Local Chattel Web Site Idea

Mr. Ross & Mr. Johnson,
Thank you very much for your reply.
How the idea came about for my used goods web site was after I started shopping for things on ebay. I would find things that were priced right on the buy it now option, but when you add in the S/H cost, etc. the bargin was no longer much of a bargin, so I starting thinking that there are people in my own area that might have the product I'm looking for and if I can find them, I wouldn't have to pay for S/H, I could just drive over and pick up the product and pay for it. I'm not really sure yet how I would go about setting up a web site for doing what I'm thinking about, but my thinking is that it would be like ebay, but not an auction with a weekly trader publication feel to it, but with product pictures. Any ideas or suggestions you have, please let me know. Again thanks for your reply.

Martin Buckley

> Martin:

> I think a site like the one you described is
> a wonderful idea .

> Here are some things that popped into my
> mind...

> Do advertisers take their own photos or do
> you go to their place to take the photo?
> (Many people don't have a scanner and would
> have to pay someone to scan photos. And many
> don't have digital cameras.)

> How is your local newspaper as far as
> taking ads from people whose ads encourage
> people to place ads in their advertising
> thing? How would they feel about running ads
> advertising your ad website?

> How many people reading the general
> classifieds have a computer with internet
> access (assuming the newspaper allows your
> ads)? This could limit the overall market of
> potential ad viewers. And as ad viewership
> helps determine ad price, your price may not
> be able to get as high as you hope.

> As the ads are online and no new issue is
> created (as would happen in a paper and ink
> publication), keeping track of old expired
> ads and uploading new ads could become a
> full-time job in itself. Even with software
> to help you. (Unless ads are all redone on a
> weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.)

> Are there publications in your area that
> offer free advertising? Would you be
> competing with them?

> People have been trained to look in paper
> and ink publications for general chattel
> in their area. Will they be easy to retrain
> into looking online? SPECIALIZING is where
> I think your idea would really excel. Then,
> pretty well all the above considerations
> become a mute point.

> For instance...

> Golf Products online. And only Golf
> Products. You would capture the Golf Product
> market and could even expand the area you
> cover.

> Bass Fishing Boats. And only Bass Fishing
> Boats.

> Pop Up Caravans. And only Pop Up Caravans.

> Dining Tables. And only Dining Tables.

> Etc., etc. You get the idea.

> People would learn to turn to your website
> when wanting to buy a new (second hand)
> "Whatever-Item-You-Specialize-In."

> Basically, you would be creating an online
> and localized version of the trader type
> mags.

> Michael Ross