A junkbox for DIYers

[grenadier]

I've been working on this site for a month or two and it's pretty much done. Basically it's a classifieds for electronics/laser/HV/radio (etc) hobbyists. I've managed to sell quite a few things on it and others have too, so it does in fact work. I included a light/laser category for you guys.

The Junkbox!

EDIT:

User accounts now! :-D

 

[Lotus_Darkrose]

It's hard for this forum, which is called "laserpointerforums" not to attract that kind of attention with the youtube videos and whatnot that exist.

I guess if you can't look past that and see the good, interesting and valuable information, then this isn't the forum for you. Maybe you expect everyone on the internet to have their doctorates degree in laser science?

 

[jakeGT]

There's always people like that here. And everywhere else. They are new to the hobby, and new to the forums. We call them "newbies". You may have been one of these at some point in time yourself. Have you never learned anything? Had to ask questions? If you don't like it, then go. I do not believe anybody here is making you stay.

And also, that is for sure a junkbox

EDIT: what lotus said.

 

[grenadier]

Not trying to start a flame war...

 

[jakeGT]

My post may have been rude, but I was going for facts. As was lotus. Not everybody has years of experience here.

 

[grenadier]

I'm well aware of that, however it's just the sheer amount of noise in the forum is kinda scary. I'm pretty good at writing guides, should I write one about lasers? Kind of a FAQ sort of thing, maybe it'll help the situation.

As for the junkbox, yeah it's full of junk, but that is because people already bought the good stuff. I'd like that site to become popular, mainly because there needs to be some sort of alternative to ebay for us hobbyists.

 

[HaloBlu]

We do really need an alternative to ebay. Forget how I first ran into it but I like Junkbox. When did you start it? Any plans for a rep system?
Those UV erasable 'Fancy EPROM' are neat. Your quartz window looks kinda hazy, but maybe that normal for your chip.

 

[grenadier]

I plan on adding more features in the future such as rep, and possibly a user account feature. But for right now what is there does work, and until the site gains momentum I'll be working on other non-php related projects.

Glad you liked it.

 

[styropyro]

I like it, I may list a few things for sale I have sitting around.

 

[Krogith]

I'm well aware of that, however it's just the sheer amount of noise in the forum is kinda scary. I'm pretty good at writing guides, should I write one about lasers? Kind of a FAQ sort of thing, maybe it'll help the situation.

As for the junkbox, yeah it's full of junk, but that is because people already bought the good stuff. I'd like that site to become popular, mainly because there needs to be some sort of alternative to ebay for us hobbyists.

Obviously you have Not Used the Search Button Before :shhh:. Any thing you have to say on Lasers will be a repeat of a repeat of a repeat of a repeat of something already posted. If you spent any time looking around you will see that there is more information here than you have time to read. We Value any Addition you may have but to come out and say that this site has no information on Lasers Your Mistaken, and VERY Wrong.

No matter how many Simply Stated Fully Inclusive FAQ sections we have, we seem to always get people like you who don't use the Search and ask some dumb question already answered or state something that is well Covered....



EDIT: Is there a charge? A Time Limit for the item being up? Hows shipping and the exchange handled? Do you guarantee the items being sold (IE they work)? How is a defective/damaged item handled? How are you protecting us from scammers?..... Thats all I can think of for now...

 

[grenadier]

I never said that this forum wasn't full of good knowledge, it really is. It's just disorganized, and I like order. Now that that has been said, lets steer the conversation away from that topic and save that for another time/thread.

There is no charge to post, everything is free. Posts last 3 months.
If there are any problems that gets sorted out between the buyer and the seller via email. I don't handle any payments, things like that are up to the buyer and seller.

Really it's just a simple system.
1) Person posts junk
2) Other person sees junk and sends a message
3) They discuss payment and shipping
4) Transaction occurs
5) The post gets deleted

No fees, no hassle, just a person to person classifieds system.

Scammer protection is up to the two people, choosing a service such as google checkout or <shudders> paypal would give the people a way to get their money back if something goes awry. I prefer google checkout because if there is a problem you get to email an actual person rather than a machine. It's usually obvious if the person is a scammer anyway, they'd ask for escrow, western union, check in the mail etc.

I will however ban the emails and IPs of reported scammers, or better yet I'll make a page with the name and address of anyone who decides to scam. :evil:

 

[Krogith]

Is there a Trusted buyer identification? Like can you tell as a buyer what sellers have had a good past selling history and be able to see any and ALL complaints that are associated with that person?

 

[grenadier]

I can try and implement that, something with a little mysql flag that is set with the persons email. If somebody emails me and tells me good news I could change that 0 to a 1. I'll have to log email addresses for that to work though, is that OK? No viagra spam I promise!

As for selling history, that would require a user account system, something which would take me weeks to build, and I'd rather not waste my time if you know what I mean. If the junkbox becomes popular I'd work on making that, but right now it's kind of iffy.

 

[Trevor]

Sorry to revert back to what derailed your thread... but based on what you're saying, Photonlexicon.com might be more your cup of tea.

Not trying to run you off. Just trying to point you to a more scientific laser forum that will suit your tastes.

EDIT: Also, if you want to do anything collaboratively with the site, I'd love to help. I love PHP.

-Trevor

 

[rhd]

Sorry to revert back to what derailed your thread... but based on what you're saying, Photonlexicon.com might be more your cup of tea.

Except that I don't think anyone at PL would appreciate this guy entering their community, only to tell them what he perceived to be wrong with their forum, 14 posts in.

Everything is a little more casual here, and with that, comes a lot of riff raff.

If you don't like that, lets spare PL this drama too, and might I instead suggest:
Physics - Optics

 

[Trevor]

Except that I don't think anyone at PL would appreciate this guy entering their community, only to tell them what he perceived to be wrong with their forum, 14 posts in.

Everything is a little more casual here, and with that, comes a lot of riff raff.

If you don't like that, lets spare PL this drama too, and might I instead suggest:
Physics - Optics

He's waaaay more than 14 posts in, trust me.

I'm sure he'll remember me. ><

-Trevor