Ruger Forum new policy concerning the Classifieds

[contender]

A day or two ago, the Ruger Forum has implemented a new policy for their Classified section.

You have to be a "supporting member" to post anything for sale there.

You can do it on a monthly basis, or an annual basis. You must use a CC or PP.

I do understand it's to help prevent scammers & spammers etc from attacking the site. All well & good.

But the occasional person who has inherited a gun or other stuff, or has something they got long ago etc may want to sell it. They come to that Forum for advice & we could say; "Place it in the Classifieds here" and they would get a better response. I just helped a gentleman with many questions about his Ruger Old Army with a Bianchi flap holster. He was very low-balled by a local gun shop. He now knows his gun is worth a lot more than he'd thought.
And over on the CB forum, the Ben Forkin gun, same thing. The gentleman was guided to the Ruger Forum or GB, here (for info) & the 24 hr campfire. I had to tell him that the Ruger Forum wouldn't be of any help unless he joined & paid to list it.

Gosh I hate scammers & such!

[Odin]

Five dollars for a month, or $30 per year. Somehow I thought it was going to be worse than that.

[clintsfolly]

I got bumped off the Ruger forum and can’t get back on. After sending a admin a pm I still can’t get on. So don’t make much difference to me.

[bushog]

I personally think this will make the scammers have a better chance by giving folks a false sense of security. $25 isn’t much if you steal the $$ for a gun.

[potatojudge]

Nowadays scammers aren't often new members. They've hacked established members' accounts. Member pays the fee to be verified or whatever, hacker swipes the account- verification included- and a false sense of security facilitates the scam.

[contender]

I try & prevent scammers & hackers & such by being VERY protective of my banking info & such. I know nothing will stop everybody all the time. But in discussions with a retired Federal officer who did computer forensics then, and who now works for TSA doing the same,, I've learned to be extra vigilant.
Miss Penny has been hacked & such twice. She does a lot more "online" banking stuff than I do by far.
I do not have my bank accounts linked to any 3rd party stuff, nor do I use any "automatic payment" stuff. I write checks, use USPS money orders, or occasionally a credit card when absolutely necessary.
I try to protect myself & my info. Heck, one of the few reasons I decided to retire from the BSA after 50 years was the fact they wanted me to re-register, AND give them MORE access to much of my personal data,, BY USING A 3rd party info place. Not happening.

I think things like what the Forum is doing has good intentions. But I didn't become a supporting member when they started the program, and I CHOOSE to not give them access to my banking account info. IF I decide to become a supporting member,, I'll use my CC because of protections the banks have against hackers.