[Closed] I know it’s been moaned about but The Classifieds?

The top listings are boosted ads. Scroll down past those to see the newer adverts.

Well I just scrolled down, there were 6 pages unless I need to take a training course.

Definitely not Dracs iPad, there are a few ads a day.

That's all I'm saying on the matter, last time this topic came up I got a 3 month holiday.

Zip, you're not alone in wishing for the old classifieds to return - but it won't happen.
Can one of the owners or mods tell us if the new classifieds are 'better' than the old ones - specifically, are more items being sold through the new than the old; that's a simple metric to assess relative success.

I like the  pictures.

and the categories.

The ones with the tiny,tiny bit bluer text areas below the pics are the boosted ads, scroll to the plain white ones below that for the new stuff.

The Boosted ads don't seem to change much and tend to be the high value items so I generally scroll past them by default as I'm pretty skint much of the time. 😁

It's definitely very light on new bits coming up. I'm actively looking, even set up a couple of saved searches to bypass the ponderous navigation.

Everyone knows that the user experience is different with the new classified.

Regards the 'better' stats - everyone can find a statistic to confirm their preferences so that's what will happen. I'd guess the new system is making the business more money e.g. boosted ad prices, advertising etc.

the user experience is different

If you're not already in Marketing, that's your obvious career path young man. Get thee there 😉

Wasn’t aware of the boosted ads . Glad I asked .

Can one of the owners or mods tell us if the new classifieds are ‘better’ than the old ones – specifically, are more items being sold through the new than the old; that’s a simple metric to assess relative success.

id say thats not the measure of success here....it'll be money brought in.

id guess theres far less items being bought/sold, but more money in the coffers. before it was reliant on contributions, of which there were very few. now, some pay for the boosted ads, hence its a better business model. i think.

Pretty much Sadex. We've provided the data before some believed it others accused us of lying but it's helping generate some income where once it never did.

I emailed the tech bloke about expired ads not disappearing.
He's on a jolly somewhere!
But that damn Jeffsy advert just won't go away!

Neither will the 6 month old Trance ad

You can keep hitting refresh on your old adverts, keeps them there but they still appear at the bottom of the list (i.e. you cant bump them).

It's unusable.

How is it unusable?

i dont use it anymore, its a PITA

I find it fine.

Its not unusable, but its not the 'STW classifieds' anymore either.

Which is a shame as that was unique, in that 90% of it was bike jumble stuff that was worth selling, but not worth 10 minutes of box ticking and advert writing.

Could we perhapse have a comprimise of a classified forum (i.e. the old one), with a value cap of £25? STW still gets a few quid when people list their T5, and the users get a way to buy/sell/swap their tat? Or restrict starting threads to subscribers if you want to drive revenue.

in that 90% of it was bike jumble stuff that was worth selling, but not worth 10 minutes of box ticking and advert writing.

Pretty much this. Takes so long to post anything that I don't bother with low-value/free-to-collect items, used to be a 30 second job to say does anyone out there want two sheets of plasterboard, 9mm 6x3, free to collect from Galashiels whereas now it would take ages.
.
Does anyone want them?

It's obviously not unusable as people have used it but it does look like something knocked up in half an hour in someone's bedroom. I heard all the feedback when it was launched (ahem) and hadn't looked until yesterday. Certainly there are ads there but it looks like a club page that has 'News' from 1978...

It's dead - my bike is on here, pink bike, ebay and Facebook, I've had enquiries from all places bar here.
I'll have some more bits to sell soon, they'll be going on pinkbike and if they don't seem on there, to ebay.

New classifieds are great (not actually great) I've saved a fortune as I rarely even look at them any more, where as before it was my first port of call.

I actually find it ok to use having placed a few ads recently and sold some stuff.

What's not working is that there is no longer the critical mass of people looking that there were before so I'm having more luck on facebook.

I've got a box of stuff to shift. Not expecting to make much money from it, more a case of finding it a better home rather than the bin. Not worth ebaying because of the fees.

Does anyone want them?

Pics please!

(not really) 😆

Is there a way to browse all the stuff in one go or do you have to go through each category individually?

I sold some lights really quickly on the classifieds, but then couldn't find my own advert to say they were sold. When I did actually find it I could'nt see how to mark as sold so just deleted it instead.
Success!

No worries, I've worked it out, I was actually being really stoooooooopiiid

People don't like change, especially when you don't think it's an improvement. I didn't like the new setup but it's not going to change.

We just need to embrace it and start using it again. The more you use it, the easier it will be and the better it will get.

I think too many of us, including me, have just ignored it and gone elsewhere.

