Verifying high value shops

[MaximC]

Hello there.

MCM has all different types of shops with high-value items, such has server hosting, large artwork, development, builds etc...

All of those items could cost upwards of $200+, and for a small server, that is a-lot.
I'm proposing a ticket system, where if stores that are advertising services over $150, they are required to be verified to increase trustworthy, a proof of product and lower scam rates.

It'll be a simple ticket, where that seller would need to prove to a staff member that they are able to provide that service. If they are, they are allowed, if not, they aren't.

It would take time, but, time will save money.
Some counter-arguments would be:

"What if my service was already verified, and I open a new service?"
You'd need to verify that service, it's not one ticket forever.

"It'll put work on the staff members, too much work."
As MCM are trying their hardest to prevent scams, checking if the product/service is legit, is less work than a scam-report, as I see it. It'll also ensure the quality of the product/service which is essential for MCM.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Aekalix]

I kind of like this idea :tup:
But people can just list lower prices like starting of $2 and then ask $150.

 

[Ivain]

No. This would be abused, since a ticket like that implies being reliable. Sounds perfect for someone looking to exit-scam. What is it going to do? If you're gonna order upwards of $150 from someone whose reputation or past experience seems doubtful, you might want to be wary all by yourself

 

[neag]

Would provide problems of having to verify stuff for one time sales like servers but I think there could be workarounds.

 

[Justis]

Adding onto what Ivain has said, which I agree with, this causes more trouble than it resolves.
What good comes of giving someone 'verification'?
Users who purchase from verified shops/threads can rest easier that they won't be scammed? False. Shifting the liability of verifying ownership to MC-Market's staff team doesn't make you safer. You should already be verifying this yourself. You should never let your guard down when doing deals, especially those involving a lot of money.
And every time a 'verified' service or product is used to scam, who's fault is it? The user who went with a user who's thread was verified, or the staff team for giving a useless verification mark to a scammer?
The verification protects no one.
It simply splits the community into those who are verified, and those who aren't, as Croc said. With scammers on both sides.

You should always always always verify whether or not someone has the product you intend to purchase from them before sending over your money. Yourself! If the staff team is capable of doing this, so are you; and best of all, you are responsible for your money's safety, not someone else.

 

[MaximC]

Adding onto what Ivain has said, which I agree with, this causes more trouble than it resolves.
What good comes of giving someone 'verification'?
Users, who purchase from verified shops/threads can rest easier that they won't be scammed? False. Shifting the liability of confirming ownership to MC-Market's staff team doesn't make you safer. You should already be verifying this yourself. You should never let your guard down when doing deals, especially those involving a lot of money.
And every time a 'verified' service or product is used to scam, who's fault is it? The user who went with a user who's thread was verified, or the staff team for giving a useless verification mark to a scammer?
The verification protects no one.
It simply splits the community into those who are verified, and those who aren't, as Croc said. With scammers on both sides.

You should always always always verify whether or not someone has the product you intend to purchase from them before sending over your money. Yourself! If the staff team is capable of doing this, so are you; and best of all, you are responsible for your money's safety, not someone else.

Hi there.

Various marketplaces do require a type of verification before a high in value service/product is sold.
The system that I've explained wouldn't 'put your guard' down at all; it'll just add an extra layer of security to MCM.

It'll help many different users, to ensure that a moderator has checked as well.

--

MCM provides this service, and they should be held accountable for scam threads. Yes, that person may have sent the money, but that thread was posted on MCM, without vercation, or a proof that their service is what they say it is.

My system wouldn't add a 'false' sense of security at all, it'll add a layer of security, which is essential for a major site like MCM.

No way Jose!

We should be looking to level the playing field, not create an exclusive "club".

Hi there.

What I'm suggesting isn't "a club" or a rank, it's purely for security and from a moderation stand-point.
A whole different system would maybe be a system where after your thread is posted, a moderator must approve that thread before it goes live. "A club" isn't what I was shifting at all. Levelling the playing system is a fair point, but doesn't relate to my system at all.

By levelling, I'm guessing, by making it fairer. As I said, there isn't a group, nor even a tag. It'll be a totally equal playing field, the only restrictions are your service/product.[DOUBLEPOST=1498541662][/DOUBLEPOST]

No. This would be abused, since a ticket like that implies being reliable. Sounds perfect for someone looking to exit-scam. What is it going to do? If you're gonna order upwards of $150 from someone whose reputation or past experience seems doubtful, you might want to be wary all by yourself

Hi there.

