Deano, I think the point is that if you buy to sell, then technically you are a trader, but, if at the time you bought something, you had the intention of using it first, then decide to sell, your conscience is clear, you can put the item up for sale.

However, this is where the problem lies IMO (as asked by MrsFrog), how can the line be drawn by the mods, they only have someone's word (and wording in a post) to go by.

I don't want to re-start the whole thing again really, but some people on here pay for gold membership to be able to put things up for sale and there will always be this grey area which has made a few uncomfortable recently.

Stu, I understand you want to make the traders official, and that's a mighty fine idea, how about a registration scheme without the financial costs associated for the traders instead ? Maybe a platinum membership for them, this would only be granted if they produce the information you currently require from them.

Someone buying would know they are buying from a "reputable" source so the principle is still there.

This would imo remove the financial aspect of trading on PF, thereby reducing the politics that go on, etc... whilst maintaining the safety net you are trying to provide.

Now, if someone wants to make their presence more obvious on the site, they can buy premium options like banners, etc...

This, I believe would allow bedroom traders to trade, whilst allowing proper businesses to co-exist in a peaceful fashion.

I could be wrong with this, but in the early days of PF, there weren't that many gold members, and the trader's fees got the site off the ground (well done chaps), but now that we have close to 600 gold members, are the more expensive traders' fees still required ?

*flame suit on*