Feedback on new Personal Classified sections

[vince123123]

CS Buy and Sell is not Ebay, the seller doesn't have to adhere to any rules or auction or who bid first gets first. It is a normal buyer/seller market and the seller can choose to sell to anyone he wants. Similarly, the buyer can bid and later withdraw if he wants as well. No consideration is provided and no contract is binding unless both sides explicitly agree to.

To try to make CS a bidding auction platform like Ebay is not the intention anyway.

1) Is there a guaranteed way in which the TS cannot 'upz?' Or else the same problem will be back.

2) If readers cannot post, it lacks transparency because: Other readers cannot see an ongoing bid.
No one knows who offered BNP first, except the TS.
TS can thus discretely choose who he wants to sell the equipment to.
Equipment may not be reserved based on 1st come 1st serve.

[vince123123]

Agreed, there is no need for upz here upz there just to get your product in front. Once one starts, everyone will start and you end up having a race to see who can be more kiasu.

The current system of sorting by last thread created is best.

There is a slight difference between a searchable forum compared to read-and-discard prints

The general mindset must change. I feel it's the kiasuism in us that compels us to make sure our thread is on the first page. This would also influence buyers to view the latest posts. But when the upping is restricted, I'm sure the buyer's viewing habit would change as well.

If you really wan 1st page all the time... get an ad loh...hahaha

[vince123123]

In the newspaper, each day's edition is different. It means that if you are really that kiasu, then create a new thread if you want. However, beware the admin's wrath for being kiasu

I don't see a need to keep uppping every day - if everyone does that, your thread will stil go down anyway, so unless you think you're more kiasu than the rest to up every 24 hours, it makes no difference anyway.

but it wont be if it was limited to 24hrs per press...juz like as if it was on the newspaper...

[donchua]

I have posted a few WTB threads now but responses seem very little after some days as
compared to last time.. My thread will all far behind and potential seller did not notice
or the WTB items are not popular??

[YogiBear]

Wouldnt it be useful if TS can see the number of page-views (excluding his own) inside each thread? Page-Views are shown on the outside page but since its also very difficult to even search for that page why not put one inside each thread, for the benefit of knowing how many ppl have seen our ads. Know what I mean?

[undercoverone]

the up or bump help to update the posts, i must read through one page by one page see got any good offer anot. seriously the old system is better just add one WTB section in the old system in buy and sell can already what.

new system is really

[itsybitsyspidy]

You will realise you are keeping less members to stay surfing on Clubsnap. Previous B&S promotes longer surfing time, because members get to click through many different pages. If they see something they like, they might just buy it.

With this new change implemented, I personally find that at least 70% of the time i just have to click once to the first place of the Classified Section of Nikon, scan through the first few threads, come to the first "un-bolded" thread, and just close my browser window (Because it means i have read everything beyond that first "un-bolded" thread).

The new change has definitely reduced my time on looking for new items to buy, and perhaps even the time i spend surfing clubsnap. Whether it's a good thing or not, you guys have to decide.

Just my 2 cents.

[Pynch]

The new format is a lot neater than the old one and is definately a lot easier for new users to use.

The option of sorting the last post will still allow old users to re-live the so called "ups" experience, and see the latest update to the Buy/Sell thread by the thread starters.

This new system allows the thread to be kept clean and not de-generate into a discussion about prices and equipement, although that was part of the fun of the old system. Fun for the "window shopper" but can be frustrating for the genuine buyer and seller.

The "Quick Jump" function at the bottom of the page should have the sub-forum within the Personal Classified added to speed up the surfing experience.

Overall, very good effort by ClubSnap. Thanks.

[zarlceiss]

categorization is needless. why? because i had no problems with the earlier version of marketplace. i'm sure many will agree.

the question is: why change when it is working well for most of us? unless the moderators have nothing to do. it pleases u guys but makes things difficult for most of us. members not coming out to comment the inconveniences doesnt mean the change rocks. how about running a poll and see which is better. i'm sure this forum is made for its members, not a park for the moderators.

the biggest problem of all is when i have to answer lots and lots of PM and smses when i have decided to sell part of the set i'm offering to sell. or when everyone asks me questions about the product. it's frustrating. pple who dont agree will just tell me to shut up and post my classifieds more detailedly. no, there's no way to tell what everyone wants to know. if you wants to know something, and i want to tell everyone else about your question, i post it in a reply. simple. so much simpler.

if the moderators dislike bumping of threads, i'm sure there's a more efficient way to do it. disabling replies is a foolproof way. but it sure is an easy way out, i guess.

and lastly, arguing over whether which is better is ridiculous. u are 100% sure this is better while i felt the same for the former. doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that no matter how you try to convince me that the former is worse off, i will still like the earlier version to come back.

[dav94ks]

I have to agree with what zarlceiss said. The new format sucks. With the former format, if one wanted to browse what camera bodies are on sale, what is needed for one to do was to select the particular thread for camera bodies and sort it accordingly. Then, all the camera brands will be laid out nicely in a single thread for one to browse through.

