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Message board tweaks
Back in October 2009, we made some changes to the Trade Me message board including a comprehensive revamp of the way the message board looked, and the addition of a search function. Now, a couple of years later, we are making some further changes to this busy part of the site where more than 25,000 messages are posted every single day.
The main changes we are making today and why are as follows:
- Restricting message board access and activity to members who are logged-in: this reflects the fact the message board is there for the Trade Me community, not every man and his dog. There is an element of ‘back to the future’ about this change as this is how the message board originally operated; More...
Christchurch Earthquake Support site back up
Back on 23 February, we switched on a dedicated Christchurch Earthquake Support website. This gave people a chance to help out and also take up offers of help after the 22 February earthquake. It was totally free.
We thought it was coming to an end of its useful life, and we were in the process of dialling it down. However, since the events of yesterday we've had lots of enquiries from members keen to help so we reinstated it today. We hope people find it useful.
The QuakeMates site for Aucklanders to help out Canterbury rugby fans with "in-home" accommodation during the Rugby World Cup is up and running too. More...
List at $1 reserve and get free Gallery!
List any general items auction before midnight 23 June with $1 as the start and reserve price, and you’ll pay nothing for Gallery*.
With Gallery, your main photo will appear in search results and you’ll get more views on your auction.
The Trade Me search
From time-to-time, we get asked about the factors taken into consideration when Trade Me displays members’ search results. We figure if we provide people with some pointers on this, it will encourage sellers to make great listings for buyers, so here goes.
Our search takes a few things into consideration, including:
- placement of words that match the search term(s)
- buyer activity on the listing: for example the number of views and the number of bids
- whether the listing has the Gallery feature selected, because it makes for a better browsing experience for buyers
So, to optimise your position in our search results:
- think carefully about the title of your listing, and start it with the words people are most likely to use when they're searching for your product
- maximise activity on your listings by having a good title/photos/description, and consider opting for a lower reserve (ideally $1)
- promote your listing: for example add Gallery
Changes to Pay Now
Last week we made some improvements to our Pay Now credit card payments service and these should make transactions safer for both card holders and sellers. Our policing team works 24/7 keeping an eye on these payments and if something on our radar looks suspicious Trade Me will take steps to protect members e.g. hold a payment, reverse a charge, etc.
The main change is around notification. If we're in the process of confirming a payment, both the buyer's and seller's My Trade Me page will now show 'Payment Held' and we'll send you both an email. You can click the 'Payment Held' link for more information. We'll then send you another email when we're happy with the payment, or if we’ve had to cancel it.
Note that until last week, there was no notification on your my Trade Me page if a payment was being investigated. More...
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