Well that's just another way of being dismissive isn't it. I don't really care about the change in itself so long as we end up with something that's useful. I don't think we have. Had 'they' taken the same stance after the really poor forum implementation, we'd still have the dog sh!t that was masquerading as a finished product back then.

the classifieds is what got me started reading STW forums... still mainly a lurker, but rarely use the classifieds, no where near the range and amount of stuff there anymore.

Could we perhapse have a comprimise of a classified forum (i.e. the old one), with a value cap of £25? STW still gets a few quid when people list their T5, and the users get a way to buy/sell/swap their tat?

I like this idea a lot

Could we perhapse have a comprimise of a classified forum (i.e. the old one), with a value cap of £25? STW still gets a few quid when people list their T5, and the users get a way to buy/sell/swap their tat?

i skipped over this at first, but the more i think about it the more i like it. rather than rely on contributions, the seller HAS to pay a percentage of the sale price or set fee to stw, and yes, £25 seems a reasonable cut-off point for free sales.

and if it was the original format, then thered be more traffic too.

yes please mark? 🙂

Do you use Google analytics or similar? If you had stats for old Vs new classifieds page hits that would prove visitor numbers and journeys either way...

do you 'really' want the stats? the answer provided above seems like a good enough one. 'the old ones never paid, these ones do' seems pretty reasonable. probably drives traffic elsewhere mind. i certainly look at pinkbike and a few other sites a lot more than i used to.

I think too many of us, including me, have just ignored it and gone elsewhere.

We all make judgments about how we want to be spending our time. After a couple of attempts when they were first brought in I never look at the classifieds any more. I completely understand the "we make money now, we didn't before" rationale but I still think they're a sos to browse and navigate.*

*when I last looked, many months ago.

It doesn't really matter what the revenue numbers are if 'success' is being measured against zero. Traffic is everything and what you can't know is what the dividend was generated from classifieds activity for the rest of the site. That's the key not generating small amounts of identifiable revenue from vanishingly small levels of activity.

Do you use Google analytics or similar? If you had stats for old Vs new classifieds page hits that would prove visitor numbers and journeys either way…

We do and, oddly enough, it does.

Yup but like I said up there we were accused of lying when we pointed out the last time the numbers haven't dropped.

The forums are the life blood of STW, might be controversial, but I don’t think the quality of the rest of the sites (or magazine) content is up to much. I say this as someone who has been with STW since issue 1, when my subscription runs out I’ll not be renewing.

What has that to do with the classifieds? Yes it was a bit shonky, but it did generate a lot of use and helped with the STW community. Take that away and there’s not much left

Take that away and there’s not much left

It's still there just some do not like it.

Drac you may think that's all it is and reverse into the 'put up or shut up' mentality. But, you (and presumably the site owners if they're bothered) are missing the point that it was a very busy entry point into Singletrackworld land which is now heavily compromised. You/they might be happy there's some revenue but, anecdotally, there's very little traffic which might ultimately be costing them more than the revenue generated and they even realise.

Once again, don't make the mistake of thinking this is as simple as liking or disliking something please.

How about you need a P to advertise? That would raise money.

I used to read all the adverts when everyone was arguing on the forums.

anecdotally, there’s very little traffic which might ultimately be costing them more than the revenue generated and they even realise.

Where as the figures say otherwise.

Constructive feedback is welcome the "I don't like it" isn't constructive.

Drac, why are you still fixating on 'I don't like it'? You're the only one saying that. Are you seriously saying your current useage stats show more traffic in the current classifieds incarnation than the old?

As that's what's been said on other threads.

Yes the traffic hasn't dropped despite your anecdotal evidence.

Why are there many many fewer adds there now then?

@boblo Why on earth do you believe that you could possibly know more about site traffic than the owners of the site who have Google Analytics data going back years?

And, why on earth do you think those site owners would stubbornly sit on a system which is generating less traffic than the previous one?

Some folk might not like it that it's now a couple more clicks than before to sell a washer for 10p, but this site is the livelihood of the people who work for STW. If the new Classifieds were driving away visitors it would be turned off in a heartbeat (and then we'd probably have a thread every couple of months from people complaining that they hate the old system and want the new one back).

Constructive feedback is welcome

I don't think that's true at all. Anyway, I recognize that I could be in a minority and that my cancelled subscription is outweighed by new subscribers.

Why are there many many fewer adds there now then?

Brexit? (-:

If we're valuing anecdotes over the actual data I have right in front of me right now, I'd guess maybe quality over quantity? The new system has been a ****ton less work to moderate than the old one was. With the previous system deleting shit adverts was a daily task and people were getting ripped off regularly. I can't remember the last time I had cause to even look at the new one, we had spam issues to start with but even that's really rare now.

I don't think I know more but I can count to 6. 6 pages of adverts. I said up thread, I may not know how to use the new features properly as I haven't been on the training course. But if I need to go on a training course to use something that's usually fairly straightforward, it begs the question of it being overly complex in its current form.