With this new format, one will have browse through all the respective brand's thread and on top of that one will have to read through all the other items that one may not be interested in such as lenses, flashes, accessories, etc, after having sorted them. All this really is a waste of time. Like someone else mentioned, have separate threads for BUY and SELL of respective category of items will do.

Finally, with the reply by users to the thread starters is now disabled, there is no way to contact them via CS except PM, and as everyone knows, the space for PM is limited to both parties. Do consider reverting to the former format with some enhancements will be a better option than changing everything to this new format.

[vince123123]

ClubSnap is not about Buy and Sell only. If you only spend time Buying and Selling, I think its better that you spend less time and free up server resources for the rest of us who don't spend all our time on Buy and Sell.

You will realise you are keeping less members to stay surfing on Clubsnap. Previous B&S promotes longer surfing time, because members get to click through many different pages. If they see something they like, they might just buy it.

With this new change implemented, I personally find that at least 70% of the time i just have to click once to the first place of the Classified Section of Nikon, scan through the first few threads, come to the first "un-bolded" thread, and just close my browser window (Because it means i have read everything beyond that first "un-bolded" thread).

The new change has definitely reduced my time on looking for new items to buy, and perhaps even the time i spend surfing clubsnap. Whether it's a good thing or not, you guys have to decide.

Just my 2 cents.

[tltan]

i have a problem. i was selling some items and after the sale of the item, I decided to close the thread. I see the "Thread closed" in the forum but the post remains and I am still asked for the item...... anyway I can delete the recent two stuff I posted to sell?

[denizenx]

excellent way of dealing with the search/load limitations
there are some "lost" threads. do you want us to use the "report bad post" button?

[senthiljams]

Kudos to the admin team and moderators.

Though the changes initially seemed to me more like limitations than features, have now been corrected and looks pretty OK and useful.

BTW, can someone add 'Promaster' and 'Vivitar' lens brands for Sony/Minolta Mount? I have these put two of these lens for sale.

[binbeto]

i have a problem. i was selling some items and after the sale of the item, I decided to close the thread. I see the "Thread closed" in the forum but the post remains and I am still asked for the item...... anyway I can delete the recent two stuff I posted to sell?

Deletion/amendment of thread are not allowed to prevent dispute.

If you have closed the thread and people still asked you for the item, it is not your fault. It's theirs for not looking carefully at the status of the thread. You could post a reply that item is sold before you close them.

For those with not enough pm, there is an increase in pm for all user. Post more and you will earn the upgrade of status which came with more pm. Alternatively, you could list your hp or email for contact.

[Wzierbovsky]

I've been lurking mostly in Clubsnap and rarely post. For me the changes to Buy/Sell has made it easier for me to browse items and for stuff I'm interested in.

[undercoverone]

ClubSnap is not about Buy and Sell only. If you only spend time Buying and Selling, I think its better that you spend less time and free up server resources for the rest of us who don't spend all our time on Buy and Sell.

the fact that there is buy and sell section, some ppl love the buy camera and sell because they love camera and not as much as photography. so only those who like to see photo or share the photo can be here?

[itsybitsyspidy]

ClubSnap is not about Buy and Sell only. If you only spend time Buying and Selling, I think its better that you spend less time and free up server resources for the rest of us who don't spend all our time on Buy and Sell.

There will be different people with different needs. Then there will be those who post most of the time in Kopitiam and don't use the Buy and Sell section at all. Since this is a thread regarding feedback on the new Personal Classified sections (a change from the previous B&S), and you have nothing constructive to say, then may i kindly suggest you take your rant somewhere else, perhaps in the Kopitiam section.

[undercoverone]

this is what i am trying to say. as for the up or bump. i think it is to show ppl that the stuffs is still for sale. now i see the buy and sell section, not as alive as last time.

There will be different people with different needs. Then there will be those who post most of the time in Kopitiam and don't use the Buy and Sell section at all. Since this is a thread regarding feedback on the new Personal Classified sections (a change from the previous B&S), and you have nothing constructive to say, then may i kindly suggest you take your rant somewhere else, perhaps in the Kopitiam section.

[shuttergal]

So far, the mandate for categorization of the B&S section seems to be fixed, and seems to me that reverting to the previous platform is not an option for the forum owner. Would the moderators care to comment on this? Or a poll can actually be conducted to see which one works best?

If categorization seems to be the main benefit for this new platform(of course there are others benefits as stated by others, but seems that most people mentioned categorization is the key benefit), why this major overhaul when on top of the B&S section, you could simply add in a list of all of the categories(or brands) and for someone who is very specific on their needs, they could just click Nikon, and another window would appear with all the Nikon stuff being searched and sorted out nicely displayed for them. Likewise, same thing for other brands. That would have taken care of the categorization issue.

Its true that its annoying to see some who bump up and up till you are so sick of it, but not all sellers do that. Moderators could simply limit the reply by the threadtstarter to only one per day. That would have taken care of the bumps problem.

Sigh... I am sure things would not change overnight, but one fact remains... the new platform that was introduced suddenly is bringing less sales, less crowd, and more clicks, more windows opened.