Is selling on the classifieds becoming more difficult?

[MORNE]

Bike Hub Classified needs Comments Section

- need the comments section back

 

i'm convinced the hub overlords keep giving reasons why they took it away because the new site template (?? the only reason why I can think all this is so disjointed atm) does not allow comments in the classifieds...

Edited March 3, 2020 by morneS555

[Hairy]

Another example of an advert that could use members feedback / comments:

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/mountain-bike-forks/397833/dhm-downhill-free-ride-fork

 

? Travel Amount

? Is this a 26'er fork that is offered as being run as a 650b fork

[Andrew Steer]

Another example of an advert that could use members feedback / comments:

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/mountain-bike-forks/397833/dhm-downhill-free-ride-fork

 

? Travel Amount

? Is this a 26'er fork that is offered as being run as a 650b fork

Quite a common sneaky sale tactic I've seen quite a few times... slap 650b wheels on a 26" bike and sell it as a 650b 

 

Not ayoba

[Dirt Tracker]

Another example of an advert that could use members feedback / comments:

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/mountain-bike-forks/397833/dhm-downhill-free-ride-fork

 

? Travel Amount

? Is this a 26'er fork that is offered as being run as a 650b fork

 

That was the beauty of the comments. It gave a chance to give extra info, ask Q's that would help other people, act as a moderator and was also source of some hilarious banter. 

[Jewbacca]

Just remember that you can also report an ad.

 

I know that the guys in the office spend a lot more time weeding out fakes, misrepresented kit etc.

 

So while you can't comment, you can flag it and the head office will investigate.

 

It makes it less 'public', but the behind the scenes work is being done and will be better if more is flagged. 

 

Personally I don't mind that the comments have gone if you just change the way you use the site. Instead of public bashing, Matt, Nick and the gang are quietly raising flags and sorting out reported activity really effectively.

 

I often found the comments were silly. If the guy typed in too many 0's send him a PM. If there is misrepresentation, flag it. If you aren't sure, flag it or send a PM asking?

 

Is it a need to be involved or get the kudos for unveiling a fraudulent/misrepresented ad that makes us bay for comments, or is it a case of 'it used to be like that so it must still be like that'?

[Rigardt@Scott]

Just remember that you can also report an ad.

 

I know that the guys in the office spend a lot more time weeding out fakes, misrepresented kit etc.

 

So while you can't comment, you can flag it and the head office will investigate.

 

It makes it less 'public', but the behind the scenes work is being done and will be better if more is flagged. 

 

Personally I don't mind that the comments have gone if you just change the way you use the site. Instead of public bashing, Matt, Nick and the gang are quietly raising flags and sorting out reported activity really effectively.

 

I often found the comments were silly. If the guy typed in too many 0's send him a PM. If there is misrepresentation, flag it. If you aren't sure, flag it or send a PM asking?

 

Is it a need to be involved or get the kudos for unveiling a fraudulent/misrepresented ad that makes us bay for comments, or is it a case of 'it used to be like that so it must still be like that'?

 

The thing is... Some people just deserve a public bashing for the stupidity they put out into the world via the classifieds platform.

[Jewbacca]

The thing is... Some people just deserve a public bashing for the stupidity they put out into the world via the classifieds platform.

I agree, but as BikeHub has grown as a website, I think there is a purposeful step away from having that sort of community hub bashing in the classifieds.

 

I just feel the 'old guard' or 'regulars' are playing a game of 'it used to be better' without making use of the new features because they aren't the same as the old ones..... I did enjoy some of the comments though... the old row about that X-Fusion fork that went on for 4 years.....

 

But most of the comments can easily be replaced with a PM or a ping to admin.

[Hairy]

I agree, but as BikeHub has grown as a website, I think there is a purposeful step away from having that sort of community hub bashing in the classifieds.

 

I just feel the 'old guard' or 'regulars' are playing a game of 'it used to be better' without making use of the new features because they aren't the same as the old ones..... I did enjoy some of the comments though... the old row about that X-Fusion fork that went on for 4 years.....

 

But most of the comments can easily be replaced with a PM or a ping to admin.

makes it all sterile and no more community participation .... 

[Jewbacca]

makes it all sterile and no more community participation .... 

But isn't that why we have the Forums? 

 

Keep the classified sterile, well monitored and reported, official and easy to use, while the forums are the community jeering, pitch fork wielding buffoons who could be millionaires if we actually applied ourselves at work half as  much as we did here?

 

Like I said, as the site grows from a 1 man backyard band into a business, some things (especially the 'money end') need to be separated from the mob.

