Marketplace or no?

Do you have a defined area on your site where members can buy/sell/trade items related to your forum's subject matter (of course, this only pertains to certain niches where buying/selling is applicable in the first place)?

What is your reasoning for choosing to (or not to) allow buying and selling?

I personally allow it on two of my three forums. Because my niches are actually not that huge (especially for one of my forums; mine is the only one of its kind), offering buying and selling is a major attraction to community members. I feel that having a marketplace allows for a more complete user experience, offering them everything they need on one forum.


I'd like to hear your positions on the matter. Especially those of you who have decided not to develop a marketplace area within your forum.

 

We dont have one on our biggest forum as it just wouldnt work at all but on my girlfriends pregnancy and parenting forum I could see having one working well with people selling things like clothing for children, cots and the like. I think its down to whether the community really needs such a section, if your members would use it and like using it, then why not