texazzpete:

I think it would be most effective if somehow Seun could somehow implement a referral/reputation system. Kinda like the 'feedback' on eBay.
This can be exploited, though. So an easy way out could be the mod stickies a thread called "Trusted Auto dealers". In that thread you could have a listing of the trusted dealers on NL and potential buyers can see if they are doing business with known people.  

My 2 cents.

Sicherheit:

Finally, I want to suggest that things like temperament should be put into consideration when picking a moderator for a highly charged section like this. Some people get too hot under the collar too quickly to be mods. Yes, Mr. chelseabmw I'm looking at you.

I believe i sent messages to some dealers here letting them know the difference between the bulk section and the auto section.I have also contacted few dealers too through their threads.But they still do whats on their mind.

mastro:

As for an approved section, it would probably require too much work unless the dealers are ready to pay for it, then you have the situation of how to resolve disputes where a "approved dealer" is involved.

blank:

Also put a big sign saying buyers beware.

Bizbooks:
I thank Seun and Co for giving us the bulk section. It went a long way in sanitizing the auto section. Newcomers will not understand what life was like before the introduction of the bulk section. But sadly we are gradually returning to the status quo ante. By that I mean the auto section is looking more and more like the auto section of old.
People are now rampantly flaunting the 3 threads per day limit while others are brazenly using multiple IDs to advertise in the main auto section. Nigerians are too “smart” and will find ways to break any law that is not strictly enforced. Monitor_1 once asked us to report any dealer violating the rules. I don’t know how many people that have done that. But I suspect it will be quite few since Nigerians generally prefer to mind their own businesses.

What I’m about to propose here is not new. We have discussed it ad nauseum. But I think the time has now come for us to solve this problem once and for all. Just as the admin created the bulk section, he should create another section called “Approved Dealers Section” or something similar to that. Only dealers that meet certain criteria will be allowed to advertise in this section.

Monitor_1:


Let’s assume for a moment that the Admin is open to the idea of an “Approved Dealer Section”. I’d like to hear forumite’s views on the following issues:

(1)What would be the criteria for classifying a dealer as Approved?


1. Provision of at least 30 references on closed deals by the clients. These clients must be ready to come on here and post on the success of the transaction and their phone numbers for verification by anyone who's interested in calling them to verify. , Wait! this will be tough for even someone like me who's been here since inception

2. Copy of international passport/Drivers license

3. Two personal referees(These referees must be salary earners or have very viable businesses, and must be made to agree to stand-in/pay for any damages caused by the dealer e.g. dealer elopes with a buyers funds). This referee form should be prepared by the ADMIN of this site - SEUN(Its your site, protect its name)


(2)In the USA for instance, certified dealers in websites like Autotrader.com are required to be bonded, are NL dealers willing to pay a high one-time fee (not more than N1m) and an annual fee of say, N30,000 in order to become certified? This fee should weed out the quack dealers and it will help NL to hire lawyers to prosecute thieving patrons caught with their pants down.

[b]My brother, for a trade forum like what we have here- it won't work. You started as free, keep it up as free. NOTE: I'm not clamoring for free because the money is much for me, just stating the obvious. Besides, how many of these young dealers can afford to be paying such fees, even a one-time fee of N200k? Some of these guys are just starting, and finding their feet, trying not to get into dubious dealings e.g. yahoo-yahoo like their unemployed mates are doing all over the country, thereby engaging in this legitimate biz . So they should be encouraged. Though an annual fee of your suggested N30,000 shouldn't be too much for them to pay, but is not enough to make one certified. In actual fact, no amount can actually certify a dealer here, even N5m. Ok take for instance, a buyer comes to buy a 2010 range rover HSE which goes for over 12M, are you saying because, someone has paid 5M to be a certified dealer they can't disappear with N12M IF THEY ARE DUBIOUS & ANONYMOUS?? Of course they can, that's N7m "ROI" to any yahoo-yahoo dealer here. So rather than enforcing payments to be certified, lets merge both = PAYMENTS & DOCUMENTATIONS as I stated above.[/b]



(3)Certified dealers could be required to provide name/address/phone number, and a letter from an attorney whom they’ve retained to represent them in every transaction.
Fake Attorney's abound in nigeria, A fake dealer can employ the services of his fake lawyer friend to pose as his lawyer to scam a potential buyer of over 7M, many hungry desperate boys(even girls) out there nowadays, the job market is bad in nigeria.

(4)Every deal entered into by a certified dealer and a NL buyer must be consummated via an agreement prepared by dealer’s and/or buyer’s attorney and signed by necessary parties. If such an agreement does not exist, NL Authorities will not intervene when an unresolved dispute occurs.
(5)Certified dealers must be prepared to submit the said agreements to NL authorities, upon signing.
I don't clearly understand this part(4 & 5), however, it sounds like a lenghty process maybe cuz i don't understand how it will work in a live scenario. Kindly elaborate on this.

(6)NL Authorities could establish a Certified Dealers Board (CTB) not more than 3-4 people, which will establish rules for admission, expulsion, fine administration e.t.c.
Good stuff , make it 7 people. The fewer, the easier they are to be cajoled/bribed/guided by sentiments.

(7)A few pioneer dealers could be given automatic certification without any qualification process once they pay any necessary entrance fees and provide info on their Attorneys. (Dealers like Viperman, Inspired, Jenju) come to mind.
I can't refuse such a good offer,

Lets brainstorm these ideas for now, we should add more to it as we proceed. When we come up with a concrete manner of handling some of these issues, we’ll submit our ideas to the Admin. Whatever we come up with should not produce unnecessary barriers to becoming an Approved Dealer, for up and coming dealers.

I’d recommend that any dealer who is not ready to enter into official agreements, prepared by lawyers, with buyers, has no business being certified. If you are a genuine businessman, having a lawyer should be as indispensable as having ready access to capital. My 2cents, for now.

BizBooks:


Monitor_1 has provided the most detailed suggestions so far. Obviously, many people will disagree with his suggestion that dealers pay a fee of 1 Million Naira to get approved. But I think therein lies the path to our salvation. While I agree with Viperman that 1 Million Naira is too high, I still believe that dealers should be required to pay a certain amount to get approved. If you ask me, I will say a one-time fee of 250,000 Naira with nothing more to pay.

femmy2010:

I am sure 95% of NL dealers can not afford such an outrageous proposition of a payment of N250k to get approved.

dantitiki:

How long can the services of a law firm be kept running since there's a just a one-off payment??