[stefmeister]

makes it all sterile and no more community participation .... 

 

I've seen way too many forums die out due to certain changes and people opting for facebook rather.

Classified sections generally drive the forum visits and account for the majority of traffic. The rest that participate here on the forum is probably too small, and won't keep it afloat if the classifieds die out.

[Matt]

We're not ignoring the feedback and calls for the return of comments. We know that removing them risked the loss of an element of community and it's something we're still acutely aware of. 

Like most things there are many sides to the story and here we have to balance the needs of multiple parties, and as far as possible, offer for solutions to the challenges that each experience.

 

Comments undoubtedly helped in some instances, for example in identifying scammers or pointing out a specification issue. But with the good came some bad and what was helpful in some instances was damaging in others, either through outright abuse of the comment facility or, more commonly, through misuse and misunderstanding.

Here is some insight into the key factors behind removal of comments on ads. 

1. Too many communication channels
   We'd had feedback from many sellers that communication with interested parties on Bike Hub was cumbersome and created confusion.... too many channels between comments, PM, email, phone, etc.
    
2. Private conversations in public
   Upon reviewing the content of comments on ads we found that more than 50% of them would have been more appropriate via PM
   e.g. "Will you accept RX", "I'm interested, please contact me via...."
    
3. Problematic ads received comments, but weren't reported
   Often ads which should have been removed outright and the user banned (e.g. scammers, fake items) went unreported remaining online.
    
4. Damaging comments 
   Opinions on pricing, value and everything else can be subjective and in this way comments were open to abuse. There were cases were such comments or simply the risk of them occurring drove away legitimate sellers. 

This is not to say that the outright removal of comments is the only way forward. It was a decision taken by us having considered many factors. It was also one taken knowing that it wasn't the perfect solution, but was one we believed to be the better of the two options and by all objective measures (core metrics & analytics) it has been successful. But of course we can't only look at the data... the Bike Hub experience is key.

From the feedback here and elsewhere it seems comments on ads were deemed useful in these areas:

1. Advising sellers (and warning other buyers) of spec issues 
2. Advising sellers (and warning other buyers) of over pricing
3. Clarifying missing or incomplete specifications (Q&A)
4. Identifying fake goods or scammers
5. Wishing sellers well
6. Entertaining banter

That isn't an exhaustive list so please add anything I've missed. 

• #1 and #3 are useful, we won't argue this. Both could be addressed via a PM or report to us, but there is merit in the immediacy of a comment.
• #2 is subjective. Willing buyer, willing seller. Our feeling is that the market will decide on what's reasonable, overpriced items will sit for longer... and even without comments they do. 
• #4 is important, but ultimately such ads should be removed altogether. Rather than comments we'd prefer to look at a Classifieds moderation layer which empowers appointed, trustworthy users to remove such items.
• #5 is nice for community spirit but for a time pressed seller might be considered as "noise"
• #6 - classifieds is not the place for this.

I welcome your thoughts, ideas and any further feedback around comments. 

[ChrisF]

Certainly a complex topic ....

 

As much I see the benefits of having the comments .... I lost weeks and good few thousand rand when we sold my Trek EX 5 ... because a Hubber had an issue with the esthetics of my 1x conversion .....  YES, two potential buyers used that comment to LOW ball me    

 

 

but there are so many benefits to the comments section as well .....

 

 

Would hate to be in the developers shoes trying to balance these issues.  And NO, expecting Admin to police thousands of adds for "inappropriate comments" certainly is not an option.

[Hairy]

Certainly a complex topic ....

 

As much I see the benefits of having the comments .... I lost weeks and good few thousand rand when we sold my Trek EX 5 ... because a Hubber had an issue with the esthetics of my 1x conversion .....  YES, two potential buyers used that comment to LOW ball me    

 

 

but there are so many benefits to the comments section as well .....

 

 

Would hate to be in the developers shoes trying to balance these issues.  And NO, expecting Admin to police thousands of adds for "inappropriate comments" certainly is not an option.

Can one not then also report the person commenting on an ad if that person is being a chop!

[Skylark]

Comments on ads have saved many from heartache on the forums I have been on. Some people are supreme chance takers and many buyers are absolutely clueless, it's not a healthy recipe. Gumtree or other commercial platforms probably don't need comment's on ads but on a forum I consider it vital and it's a healthy part of how the community looks out for each other.

[Mongoose!]

classifieds should now be more dead than ever? 

[Hairy]

Recon this would take a while to sell on the classifieds!

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bikes/400145/collectors-item-peugeot-635