SignalTraffic Forums

by **dkendr** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 12:51 am

One of my favorite characters on TV is Mark Hall-Patton. He frequently appears as a guest expert appraiser on Pawn Stars, and like me, he's a Delaware Blue Hen.

He is unique among the experts on that show in that he only vouches for authenticity of an object and never assigns a dollar value to it.

I suggest we begin the same policy here. Confirm authenticity, yes, refer people to eB*y or other resources, yes, but do not speak a dollar value on the forums. For discussions of items for sale, purchase or trade in the Classified section, restrict discussion of price and dollar amounts to private messages.

I think the benefit of doing so would be to eliminate the phenomenon of people trying to wangle expert advice on prices and salability out of the hobbyists and experts here, and keep the discussion of signal collecting, observing, and restoration as pure as possible.

Just my two -- er, suggestion. Hope it finds favor.

by **golfnguy** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:53 am

Wangle:
Date: 1888
intransitive verb
: to resort to trickery or devious methods
transitive verb
1 : to adjust or manipulate for personal or fraudulent ends
2 : to make or get by devious means : finagle <wangle an invitation>

Is that how a person who is curious about the value of something is known on here? As a fraud or deviant? I bet every "expert" on here at some point started as a beginner collector and was excited about their first signal or first great deal on a find. Isn't part of the excitement in that knowing what an item is worth if you think you got a good deal or how collectible it is? I say we should restrict talk of collectibility as that may lead someone to believe something has a higher value if it's more collectible. I guess someone can't have some excitement and ask input about ther signal or new find that is taking a lot of the fun and pride of ownership out of the hobby. Ever opened a pack of baseball cards when you were a kid? Or adult? Think you found a good one? I bet your first thought wasn't...gee I better not utter a word about it or what it might be worth. Maybe I'll slip my friend a note under the desk so nobody else knows it? Doubtful. I bet you'd be pumped and either go to Beckett or ask someone knowledgeable what the value is. What fun is uptight baseball card collecting? Likewise what fun is uptight signal collecting? I'm fairly new here but if I hopped on and people were like "shhhh we don't discuss that" or a moderator says "you aren't allowed to ask for a general opinion from members on value" I have to say that would be a pretty quick deflater, especially for a new collector. Some of us haven't been here long enough to have good friends etc here so who exactly should someone PM to ask?

Everything in moderation but don't moderate everything

MHO

by **jab8356** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:15 am

golfnguy wrote:
Everything in moderation but don't moderate everything

I personally don't like it when people ask "What is my signal worth?" but I do agree with what I quoted above. I think the forum works as it is now. I see no need for more rules.

by **2070** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:34 am

golfnguy wrote:Is that how a person who is curious about the value of something is known on here? As a fraud or deviant?

From MANY events that have happened in the past......

1) A new "Member" with 1 post would ask what something was worth.
2) If it was something that was "Rare" here, other "Memebers" would start a PM feeding frenzy and throw $$$$$$ figures out just to be the "Lucky" new owner.
3) The item would show up on "ebay" a few days later.......
4) Then new "Member" would never be seen again..........

Please do not take it personal!!!

by **vaughnsimon** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:39 am

More secrecy
More Rules/moderation
Less mutual exchange of information
Less friendliness

Are there any of the above that this group really needs?

Vaughn

by **3liteguy** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:38 am

Speaking as a collector I certainly enjoy the thought that some of the things I might have are sought after and have value but that was not the reason why I got into the hobby. I love signals for what ever reason that rattles around in my psychological make-up ( :crazy:

) and probably always will.

As a mod however I could not lend support to establishing a rule that prohibits discussion of values, even though the thought is appealing. I do not see the borders at which we could draw the line in the eventuality that a thread might need to be edited for the content.

by **notMUTCDcompliant** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:16 am

I will never give a $ to anyone who asks for value.... 5 minutes with your friends google and ebay can answer your question (though it may not be the answer you want!)

by **jab8356** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:30 am

3liteguy wrote:Speaking as a collector I certainly enjoy the thought that some of the things I might have are sought after and have value but that was not the reason why I got into the hobby. I love signals for what ever reason that rattles around in my psychological make-up ( ) and probably always will.

by **cdavidson** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 1:14 pm

I've been into traffic signals for nearly 15 years now (almost my entire life so far) and I have never really put much thought into what my signals are worth. The only time I've ever sold signals was most of my collection around 2009 because I simply didn't have the room to keep around 20 signals laying around and in storage. I hated to have to get rid of them. HATED IT with a passion. But I didn't have much of a choice. The person that ended up buying them off of me got a great deal, and I didn't mind it because they went into the hands of another fellow collector. Someone else has the chance of enjoying what I loved to mess around with in the past.. and that's what mattered to me the most. Of course that wasn't the end of my hobby.. I kept a few signals that had some locally historic, sentimental or personal value to me, but now I've freed up a little more room for now and have a chance to start over again (not that certian other people are too happy with that... :Phil:

). I am not here to make a profit though. However there is nothing wrong with that. I'm sure many other people here would love to get their hands on some nice signals if they are priced fairly! However I've personally found myself trading signals or parts that I have in return for another different signal or other parts that I need to add to my collection. It's just what we do, and it helps since everyone here is into the same crazy (but awesome) hobby! :crazy:

But that's just my personal take on it. I'm not gonna go all over someone else for how they value their signals or how they see them, that's their own signals and their own business.. not mine. The board seems to have done very well with the way the rules are now (since its opening/migration from the old board in July 2007 to be exact) so I see no reason why they should be changed.

Just my

by **dkendr** on Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:46 pm

Looks like the consensus is pretty clear. I'll happy withdraw the suggestion. Just something I noticed and thought might help.

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