NEW Please Use The New Classifieds Section

[BigAlMc]

Hi Chris,

 

Hope your week is going well.

 

I saw the other day that you seem to have disabled users posting new threads in here. Can only assume this is to force us to use the Classifieds functionality. I'll be honest (as previously discussed) I have a few misgivings about being forced to use functionality that frankly you are excited about but we might not be. That said it's your site and you probably have good reasons so hey ho.

 

Meantime some feedback on suggested improvements for Classifieds:

 

1. If a user sends me an offer in a PM rather that uses the Offer button, then I don't seem to be able to update the Classified other than Complete or No Longer For Sale. It would be good in this scenario so mark it as Pending or Under Offer in the same way I can when the offer comes via the Classified.
2. When a Classified is updated as Sold or I guess even No Longer For Sale, then it would be good for the forum listing in this Buy & Sell section to be updated accordingly.

 

Be interested in your thoughts on both.

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

[BigAlMc]

Hi Chris,

 

Thanks for your response.

 

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Adding complexity for edge cases is something I won't do right now. 

 

Sorry but I don't agree this is an edge case. As long as PM is an option and replying on the forum post is an option then this is likely behaviour.

 

If the owner of a Classified can update it manually to Sold or No Longer for Sale, then adding Pending is surely not that onerous.

 

And that Pending status will avoid prospective buyers having to scroll right to the end of a potentially lengthy listing only to see it's Pending a sale.

 

You seem keen for people to use Classifieds rather than the Buy & Sell forum. So with that comes the need to make the Classified functionality as compelling as possible. As mentioned previously USD only prices for example is a glaring weakness right now.

 

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I will see if I can make this happen. 

 

Thanks very much for looking into this.

 

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Ideally, one would browse the classifieds and only use the forum area for questions and answers about products s/he is interested. This would remove the need, but I still would like to make this happen. 

 

I think you're missing something here. People will browse the Buy & Sell forum simply to see what people are selling. This is often when they are not looking to buy anything and are just curious. I'm betting that people will often end up buying items they didn't know they wanted or 'needed'. 😉 Classifieds is set up differently because you need to drill into the category you are interested in. Simply put it's more effort to casually scan and as a result less people are likely too. I'd strongly advise you keep the Buy & Sell forum for this purpose alone if nothing else.

 

I'm really not trying to be argumentative here. Honest! I understand that you are trying to roll out enhanced functionality. And as someone who works in technology and software I have a good understanding of the principles. I'm just recommending that the roll out of better '2.0' functionality doesn't lose sight of some convenience aspects for the casual user.

 

I'll try to shut up now 🤐

 

Thanks,

Alan

 

[BigAlMc]

Hey Chris,

 

Like the new image BTW. It's like Chris brought to us by Pixar 😄

 

Another suggestion for your consideration if you don't mind. I've had a couple people pinging me asking if items are still for sale. This is despite the Classified being marked Completed and the forum listing being updated with "Sold".

 

I'm wondering if the For Sale icon is what's causing the confusion. FWIW it seems clear to me that this is no longer available. Completed seems pretty clear to me. But others are not spotting this apparently.

 

I wondered if either updating "FOR SALE" to "SOLD" or changing the colour from green to say greyed out might make it more clear.

 

Anyway. Just a suggestion.

 

Thanks,

Alan