Right,
this is simple.
Unfortunately the 50 posts idea won't work and won't be implemented because of the simple fact that it is NO safeguard. Anyone rogue trader could simply hang around a few days, notch up 50 posts posing as the loveliest and most charming retrobiker, and on post 51 start ripping people off.
I've had a couple of duff sales experiences on here with people that have got hundreds of posts and had fantastic and generous ones with members with just a handful. That's just how a classified section based on trust and community functions. And this forum is both bloody trustworthy made up of a great community.
We are genuinely sorry that this has happened to you mate, it's so rubbish that some people will do this. It really is.
I would recommend the bottom line is to go by the feedback threads in future, they speak volumes. If anything's even slightly iffy, then trust your instinct and walk away.
We are pro-active in policing this forum and we do take bad experiences seriously. Keeping this site running as smoothly as it does takes a fair amount of work put in by a small number of people and we really do try hard to make it a fair place to come and play. There is just little one can do but warn people to be extra careful if buying from an unknown entity. Unfortunately.
And it's a credit to the members of this forum that (IMO) it's the friendliest and most trusting and most Karma active place I've found on the net or in the bike world at large. So I'd like to hear 3 cheers for the majority of the members on here and let's stick together and remember to use that feedback forum when you make a transaction - because this is exactly why it's there.
Now, go and apologise to your cat and kick something deserving next time like a vandal or a thief.