I do agree with your point, why would you order a product/service from a low reputation person, it's best to check, or stay clear from that seller. People with the largest of reputation could still scam people, there isn't a grantee.

MCM is quite a large site, the more security, the better. You might say that scammers aren't there to gain reputation and leave.
I've seen many cases of just that, and for quite large sums of money, as well.

A site like MCM should have systems involved to prevent scammers.
As this is just my opinion, it's best for someone with more knowledge regarding MCM to comment.

 

[Ivain]

You have yet to understand that there is absolutely nothing MCM staff can do to make sure that the people they 'verify' will not scam, and that a thing like this will create a false illusion of safety. If there is to be no public way to demonstrate verification, why even try? How will it help at all? Just to prevent the scam (which it won't)? how will it reassure if there is no public mark at all?

People offering high-cost services have rarely been the scammer. Usually, scams are on accounts, loans, servers or lower-budget services. I have seen scam reports on $100+ services only a few times in the last few months, I'd say it's less than 1 in 16.
That means this is a solution requiring a lot of work for staff that solves very little. And that is assuming the verification helps, which it does not. There is absolutely no way a mod can decide whether or not something is a scam based on a single vouch copy.

A service scam would go something like this:

1. User joins, and opens a shop
2. user does a few vouch copies and low-budget projects to build up reputation
3. does maybe one or two mid to high-cost projects to get additional trust (or in this case get through the verification)
   
4. user gets several mid to high-cost projects at once, then simply quits and lets themselves get banned, running off with the money.

Also, how would you suggest the verification go? Create a vouch copy for a mod? There's a reason people ask $150 for a service like that, because it's a fuckload of work. Not something you just hand out free under any circumstances.

I have heard of a 'scam' where someone fails to provide a service because of lack of ability maybe once or twice this year. That is literally the only 'scam' that this suggestion would help combat, at the cost of a lot of work for both staff and service providers.

"There are very different marketplaces that require a type of verification before high value services are provided/a product is sold"
Example? I cannot recall any marketplace like that, tbh.
Also, those services are likely more legit companies, with a completely different structure/system and a very different community.

"The only restrictions are your service/product" you mean that there are supposed to be restrictions for non-verified shops? How would those go? And how would that not make it a bit of a club? if there is any restriction whatsoever on providing a service while not verified, there is no such thing as a level playing field.

 

[Mick]

You have yet to understand that there is absolutely nothing MCM staff can do to make sure that the people they 'verify' will not scam, and that a thing like this will create a false illusion of safety. If there is to be no public way to demonstrate verification, why even try? How will it help at all? Just to prevent the scam (which it won't)? how will it reassure if there is no public mark at all?

People offering high-cost services have rarely been the scammer. Usually, scams are on accounts, loans, servers or lower-budget services. I have seen scam reports on $100+ services only a few times in the last few months, I'd say it's less than 1 in 16.
That means this is a solution requiring a lot of work for staff that solves very little. And that is assuming the verification helps, which it does not. There is absolutely no way a mod can decide whether or not something is a scam based on a single vouch copy.

A service scam would go something like this:

1. User joins, and opens a shop
2. user does a few vouch copies and low-budget projects to build up reputation
3. does maybe one or two mid to high-cost projects to get additional trust (or in this case get through the verification)
   
4. user gets several mid to high-cost projects at once, then simply quits and lets themselves get banned, running off with the money.

Also, how would you suggest the verification go? Create a vouch copy for a mod? There's a reason people ask $150 for a service like that, because it's a fuckload of work. Not something you just hand out free under any circumstances.

I have heard of a 'scam' where someone fails to provide a service because of lack of ability maybe once or twice this year. That is literally the only 'scam' that this suggestion would help combat, at the cost of a lot of work for both staff and service providers.

"There are very different marketplaces that require a type of verification before high value services are provided/a product is sold"
Example? I cannot recall any marketplace like that, tbh.
Also, those services are likely more legit companies, with a completely different structure/system and a very different community.

"The only restrictions are your service/product" you mean that there are supposed to be restrictions for non-verified shops? How would those go? And how would that not make it a bit of a club? if there is any restriction whatsoever on providing a service while not verified, there is no such thing as a level playing field.

Denied, thanks for the suggestion.