New Feature: Pinned (Featured) Classifieds Advertisements (IN TRIAL)

[cafe67]

Just had a look at classifieds and noticed some adverts are pinned, never seen that before ??

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2022 by cafe67

[Marc]

It is a trial, and explained in the Announcement shown at the top of the Classifieds pages.

 

[EmptySpace]

This new trial of pinned adverts appearing at the start of the classified for sale is a big negative for regular users. I go into the classified to see what's a new listing, not to have the first page or multiple pages clogged with old ads. I don't want to have to scroll through to try and find what has just been listed. It generates income but it makes the site less desirable to use. Stop it please.

 

[El Tel]

I have noticed this too. It is distracting somewhat.

 

Can any mods comment on the criteria used for pinning an ad? Is it arbitrary, at the whim of any given mod? Or is there some structure behind it?

 

I tend to agree that it is not immediately obvious why this is seen as useful from a UI/UX perspective.

[barbz127]

15 minutes ago, El Tel said:

Can any mods comment on the criteria used for pinning an ad? Is it arbitrary, at the whim of any given mod? Or is there some structure behind it?

It's a paid feature upon listing an item. $x to be featured for x days.

 

Agree with the two posts above, a couple of days into the trial and I'm finding this a negative experience so far.

 

[sir sanders zingmore]

17 minutes ago, El Tel said:

Can any mods comment on the criteria used for pinning an ad? Is it arbitrary, at the whim of any given mod? Or is there some structure behind it?

 

[El Tel]

2 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

 

 

Ah! It was in the "Open Your Eyes" section. Thank you.

 

Totally understand rationale now. I would never want to stand in the way of any opportunity for the site making a buck.

 

I may not appreciate or like the feature, but it is what it is. I shall say no more.

[Guest crankit]

Ooof, feel the same

But the site ain't my baby

[sir sanders zingmore]

1 hour ago, El Tel said:

Totally understand rationale now. I would never want to stand in the way of any opportunity for the site making a buck.

If the implication is that “making a buck” is the rationale then I think it’s missing the point - or at least a big part of the point.
 

There is a lot of gear advertised which means that things slip off the front page pretty quickly. Lots of people have expressed dissatisfaction with this. So Marc is trialling a solution.  
Clearly you can’t make it perfect for everyone, so ideas are welcome. 

 

[El Tel]

29 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

Clearly you can’t make it perfect for everyone

 

Breaking my own "I shall say no more" mantra, you're right, of course. You can please some of the people all of the time etc etc etc.

 

29 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

so ideas are welcome

 

Maybe whiteboard the possibility of breaking the classifieds sections down further? Instead of "Stereo, Home Cinema, Headphones Components" and "Hi-Fi and Cinema Cables & Accessories" as two single containers with the ads at that level, make narrower categories, but have more of them.

 

Amplification (Integrateds, Power Amps, AV Amps etc)

Speakers, Monitors and Subs

Headphones and Paraphernalia

Digital Sources (CDPs, DACs, Streamers)

Vinyl Sources and Components (pre-amps, cartridges, parts)

Complete Systems

Analogue Interconnects and Speaker Cable

Digital Interconnects and Cables

Power Cables, Conditioners, Strips

Misc/Other

 

This is a starter for discussion or consideration, not intended as a completely thought-out and definitive list. Perhaps the volume of ads now make the current structure less workable; a change of structure may keep people happy, especially whose ads rapidly disappear off the front page. It would also make browsing for components one might be looking for easier as it would not require having to sift through a list of ads predominantly irrelevant to one's particular interest.

Edited July 31, 2022 by El Tel

[Nickelle]

Maybe if the classifieds had more sections? Instead of all encompassing 2-Channel, Home Cinema, Headphones etc Components: Turntables, AV Receivers, Speakers, Sources, Amplifiers, Headphones etc. it gets broken down further then the amount of adverts in each category would be less and would not disappear of the list so quickly? So make sub headings.

 

Of course more work for admins. 

[sir sanders zingmore]

23 minutes ago, El Tel said:

Instead of "Stereo, Home Cinema, Headphones Components" and "Hi-Fi and Cinema Cables & Accessories" as two single containers with the ads at that level, make narrower categories, but have more of them.

 

13 minutes ago, Nickelle said:

Maybe if the classifieds had more sections?

A good idea on the face of it. Problem is, there is already an astounding rate of adverts going in the wrong section. Increasing the number of sections would massively slow down the approval process because it would create so much more work for us. 

[BugPowderDust]

I think this was done years ago and there was an up cry and it got reverted back to the current state. But I could have my wires crossed

[El Tel]

8 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

 

A good idea on the face of it. Problem is, there is already an astounding rate of adverts going in the wrong section. Increasing the number of sections would massively slow down the approval process because it would create so much more work for us. 

[El Tel]

9 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

Increasing the number of sections would massively slow down the approval process because it would create so much more work for us. 

 

Unless the advertiser is not given the option of which sub to place the ad into and the mod decides the category/sub as part of the checks and balances prior to approval. You've got to be in there to approve, so why not add that one small step.

[Mrkropotkin]

A bit of transparency of the actual costs of paid ads would be good.  For instance is it x amount for ads under 2,000 and xx amount 0ver 2k but under 5k etc  and what happens if the first page fills with paid ads...  Animal Farm anyone?  Sticking w my name sake is this becoming an example of Class System... Private Health etc   The rich get more access? OK a bit tongue in cheek but .......

