Thank you all for your input! Here are some new features/practices we are implementing to make this community a more resourceful and collaborative place:
1. Navigate back to the first post after the topic has been read
For topics in categories such as Marketplace, FAQ, and Meta where the most relevant information resides in the original post (OP), we will have the system bring the user back to the first post after the user has finished reading the topic’s latest update. This should eliminate the need to auto-delete FAQ discussions where users can still see the progression of how the FAQ was built.
2. Auto-close Ask the Hackrs topics
Since most topics within Ask the Hackrs are time-sensitive, we will auto-close Ask the Hackrs topics after 60 days of inactivity to reduce the chance of a new user reviving an outdated discussion. For topics which are evergreen, @trusted_hackrs can manually remove the auto-close timer.
This feature would only apply to new topics created after the feature has been turned on, otherwise the auto-close action would inadvertently bump all existing threads.
3. Updates to Marketplace Guidelines to enhance Marketplace’s navigability:
1. Standardizing advertising standards
Sellers would need to disclose their fees, provide an estimation of drive-off amounts, as well as pricing both with and without conditional incentives when they advertise their deals.
2. Requiring essential information in Marketplace original post (OP)
We are mandating businesses to list its essential information (e.g. contact information, spreadsheet if applicable) in the OP so shoppers don’t have to ask or read through the thread to find the information.
3. Anti-bumping guideline
As explained above, instead of instituting a system-wide anti-bumping feature, we are updating the guidelines to build fairer, more productive bumping practices.
4. Link in bio
We will ask all businesses to add a link to their Review Page in their bio/user card, and to add a master list of their current Marketplace topics in their Review Page for easy reference.
We will direct shoppers to the seller’s bio/user card for that information in our new user onboarding video. Standardizing such a practice would be beneficial to the business community as many users generally get to know the seller through their interaction outside of the Marketplace (e.g., when sellers answer shoppers’ questions in Ask the Hackrs).
5. Enforcement measures
We have put in place enforcement measures to encourage Marketplace compliance.
@brokers and @dealers, please take the time to read the updated Marketplace Guidelines carefully as the updated terms might affect the way you currently conduct businesses on the forum.
4. Strengthening our business registration process
We are instituting a new business onboarding process and fee structure to encourage higher-quality business participation. We will give every new business registrant an orientation on our community culture and best practices so they can grow their business effectively on Leasehackr from Day 1.
Thank you for helping us build a better community in 2021!