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KiaCzar 24 Jan, 2013 @ 6:12pm
Bazaar.tf links forbidden?
I just got home and noticed one of my trades ( http://www.tf2outpost.com/trade/8105129 ) was closed by a moderator "with following reason: Outside links"

Now I'm assuming the outside link the mod was referring to was the Bazaar.tf link at the bottom of the trade ( http://bazaar.tf/trade/117667 ), as it was the only outside link in the trade, which was right next to the TF2OP link to the trade at the bottom of the page.

Please note that both the bazaar link and the TF2OP link are identical trades on the 2 respective sites.

I list both links to both trades for 2 reasons:
1. To make it easier for me to update C/Os on both sites (e.i. update the C/Os on one site press Ctrl+a, Ctrl+c, confirm changes, then hop over to the other site push edit, Crtl+a, Ctrl+v, confirm changes)
2. I personally hate it when people post C/Os without any proof, so I provide both trade links at the bottom of the trades so on-lookers can easily verify a real C/O (i.e. I post C/O on my TF2OP trade, but the offer was actually made in the bazaar.tf trade. An on-looker wants to verify the C/O, but can't find it made on TF2OP, so I made it convenient for them to see the offer made on bazaar)

I have done this with a handful of trades in the past, without an issue with the moderators, but maybe I have just been "getting away with it" in the past.

Is it really against the rules to post links to other trading sites?

The only 2 rules that mention anything about links are:
1. No spamming — this includes both trade notes and offers. Spam is considered:
Posting links to unrelated websites in offers (backpacks and steam profiles are acceptable).
2. No advertising — this includes referral links and third-party websites.

I would say this definitely does not fall against rule 1, since it is by no means spamming.

I'm not so sure this breaks the "No advertising" rule either. I had assumed this rule was against people advertizing their referral links or own personal sites or other web-pages with the intent on profiting off getting extra traffic to the site (such as a youtube channel, etc.)

If someone could shed some light on this, it would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, if posting links to other trade sites (in this case it was to the exact same trade on bazaar.tf) is in fact against the rules, I would suggest that it is more clearly stated on the rules page.

Thanks,
KiaCzar
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Showing 1-15 of 15 comments
Uranium235 24 Jan, 2013 @ 9:27pm 
Well, the reason why your trade was closed says it all, doesn't it?
So yes, linking to bazaar (a competitor) is against the rules. (user #4 and/or trade #1.6)
#1
KiaCzar 24 Jan, 2013 @ 9:45pm 
In my opinion, my link to bazaar was not for advertizing purposes, rather to enhance the trade to confirm with traders I am not using fake C/Os

Additionally, the 2 rules you stated appear to be in place to prevent people from advertizing sites (YouTube, referrals, raffles, etc.) to profit by receiving additional traffic. No where does it state linking to other trading sites is forbidden.
#2
Uranium235 24 Jan, 2013 @ 9:51pm 
"No advertising — this includes referral links and third-party websites."

Bazaar is a third-party website. All other 3rd party website links that are not "punished" like yours, are only tolerated at the admins discretion. (like stats, pricing and backpack sites, if I am not mistaken, and maybe even the occasional youtube link)
#3
Uranium235 24 Jan, 2013 @ 9:56pm 
Look at it this way: If I had an agenda to lure people to bazaar, I could just open a lot of popular trades on OP with the link to the corresponding "trade" at bazaar. That would in effect circumvent the no advertising rule.
Last edited by Uranium235; 24 Jan, 2013 @ 9:57pm
#4
slogterer 24 Jan, 2013 @ 10:36pm 
I dunno. I feel like links to trades and PC sites are just providing proof. Advertising is explicitly trying to get people to visit a website. The above scenario is extremely unlikely, and it can be dealt with by a case to case basis. As long as it isn't fully intentional, it should be fine.
#5
Uranium235 24 Jan, 2013 @ 10:58pm 
Originally posted by arand:
As long as it isn't fully intentional, it should be fine.
The fact that the trade was closed, should tell you otherwise. He did not get banned, but instead only his trade closed, probably because it wasn't "fully intentional".
There may be a grey area, but the line seems to have been crossed. You have to accept and respect that.
#6
His Wardship 25 Jan, 2013 @ 12:13am 
This is against the rules, it's advertising and it's an outside link. Pricecheck sites (although I really don't use them that much anymore) are generally quite impartial, as is SR and as such are allowed through.
#7
Regen 25 Jan, 2013 @ 1:25am 
I would suggest just using pictures, everyone loves pictures.

