[Omniscient]

I gave everyone an extra day but here it is. This is the official new policy of HF for the Marketplace and Contracts.

1. Anyone caught in fake Contract schemes for vouches and B-Ratings will be closed.
2. All vouches in threads must be related to a Contract and from a verified "Contracted Customer".
3. All sales in Marketplace now require Contracts. Exempt Marketplace forums for Contracts are "Hash Bounties", "Member Auctions", "Partnerships, Hiring, and Personnel" and "Rewards and Small Favors".
4. Only Vendor group members may also advertise their own seller websites and links in Marketplace sales threads. Links cannot be to autobuy or shopping cart pages like Shopify.com or Selly.gg.
5. Anyone refusing to use the Contracts system in a deal on HF is subject to an account closure.
6. Only Contracts can be disputed in our Deal Dispute forum.
7. Vouch copies (free for review) require a "trade" Contract. Sellers should provide a MyCode Contract for initiating free vouch copies.

The above rules are subject to change without notice. I'll be adding these to Help Docs shortly.

A new Vouch Violation report reason is being added along with a Vouch Violation warning level. Members will be able to report posts which violate our new vouching policy. This will be implemented in a few more days once members are done making thread adjustments.

I have decided not to close Marketplace threads yet. I'm going to grant members a little more time to implement the MyCode and implement the policy into their threads. I'm placing an Announcement in the Marketplace forum linking to this thread which will remain for a couple days. It might be annoying but get over it.

EDIT: Some guidance if you have a Marketplace thread.
1. If you can edit your thread to include MyCode then do it.
2. If you can edit your thread to remove vouches on your first post then do it.
3. If you can't edit your thread then close it and start a new one.
4. If you can't edit or close your thread then start a new one.
5. Vouch policy will only apply to new posts for warnings but Staff will close your thread.

[Eagle 95]

New policy is in place, great! 😁

[Silent hill]

thanks for making hackforums a safe place to buy products!
may ask you how can we buy vendor? thanks for the hard work omni.

[Nachfolger]

Not that this will effect me, but I'm glad to see the new policies are now rolled out. Now everyone will be scrambling to become compliant like when GPDR became enacted.

[Meow]

may ask you how can we buy vendor? thanks for the hard work omni.

PM Omni for approval.

[Kill Joy]

Great update. Looking forward to having a better trading experience.

[Omniscient]

may ask you how can we buy vendor? thanks for the hard work omni.

Currently a manual process of sending me a PM for approval. There is a $100 fee for the group. Only apply if you truly are an active Marketplace participate as a seller.

[Pronouncer]

Sorry im a little confused about this one
"4. Only Vendor group members may also advertise their own seller websites and links in Marketplace sales threads. "
Does this mean vendors can use a autobuy?
Or is it how it is before, contract that then links to the auto buy for the product?

[ririki]

Sorry im a little confused about this one
"4. Only Vendor group members may also advertise their own seller websites and links in Marketplace sales threads. "
Does this mean vendors can use a autobuy?
Or is it how it is before, contract that then links to the auto buy for the product?

It means they can use External Website I guess.

[Axe]

Been looking forward to this, really glad Vendors are still able to link their own websites in the sales threads.

[SUI-3183372]

2. All vouches in threads must be related to a Contract and from a verified "Contracted Customer".

:)

4. Only Vendor group members may also advertise their own seller websites and links in Marketplace sales threads.  

Interesting change, didn't anticipate this one.

[TCP]

Very nice update, finally no more fake vouches

[Frukt]

Sorry im a little confused about this one
"4. Only Vendor group members may also advertise their own seller websites and links in Marketplace sales threads. "
Does this mean vendors can use a autobuy?
Or is it how it is before, contract that then links to the auto buy for the product?

I'm also a bit confused by this one.

Posting to see clarification later on.

[Omniscient]

"Does this mean vendors can use a autobuy?"

No. It means that they can advertise their websites which might offer things like support or FAQ's. I'm going to expect them to use Contracts MyCode and encourage HF Contract sales. Anyone who isn't a Vendor will not be able to use HF for advertising their own website in our Marketplace.

[Deal]

Love the new changes.
A question, I see we're permitted to remove vouches from the OP from anyone who's not a contracted customer. Does this also mean we should remove testemonials from users of our products that are not members of HackForums? (Facebook testimonials etc)