READ THIS ENTIRELY BEFORE COMMENTING PLEASE!

After a few weeks now of using the RCU marketplace I would like to hear more about what you guys would like to see or hear suggestions for improvement.

Since launch we have made literally dozens of changes, a bunch of fixes (hey...this code is complex. we were bound to have a few bugs or oversights) and cosmetic changes based on many user suggestions.

The marketplace has already begun to fill up quickly and smart sellers are learning that RCU's classifieds provide a vehicle where their stuff can be seen by many other prospective RC buyers. I've been getting feedback from sellers that things are selling faster on the new marketplace then on the old forums. I feel this is due to the fact it is far easier to search and browse than on a forum. The old RCU hit the limit on what a forum could do for a marketplace and this system is designed to take it to the next level and appears to be well on track.

However, never one to sit on his laurels I think there is always room for improvement or other features that we might not have thought of or that members have not yet suggested. So if you have suggestions for improvement or constructive criticism please let us know.

Thank you for your continued support as we work hard to make RC Universe your number one choice for RC information and trading.

Marc,

Couple of things I would like to see. Disclaimer: If they have been discussed and are in the works, I missed it...sorry.

1. Icons that indicate the thread has photo's. Is that feature comming back?

2. Member galleries. I think I saw somewhere where this was being worked on, but not sure.

3. Search Function is almost too comprehensive: If I do a search for say, GPRV4, I get tons of hits. Great right? Well as you start to go through the hits, many of them are in the same thread. I seem to remember the old search function listing threads that contained the key words. Maybe you had it collated or filtered somewhere out there in cyberspace, but I did not get the duplication I get now. Also results could show those threads with pics like before, that would help too.

Starting to get around a lot better since we last spoke. Things are ticking right along, but those are the features I miss the most right now. Good luck with everything, you are doing a good job.

Regards,
John

I'd like to see the option of "saving" and naming search criteria that I define.

That way, whether I am searching for a very specific item, or I'm just interested in certain categories of item in a certain geographic area etc, I don't have to re-enter all of the query information each time - I can just hit "Save Query" (or whatever you wanna call it), and enter a name. Next time I come back to the market place, I can pick one of my named searches and instantly see the latest results.

This is a powerful feature that I use everyday in application software such as bug-tracking systems, and I'd love to see it added here.

Gordon

I'd like to see navigation made easier, perhaps with some sort of toolbar so I can instantly click on what category I want to go to. Or perhaps an identical feature to My Forums in the classifieds.

ya had to know i would suggest a trade forum marc...

Did anyone read the first post? Marc is looking for info on the "MarketPlace".
The Karma system need some tweeking. If you by from a member via private e-mails, there is no way to leave feedback. I made a purchase, and sell marked ad as sold. We did not use the "make offer" screen. Now we are unable to leave our karma.

Well the Electric Forsale marketplace is all but dead on here now. Same things have been listed since the new site opened. I know the Electric For Sale Forum used to be a bit slow on the old site but now it looks high priced and little for sale. Not sure what can be done about it. Whis the old $30.00 Forum and under was still available as well.

I agree. I'd like to leave feedback to people after the fact or who didn't make an official "offer".

Marc,

I like the new marketplace much better than the old one - much easier to find stuff.

Suggestion:

Each time I browse a category (say airplanes) I have to reset my preferences. ie. Unsold Items, Non-Commercial, Last Day. I would like to have a way that I can set my defaults for the Marketplace.

if that is not possible then:

As a minimum the Marketplace should not display sold and un-sold stuff by default. Like E-Bay make un-sold the default and click a link for sold items. Most people don't want to see sold items unless they are researching pricing history.

Lawrence Panetta

I agree with everything that has been said so far.
I would also like to see small items under $30.00, and the crystal exchange. Possibly for trading those small things you could just add a place in the forums. I would also like to have the sold and for sale items in different screens. I think it is a little bit annoying to have to wade through the sold items when you are looking for something to buy.
Keep up the good work Marc!
Ryan

My only comment would be that when I pick a catagory[ airplanes] to browze in the forums I still get all kinds of other types interspersed within the field I am seeing. Also I see many duplications of the same posts

Seems it's a 'USA only' market place [kits] (Guess that's a gripe more than anything, and seeing that the USA is 90% of the site / www...)

Sort by 'country shipping to'...

I was also trying to find info on being a 'commercial vendor' Couldn't find any. Also, while looking though the 'sign up'; it's one of those 'fill this out, then fill this out, then supply these numbers'.. No real 'overview' of what is required and the type of steps you'll be asked to perform. But I guess that's a typical 'web thing' too. We all have it..

Why bother with suggestions Marc your current trend has been to simply remove any posts that are not in agreement with your own ideas..

