Sifting Through Ads to Find New Bikes in Classifieds

[Mintman]

Nice of you to take offence when none was intended where I was just explaining.... but it seems you know best so will leave you to enjoy the site... and welcome as you are fairly new here!!

 

Yes, you've made a wonderful first impression...

[Mintman]

Which is exactly what he wants :/

 

Which is exactly why I was asking for help. Some were very quick to get defensive. My understanding was incorrect. I asked a question and it was answered. Thanks Admin

[shaper]

Yes, you've made a wonderful first impression...

Seems things can't be left when I offered you a welcome which should have been the end of it... things were explained to you in depth and from many possibilities to try and assist you... how you intemperate things... well I guess that is down to your personality and was no way intended on my part to be or get personal which seems to the the way you have taken it !!  Good luck here interacting with the community and I say that in the most sincere of ways!!

 

Perhaps I might direct you to the terms of use https://www.bikehub.co.za/docs/terms_of_use and with specific reference to the section on Content posting rules

[Matt]

@Mintman - I think you've misunderstood the intentions of Hubbers posting here. What might have appeared defensive was largely people trying to assist and perhaps misunderstanding your issue as I did initially.

I'm glad your query has been addressed, but let's all ease off on the tone. We're all here for a common purpose - let's be constructive in ensuring the services offered are well understood and valid feedback (regarding Bike Hub) is heard.

[Mintman]

And I still stand by the idea of having a time limit for reposting. I spend a lot of time wading through items I never seem to be able to shake off.

[Matt]

And I still stand by the idea of having a time limit for reposting. I spend a lot of time wading through items I never seem to be able to shake off.

Thanks, this is something we'll consider. Or perhaps a "only show new items" filter.

[Mintman]

Ah, I see.

 

This blue highlight means the advert is new since your last visit - i.e. not bumped / not seen before in your previous browsing.

 

 

 

Just another point:

 

The reason I thought the items highlighted in blue were ads is because they behave in the same way. Most of these "new" items aren't new at all. They're just new in the sense that they're newly reposted every hour or so.

 

So that's where the confusion came in for me. Ultimately this still makes using the lists frustrating for the same reason as if they were ads.

 

Hopefully that makes it clearer. If you look at the attached image you can see something that's "new" has over 4000 views. I understand why, but the meaning of "new" here is lost. What most people want to see in their list of new items are 1) new offers/ads, and 2) updates on old ads (e.g. changed price). But in most cases, reposting doesn't offer anything new.

 

Hopefully that explains where I was coming from.

[carbon29er]

Thanks, this is something we'll consider. Or perhaps a "only show new items" filter.

I think I've paid for more ads that this user has posts so maybe I should also start demanding changes to how the hub operates. But I won't as I know what I signed up for.

 

Adding filters like that will detract from the usefulness of the classifieds. To both advertisers and users.

 

Often an item changes, normally price, during a listing and by letting your user select that they want to see only new ads means all those that may now fall within their parameters will be excluded.

 

The hub is free to all, surely putting up with having to sift through adverts to find that gem is a price that is worth paying for not paying a subscription fee?  While I don't much like the ads that get served up by youtube et al when I'm on their site, I do appreciate not having to pay to watch what I want to. I accept the inconvenience of waiting 5 seconds to click skip. Why is that different to classifieds on the hub?

 

Ironically, it is adverts that pay the bills, be they classifieds, banners or site supporters, not users. Surely you should be asking advertisers what they want?

[Matt]

....

 

Ironically, it is adverts that pay the bills, be they classifieds, banners or site supporters, not users. Surely you should be asking advertisers what they want?

Absolutely, these do pay the bills, but we're only able to offer advertising options thanks to a healthy (and happy) user base.

 

There's a careful balance to strike in keeping both groups happy.

 

You raise some valid points here in response to the suggestion and it's exactly this sort of interaction that will help refine the service offered and find that balance.

 

We certainly won't rush to make changes based on a single users feedback, but newbies are looking at things with fresh eyes and those things old hands may accept as "the way it works" could have room for improvement to benefit new and old.

[fanievb]

the main issue (for me) is that some companies post 10-20 ads per day (there was a thread a year or so back on this)

so if you want to view all ads looking for a bargain all you see for the first two pages is adverts for second hand bikes by one specific advertiser.

the filter option works but un-selecting a specific category will make you loose out on the deal of a lifetime by another advertiser.

 

what about an "ignore" function to allow you to exclude a specific advertiser? 

[BaGearA]

Yes, you've made a wonderful first impression...

Sharper is not the newbie here ......

[BaGearA]

the main issue (for me) is that some companies post 10-20 ads per day (there was a thread a year or so back on this)

 

so if you want to view all ads looking for a bargain all you see for the first two pages is adverts for second hand bikes by one specific advertiser.

 

the filter option works but un-selecting a specific category will make you loose out on the deal of a lifetime by another advertiser.

 

what about an "ignore" function to allow you to exclude a specific advertiser? 

This could possibly be the solution to this entire thread ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Mintman]

I think I've paid for more ads that this user has posts so maybe I should also start demanding changes to how the hub operates. But I won't as I know what I signed up for.

 

Adding filters like that will detract from the usefulness of the classifieds. To both advertisers and users.

 

Often an item changes, normally price, during a listing and by letting your user select that they want to see only new ads means all those that may now fall within their parameters will be excluded.

 

The hub is free to all, surely putting up with having to sift through adverts to find that gem is a price that is worth paying for not paying a subscription fee?  While I don't much like the ads that get served up by youtube et al when I'm on their site, I do appreciate not having to pay to watch what I want to. I accept the inconvenience of waiting 5 seconds to click skip. Why is that different to classifieds on the hub?

 

Ironically, it is adverts that pay the bills, be they classifieds, banners or site supporters, not users. Surely you should be asking advertisers what they want?

 

I respect where you're coming from. The filter I was actually in search for was a list of all new items, defined as new ads, and old ads with updated info (price changes, pics, specs etc).

 

But I hear you.

[Mintman]

the main issue (for me) is that some companies post 10-20 ads per day (there was a thread a year or so back on this)

 

so if you want to view all ads looking for a bargain all you see for the first two pages is adverts for second hand bikes by one specific advertiser.

 

the filter option works but un-selecting a specific category will make you loose out on the deal of a lifetime by another advertiser.

 

what about an "ignore" function to allow you to exclude a specific advertiser? 

 

Thank-you! Finally some support.

[Mintman]

Sharper is not the newbie here ......

 

My response to your first comment wasn't ideal. I was defensive and I apologise. I felt like your argument was simply "this is the way things are, so get used to it". 

 

And while there's a truth in that, I felt there was space to maybe change what people have come to accept in favour of potential improvements.

 

I think my response to you is what got Sharper annoyed with me. So I'm sorry.

[Mintman]

Absolutely, these do pay the bills, but we're only able to offer advertising options thanks to a healthy (and happy) user base.

 

There's a careful balance to strike in keeping both groups happy.

 

You raise some valid points here in response to the suggestion and it's exactly this sort of interaction that will help refine the service offered and find that balance.

 

We certainly won't rush to make changes based on a single users feedback, but newbies are looking at things with fresh eyes and those things old hands may accept as "the way it works" could have room for improvement to benefit new and old.

 

I think that's very well said. I fully agree that the site has to be viable from a business perspective. I think a lot of the sellers create a healthy competition and help get users great value. But I do think there are some that go over the top and drown out everyone else.