Your feedback/testing needed - new classifieds section

[RebeccaMumsnet]

Parenting is great and everything, but it does tend to generate an awful lot of stuff. We know that as parents we often end up with surplus toys, buggies, breast pumps, books and all manner of things which they don't need anymore, but could probably be really useful to someone else.

We have seen from past threads that Mumsnet is the natural place for this sort of exchange, so we thought we'd have a go at building something that might help the process, this is very much a beta version to test the water and see what you think.

We've created a new Mumsnet Classifieds area, where you can post about items you've no longer any use for, and sell them to those happy to take them off your hands.

This new area is only open to registered Mumsnetters - and at the moment is still a work in process, as we're just testing out whether people would be interested.

Can you see yourself using Mumsnet Classified?
Is it functional? (please do have a go at uploading things that you are looking to shift)
Is it useful?

Let us know what you think.

Thanks in advance

[SixImpossible]

How is that different to the old For Sale boards?

[SantasFavouriteHo]

Is there a way to refine by area?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Need to have location along with advert along with whether seller will ship or not. Also needs a search function eg if you are looking for pushchair, categories would also be useful for browsing purposes. Would be useful if some sort of seller feedback were possible?

Perhaps instead of a list set it up as a forum so that the OP posts picture and specs etc then posters can ask questions/post feedback/OP can post additional photos. Keeps it all out in the open. OP can change title status to sold. Would also mean that people could search for items, sellers etc.

[Tortoise]

I used to use the for sale area a lot so sounds like a good idea. Agree there needs to be a location on the advert.

[JessicaMumsnet]

@SixImpossible

How is that different to the old For Sale boards?

We're just testing the water at the moment but are hoping that it could be something that provides an easier way for mumsnetters to pass unwanted stuff on and an easy way to search for items.

[JessicaMumsnet]

@SantasFavouriteHo

Is there a way to refine by area?

Not at the moment but it is absolutely something we've got in mind if people are interested in us building it.

[JessicaMumsnet]

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Need to have location along with advert along with whether seller will ship or not. Also needs a search function eg if you are looking for pushchair, categories would also be useful for browsing purposes. Would be useful if some sort of seller feedback were possible?

Perhaps instead of a list set it up as a forum so that the OP posts picture and specs etc then posters can ask questions/post feedback/OP can post additional photos. Keeps it all out in the open. OP can change title status to sold. Would also mean that people could search for items, sellers etc.

Brilliant feedback thanks and that's an interesting idea about forum... we'll have a think about it!

[JessicaMumsnet]

@Tortoise

I used to use the for sale area a lot so sounds like a good idea. Agree there needs to be a location on the advert.

Thanks Tortoise yes location is a must (and searching)

[LilyBobtail]

This looks like a great idea.

Agree with ItsAllGoingToBeFine about comments under the images so public questions can be asked and answered. Is there the facility for adding multiple pictures and a date to show how old a listing is?

What happens when an item is sold? Is it removed or marked sold in some way?

[cozietoesie]

I have huge reservations about this. Mumsnet is big but it's no ebay and I suspect that if you make any sort of a go of this, then the site will find itself associated more with the things which go wrong than the things which go right. (Which is often the way of things, sadly, deal you with other MNers or no.)

You say 'Sorry, Mumsnet isn't able to accept responsibility for goods bought or sold, or for any part of the buying and selling process.' but that won't stop the complaints and problems reaching you - and hosting a selling platform without setting down any guidelines about eg allowed items, shipping, payment, receipt, 126 other things ....... is just asking for problems of one sort or another, both for you and for the MNers involved.

I'm not normally one to be negative but I'm negative about this. I think you'd be better advised to ramp up publicity for the existing arrangements (if you felt the need to do something) and leave MNers to their own devices on any transactions.

[JessicaMumsnet]

Hello cozietoesie, all valuable insights thank you.
You're right that transactions can be a tricky area and one we'd have to give a lot of thought to. We do currently have a couple of ways of buying/selling Local classifieds for e.g. and the for sale boards so this isn't an entirely new area but one we're interested in taking another look at.

We had a bit of feedback last year that more people might like to use Mumsnet to pass on items but perhaps not in the current guises so we knocked up a quick test prototype to put it to wider Mumsnet opinion and try to find out whether it's useful or indeed wanted.

[JessicaMumsnet]

@LilyBobtail

This looks like a great idea.

Agree with ItsAllGoingToBeFine about comments under the images so public questions can be asked and answered. Is there the facility for adding multiple pictures and a date to show how old a listing is?

What happens when an item is sold? Is it removed or marked sold in some way?

Thanks LilyBobtail we're taking notes!

Do you think you'd use something like this - assuming it had all those features and more besides?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Any possibility of trading things/swapping things as well as straight purchasing?

[wigglesrock]

It looks like the Netmums local selling pages which I've used to both buy and sell things quite successfully. Obviously like previous posters mentioned it would be easier if it was done on an area basis.

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

I would definitely use this. I find baby stuff very hard to sell even though it's cheaply priced and in good condition bit somewhere like Mimsnet where people tend to be parents and looking for what you're selling means it's more likely to sell, hopefully. I would definitely use it to look for stuff I need rather than trawl eBay. Yes definitely would need search facility and multiple photos allowed. Also probably not sales of loads of different items allowed in one listing, clothes, toys, washing machine, that kind of thing.

[JessicaMumsnet]

Thank you, that's good to know
The potential to give things away or swap is possible and something we could chat about if enough people thought it was useful?
thestylethatdecadesforgot If you had a great search option do you think you'd still find categories to separate items useful?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

If you had a great search option do you think you'd still find categories to separate items useful?

Yes. Search is good if you want a specific item e.g. " Ergo Baby Sling in Galaxy Gray"
Categories is good if you just want to browse. E.g. Baby transportation -> Slings -> Soft structured carriers

Different people like to search different ways. Imagine MN with no topics or no search facility.

The more I think about it the more I think copying MN structure is a good idea - that way you could watch items/ hide items you are not interested in etc without having to develop extra fancy twiddles. Just make it all a different colour so people k ow where they are.

[MollyAir]

Yes, please - give us an option of giving away stuff. Less risk of argy-bargy about that, anyways.

[Solo]

Oh goody! I use netmums to sell stuff and I absolutely hate netmums, but swallow it just because it's free to sell on, so having a similar thing here would be great!

[StampyIsMyBoyfriend]

Agree with cozie, sound like more trouble than it's worth. With eBay you have protection, but sadly there are con artists out there

[JessicaMumsnet]

Thank you all, this is really helpful to hear and lots of food for thought...

[durhamgirl]

I would if you could search by location. If there's no protection from MN against buying dodgy items I'd only buy where I could pick up, see the item then pay cash.