Add-on Classifieds addon development discussion

[Stuart Wright]

I don't think a media tab is necessary as long as images can be displayed on the main listing page. However, we'd like to have custom fields that can accept an external image URL and display it as an image. (As opposed to just uploading all the images.)

Custom field not necessary if the [ img ] bb code can be used like in posts.

We have people mark their ads as Finished, which works for Exchange and Wanted ads too.

Are they finished when a deal is agreed or when goods received and checked to be ok? If it's the former then fine. If it's the latter then ads will be live despite the deal being done. Which is a problem. This issue is more to do with how we have people use the classifieds.

We would not use the Condition and Advertiser attributes. Would these be optional, or could we rename them with attributes that are more important to us?

Optional.

One thing that would be helpful is a page (or profile tab or sidebar block) for advertiser info, so that the member doesn’t have to fill out general information more than once. It could include location but would also need custom fields. For example, we require advertisers to say if they are from a smoking household or if they are willing to mark international parcels as a gift.

Well I've factored in options to store advertiser location and contact details for reuse, but there are a couple of things to note. First I haven't considered having custom fields for the advertiser info. This kind of thing should be put into the members' profile, really, if people want to know more. And second, in the UK at least, storing this kind of thing, I'm fairly sure, means you have to register with the data protection agency. Which is quite a big deal.

I think you mentioned it in another thread, but it would help to have a Bump button with a time limit. Not for threads, but for the resource itself.

Yep. Admin option to limit the frequency of bumps and option in the packages to allow the advertiser to pay for auto bumping.

Can auction have option to use forum points to bid on items instead of real money involved .

Not planning on doing auctions in the first version.

I currently use custom thread fields for my classifieds. When browsing the forum that has the adverts, users can see the price and location custom fields. I would like to see an option to select which fields can be seen when browsing the forum that has the adverts (here is a mock-up ).

View attachment 125421

Nice.
Your mockup shows the 'Contact Advertiser' button. Would this reveal contact details or start a private conversation? Either way, this is going to be an option which we wouldn't use. We insist on all negotiations being in public in threads and only when the deal is agreed are members allowed (in the rules) to then exchange contact information.

 

[empire]

Custom field not necessary if the [ img ] bb code can be used like in posts.

We have custom fields for specific types of images. For example:

Photo of any damage: [URL of photo that shows damage] --> displays as image​

It would be clunky to make each of these a rich text box. But I realize this may be very specific to our usage.

Are they finished when a deal is agreed or when goods received and checked to be ok?

It's marked Finished when the item is traded, sold, on hold, or on layaway. When they change the prefix to Finished, it gets moved automatically to an archive. If the deal falls through, it can be moved back to the sales forum. This way searching doesn't return results of unavailable items.

Well I've factored in options to store advertiser location and contact details for reuse, but there are a couple of things to note. First I haven't considered having custom fields for the advertiser info. This kind of thing should be put into the members' profile, really, if people want to know more. And second, in the UK at least, storing this kind of thing, I'm fairly sure, means you have to register with the data protection agency. Which is quite a big deal.

Giving the option of custom fields leaves it up to the forum owner to them to follow local regulations. Questions like, 'will you ship outside your country?' would surely be fairly common. We would also like fields where people can put their links for offsite feedback (Ebay, etc). I think some sort of seller's profile would be helpful, and it makes sense to distinguish it from the regular member profile questions.

We insist on all negotiations being in public in threads.

We do private negotiations and would need a 'contact seller' button. That's how I've seen it done on other forums as well, although I think it's a really interesting idea to have it done in public.

 

[0ptima]

Your mockup shows the 'Contact Advertiser' button. Would this reveal contact details or start a private conversation?

Start a conversation

Either way, this is going to be an option which we wouldn't use. We insist on all negotiations being in public in threads and only when the deal is agreed are members allowed (in the rules) to then exchange contact information.

Negotiations typically take place privately.

 

[Stuart Wright]

Start a conversation



Negotiations typically take place privately.

Yes but we do it better on AVForums because if a trade goes wrong, the moderators mediate for a fair outcome. And you can't do that unless you have complete visibility of the negotiations. So there will be options to contact the advertiser only when the advert goes to the archive. I.e. The deal is done.

 

[Joeychgo]

A few things I would like to see. Forgive me if previously mentioned...

• Ability of the advertiser to mark the ad sold, closing the ad.
• Auto close after x amount of time. (with notification to seller)
• Ability to limit how many open ads a user may have at a given time (by usergroup)
• Ads must appear in the "new posts" search
• Ability to 'bump' the ad after an admin set interval (controlled by usergroup permission as far as if and how many times)
• Ability to edit the ad until ad is closed.
• Search Engine Friendly

 

[Stuart Wright]

A few things I would like to see. Forgive me if previously mentioned...

