In an effort to clean up the classifieds, we are requiring that all classifieds posts be in the following formats:

1) If you are selling a part:
(Example FS: Item Name)

2) If you are selling an automobile:
(Example FS: Year, Make, Model, Mileage, Location)

3) If you are parting out a car:
(Example Parting Out: Year, Make, Model)
- Please include the parts that you are parting out in one post, and include prices for each part.

4) If you want to purchase an item:
(Example WTB: Item Name)

5) If you want to trade an item:
(Example WTT: Item Name for Item Name)

6) If you want to trade an automobile for another item or automobile:
(Example WTT: Year, Make, Model, Mileage for Item Name/Automobile)

Please note - the automobile that you want to trade needs to be posted in the classifieds forum for that automobile, not the one you want to trade for.

Example: "WTT: 2002 VW GTI VR6 75k miles for 1998 VW GTI VR6 plus cash" must to be posted only in the G/J IV Cars classifieds forum, not the G/J III Cars classifieds forum.

7) If you are posting a link to an ebay auction you MUST have a buy it now price in the auction and in the thread title. If you are just looking to gather interest for your auction, then we suggest putting a link to it in your signature.

Furthermore, we will not allow all CAPS thread titles, or distracting characters such as ">", "*", "!", "~", etc. The thread title MUST be in a format presented above, or the thread will be removed. Also, all threads must be in the proper forum. A thread that is selling wheels must be in the respective wheels and tires classifieds forum, not in the model specific forum that those wheels came from. The same goes for parts you are selling. If you have Corrado parts, they have to go in the Corrado forum, not in other forums in which they could be an upgraded part. If someone is looking for an upgrade, they will know where to look.

You must post a price in your initial post.

Also, the classifieds are not a place to voice an opinion on a product. Questioning the value/price, linking to the same or similar item, or posting in an attempt to devalue the objects being sold is forbidden. If you wish to question the value, IM the seller. Do not reply to a classifieds thread unless you are interested in the item. This will cut down on the traffic in the classifieds, which will result in less people bumping their topics, and making it easier to find what you are looking for. Once your item has sold, or you have found what you are looking for, please make a note of that in your thread.

If you are interested in gathering a market value for your item, please be sure to use the Search feature to see what similar items have been selling for. Check both the recent topics, and the archived topics.

Tickets for events can only be sold at face-value or less.

Items that are not to be sold in the classifieds are:
- Firearms
- Animals
- Tobacco
- Illegal copies of software, repair manuals, etc

Please be aware that the Advertising Rules and Regulations are still in effect (see below), and you must be an advertiser if you would like to post commercially.

These new classifieds rules will be strictly enforced for all new threads.

Thanks.

[updated: 10/20/08]

• Advertising Levels:

Forum Sponsor – This is a company who has sponsored a specific forum. They have the ability to have up to three threads “stickied” at the top of the forum of which they sponsor. A banner in place of the usual forum header at the top of the forum denotes the company’s presence as that Forum’s Sponsor. Forum Sponsors are acknowledged by a “Forum Sponsor” user title and avatar.

Banner Advertiser – This is a company whose banner is in the main ad banner rotation in the top right section of the forums page, and also rotates throughout the website on the “editorial side” of the site at the bottom of articles, features and resources. This type of advertiser is eligible to support Group Buys and also has the ability to post in the main forums. Banner Advertisers are acknowledged by a “Banner Advertiser” user title and avatar.

Classified Advertiser - This is a company whose banner runs in the lower left bottom section of the discussion forums. This type of advertiser is eligible to support group buys and post commercially in the classified forums only. Classified Advertisers do not have the permission to post in the main forums or anywhere outside of the classifieds. Classified Advertisers are acknowledged by a "Classified Advertiser" user title and avatar.

• Commercial Posting Regulations:

For Advertisers:

- Forum Sponsors are allowed a total of 35 commercial posts at one time, which includes no more than 10 in any given forum, and no more than 3 stickies at a time in the forum they sponsor.

- Banner Advertisers are allowed a total of 35 commercial posts at one time, where no more than 10 can be in any one forum.

- Classified Advertisers are allowed a total of 15 commercial posts at one time.

- If an advertiser exceeds their allotted number of commercial posts, please contact a member of the staff or administration to have excess posts removed and/or archived.

- Bumping of threads is allowed at the rate of two bumps per thread per day. Any additional bumps may result in the thread being removed at the discretion of the moderators and/or staff.

For Non Advertisers:

- No spamming or commercial solicitation of any kind allowed on our sites other than authorized individuals representing a given level of advertiser. Any such messages violating these terms will be removed at the discretion of the moderators and/or staff.

- Selling of individual items or vehicle is permissible by a private owner in our Classifieds forums, however selling multiple items of the same product is considered a commercial post and will be removed at the discretion of the moderators and/or staff.

- The classifieds were created for members to sell parts from their personal vehicles or their personal cars. The classifieds are not to be used to part out cars that have been picked up from the junk yard and then the parts sold off for profit using the forums. Doing so constitutes a commercial post and will be removed at the discretion of the moderators and/or staff.

- Using the IM system to solicit business and circumvent the advertising rules and regulations is not allowed. Violating this rule may result in your ability to send IMs to be disabled, or your account being banned.

- Personal classifieds belong in the classified forum and not the main forum. If classifieds are posted in the main forums, they will be removed by the moderators and/or staff.

- Commercial posts from distributors who carry a registered advertiser’s product are not allowed. Distributors still need to sign up as a registered advertiser if they wish to commercially post on the forums.

• Advertising Rules and Regulations FAQ

Q: I’m interested in signing up for either a Forum Sponsor, Banner Advertiser or Classified Advertiser status; how do I do so?
A: To sign up for either of the other level advertising positions, please visit: http://www.vwvortex.com/about/contact.html.

Q: I want to organize a Group Buy, can I do so?
A: No, you will need to contact the advertiser who has the product you’d like to see in a group buy, and ask them to post the Group Buy.

Q: What if the product I want to do a Group Buy for is not sold by an eligible company?
A: Our advertisers are broad enough and numerous enough that they cover virtually all parts. If not, many are willing to help out by distributing and processing the parts in question. If the part you want is unique to a company that does not advertise with us, you may want to suggest to that company that they consider doing so.

Q: Why were these rules implemented?
A: These rules were implemented for your protection as buyers and also to help support those companies that choose to support our community. By having companies register with us, the chance of our users getting scammed is much less as those companies or entities doing this business then have something to lose. The implementation of proper user titles makes moderating the forums much easier. Forum Sponsors and Banner Advertisers may post sales in all forums.

Q: What if, even with the new rules, I get scammed in a Group Buy?
A: If a situation arises where there is a problem regarding payment without delivery on product, any user should contact an administrator immediately if they wish action to be taken. Our staff will investigate, and if the situation warrants, that entity will be removed from having Group Buy privileges. While this does not assure money will be returned or the part will be shipped, a key benefit is that it will assure that fellow users are not scammed thanks to communication amongst our users. However, in the end, VWvortex is not liable for any problems that result out of participating in a Group Buy on this site. Let the buyer beware.

Updated: 5/12/09