[ray4410]

Gumtree

[Nickelle]

When an ad is listed could the section be selected by the lister by marking the category required, if I list headphones I click the button for the ad to go into the headphones category, still open to abuse / misuse of course and still requires diligent admin work as do all sites like this, I am admin on an antique site with over 45,000 members listing almost daily. 

[El Tel]

The thing is, the main issue is not insurmountable. There are other issues hidden from us mortals that @sir sanders zingmore alluded to besides including, but likely not limited to, the improper category that the advertiser ascribes during drafting the ad.

 

This could be sorted if one didn't treat any existing process or flow as sacrosanct, and just whiteboard the flow. At each action point, break the current action/process down to see if there is a better alternative. 3 or 4 key people in a room could nail this in under 90mins including all the necessary actions required through to release. If the main people can't see the wood for the trees, then maybe seek an external facilitator to get the thinking going.

 

Edited July 31, 2022 by El Tel

[barbz127]

26 minutes ago, Nickelle said:

When an ad is listed could the section be selected by the lister by marking the category required, if I list headphones I click the button for the ad to go into the headphones category, still open to abuse / misuse of course and still requires diligent admin work as do all sites like this, I am admin on an antique site with over 45,000 members listing almost daily. 

 

Head-fi and aussie audio mart work in a similar fashion - just a generic add new listing button and the category is selected from a dropdown or list.

[JB82]

How much does this option cost?

[cafe67]

4 hours ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

If the implication is that “making a buck” is the rationale then I think it’s missing the point - or at least a big part of the point.

Really??

 

I think it’s important to realise understand that SNA is a business and is run as such, it’s not a freebie hobby

Edited August 1, 2022 by cafe67

[cafe67]

33 minutes ago, JB82 said:

How much does this option cost?

$25 for 7 days, $50 for 15 days

[Marc]

I think I explained this well enough in my announcement post that is shown above every single Classifieds subforum.

 

History has taught me not to consult the community prior to this "Trial" - and even this thread has reminded me why the best approach is to just try things based on my own ideas and learning, as it's already been said - "you can't please everyone". 

 

Number One is that many of the suggestions being put forward here already were already once tried and failed. Some of the commentators were not around at that time, so while it may seem like a solution to them, we already know it is not. 

 

I repeat, this is a trial. It was not done purely for commercial reasons - quite the opposite in fact. But the naysayers will say otherwise and that's fine. Read the announcement. It was explained why it was done. It will need refinement after (and maybe even during) the trial, which I will do. There are some restrictions in place - such as just how many "featured" ads are permitted per forum, which again, is inline with my ongoing concern about the user experience.

 

Let's keep some perspective here. It's one (or maybe two) extra clicks with the scroll button to get past those feature ads which are not of interest to you.

 

Now finally addressing the commercial aspect. Yes, there is a small fee ($25 for 7 days, $50 for 15 days). It may bring in a touch more revenue, but with limitations in place on how many features ads are available at any one time we are absolutely not talking about a significant amount of revenue - calling it 'beer money' would even be a stretch. With that said, it's one more beneficial move to making the classifieds more self sustaining - as right now we have a serious problem with our "honour system" that relies on sellers paying Seller's Fees at the conclusion of making a sale here on StereoNET. While many do the right thing - many more unfortunately do not. And since we started enforcing it a little more recently, it's amazing how there's been a massive increase in "sold elsewhere" responses.

 

I've never wanted to commercialise the classifieds. I still don't. But we are heading that way out of necessity, nothing else.

 

 

[El Tel]

15 minutes ago, Marc said:

I think I explained this well enough in my announcement post that is shown above every single Classifieds subforum.

 

History has taught me not to consult the community prior to this "Trial" - and even this thread has reminded me why the best approach is to just try things based on my own ideas and learning, as it's already been said - "you can't please everyone". 

 

Number One is that many of the suggestions being put forward here already were already once tried and failed. Some of the commentators were not around at that time, so while it may seem like a solution to them, we already know it is not. 

 

I repeat, this is a trial. It was not done purely for commercial reasons - quite the opposite in fact. But the naysayers will say otherwise and that's fine. Read the announcement. It was explained why it was done. It will need refinement after (and maybe even during) the trial, which I will do. There are some restrictions in place - such as just how many "featured" ads are permitted per forum, which again, is inline with my ongoing concern about the user experience.

 

Let's keep some perspective here. It's one (or maybe two) extra clicks with the scroll button to get past those feature ads which are not of interest to you.

 

Now finally addressing the commercial aspect. Yes, there is a small fee ($25 for 7 days, $50 for 15 days). It may bring in a touch more revenue, but with limitations in place on how many features ads are available at any one time we are absolutely not talking about a significant amount of revenue - calling it 'beer money' would even be a stretch. With that said, it's one more beneficial move to making the classifieds more self sustaining - as right now we have a serious problem with our "honour system" that relies on sellers paying Seller's Fees at the conclusion of making a sale here on StereoNET. While many do the right thing - many more unfortunately do not. And since we started enforcing it a little more recently, it's amazing how there's been a massive increase in "sold elsewhere" responses.

 

I've never wanted to commercialise the classifieds. I still don't. But we are heading that way out of necessity, nothing else.

 

 

 

I don't think there is any situation to defend here, you're doing what you are doing out of necessity. Trial and error is the direction in which you are approaching this as is your wont. The fact is that ideas for alternatives were invited:

 

4 hours ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

Clearly you can’t make it perfect for everyone, so ideas are welcome. 

 

I can now see that ideas were less than desirable. No problem, I'll get my coat