• Ability of the advertiser to mark the ad sold, closing the ad.
• Auto close after x amount of time. (with notification to seller)
• Ability to limit how many open ads a user may have at a given time (by usergroup)
• Ads must appear in the "new posts" search
• Ability to 'bump' the ad after an admin set interval (controlled by usergroup permission as far as if and how many times)
• Ability to edit the ad until ad is closed.
• Search Engine Friendly

Since people are aking about functionality I have already specified but not shared, yet, I have completed all the reserved posts in the thread. These will answer a lot of your questions.

 

[HWS]

I have completed all the reserved posts in the thread. These will answer a lot of your questions.

I am very impressed about your concept. I hope you can find developers who are able to create a robust add-on with all those features. If someone can find such developers that would be you!

I will purchase such an add-on for sure, even if it would cost $1000 per license.

 

[woody]

Initial plan looks excellent, thank you for spearheading this

One oddity that my Classifieds setup includes is a "parting out" section...ie: someone purchases a complete vehicles, pulls the parts they need, then opens up the balance. Unsure where that type of situation would fit in, but something to consider for automotive-type forums.

 

[Stuart Wright]

Initial plan looks excellent, thank you for spearheading this

One oddity that my Classifieds setup includes is a "parting out" section...ie: someone purchases a complete vehicles, pulls the parts they need, then opens up the balance. Unsure where that type of situation would fit in, but something to consider for automotive-type forums.

I don't know what you'd need from your post. But very specific requirements won't make it into the addon. You'd have to figure out a way of organising what you need from the functionality available.

 

[empire]

It may be better to have an explicit field for uploading the main image that appears as a thumbnail, rather than taking the first image that's uploaded. It would be easier then to make that field required and give any special instructions related to it.

 

[Kintaro]

• Ability to edit the ad until ad is closed.

about that:
noticing sending alert/email to who follow that ad
classified edit history could be visible per usergroups

 

[Stuart Wright]

It may be better to have an explicit field for uploading the main image that appears as a thumbnail, rather than taking the first image that's uploaded. It would be easier then to make that field required and give any special instructions related to it.

Might be instances, though, where it's not appropriate to have an image. Say if someone is selling an Amazon gift voucher which has been emailed.

 

[empire]

Amazon has gift card images that could be used, or they could use the shop's logo.

If vouchers are a popular item, they could have their own category that doesn't require images. For other categories, having the option to require photos would be beneficial.

It would also help guide people through the listing process. We have a lot of members who are not tech savvy and who don't understand English well. A button that says 'upload photo' with an explanation that this is the thumbnail image would make it easier for them. Showcase handles this pretty well.

 

[GoPluto]

It's a good thing you're doing @Stuart Wright! Hopefully with your experience and know-how you'll be able to push ahead and get this developed with Chris

 

[James]

It's a good thing you're doing @Stuart Wright! Hopefully with your experience and know-how you'll be able to push ahead and get this developed with Chris

Since his involvement with the official development of XenForo itself I doubt Chris will be the developer working on this! However it is an excellent thing Stuart is doing!

 

[Joeychgo]

Since his involvement with the official development of XenForo itself I doubt Chris will be the developer working on this! However it is an excellent thing Stuart is doing!

Im not sure why that should stop Chris from being involved.

 

[Ozzy47]

Im not sure why that should stop Chris from being involved.

Agreed, if Chris has the time, and is willing to work on the project, nothing else would stop him from doing so.

 

[0ptima]

Yes but we do it better on AVForums because if a trade goes wrong, the moderators mediate for a fair outcome. And you can't do that unless you have complete visibility of the negotiations. So there will be options to contact the advertiser only when the advert goes to the archive. I.e. The deal is done.

Like Craigslist, we dont get involved in transaction disputes.

 

[0ptima]

Initial plan looks excellent, thank you for spearheading this

One oddity that my Classifieds setup includes is a "parting out" section...ie: someone purchases a complete vehicles, pulls the parts they need, then opens up the balance. Unsure where that type of situation would fit in, but something to consider for automotive-type forums.

I have these types of adverts as well.

 

[empire]

I have these types of adverts as well.

So do we. It's funny it's come up because I wouldn't have thought that was a popular thing to do.

In this case though, we have a separate forum for 'splits'. With this add-on, we'd have one item listed with the parts being claimed by the OP, and others could claim parts in the associated thread. I'm not sure there'd need to be any special accommodation.