I Have An Idea??

By George, I think you've got it!!

"The first -- would be when they start an ad, it would check for PM space, and if there is none, it wouldn't let them start an ad."

Yes, exactly

"The second seems to have nothing to do with ads specifically but just with conversations.. Correct?"

Well yes, I wasn't concerned with the link between conversations and ads (per say) except when the seller "starts" an ad. It wouldn't matter if there are any conversation slots open at all (whether one or two or three). The trick is to prevent a member from starting an ad and no one is able to respond with a conversation....I see it all the time. The seller will try and sell something and for days members will respond to the "ad" telling the seller his/her box is full. The seller is either out of town or hasn't been checking in at the site. Eventually the seller will check the "ad" and realize that his/her box is full.

If there was a way to keep a member from starting an "ad" (when their PM box is FULL) it would move things along much more quickly.

treblig