So Cougar and Drac, this IS NOT about liking or disliking (in my own case). I'm simply questioning how on earth there can be 'more traffic' when there's only 6 pages of adverts. Again, unless I can't use the feature being too dim.

<edit> well the link between 'workload' and the number of adverts is obvious shirley?

Traffic may have increased as you have to click more to see the same amount of stuff.

, I may not know how to use the new features properly as I haven’t been on the training course

Slight exaggeration there.

how on earth there can be ‘more traffic’ when there’s only 6 pages of adverts.

They are supposed to automatically delete after a set number of weeks, some aren't for reasons I don't know.

Well not really. As a first time user 2 days ago, presumably it's reasonable to go to the function, use the function and then come away having achieved what you set out to do. I was so surprised there were only 6 pages of stuff (what ~10 to a page?) that I questioned whether I had used the tool properly. If I hadn't, I clearly needed to be shown how to aka 'training'. This has not been needed in other for sales sites I have used.

<edit> @Cougar you mention driving traffic away up there ^ but let's not forget the debacle when this current iteration was launched. Production ready it really really wasn't so 'the owners' are not exactly without history in the blunder department are they?

If it helps no one has been trained but if you have any questions on how to use it then fire away.

I didn't know about the boost ads so I never scooted past the car section.

You litterally had to scroll down.  That would be like opening a shop door only seeing wrapping paper as you walk in so walking out as the cards weren't infront of your eyes.

If it helps no one has been trained but if you have any questions on how to use it then fire away.

Simple sanity check; are there really only 5 pages (I just looked) of 'active' (whatever that means) adverts?

Have you read the reason why?

but if you have any questions on how to use it then fire away.

Do you remember this?

I was so surprised there were only 6 pages if stuff (what ~10 to a page?) that I questioned whether I had used the tool properly.

I think what you're missing is your ability to count.

I've just looked, there's five pages with about 50 ads on each one. By your "10 ads to a page" metric that would be 25 pages of listings.

Aside from a couple of stragglers, it looks like the listings go back two weeks. Going off what Drac said, I assume they're deleted or otherwise removed that that point (which would make sense, if a listing is over a fortnight old I'd expect it's either sold or unlikely to do so).

Do you remember this?

Ay?

I don't understand why you two are so defensive/aggressive on this. I'm assuming you didn't design it or have any personal collateral in this.

I used the Classifieds a few times to buy ans sell, I haven't used them for ages. I came to have a look for something specific and found it quite difficult. Now if that's my fault for being a bit dense then so be it. I suppose we're used to victim blakin in our game. As for 'your new toy', I really couldn't give a toss as this is obviously pointless.

<edit> @drac. You asked if I had any questions, so I asked a question...

Production ready it really really wasn’t so ‘the owners’ are not exactly without history in the blunder department are they?

Perhaps not. But their hand was forced, they didn't have much choice to go live when they did due to external changes.

The problem here, and I mean no disrespect in saying this, is that you're coming from a point of ignorance. It's very easy to stand on the outside looking in and start throwing stones about stuff you don't like, but at the end of the day stuff happens for reasons and as I said before, people's jobs depend on it. Just because you don't understand why something is the way it is doesn't make it wrong.

And sure, transparency of this sort of stuff could be better. But whenever that's been tried we get, well, exactly what we have here which is people who have no clue how the business works telling them they don't know what they're doing.

I don’t understand why you two are so defensive/aggressive on this.

I'm not particularly being either of those things, I didn't think. You're asking questions, I'm trying to answer them as best I can. If you don't like those answers or think I'm talking out of the top of my head, well, I can't really help you on that score.

I’m assuming you didn’t design it or have any personal collateral in this.

Of course we don't.

I don’t understand why you two are so defensive/aggressive on this. I’m assuming you didn’t design it or have any personal collateral in this.

Defensive a little but not agressive.

You gave your anecdotes which were pointed out aren't correct, it's not perfect but it has features people asked for from constructive feedback. I asked if you had any questions on how to use it, your response was do I remember asking you.

The problem here, and I mean no disrespect in saying this, is that you’re coming from a point of ignorance. It’s very easy to stand on the outside looking in and start throwing stones about stuff you don’t like, but at the end of the day stuff happens for reasons and as I said before, people’s jobs depend on it. Just because you don’t understand why something is the way it is doesn’t make it wrong

And I realise that hence the (what was supposed to be a joke) about me requiring training to use the tool properly.

This is about bloody minded denial in the face of what seems a fairly obvious drop off in content. GA might be telling you you've got traffic but if you ever spent any time in the old place, you'll know there was more stuff being bought and sold. If 'the owners' don't see that activity as core or as a route to better things for their site, fair enough. It's their toy but it isn't much use if no one else wants to play with them.

