Just to keep you guys in the loop who have voted on "Next Up Features" that haven't gotten done lately, wanted to provide an idea about what we're up to and what our next priorities are:
(Obvious) Continue to iron out bottlenecks to maintain speed during peak hours. Many improvements were made on that front today, but with our current growth, it's only a matter of time until more improvements are necessary. We are currently in the process of planning a move to another new server, this one with approximately 8x the computing power of our current one. But that requires some cashola, which explains objective #2:
Implement site memberships. As soon as the site stops being slow, we plan to add the option of subscribing as a member of the site. This will have many perks, chief among them from our perspective, that you will help us afford an 8x faster server. :-)
More measures to reduce spammers/frauds. Previously an undiscovered part of the community, with traffic comes spammers, so we plan to spend some cycles making it harder for them to get access to and do business on Bonanzle. In the meantime, PLEASE REPORT ANYONE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING PAYMENT VIA WESTERN UNION, and please be very wary of sellers with no feedback selling expensive items (doubly if they aren't active in the community). It isn't that these sellers are necessarily frauds, but, well, it can be hard to tell if they are. Your best bet to protect yourself from fraud is to use Google Checkout or Paypal, so you can work with them and your credit card company if you do happen to get unlucky and find an unscrupulous users.
As you can see, this list doesn't include exciting new features, because to be honest, right now, I think it's most important that the site performs smoothly and makes it as difficult as possible for the spammers and frauds. But hopefully the days of new features will return soon. We're sure to sneak some in here and there anyway. When we do get back to features, I have a number of ideas I'm excited to go forth with to help sellers make more sales and buyers find more cool stuff to buy.
Thanks for all the hard work and keeping everyone informed! Is there a way you could put a click through button for PayPal and Google for donations until you have time to set up the site memberships? I for one would donate….it won’t be a bunch, but if others do the same (whatever they can afford…) You might be surprised at the response!
Thanks for the update Bill, and I agree with Sandy in fact that was my whole reason for responding to this post, I know that there were more than a few of us out here that would love to help with whatever we can spare (remember the trade icons for cash almost post?) – individually donations might not be much but every little bit helps. Hey we’re a part of this adventure too! :-D Zigster
Hello…I am a new member and would like to thank you …this site is great…I dont have much but would be willing to chip in…I want to see this site go forward and would love to be in on the ground floor…let me know…I would even be willing to put up a few things to sell and have that money go to the Bonanzle fund for expansion…
the site is super easy, also the post are over the rules and the sales slow but really sales [ I need more lol] but back to the point is a super easy .
Well chipping in doesn’t sound so business like eh? This is actually a business and you need to conduct yourself as so. Big blank there as to cost but everyone should pretty much know that nothing in life is free. So the sooner you figure out what it is you need to continue business the sooner you’ll get it done. We’ve all experienced the “free” sites – they rarely work and your gonna need real $‘s for advertising – although sellers here are already doing a danged wonderful job. Anyway – I’m in – what do you have in mind? Paying to sell also deters the scammers somewhat.
I’d chip in. I will be carefully watching my costs and sales/profits etc. this year as the tax laws are sure to be bent on taking every last cent that I have so a business expense it would be for sure!
I would think that a receipt would be excellent from Bonanzle. Money well spent and a tax deduction too!
I just wanted to say that I think a membership is a great idea. I actually wondered early on if there was a donation button(like on blogs). I feel like I’m getting an awesome deal and want to due what I can to get Bonanzle big!!!
Just let us know what your thinking for “membership” or “donation”!
I think that’s what everyone wants to know?
Then they can decide from there.
We’re willing!
Thanks for the great site!
Me too! I want to do what I can for this site. Keep us posted on how. I wish I had a BIG bundle of bucks I would throw them your way—-BONANZLE is helping so many—thanks.
I’m for it, but I think people need to start selling more before asking for membership fees. You may not get as many new members as we’re seeing now without a proven track record.And membership and increased traffic is key at this early stage. There are many new sites but limited traffic at most. Also even though the site is free right now, it is going to change to FVF’s in the near future, as it should. The donation idea is good for those that want to contribute.Some people may be turned off by mandatory membership fees. There are other sites that work that way and if you look at their membership numbers and traffic it is relatively small.
Thanks for the update! I’m more than willing to participate in a membership with a fee structure. Bonanzle continues to look like it will become a real alternative to eBay, and I’m all for doing anything I can to make that potential become a reality!! :)
I would be happy to contribute a percentage of my sales, in fact take it right out of my transaction like a final value fee. “Members” could choose their own level of giving, 5, 10, 15% up to a level of recognized membership support $100, $500, $1000 etc but also choose to bump it up or pull back to their own fluid economic reality. KISS.
