The For Sale Forum is ill-conceived

[Ex-SolentBoy]

People only go there to look for something they want. If they do not know they want it, then they do not go there.

Offer something for sale on this forum and people go "oh yes, that sounds great, I will buy it" but they wouldnt go to the other place as they weren't in shopping mode.

I have put things up for sale and done rather naughty links to the other place from here, but things that are just on the other place sit and do nothing.

Surely there is a better way for us to do this? I know we do not want to clutter up a discussion forum with marketing, but surely there must be a solution that works for both.

 

[RobbieW]

I think your premise is misconcieved, given that this is a forum there are a limited number of ways that information can be presented and a limited number of ways of recieving that information. In fact I'm not sure what else can be done to enhance the sales (or wanted) experience beyond that currently available. Both For Sale and Wanted forums have RSS feeds, the ardent buyer could set up a watch on those feeds to see whats new, a bit of a blunt instrument would be to use the 'Whats New' button - I suppose that might have a sort by Forum option.

In a sense, all online markets are accessed by some sort of search. If you look for something on eBay or Gumtree then you use either the built in search function or simply preface your Google search with the site name.

I'm guessing that to enhance the For Sale forum would take development effort from vBulletin to extend the categorisation function, then an enhanced search of those extra details to reveal the products of interest. Nothings perfect, even eBay relies largely on sellers correctly correctly categorising (and spelling) thier wares to gain market interest.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

In fact I'm not sure what else can be done to enhance the sales (or wanted) experience beyond that currently available.

Neither am I. That's why I asked the question.

All I can tell you is the if you advertise on PBO or Scuttlebutt you greatly increase your chances of selling than just in the For Sale forum.

 

[Simondjuk]

A subtle twist on the naughty links.

 

[ChrisE]

People only go there to look for something they want. If they do not know they want it, then they do not go there.

Offer something for sale on this forum and people go "oh yes, that sounds great, I will buy it" but they wouldnt go to the other place as they weren't in shopping mode.

I have put things up for sale and done rather naughty links to the other place from here, but things that are just on the other place sit and do nothing.

Surely there is a better way for us to do this? I know we do not want to clutter up a discussion forum with marketing, but surely there must be a solution that works for both.

Or ....

you could be selling things that people don't want or are priced too high.

I've sold an anchor and a sextant, at seperate times and both went within a few days. OTOH, an auto trimtab took two years.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

A subtle twist on the naughty links.

Like this perhaps? http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ou-service-your-winches&p=4059368#post4059368

 

[Lakesailor]

Neither am I. That's why I asked the question.

All I can tell you is the if you advertise on PBO or Scuttlebutt you greatly increase your chances of selling than just in the For Sale forum.

Pretty obvious as there are more viewers on the other forums. But they are not For Sale forums and visitors are not looking to buy.


I can't really see your point.

If you want to be exposed to a larger volume of prospective buyers try using a dedicated sales arena like ebay.
The YBW For sales forum is just a free service for forumites, not a sure-fire sales platform..

 

[[70521]]

People only go there to look for something they want. If they do not know they want it, then they do not go there.

I only ever go into a shop if I need something, why should the for sale forum be any different.

If I was a woman it might be different.

 

[single]

Sort of see your point but if i'm looking for something i look in 'for sale' every few days. (normally miss the good buys!) What would be better is like ebay having a keywork watch where your notified by email when any of those keywords appear in the 'for sale' forum. On the other hand do we want the techs messing about in there and messing something else up
If there is something you really want why not mention it on Scuttlebut/lounge etc?

 

[oldharry]

People only go there to look for something they want. If they do not know they want it, then they do not go there.

Offer something for sale on this forum and people go "oh yes, that sounds great, I will buy it" but they wouldnt go to the other place as they weren't in shopping mode.

I have put things up for sale and done rather naughty links to the other place from here, but things that are just on the other place sit and do nothing.

Surely there is a better way for us to do this? I know we do not want to clutter up a discussion forum with marketing, but surely there must be a solution that works for both.

No. Things dont just sit there and do nothing. Every time I have seen something i could use, its already sold. Works very well. If it aint broke (and it isnt) dont fix it.

There is a right place in the forum for selling things. Dont clutter up the wrong places. Most of us I guess will take a look every few days to see if there is anything thats on the shopping list, or maybe just another bit of clutter that 'might be useful'.

But its certainly not true to say that For sale items never get sold. They do. Unless nobody wants them.

 

[photodog]

I think a serious look does need to be had at the layout of the various forums now. The problem is there are loads of redundant sub forums that you need to wade through... And the for sale forums
Are now accessed outside of the main forums... So they have introduced another level that needs to be accessed outside of the main forums.... Versus before you had these forums to view as part of the main index of forums... Now they lie in outside of this...

I think their needs to be a purge on all the ancient subforums... And subforums including the for sale and east coast should be brought into the main top level index.

 

[single]

Its no hassle clicking the first forum word top left though?

 

[Pye_End]

People only go there to look for something they want. If they do not know they want it, then they do not go there.

Perhaps a poll to see if your initial premise is true?

 

[Lakesailor]

Or just make a bookmark for the "For sale" forum and put it in your Bookmarks Toolbar at the top of the page. Like I did for the Lounge when the "Jump To" button became useless.

 

[oldharry]

Perhaps a poll to see if your initial premise is true?

Doesnt need a poll to see that most things sell fairly quickly. QED people are going there to look.

I reckon its a bit like a boat jumble: you go to with a shopping list, but part of the fun is browsing round the rest of it. Then finding the following week you saw exactly the bit the bloke in the next boat has been looking for....

 

[Stork_III]

I think a serious look does need to be had at the layout of the various forums now. The problem is there are loads of redundant sub forums that you need to wade through... And the for sale forums
Are now accessed outside of the main forums... So they have introduced another level that needs to be accessed outside of the main forums.... Versus before you had these forums to view as part of the main index of forums... Now they lie in outside of this...

I think their needs to be a purge on all the ancient subforums... And subforums including the for sale and east coast should be brought into the main top level index.

Just subscribe to the forums you are interested in, then make your access link to your cp page. They are there when you need them, cuts out wading through years of Scuttlebutt cruises etc.

 

[Pye_End]

I reckon its a bit like a boat jumble: you go to with a shopping list, but part of the fun is browsing round the rest of it. Then finding the following week you saw exactly the bit the bloke in the next boat has been looking for....

That rings a few bells. Have you been looking through my window?

 

[sam_uk]

My perception is that competitively priced items sell very quickly. Overpriced items linger.

Try knocking 20% of your asking price and see how fast things sell then?

I have brought maybe 10 items in the forum. It's always been a pleasure. I have found the members here to be trustworthy and reliable.

Best

Sam

 

[oldharry]

No, Pye-end but the local Uni wants to start an archaeological dig in my workshop......

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I take it all back.

Loads of stuff selling all of a sudden.

Must be Easter looming.