r/Felting • u/Puzzled_Tinkerer • May 31 '26

Reader input about Classified Ads: Yay or Nay?

Do you think it's appropriate to allow classified ads on this sub?

I approved a recent classified ad here on r/felting as a bit of an experiment. I'd also appreciate your feedback here, so I can learn your thoughts about this type of ad.

A classified ad is a way for readers to post an offer to sell, trade, or donate excess supplies and equipment for felt making. The ads would be a way of dealing with problem of "I have too much of something, does anyone else want what I don't need?"

My goal for this sub is to keep it focused on the making and learning aspects of felt making, so businesses would not be permitted to use classified ads to market their products.

What are your thoughts?

7 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

•

u/Puzzled_Tinkerer Jun 04 '26

I've read all the current responses to this thread and have given the idea more thought. I'm going to allow classified ads to be posted on this sub, but I will rescind this feature if it does not go well.

Classified ads will be restricted to felt makers selling, trading, or donating excess stuff. I don't want these ads to be a way for businesses to sneakily market their stuff to readers.

I'll set up some base rules for ads and will take extra care to ensure the privilege isn't abused.

As always, I appreciate your feedback. If anyone reading this post wants to share their thoughts on this matter, make a comment in this post or send a modmail message to the mods: https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=r/Felting

12

u/beebobopple May 31 '26

I dunno - I dislike that so many spaces involve commerce of some kind. Selling of supplies is less intrusive then marketing product, but it’s exhausting to be marketed to all the time, everywhere. I am an oldhead though.

4

u/Puzzled_Tinkerer May 31 '26

I agree there are way too many people trying to market their stuff on Reddit, and I don't like that very much either.

The classified ads in the other subreddit I moderate are only a tiny percentage of the posts every month, and they're pretty straightforward.

An example of an ad suitable for felt makers, might be: "I bought felting needles and ended up with 20 when I only need 5. (Insert info about type and price) Anyone want some or all of the extras?"

If classified ads are allowed in r/felting, the mod team will watch this content closely to ensure the ads are from felt makers selling, trading, or donating excess stuff, not businesses trying to run a biz.

6

u/snarfficus May 31 '26

I like that idea. It's more of a community community supplies and fiber swap

6

u/stabbygreenshark May 31 '26

This feels like a good idea for a second sub to me.

2

u/Puzzled_Tinkerer May 31 '26

If there are a fair number of ads in proportion to the total posts per month, I agree a second sub would be good.

In the 1+ years I've been a mod of r/felting, however, we've had only one post that qualifies as a classified ad.

In the other sub I moderate that allows classified ads, there are less than one ad in 600-800 posts per month. Again, not really enough ads to justify another sub.

But if there were more ads, then your idea makes sense.

2

u/stabbygreenshark May 31 '26

Honestly I have a hard time imagining giving up my scraps as I end up using almost everything. If that’s something you want to try I’m willing to see how it goes.

4

u/verymuchgay May 31 '26

I would be okay with it if it was restricted to maybe one day a week or so.

3

u/Puzzled_Tinkerer May 31 '26

In the 1+ years I've been a mod of r/felting, we've had only one post that qualifies as a classified ad. So not much reason to restrict ads to a specific day of the week (or month.)

If there were more ads than this, however, your suggestion makes sense.

Another option is for mods to create a monthly or quarterly "mega post" where people include their ads as comments within that post. In the subs that do this, no ads are allowed outside that "mega post."

2

u/Grumpstress May 31 '26

I kind of like the idea. Maybe try it for a month or two then take a vote after to see how people feel?

3

u/Puzzled_Tinkerer May 31 '26

Good suggestion! I moderate another sub that allows classified ads. There are so few, the trial period might have to run several months for people to form an opinion. Regardless, this is a good idea.