You’ve worked wonders with the front end and presentation for this site. I absolutely LOVE the layout and (most days) the speed. Listing is great- like a rocket! But checkout is definitely NOT built for speed. And that needs some talking about. There could be trouble coming.
The paper payment refugees from “over there” are coming… they are going to want instant checkout via a buy button, like YouKnowWhoBay had circa 2007. As things stand now checkout is very cumbersome, involving lots of back and forth between the parties. This is even the case with the present electronic payment “buy” button. Checkout needs to be much more deterministic and automated, including taking down a sold item. I have 700 stamped envelopes, all my old buyers from elsewhere, all check and money order buyers. I can’t in good conscience bring them over here, only to have them stumble about at checkout- it makes us both (B’zle and I) look amateurish.
I realize you want to minimize scams and unpaid purchases, but that is really the province of user authentication/verifcation and a strong community. You already have both.
I purchased 3 items here and all 3 resulted in mass confusion and a spate of touch-and-go emails because no one knew what to expect. No two transactions flowed the same.
I wish I could click a check box that says: “I understand that by enabling instant checkout, I assume the risk of being robbed. I want to be robbed.” And then presto- now I can really SELL.
Sellers having any kind of sizeable inventory sitting in reserve, and skittish buyers as well, will experience doubt wandering thru this counterintuitive process. The “buy” button in particular should not be treated as an offer- you buy because you agree to all that you have seen, and want to take posession of the item. Exactly when an item changes owners on Bonanzle is, as yet, rather confusing.
I think these things need to be said. I do NOT want this site to fail.
I posted in the forum, but I guess I can post here, too. I have a question about Western Union. What’s wrong with it? I can understand if a scammer wants to sent a money order for more than the price of the item and get money back, that’s pretty easy to spot as a scam. But when I sold over on the “other site”, I had a number of very decent international clients pay with Western Union. No problems at all. It’s been a time-honored method of payment for a lot longer than the internet has been around and frankly, from what I’ve been reading on the powersellers board, you probably have a better chance of receiving a legitimate payment through Western Union than preypal these days.
You guys are the greatest. 2 sales on another free market site in over a year, 10 here in 4 or 5 weeks. Not earth shattering I’m as happy as a clam! Option membership is great and I am getting line right this minute. Thank you for all of your hard work and efforts but everything requires money.
Kay
Dang, the membership for perks just doesn’t feel right. I like a level playing field. I would rather forget that I am grandfathered and pay a FVF on each item sold.
Ignore my comment, it is full moon and I am a Libra, not to mention that politics has taken over my sensibilities. I’ll be OK after the election, I hope.
Whatever you have to do to keep Bonanzle going and growing.
check out the forums…there is a great thread with so cool ideas there to help this site…..we are willing to help you all out….for you have given us a wonderful new home!
30 responses to On Our Radar
Thanks for all the hard work and keeping everyone informed! Is there a way you could put a click through button for PayPal and Google for donations until you have time to set up the site memberships? I for one would donate….it won’t be a bunch, but if others do the same (whatever they can afford…) You might be surprised at the response!
Sandy
Thanks for the update Bill, and I agree with Sandy in fact that was my whole reason for responding to this post, I know that there were more than a few of us out here that would love to help with whatever we can spare (remember the trade icons for cash almost post?) – individually donations might not be much but every little bit helps. Hey we’re a part of this adventure too! :-D Zigster
Great idea on the buttons! Your response to all that happens here is amazing! No where else would we get such service. Thank you so much!
Hello…I am a new member and would like to thank you …this site is great…I dont have much but would be willing to chip in…I want to see this site go forward and would love to be in on the ground floor…let me know…I would even be willing to put up a few things to sell and have that money go to the Bonanzle fund for expansion…
You guy’s rock the house!!!
the site is super easy, also the post are over the rules and the sales slow but really sales [ I need more lol] but back to the point is a super easy .
I love the site. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next. :) Thanks!
I would be willing to chip in — this site is awesome and has soooooo much potential!!!
I’m willing too, maybe even more if I’d finally make a sale. But I’m interested in seing what a “membership” would entail. So, open ears here :)
Well chipping in doesn’t sound so business like eh? This is actually a business and you need to conduct yourself as so. Big blank there as to cost but everyone should pretty much know that nothing in life is free. So the sooner you figure out what it is you need to continue business the sooner you’ll get it done. We’ve all experienced the “free” sites – they rarely work and your gonna need real $‘s for advertising – although sellers here are already doing a danged wonderful job. Anyway – I’m in – what do you have in mind? Paying to sell also deters the scammers somewhat.
Count me in, too. I’d be glad to chip in.
I’d chip in. I will be carefully watching my costs and sales/profits etc. this year as the tax laws are sure to be bent on taking every last cent that I have so a business expense it would be for sure!
