Yeah, I deal.
Have done so for almost as long as I've collected keris --- 50 something years.
Since about 1977 I've dealt internationally; used to do it with letters and photos, now I do it with my website.
I think that most keris aligned people who frequent the E.E.W. site already know this.
If it is deemed desireable to identify those of us who deal, it would suggest that a group mailing go out to all members so that a data base can be established, and that all new members should be required to ID themselves as dealers if in fact they are.
Personally, I feel that it is not so much the fact that somebody deals that is what should be addressed, as the use of a specific posting for commercial purposes. Yes, possibly the membership should be made aware of who the dealers are, but more important they should be made aware of an item posted for comment that will be offered for sale in the near future.
We now have what I believe to be a good cross sectional representation of members opinions.
There has been a lot of very valid comment.
I would suggest that now we have a general direction, specific objectives of any changes in rules should be identified.
To my way of thinking there are two overall objectives:-
1) --- to identify all unethical dealers
2) --- to give the swap forum back to pure collectors
Perhaps we could now have some suggestions of objectives that could be considered by our moderators.
When the objectives have been agreed to by our moderators, then it will be possible to put in place a mechanism that will permit achievement of the identified objectives.
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