You litterally had to scroll down.  That would be like opening a shop door only seeing wrapping paper as you walk in so walking out as the cards weren’t infront of your eyes.

If the first advert I see  is 3 days old I'm not going to assume that there's fresher ones further down the page.

defensive/aggressive

I'll choose how you're coming across thakyouverymuch. You may not mean to, but that's how it is.

@Drac my response was this:

Simple sanity check; are there really only 5 pages (I just looked) of ‘active’ (whatever that means) adverts?

To which you asked me if I'd read something rather than answering the question.

I don’t understand why you two are so defensive/aggressive on this.

Weird isn't it? I don't even understand why either of them are on a mtb/cycling forum at all. Neither even seem to have any interest in bikes or riding them nevermind buying or selling cycle related stuff. Every time one of these threads comes up those two defend the new classifieds to the hilt entirely blindly. quoting numbers doesn't change the fact the classifieds is utterly shit now. We all know it is because we've actually used it. Those two wouldn't have a clue because they never used the old version or the new one.

@geex mebbies a bit harsh... We're all here for all sorts of reasons and thank God (for a lot of 'us'), actually riding bikes is not necessarily a prequalifier.

I'm just a bit baffled at the auto response but then, if you've listened to people droning on and on for long enough, I suppose you do get a bit weary.

Anyway, enough. Quack says I can turbo on the patio so it's time for that 🙂

Drag, Cougar,

You want constructive feedback?

The new Classifieds are not easy to peruse or use, and certainly don’t match the rest of the site. Could the following be done:

Reformulate the front end, to look like the Forum. No pictures. Keep the boosted adds (and this the revenue)at the top like Stickies. Pictures are seen either when you click into the listing or (on a PC/Mac) when you hover over the link.

Keep the categories. Keep the auto listing deletion, but extend it to a month. Allow bumping of the adds through you listing manager. Don’t enforce a picture, don’t enforce a category, but allow people to use this feature if they want.

You’d get more traffic and potentially more boosted adds, more direct revenue, and more indirect revenue from additional site traffic.

I think this would appeal to almost everyone.

Is the truth really that harsh.

To which you asked me if I’d read something rather than answering the question.

I pointed out, badly, that they get deleted after a number of weeks so that's why there's only 5 or 6 pages.

Geex I could go into the long drawn out personal reasons why I stopped riding but I won't give you the pleasure. I've used both classifieds in the past though.

well, i just listed some forks. wish me luck.
probably the only criticism I have of the listing process is the file browser didn't remember the directory i was getting images from, and the search in that browser didn't seem to work... that made me chuckle.

Weird isn’t it? I don’t even understand why either of them are on a mtb/cycling forum at all. Neither even seem to have any interest in bikes or riding them nevermind buying or selling cycle related stuff. Every time one of these threads comes up those two defend the new classifieds to the hilt entirely blindly. quoting numbers doesn’t change the fact the classifieds is utterly shit now. We all know it is because we’ve actually used it. Those two wouldn’t have a clue because they never used the old version or the new one.

I feel a bit dirty, but I'm +1 with geex on this.
I'm not going to give constructive criticism, or suggest changes, or get into a long argument.
The old classified, IMO, was better. That's all.

Should say, with geex on the classifieds, not the personal criticism of whether someone rides a bike or not.

It's saved me a fortune

I no longer even bother looking.

I know I'm not in the minority of people who used to look often who no longer do

When I was considering buying something I'd often put up as wanted as often folk would be selling what I wanted. Now I don't bother because there was zero interested the few times I did when it started up.....I used to always get a couple of offers of the item or close alternatives unless it was really niche.

But as I said thanks guys. Saves me buying things ...quite a few of my bikes ha e been off the clasifieds.

Every now and again I'll think about having a look on the classifieds for an Xs full sus bike as a kids project... I then have to figure out which of my 4 browsers will even display any ads, then when I try and do a search, figure out which of the other 3 browsers I need to use to whitelist the classifieds so I can get any search results.
That's probably a good 10 hits from me before I've even seen an ad, at which point I typically give up, pop back to pinkbike and search there again.
To be fair though, I don't think I bought much off the old forum classifieds.

Can we have the old one back please . Just make it so you have to be a " P " to post up a classified ad, but use the old platform.
Will stop most of the scammers
Will stop most of "Paypal Gift " threads
Well worth it as it " P " memebership then gets you something worth having.
As there 12000 00000 0000 billion new visitors each month then it only takes a few percentage of those to buy a P memebership to massively raise income , add value, and with a decent classifieds where stuff gets posted hourly instead of daily , and usefull little bit stuff, not just large items , will self generate unique site visitos, P memebers , page veiws etc