level would need to be upgraded? I have received private messages regarding offers for blades that I own. I would definitely not call them "low ball" offers. There will always be some individuals who try to "game" the system for their own benefit. Thanks for doing a great job managing this forum.

 

Seems entirely reasonable.  Would be fairly straight-forward to implement.  Some number of "free" listings (concurrent, within a time frame, or even in totality), followed by required tiers for additional listings.

 

Not to muddy the water, @Brian but just to lift your spirits a bit... I bought a gold membership on day one and felt that I recognized the value of that membership in the first evening, when a collection of knowledgeable members helped me out with identification.  Since, I have spent hours poring over old threads, absorbing and learning.  Don't let a couple of hacks get you down.  FWIW, even a newb like me can see it's a strong community, unrivaled, IMO, from the standpoint of friendly, knowledgeable people freely offering their time. 

 

 

[Curran]

Not sure which German we are talking about.

I know there was one fellow, who still owes me a tsuba.

 

I am liking most Germans, but one or two - not so much.

[vajo]

I like you Curran.

I like everyone here, especially those who didn't like me. Why? Because i don't meet the members in real life, only here in reading words. I can't break a stuff about people i didn't know.

[sabiji]

Hi Curran,
I sincerely hope that you were, or still are, satisfied with my tsuba?

 

I don't want to be one of the bad Germans! 

[Curran]

5 hours ago, sabiji said:

Hi Curran,
I sincerely hope that you were, or still are, satisfied with my tsuba?

 

I don't want to be one of the bad Germans! 

 

Oh, yours is right here on the table. Lovely Hayashi, thought a little eccentric in construction = frankenstein of father vs son's style.

The paper inside the box said it was a Shigemitsu, but I think it is a collaboration of Shigemitsu and his son Tohachi. Nice tsuba.

 

Having just been in Munich and Bavaria this past January, I'm rather fond of Germany. Wife was surprised how much she enjoyed the people and culture. Or at least that part of Germany.

But a German still owes me a ko-katchushi, and been wormy about it.  Last time we communicated, he claimed he was too ashamed to send it to me after taking so long.

 

I've since acquired a better one, but I still keep some sharp nine inch nails ready should I have time and a hammer to crucify the worm.

I guess I only need one or two nails for a worm.

 

I'm still missing two tsuba from Poland, but I'm 99% sure that is local USPS fault.

Brian is the one with the real problem here.

[Brian]

Did someone say Nine Inch Nails?
 

[Rivkin]

I'm puzzled.

Not too comfortable with someone monitoring members PM and then hinting in public about their content.

Not crazy about promoting personal issues against someone in such a way that he is easily identifiable, yet not named. Accusing all free member as exploiting the "efforts and knowledge" of other forumites is even stranger.

Whose knowledge exactly are we exploiting here? Yours, Brian? Buddies you met at DTI?

I switched the membership to free and my exploitmeter is still inactive.

I am realizing the endless depths of my personal fallings. I do have a second account. Hope it was not used to seduce minors for swords, or maybe even swords for minors.

Painful admission - I did make offers for blades.

I did not know there is a ritual that needs to be performed. Full moon, "I've sent a PM" written by bloodied wakizashi in a public section.

 

In general - not good with moralisms. Tend to suspect the money is involved somehow.

Hope my account gets deleted with all its messages.

[Brian]

Kirill, you give me a good laugh.
But allow me to clarify some of your misconceptions.

1. Firstly, NO admin of any forum has access to ANY pm's of a member. That would be insane. I know people are responding to the notification emails because I get the bounced email reports in the control panel that tell me people hit reply to them. Implying I monitor pm's is not only ludicrous, but offensive.
2. I know people are making offers via pm because those people message me to ask why they are bombarded with lowball offers the second they ask for a translation or info on their sword. I have mentioned that this is not frowned upon or banned here, but some make their living doing that here and still refuse to contribute.
3. Show me where I even hinted at free members exploiting anything? I have never even implied that..merely mentioned that people who feel they get good advice may feel like contributing. You seem to have a guilty conscience or are overly obsessed with people supporting a forum financially when they feel like it?
4. So? Offer away. I never told people they shouldn't.
5. The ritual is only for the "in-crowd" and unfortunately you don't seem to want to join the cult. Sorry.
6. Money is always a factor. Everywhere. It makes the world work. I suspect you don't work for free. I suspect you don't donate your books for free. I'll continue to run a free forum but encourage contributions. What I get in a year is likely what you make in a week. I don't feel terrible asking for help.
7. No, I don't delete people for having opinions. Hopefully I can change one or 2 of yours. But you are entitled to them.

[Mark S.]

18 hours ago, Rivkin said:

 

In general - not good with moralisms.

 

Hmmmm???… interesting statement located in a post that is pretty much one long screed of moralisms… I think ‘hypocrisy’ was the term you are looking for?  I’m sure low-ball private offers had NOTHING to do with $$$?  And to be smarmy about the whole thing says a lot… 

[Baba Yaga]

Can you imagine that, a club within a club. Sounds normal for just about everything. 

[cluckdaddy76]

Brian,

 

This was a great post. I just joined not too long ago and signed up for a gold tier membership due to this thread. I am a newer collector, and this is a small price to pay for what is offered here from what I have seen so far. I would think that most of us who can afford to collect can easily afford a small membership fee.

[Brian]

Thank you Jason. I feel a bit bad now for even writing this in hindsight and thought it was buried. But I really appreciate the support and your vote of confidence.

[kissakai]

Ditto Jason

Brian it should have been posted

 

[Shugyosha]

Yep, what Jason and Grev said. 

[Matsunoki]

Ditto. Great forum, great availability of info, sellers, buyers…….well worth contributing towards. 

[Alex A]

Do various antique arms forums.

 

Surprising really the amount of help that folks new to the hobby receive here, truly noticeable compared with other forums.

 

Folks readily sharing lots of time and the info from books that they paid a lot of money for, i don't see a lot on such other forums.

 

Newbies very lucky here, some take the ****, some ungrateful , that's people i suppose.