"Solo mid or feed."
"I called mid first fatso, i have pics"
#8
Ziri 25 Jan, 2013 @ 1:37am 
There's a reason you didn't get banned, it's very minor and not really mentioned anywhere. We generally don't allow outside links, but there are exceptions. There is no reason for you to link trades from different sites.
#9
Tactical Air Horse 25 Jan, 2013 @ 9:47am 
Originally posted by Pretendeer:
There is no reason for you to link trades from different sites.
Originally posted by arand:
I dunno. I feel like links to trades and PC sites are just providing proof. Advertising is explicitly trying to get people to visit a website. The above scenario is extremely unlikely, and it can be dealt with by a case to case basis. As long as it isn't fully intentional, it should be fine.

Why do outpost admins care about links to bazaar trades? Because they think that some people can leave outpost and start using the bazaar? Why? Because they think that bazaar is better, therefore don't want people to know about it? If no, why do they still care about these links?
Advertising is something like "Hey, outpost is full of lowballers, use bazaar, here's the link". Otherwise it's just a proof of c/o, and closing trades because of that is just stoopid.
#10
Uranium235 25 Jan, 2013 @ 9:49am 
Originally posted by A Distinctive Lack Of Ponies:
Why do outpost admins care about links to bazaar trades?
For one, why should OP give bazaar (a competitor) free links for a better google ranking?
OP also is a business that has to compete.
Last edited by Uranium235; 25 Jan, 2013 @ 9:51am
#11
Tactical Air Horse 25 Jan, 2013 @ 10:08am 
Originally posted by Uranium235:
For one, why should OP give bazaar (a competitor) free links for a better google ranking?
OP also is a business that has to compete.

Oh my pony, are you serious? Outpost and bazaar are completely different trading websites. Outpost is "free market" where everyone is free to set any price and offer any trade at all. Bazaar is a "fair market" where you should keep your offers close enough to suggested values of items that are being traded, where quickbuying and overvaluing items is forbidden.
Outpost is just a business, bazaar is mainly a community of fair traders who simply don't want to scam or be scammed.
Because bazaar users dislike outpost, outpost admins hate bazaar and see it as their competitor. So they want people to not know about bazaar and keep using their website. The proof is that links to tf2tp, tf2marketplace and tf2dispenser, and basically any other tf2-related website are okay, only links to bazaar are counted as advertisement.
#12
Tactical Air Horse 25 Jan, 2013 @ 10:27am 
Originally posted by Xile{t}:
Only links to bazaar? Really? Chuck some links up to tf2tp in your trade and let me know, I'll report and we can check ;)
There's actually no need to check, because http://gyazo.com/14ccc85eaa9b3220677154ea8dcd82e8.png
#13
Uranium235 25 Jan, 2013 @ 11:07am 
Originally posted by A Distinctive Lack Of Ponies:
Oh my pony, are you serious? Outpost and bazaar are completely different trading websites. Outpost is "free market" where everyone is free to set any price and offer any trade at all. Bazaar is a "fair market" where you should keep your offers close enough to suggested values of items that are being traded, where quickbuying and overvaluing items is forbidden.
Dead serious. I guess you have your own opinion, but your distinction is not that big of a difference, and wrong in my opinion anyway.
Last edited by Uranium235; 25 Jan, 2013 @ 11:08am
#14
Ziri 25 Jan, 2013 @ 11:39am 
Originally posted by A Distinctive Lack Of Ponies:
Why do outpost admins care about links to bazaar trades? Because they think that some people can leave outpost and start using the bazaar? Why? Because they think that bazaar is better, therefore don't want people to know about it? If no, why do they still care about these links?
Advertising is something like "Hey, outpost is full of lowballers, use bazaar, here's the link". Otherwise it's just a proof of c/o, and closing trades because of that is just stoopid.
You remind me of one of those batshit crazy conspiracy theorists. You're absolutely terrible when making points. We don't care about bazaar links in particular, how hard is that to even grasp? Most outside links, regardless of what they are, aren't allowed. We don't necessarily think bazaar is better or worse, there just isn't any point in linking to it on your Outpost trade. If you can't learn to live with it, there's the door.

Originally posted by A Distinctive Lack Of Ponies:
Because bazaar users dislike outpost, outpost admins hate bazaar and see it as their competitor. So they want people to not know about bazaar and keep using their website. The proof is that links to tf2tp, tf2marketplace and tf2dispenser, and basically any other tf2-related website are okay, only links to bazaar are counted as advertisement.
Half of the Bazaar userbase is banned on TF2OP, so I can see why they hate it, however, TF2OP admins in general do not hate Bazaar. There you are talking about shit you haven't a clue about again.

Originally posted by A Distinctive Lack Of Ponies:
The proof is that links to tf2tp, tf2marketplace and tf2dispenser, and basically any other tf2-related website are okay, only links to bazaar are counted as advertisement.
Once again, an untrue statement.

I can see why you hate Outpost so much, you've been banned 4 times.

Going to lock this thread to prevent further conflicts.
#15
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Date Posted: 24 Jan, 2013 @ 6:12pm
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