# A Question on the Rules. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 31, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-on-the-rules/237527 "2004-03-31T14:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-on-the-rules/237527/1 "2004-03-31T14:44:25Z")
The Rules clearly state that I am not allowed to post offers to sell things (spam) on the SDMB. A good thing. However, I was wondering if it is permitted to make an open offer to buy a (legal) item on the SDMB. Open offers to buy are obviously not the same as commercial hawking of goods. Specifically, some artwork. Is this a violation of the Rules? If I ask if an item is available for sale, & all barganing is done via e-mail, is _that_ permissable? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-on-the-rules/237527/2 "2004-03-31T17:16:19Z")
I may have cause to regret this - we still get kids who figure that because it’s called the Straight Dope they can ask if anybody’s got some drugs, man - but go ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-on-the-rules/237527/3 "2004-03-31T18:30:11Z")
Thank you.