Age requirements for organizing group buys, classifieds, and vendor status

[awhitedev]

Edit: I decided to remove my post. This was clearly not well received and I don't want this to turn into a flaming war. I'm not trying to publicly shame anyone here and I don't want people thinking more into this than what it is. I was only making a suggestion to help for future buys and to mitigate any issues going forward.

[RoastPotatoes]

Hoff mentioned some more verification has been coming in to the groupbuy process. But is there an epidemic of 16 year old GB leaders running off with money?

[jd29]

Is this something that happens often?

I can see it for group buys, but cut them out of classified and you're eliminating a valuable part of the market I think. Selling a few personal items isn't really a huge responsibility that requires a lot of maturity. I was selling stuff of eBay wheb I was fourteen or fifteen.

[heedpantsnow]

I've been a part of a group buy done by someone I know is under 18.  He's done good so far.

Also, maybe no one over the age of 75 should host a group buy?

Also no one with a history of health problems. That's gotten a few group buys off the rails in the past. Or a spouse with health problems

[Findecanor]

Vendor status: Absolutely yes. All members with vendor status must be official representatives of real companies that are legally registered in the member's country of residence. I find it very unlikely that minors would be able to have such a legal status anywhere.

Host group buys: I'm inclined to say yes. The person doing the group buy must be legally responsible if something goes wrong.

Member-to-member: Absolutely not.

[XMIT]

I know some people who were more reliable, responsible, communicative, and organized at 15 than some folks 2, 3, or 4 times their age. I was selling refurbished Power Macintosh computers to low income families before I turned 16.

Don't be ageist for no reason. If someone is good, you'll know.

[awhitedev]

Edit: Removed (see OP)

[Photekq]

How many GBs run by under 18s have failed?

[awhitedev]

Edit: Removed

[awhitedev]

I was only trying to add some constructive criticisms here. I'm sure there are several mature and responsible teenagers on this forum who are fine. If my opinion is an unpopular one I'll just shut up

[SpAmRaY]

I do believe you have to be 18 to have your own PayPal account but that doesn't ever stop people from using there moms account.

[XMIT]

A decade and a half ago, you could get away with not accepting Paypal on eBay. People paid by postal money order, or occasionally, personal check. Fun times.

[awhitedev]

A decade and a half ago, you could get away with not accepting Paypal on eBay. People paid by postal money order, or occasionally, personal check. Fun times.

The dark ages of the internet.

[whmeltonjr]

A decade and a half ago, you could get away with not accepting Paypal on eBay. People paid by postal money order, or occasionally, personal check. Fun times.

Ha. I remember the days of waiting for a check to clear the bank account before shipping. Good times.

I think PayPal does require you to be 18 to get a full account. They have student accounts for people over age 13, but I'm not sure what all a student account lets you do. How many people under 18 have even tried to host a group buy?

[SpAmRaY]

How many people under 18 have even tried to host a group buy?

There are many enterprising youngsters here.

[Findecanor]

I think this is primarily a question of legalities, not maturity.

I have seen group buys go south on other forums: the guy running off with all the money. I don't want to be in the situation where that happens and I would have limited ways to legally get what's my due because the organiser was a minor.

A decade and a half ago, you could get away with not accepting Paypal on eBay. People paid by postal money order, or occasionally, personal check. Fun times.

Yeah, in the US. Back in the day before PayPal when I wanted to buy something from the US (or anywhere else not Sweden), I had to either pay $30 for a bank transfer (which was often more than the item cost itself) or walk to the Foreign Exchange office to get cash .. which would only be available in bills, and send them in an envelope wrapped up so that you can't tell from the outside that it contained cash.

[rowdy]

I missed the original post and some followup comments, but I can guess at least part of it.

I am participating in a GB at the moment run by someone who is under age.  So far so good - excellent communication and response, regular updates, and quick responses to queries.  So far no complaints.

OTOH I have participated in GBs run by older persons which have been drawn out and severely lacked communication (for various reasons, some quite valid).

What about underage or new members need an established member or a mod as a mentor during the GB?

Not necessarily a guarantor, should things to arse over tits, but just someone responsible who can help or simply guide the GB organiser if things start to get too much for them, or unexpected situations arise for which there is not necessarily a precedent.

[romevi]

I can understand. There are legality issues when it comes with dealing with minors hosting things. Maturity is a factor, but I believe legalities can be a hassle.

There's a guy, as mentioned, running a GB who I know is underage, but, honestly, with the way he carries himself, I had no idea he was. I thought he was at least double his age until he told me.

Can't say that for all underage members.