Therefore do as you see fit and don't waste the members time.

This may sound hash... But I had, and saw many posts deleted here if for no other reason then they were in opposition to the mgmt's view of things.

IMHO it is hypocritical for Mgmt to now solicite "suggestions"


Oh By the way isn't this thread in the wrong forum. I thought threads of this nature were moved to the suggestions forum

Thirded? Is that a word? If so - thirded.
If not, well, I think the meaning is conveyed.

Some sort of distinction should be made visible at the top level between NIB and non-NIB items. Kind of a pain to browse through a bunch of used "ARF" items when looking for a new one.

Searches seem to exclude items which have been sold already! This needs to be changed. How else can one gauge whether the asking price is within bounds?

Bring back the trade forum

I have got a few buddies who have been "heavy buyer's, seller's, and trader's" on the old site, who have told me they will NOT give a credit card number to buy or sell here on RCU. This may be part of the reason for the lower marketplace numbers. A final thought-- for those of us who do NOT have broadband or high speed access, it takes a lot more time to get around here on the new site. I may be missing something, but I seem to "backtrack" a lot and click (then wait) a lot more these days. Thanks for asking.

Marc you know I have been asking for the "Under $30" catagory even had a poll that the guys here did not vote for but you see people want it. I also think it should be a free post zone as no one will pay to sell a$5 item so it is gonna make a lot of stuff go to waste in someones shop.

wyflyer_55 - there is a link in the quick search box that will show you all items under $30. Go to the marketplace and click in a category. Then top right is quick search box that shows Under $30 items

rctrax - to filter a category when browsing as in your example click the subcategories at the left. when you click airplanes it shows you everything under airplanes including all subcategories. If for example you want to pare that down to just giants then click the giant link at the left. We call this our 'X-Ray technology". It allows you to browse through stuff at a high level or drill down to specifics so if your just "window shopping" or know exactly what you are looking for you can browse to it or use our powerful search.

Crashem - your post is still up there. Thank you for contributing to this thread in a constructive fashion.

visioneer_one - good idea. this is the stuff I'm reaching for here. A NIB filter would be helpful. I agree and it should be easy to add that.

rc_sport-RCU - if you list an item for sale you can check off "willing to trade" when listing it plus you can state in the ad title that you are willing to trade

easysport - see the first reply above in this post about $30. the link will show you all items in the marketplace under $30 instantly. this will get more sophisticated as we figure out if there is a better way to tackle it.

Put down another vote for a trade forum. Also, why doesn't the sort by price work?

another for a trade forum.

PLEASE::::: Give us back the old RCU.

URGENT.

Sidekick

Marc, having used the ne Marketplace for a while now, I must say I like it much better than the old. My comments:

1. Don't you dare relax the credit card rule. I got stung here on RCU only once, right before the switch to the new Market Place, and it was ONCE TOO MANY! I would be very leery of buying on RCU if it returns to the unregulated Wild Wild West. Those who have something to hide need not participate.

2. Buyers MUST be encouraged to formalize an offer by registering it with RCU. The second biggest problem in my experience is people backing out of their offers - sometimes causing me to loose another potential buyer. I'm beginning to think some people do this on purpose - perhaps to keep you from selling the item while taking the time to decide whether they really want to buy or not. From now on, I am making it a rule not to accept offers unless it is registered on RCU. Then, if they do back out of the deal on their own volition, then I would like to be able to leave a negative feedback on them. If you're not serious about buying, don't offer.

3. Limit the ability to cross post an ad across too many forums. I even caught myself doing this. It's annoying and (in my case) confuses the buyer as to what I'm actually selling.

I may sound harsh, but having stricter rules never impede the honest transactions that account for the vast majority of RCU Classified traffic. It does, however, help weed out the bad apples that sour everyone's taste for online buy & sell.

Many times i prefer to trade something i dont need instead of buying(money i do need). a trade forum is a win win situation for all involved,brings more people to this site who may also participate in auctions or buy from the advertisers.

You can rate a seller who backs out as follows;

He makes an offer. You accept it (which marks it sold). Star appears so you can rate him within 30 days. He doesn't pay and follow through. You rate him negative for bailing on the deal. You then hit "renew" on the ad and it becomes active again in the system for the remainder of the 30 day ad period.

I think the biggest improvement to be made would be to go back the way it was. Everyone but management was happy. Now it's too big a pain in the butt to do anything on here. Sorry, but that's my opinion. I don't get notices when some one replies to a thread and the search system is a joke. I'd like to be able to e-mail other members without it going through your pc first. That's invasion of privacy as far as I'm concerned. I wish I hadn't paid my 20.00 bucks. I'd just forget it.