I would think that a receipt would be excellent from Bonanzle. Money well spent and a tax deduction too!
I just wanted to say that I think a membership is a great idea. I actually wondered early on if there was a donation button(like on blogs). I feel like I’m getting an awesome deal and want to due what I can to get Bonanzle big!!!
There have been discussions on how to best help you out. Membership is a great way to do that! We know this takes money!!!
Just let us know what your thinking for “membership” or “donation”!
I think that’s what everyone wants to know?
Then they can decide from there.
We’re willing!
Thanks for the great site!
Me too! I want to do what I can for this site. Keep us posted on how. I wish I had a BIG bundle of bucks I would throw them your way—-BONANZLE is helping so many—thanks.
I’m for it, but I think people need to start selling more before asking for membership fees. You may not get as many new members as we’re seeing now without a proven track record.And membership and increased traffic is key at this early stage. There are many new sites but limited traffic at most. Also even though the site is free right now, it is going to change to FVF’s in the near future, as it should. The donation idea is good for those that want to contribute.Some people may be turned off by mandatory membership fees. There are other sites that work that way and if you look at their membership numbers and traffic it is relatively small.
I’d like to do my part to.
I am willing to subscribe as a member.
We’re willing to help!
I would be willing to help as much as possible.
Thanks for the update! I’m more than willing to participate in a membership with a fee structure. Bonanzle continues to look like it will become a real alternative to eBay, and I’m all for doing anything I can to make that potential become a reality!! :)
I would be happy to contribute a percentage of my sales, in fact take it right out of my transaction like a final value fee. “Members” could choose their own level of giving, 5, 10, 15% up to a level of recognized membership support $100, $500, $1000 etc but also choose to bump it up or pull back to their own fluid economic reality. KISS.
You’ve worked wonders with the front end and presentation for this site. I absolutely LOVE the layout and (most days) the speed. Listing is great- like a rocket! But checkout is definitely NOT built for speed. And that needs some talking about. There could be trouble coming.
The paper payment refugees from “over there” are coming… they are going to want instant checkout via a buy button, like YouKnowWhoBay had circa 2007. As things stand now checkout is very cumbersome, involving lots of back and forth between the parties. This is even the case with the present electronic payment “buy” button. Checkout needs to be much more deterministic and automated, including taking down a sold item. I have 700 stamped envelopes, all my old buyers from elsewhere, all check and money order buyers. I can’t in good conscience bring them over here, only to have them stumble about at checkout- it makes us both (B’zle and I) look amateurish.
I realize you want to minimize scams and unpaid purchases, but that is really the province of user authentication/verifcation and a strong community. You already have both.
I purchased 3 items here and all 3 resulted in mass confusion and a spate of touch-and-go emails because no one knew what to expect. No two transactions flowed the same.
I wish I could click a check box that says: “I understand that by enabling instant checkout, I assume the risk of being robbed. I want to be robbed.” And then presto- now I can really SELL.
Sellers having any kind of sizeable inventory sitting in reserve, and skittish buyers as well, will experience doubt wandering thru this counterintuitive process. The “buy” button in particular should not be treated as an offer- you buy because you agree to all that you have seen, and want to take posession of the item. Exactly when an item changes owners on Bonanzle is, as yet, rather confusing.
I think these things need to be said. I do NOT want this site to fail.
-perma
I posted in the forum, but I guess I can post here, too. I have a question about Western Union. What’s wrong with it? I can understand if a scammer wants to sent a money order for more than the price of the item and get money back, that’s pretty easy to spot as a scam. But when I sold over on the “other site”, I had a number of very decent international clients pay with Western Union. No problems at all. It’s been a time-honored method of payment for a lot longer than the internet has been around and frankly, from what I’ve been reading on the powersellers board, you probably have a better chance of receiving a legitimate payment through Western Union than preypal these days.
You guys are the greatest. 2 sales on another free market site in over a year, 10 here in 4 or 5 weeks. Not earth shattering I’m as happy as a clam! Option membership is great and I am getting line right this minute. Thank you for all of your hard work and efforts but everything requires money.
Kay
Dang, the membership for perks just doesn’t feel right. I like a level playing field. I would rather forget that I am grandfathered and pay a FVF on each item sold.
Ignore my comment, it is full moon and I am a Libra, not to mention that politics has taken over my sensibilities. I’ll be OK after the election, I hope.
Whatever you have to do to keep Bonanzle going and growing.
Count me in on what ever you decide – this place is wonderful —
check out the forums…there is a great thread with so cool ideas there to help this site…..we are willing to help you all out….for you have given us a wonderful new home!
Signed my CabinFever store up. I got the same “no such page” when I tried to come back to Bonanzle also, but the membership went through.
If I do well with sales, I will sign up my Emporium. Hey ho!
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