Canadian PIF - Yay or Nay. Your thoughts?!

[Dusty_D]

I keep getting asked about getting a Canadian PIF thread going. What are your thoughts on it? Give me your reasons as well.

We've done this before and it's failed, but we've probably more than doubled our Canadian membership in the last two years, and there's a LOT more stuff out there that's probably gathering dust that others could or want to try out.

This will be purely PIF, no sales or trades. We have the classifieds section for that.

Procedure: Somebody lists something they want to give away. Someone claims it, and puts up stuff they have to give away. Each party ships their PIF stuff, with tracking info to avoid fraud. If a package gets lost in transit, I'd like to know that there was a tracking number to prove that point.

If there is sufficient interest, I'll take it up with OldSoldier and we can perhaps get a stickied thread going for it.

 

[Nubbie]

PIF are always good. If it doesn't work at least we gave it a shot.

 

[gmypc]

Sounds like a great idea!

Just a noob here and still getting set up but I imagine I will have enough stuff down the road.

I kinda understand the concept but what are the 'finer' details? Is there going to be some sort of guidlines?

- does one have to be a verified member?
- anything goes? (Did quick search and results were mostly for juices.)
- what if you just want to help (nothing in return) like in emergency situations?

Anyways, looking forward for our own thread!

Cheers!

 

[Dusty_D]

The bigger U.S and U.K PIF sections are really intense with sections for Trade, PIF as well as a Treasure Chest (free stuff).. I'm trying to rekindle something small to see if it has the potential to be something bigger in the future.

 

[Projectguy]

PIF's are essentially Ponsi schemes. The US one has not collapsed YET due to its size. I'm afraid that a Canadian one would not have sufficient "churn" to maintain it for long.

I guess that means NAY. Sorry Dusty

 

[Dusty_D]

All good buddy.. need yay's and nay's. I've shot down the idea myself before..

 

[larktdl]

I think that this is a great idea .... It worked for a bit in the past. Maybe it should be done only for a couple of months per year. I have stuff that I won't even try to sell because I know I won't get anything for it, might as well give it away.

Also, since postage tracking is required why not take this one step further, anyone participating must be a verified member. Yay!

 

[Dusty_D]

I think that this is a great idea .... It worked for a bit in the past. Maybe it should be done only for a couple of months per year. I have stuff that I won't even try to sell because I know I won't get anything for it, might as well give it away.

Also, since postage tracking is required why not take this one step further, anyone participating must be a verified member. Yay!

Verified member is an AWESOME idea.. keep the scammers out. We have had one of those incidents before too..

 

[larktdl]

Come on folks, nay or yay !!!! Bump ...

 

[WolfeReign]

As someone who has participated in PIF's either small to local or to fellow ECF Canadians or the extremely large one, i gave items out of my own personal vape gear, and have gotten brunt, pooched over, or bit in the process, so i have to give this the largest and loudest nay i can.

Sorry Dusty it is nothing against you in any fashion dude, i likes joking with you to much

 

[Tgoode]

I say nay.

 

[rems]

I say why not? I wouldn't worry about getting burned as only verified members may participate.

This is a "give" before "get" scenario, so no need to worry about not "getting" something you feel compares to what you're "giving".

This "stuff" may just sit around anyway. If you'd rather sell or trade than you would have done so. Why not?

I see how the "Ponzi Scheme" comes about. But as I see it, the only person taking the risk is the first to give as they haven't received yet and are essentially the ones risking not getting anything in return. Beyond that, you only give if you get. I can solve that problem....I'll go first!

I say yay. I'm definitely open to the idea and to hearing other reasons why it may not be a good idea.

 

[SoUnique]

I'd be interested, even though I've been scammed by "some one in need" I like the idea of having to be verified to be in it.

 

[Nubbie]

yea I'm in on the verification requirement. For those that say they don't want it, my line of thinking is the same as the co-op's and classy's.

 

[WolfeReign]

For those that say they don't want it, my line of thinking is the same as the co-op's and classy's.

All i have to say is: (hopefully ECF Joker will not kick my .... for doing this)

 

[drac]

I will say Yay. As long as I am not the one getting stabbed at the end.
Drac

 

[Dusty_D]

I will say Yay. As long as I am not the one getting stabbed at the end.
Drac

If anything, as the Moderator lobbying for it, I might be the one to get beat up for it.. but, you guys are worth it.
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/me checks bottle. What the heck is this?! Who swapped out my water?!!

 

[Projectguy]

I see how the "Ponzi Scheme" comes about. But as I see it, the only person taking the risk is the first to give as they haven't received yet and are essentially the ones risking not getting anything in return. Beyond that, you only give if you get. I can solve that problem....I'll go first!

Respectfully rems everyone gets hit. These quasi financial structures are a function of volume first, and confidence second. The volume is required to keep it going so the larger the better and like any financial market (and while no cash changes hands this is a financial market) it requires the confidence of the participants to keep it going.

When volume or "churn" is lost the market stalls and stagnates. Worse is the loss of confidence because the market collapses as everyone flees / exits at the same time. Case in point the Tulip Bulb Market in Holland some 300 or 400 years ago.

 

[Dusty_D]

I did some research on how some of the other PIF sections were run, and there's three distinct areas to it:

1) PIF - take offer and make new offer.
2) Swaps - Offer something while looking for something else.
3) Treasure chest - Straight up give-away! nothing expected in return, example: eGo battery chargers.

Projectguy, you may be taking this a LOT more seriously than we would like this to be. Relax, vape and let's have some fun!

 

[Dusty_D]

For better or worse, we've just got the "Green Light"!! Stay tuned for a new Canadian SubForum .. PIF-Canada!

/me undecided whether to or