Ok ladies, gentlemen, and animals of AR15.Com

I have been working very hard on the new Equipment Exchange and taking my breaks to work on the new layout/design for the site. While there is still no ETA on the EE, the new layout is nearing completion and will soon require a decent amount of work to modify all the content to the new format. (Just font color mods which isn't too bad and some format changes which will be a pain!)

The reasons why are simple!

- Faster load of the design (less graphic intensive!)
- Adding a bit of color to the site. (It's very similar to the old site with a "goatboy" style look to it. [=D])
- Much more user friendly and accessible! All the user tools are right at your fingertips with buttons. The navigation menu has also been re-coded to increase load speed for drop downs.
- New addition of page tools. These will come online as their completed. Basically there will be 4 buttons along the bottom. Top Of Page, Email Page Link, Report Problem With Page (For use with not just forums, but any page!), and Print Page (a printer friendly page format).

Just wanted to see if you guys want a preview of what things will look like.

]=)>

(Poll to be added in 2 secs!)

Only 5 people have voted... how sad...

[=(]

Seriously, I will post it tonight if the interest is still there... ya know some people like surprises!!! (Not me!)

Some questions don't need to be asked![:D]
BTW..is the page with links to all Yugo dealerships in New England and the Maritimes included in the latest update?[bounce]

will it smell like a goat?

will it walk like a goat?

Look like a goat?

Ok as I promised...

Now a little bit of work still has to happen to finalize things, but this pic is about 90-95% completed. Sorry about the size, but you'll see it up close soon enough. (Maybe?)

Like I mentioned earlier, a good amount of work still needs to be completed, but things should progress nicely as I focus on this for a few days to finish it, then return to the EE work.

Hope you like it, if not... then you can KISS IT WHERE IT SMELLS!!! [=D]

[img]http://www.ar15.com/images/miscpics/arProto.gif[/img]

I know its hard to see, but there is a utility bar at the top below the main menu. On the left side is a site navigation tool which lets you quickly hop from site to site. The right side contains all of the user tools. IM, Profile, Chat, Email (for members) and so forth. The bottom of the page houses the tools such as print, report, top, and forward!

Kinda small, ain't it? [:D]

The new EE will work different than a typical exchange because of both the product and the wide range of prices you can expect from a wide range of members.

Basically you will get permission to list items in the EE by default. Listings will then be generated from a form to keep them all relatively similar with all pertinent information collected up front. Items like payment methods, shipping methods, descriptions, and so forth which are standard.

The listings will also be categorized and subcategorized if need be into sections which will allow for quick and easy navigation to find the items you are looking for. It will also make searching easier.

Getting back to your main point about how to limit these repeat listers... All listings will have an expiration date on them. Ads will be listed from Newest To Oldest by default with the top ten "to be expired" ads shown as well so people can see them right away. Once an ad expires it will no longer be shown in the listing. (After 1 month of idleness.) Users will then be asked to lower the price in order for the listing to be re-instated. (Will select a percentage of markdown at that time. 2% minimum. (TBD - so don't yell at me yet!)) At that time the ad will then show up as a new listing with a special "REDUCED" or "SALE" icon with it.

Ads will also auto "BTT" during that 1 month period in order to keep them fresh. This interval has not been decided on either.

Ads must be 1 per item group. So if you're selling a rifle and a spotting scope as a deal its one ad, if you're selling them separate, then its two. If you're selling 50 mags, then its one add with 50 quantity. You can then mention if you wish to sell them individually or in groups of 5, 10, whatever. The key will be to keep the number of listings per person down to the essential.

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Eeesh sorry about the overflow of information there, but I figured a little bit extra couldn't hurt.

Anyone found abusing the system or not following the standards which will be made clear, will have their rights to use the EE suspended and may be banned if the violation calls for it. (Fake ads, etc)

Oh and YES there will be a built in system for feedback which will be like EBAY's transaction based one. Every buyer, trader, seller will be able to make one comment/feedback on the other person involved per transaction. These will be public and tied to the users profile.

]=)