Server Sales "Verification"

[God]

Just by looking at a few server threads on here and talking with people who are trying to sell their servers (some straight up telling me that MCM isn't worth the risk), I've come to the conclusion that the system has to change.

Everyone trying to sell their server is faced with a dilemma when posting the thread.

A. User posts thread selling server - listing server name, buycraft financials, other information.
Shortly afterwards, random players start logging into said server spamming that it's being sold, messaging players to quit the server and come play their server, and some even doing other malicious types of attacks.

I've personally seen a server being listed and logged onto the server shortly after - to see random people joining and spamming the buycraft financial links, that the server's being sold, and I've gotten messages telling me to play on their server instead.

B. User posts thread selling server - not listing many details other than pb, plugins, server type. User informs the reader to contact/PM for details so they can review all those who contact them to see whether trustworthy or not.
Messages replying to the post all call out the user for being untrustworthy, a scammer, trying to scam, telling others to be cautious (although you should be cautious with any deal), and much more.

Most of the thread is a bunch of, basically sales-trashers, who say that the lack of detail makes said user a scammer when said user is only withholding information so 'point-a' does not happen. Even in this case, user still gets PMs from members who are trying to ruin the server.

I know of a few server owners who have tried to sell their servers, but have avoided MCM, simply because of the above two points. They also mention knowing that a lot of users will bid and not follow-through without any kickback.

To solve this, what I would like to see is some sort of system where :

Similar to the 'Accounts' section, but with a twist.
Only users with a Forum Premium+ rank can bid for servers. The forum, itself, is only viewable by said ranks and above so new registrants/guests cannot view the servers themselves.
To list a server (no need for Premium), one must complete a verification step - similar to how Scam Reports are made with a staff member of some kind approving of it. This way, bidders know that all threads in the section are verified and people aren't listing servers they do not own.

This solves two worries. Knowing that the buyer is, at-least, a member of the forum holding a rank - and that the seller is, at-least, verified that he owns said server - will make both sides a lot more comfortable. Also, this will allow sellers to list servers at-ease, knowing that only a select amount are able to view it.

Additionally (not sure if possible), there can be some sort of threshold rank.
Some sort of verification or just the difference of the ranks will allow for two different server-sales sections with one of them for servers selling for a higher value. I was thinking of this option based on the 'Account Upgrades' offered on another forum where all users trying to purchase it, would first have to apply for it.

 

[Mick]

Would love some more feedback on this.

 

[Mick]

Yes.

Not the sort of feedback I had in mind, but thanks anyways!

 

[Harry]

Yes.

That's why there's an agree buttom/reaction :tup:

 

[Justis]

My first impressions of this suggestion when it came out wasn't great, but I held out waiting for the possibility that someone might say something to change my mind.
Unfortunately that's not the case.

Firstly. I think the whole basis of this suggestion is fundamentally wrong.
That being, you're trying to hide the fact that you're selling your server.
Why?
Are you keeping your community uninformed that their server is being sold?
You do realize that the community is what makes your server a server and not a setup. You are selling the community as part of the complete package.
I consider this attempt to hide the sale no different than a shop owner putting a barcode sticker over a bruise or hole in their fresh produce; thus preventing the acknowledgement of damage until after the buyer has looked it over, seen it as fine, and made the purchase.
Eventually that sticker is going to have to be ripped off. Eventually the community will find out that their server has been sold.
Handle your community well, and you can minimize damage while keeping honest with the product and the buyer.
Failure to do so may result in leaks of your dishonesty, and or backlash against the new owner.

Protecting your server against spam and advertisements is a basic server function. If you're not doing that, then again, that's a problem with your product. Resolve it or don't. Your actions will be reflected in your community and product.

Now, I'm not exactly against making it a premium forum.
However, if you remove the desire to hide the fact that the server is being sold as a goal, there are no positives either.
Sellers should be given the freedom to choose whether or not they want to sell to a premium or non premium member; and determining whether someone is upgraded or not is as simple as looking at their name.

 

[God]

Are you keeping your community uninformed that their server is being sold?
You do realize that the community is what makes your server a server and not a setup. You are selling the community as part of the complete package.
I consider this attempt to hide the sale no different than a shop owner putting a barcode sticker over a bruise or hole in their fresh produce; thus preventing the acknowledgement of damage until after the buyer has looked it over, seen it as fine, and made the purchase.

"Are you keeping your community uninformed that their server is being sold?"
Personally I've seen some medium-larger servers (500-1k avg) that have gone through the "sale" without much mention of an actual sale. Just the difference of owners, most of the staff staying, and the original owner saying he/she was leaving server in new owner's possession to deal with personal issues or whatever. While some servers do also tell their community about a sale, there's a difference between telling a community from the owner's standpoint and random players joining doing that.

For example.

Medium network server with 350 avg goes through a sale/transition.
Owner tells playerbase that he has to leave the community to go off to pursue higher education.
Players understand and are fine with the transition, knowing new owner won't change server too much.
From the typical player's POV - it doesn't affect them

This deal was not through MCM and only a few users were aware of the exact transaction value.

All servers, to an extent, are run to create a profit in some shape or form, but not all server owners run their server for the sole reason of making money. Sure money is money and it's what runs the world, but there are many server owners who also run them for the community aspect and because they enjoy the game. YouTubers are in the same boat. Many servers have content creators or media owners, who somewhat enjoy playing the server and creating content, with the money aspect on the side.
Some owners are only looking for an appraisal offer as well.

However, people who purchase servers look to them as 'profit generators' so obviously the server owner posting on MCM would have to disclose Buycraft financials and other information like that. Having random players join off of this post, showing private financials to players, messaging players various things, saying said YouTuber(s) is a 'sellout', would obviously hurt playerbase.

You might say, "If an owner has already disclosed the sale, why fear anything?", but in terms of 'medium-larger' servers, there are many players who are new joins and don't read the forums/discord. Also owners in the "selling" phase, usually first reach out for offers on the server and only announce the sale after an agreement has been met.
But at the point detailed above, there is no 'guaranteed' sale, but there is a loss of players, conflict with YouTubers, and other issues.

 

[Mick]

I'm going to move this to pending so that I can discuss this further with the staff team because it is something that interests me for the future of the site.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion, I'll move this to pending so that we can implement it in a future announcement!

 

[Mick]

I don't think that it's up to us as a platform to be imposing limitations like this on our users across the board. Ultimately it's up to server owners to decide how public/private they wish to make the sales process. If some server owners only want to give detailed information to people they trust, I doubt limiting the forum to only Premium will help much. They're much better off personally vetting interested parties before giving them sensitive information.

Denied, thanks for the suggestion.