a good alternative to eBay..?

[jklondon]

Does anyone use AVForums Trading Forum (http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=242) – just used it for two sales, both went very smoothly and the trading platform which includes active mods and a rating mechanism is pretty good – a niche, free-alternative to eBay, any comments/views? I have put off ebay recently due to the explosion in scam artists.

[andrew1810]

I've been visiting avforums for a few years now and the trading forums are excellent, safer than ebay and the kit is likely to be in much better condition.

I used to have some trade power-buys on there which worked well, hopefully I'll get some more stock in to open another one soon

[jklondon]

indeed - got me seriously thinking about setting up something similar except for a different niche audience. Policing and Moderating really is the key here to making this work along with a critical mass of buyers and sellers – does anyone know of good systems (open source of not) that can be used as a platform here?

[andrew1810]

The trading forums are I think based on the basic forum template with an add-on for the trader rating system, I think that is a pay-for forum software, but I'd imagine the free ones will work as well.

I can look into it for you if you like, would be happy to help out where I can.

Andrew

[gingerdad]

www.elakes.co.uk - is similar to ebay but works on a local basis. still getting up of the ground

GD

[jklondon]

www.elakes.co.uk - is similar to ebay but works on a local basis. still getting up of the ground

GD


Thanks - I think its based on an Open Source product I have seen before – the probably it clearly has like any new auction start-up is liquidity – i.e. critical mass of buyers & sellers – one way to encourage this is to make the system free (obviously) and also very simple and slick to use – which is one of the key reasons avforums works so well I think. I guess what I am thinking about is a cross between avforums / gumtree which may in fact = gumtree v2.0?

[PeteA]

I think you are right jk, there is probably a niche for forum based auction sites, good luck if you give it a go.

[pickitpackit.co.uk]

have you looked at ebid?

[jklondon]

have you looked at ebid?


yep - seems ok for an fee-free auction - reasonable level of traffic but not a touch on ebay unfortuantley, interesting to see how this skype integration pans out i.e. being able to call the buyer - its unlikley they buyer will be on the pc at the same time so I guess skype will route to mobile phone with the buyer perhaps picking up the tab and ebay earning a bit of cash ...

[Swedish-Host]

It seems to be better than ebay!
I will try to sell my turnkey websites there!

Thanks

[jklondon]

I think you are right jk, there is probably a niche for forum based auction sites, good luck if you give it a go.

just to revive this - i have launched one! - www.CitiSouk.com - when I say launch its a soft launch while we iron our a few bugs / get feedback - I have gone into this with 2 other partners, one of which owns a very popular city of london site for banking news/gossip so will be getting some traffic of that shortly through a campaign - please feel free to give feedback and to post stuff you want to sell/swap!!

Cheers JK

[jklondon]

another shout out for feedback! over the last few days we have had a good stream of registrations but a lack of conversions to posts - obviously people may have nothing to swap/sell and thus also lack of items to buy but perhaps the process isnt clear...?

[garyk]

ebid and the others are poor, they just dont get the traffic.

Yes setting up an auction site that is moderated and closely guarded is all very noble but can you make it in to a viable, sustainable and expandable business model?

[PrivateInvestigator]

still, comparing Ebay to avforums is like comparing Google to lycos. they're just not in the same league.

[jklondon]

thanks for the comments, to address them..

- yep I do think this can be a viable business if you are specific on youre focus, for us is the City of London and surrounding areas - and then use that fact and the charactersitics of that market to differentiate - so, for example, we are going to push the concept of face-2-face transactions where possible given the concentration of people in this area.

- were positioning ourselves in the gumtree,loot…avforums space not really ebay - different model and much bigger beast to attack head on but we certainly expect some if its traffic even if it is duplicated adverts.

We need some interesting headline items to "post" to encourage passing traffic to engange with the site - was thinking of a PS3 or a Wii! - All profits (above retail cost) would go to charity - so if anyone knows (I know long shot) where I can get a hold of these at retail price pls get in touch….

Cheers
JK

[squidgey]

ebid and the others are poor, they just dont get the traffic.

Yes setting up an auction site that is moderated and closely guarded is all very noble but can you make it in to a viable, sustainable and expandable business model?

I wouldnt say ebid is poor - i have sold there for nearly 2 years ;)

I love it over there - free to list , free to join :)

Just thought i would add my tuppence worth lol