Why the classified price increase?

cambolt · 01-22-2012

Why has the price to place a classified ad increased from $5 to $7?
$5 was enough, with eBay listings now free, and most other forum's classifieds free, I think many people were already going elsewhere to sell.
Also, I listed a camera body and some film on here today, and would have been happy to pay $5 for the privilege. Because the combined price was over $100 I ended up buying two separate <$100 ads, so that's -$1 for you. It's now cheaper to even buy 3 <$100 ads instead of paying for one normal ad! What's going on? Most of us only list our stuff on here for the benefit of other members; it would in most cases be just as easy, and cheaper just to list on eBay or a photography forum with free classifieds (which also allow you to bump, which RFF's doesn't, meaning that a $7, 30 day ad is only any good for about a week)

Sorry about the rant - am I missing something? Is it just me?

f6andBthere · 01-22-2012

I didn't realise the ad price had gone from five to seven dollars ... I suppose someone has to pay for the new server!

I don't think seven dollars is a lot of money ... ten would make me stop and think though.

fergus · 01-22-2012

Ebay's isn't free - they still take the percentage of the selling price.

$5 was a good deal. $7 is still ok.

mugent · 01-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by fergus

Ebay's isn't free - they still take the percentage of the selling price.

$5 was a good deal. $7 is still ok.

Indeed, if you are selling an expensive item, this can be a lot of cash. Don't mind buying on eBay, but I rarely sell, just too expensive, it's a last resort.

jsrockit · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by fergus

Ebay's isn't free - they still take the percentage of the selling price.

$5 was a good deal. $7 is still ok.

Considering ebay takes 10% now... for anything over $70.00, $7.00 seems really good at RFF.

sanmich · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Considering ebay takes 10% now... for anything over $70.00, $7.00 seems really good at RFF.

With all respect, these are different deals.
On ebay you pay 10% of an actual sale, with a much larger audience (that may raise up the price, and maybe even cover for the fee)
Here, you can see lots of decently priced items not selling, and their fees is paid.
I think 7$ is too way too much, but I prefer selling here if I can, so I just put an add.
But the trial becomes too expensive on RFF, and I may go back to ebay for items that don't seem to sell.

jsrockit · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanmich

With all respect, these are different deals.
On ebay you pay 10% of an actual sale, with a much larger audience (that may raise up the price, and maybe even cover for the fee)
Here, you can see lots of decently priced items not selling, and their fees is paid.
I think 7$ is too way too much, but I prefer selling here if I can, so I just put an add.
But the trial becomes too expensive on RFF, and I may go back to ebay for items that don't seem to sell.

Yes, I understand that. But the fact remains that if you sell an in demand expensive item on RFF, it is a much much better deal than ebay. And, we are talking about $2.00... not much really.

gshybrid · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanmich

With all respect, these are different deals.
On ebay you pay 10% of an actual sale, with a much larger audience

I'm not sure about the larger audience... my current ad has over 700 views. Most of the RF stuff I've listed on Ebay has had fewer views. Plus everything I've ever listed on RFF has sold(at or about the asking price).

Paul T. · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Considering ebay takes 10% now... for anything over $70.00, $7.00 seems really good at RFF.

This.

I'm not one to applaud price increases... but considering I pay nothing to waste loads of quality time on rff, I think I can stand the extra $2. WHich pales in comparison to eBay's price hikes.

Benjamin Marks · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul T.

This.

I'm not one to applaud price increases... but considering I pay nothing to waste loads of quality time on rff, I think I can stand the extra $2. WHich pales in comparison to eBay's price hikes.

+1 . Absolutely right. Also, there is a reputational factor dealing with RFF sales. All of my transactions here (and I do mean ALL) have wound up being satisfactory. Not a coincidence, and worth a little something. Good cheap fun.

MCTuomey · 01-23-2012

I would prefer a 2-tier pricing approach:
1. fixed annual fee for classified posting for the higher volume sellers (say $30 per year)
2. low per ad fee for the occasional lister (say $2-3 per ad)

jasonrutter · 01-23-2012

If the slight increase on listing fees keep the lights on around here I'm ok with it. I would be even more ok if this price increase was to help get compatibility with some kind of mobile app for forums.

Ultimately I am far happier giving RFF my money than eBay any day.

shadowfox · 01-23-2012

There are items that will sell for more on ebay vs RFF
and vice-versa.

Use your judgment, be glad we still have choices.

huntjump · 01-23-2012

I wouldnt mind a "fredmiranda" style pricing system.

The 10% ebay number is a bit misleading, given the fact that the percentage is actually closer to 8.5% and must be factoring in paypal fees too to reach that number.

RFF is now $7 ad, no fees from RFF, but you still get hit with the 3.5% from paypal.

$7 listing + 3.5% (unless gift...in which buyer has no protection)
vs.
very cheap listing fee + ~8.5% (paypal + ebay fees).

Nice to have options indeed, sometimes it makes more sense to broaden your buyer market and get hit with the higher fees, sometimes it might be better to keep it in RFF.

jsrockit · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntjump

I wouldnt mind a "fredmiranda" style pricing system.

I would...

Oops, I'm sorry, ebay is 9%

Final value fees for auction-style format listings

Auction-style format listings
Total cost to buyer (less any sales tax)
Final value fee

(Based on the total amount of the sale, including the cost of the item, shipping, and any other fees a seller may charge, excluding any sales tax)

$0.01–$50.00 = 9.0% of the item's total cost to buyer with a maximum charge of $100.00.
$50.01–$1,000.00
$1,000.01 or more

David Murphy · 01-24-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntjump

...
The 10% ebay number is a bit misleading, given the fact that the percentage is actually closer to 8.5% and must be factoring in paypal fees too to reach that number. ...

It's closer to at least 11% with eBay and PayPal combined for items over about $100 on eBay. For items less than that the percentages can be much more. eBay is very expensive. Remember one is essentially forced to take PayPal if one sells on eBay, enhancing eBay's bottom line (eBay owns PayPal if you were not aware of that). eBay even charges final value and and PayPal fees on shipping charges. Their system encourages sellers to take a loss in shipping and forces sellers to assume all risk, even for fraud. I sell some on eBay, but I don't like it at all.

kdemas · 01-23-2012

I don't have a real issue with the increase. The new servers are much better and if a little more cashflow helps keep the place going I'm fine with it.

In addition, for most pricey items, it's still a bargain compared to eBay. YMMV.

CameraQuest · 01-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by cambolt

Why has the price to place a classified ad increased from $5 to $7?
$5 was enough, with eBay listings now free, and most other forum's classifieds free, I think many people were already going elsewhere to sell.
Also, I listed a camera body and some film on here today, and would have been happy to pay $5 for the privilege. Because the combined price was over $100 I ended up buying two separate <$100 ads, so that's -$1 for you. It's now cheaper to even buy 3 <$100 ads instead of paying for one normal ad! What's going on? Most of us only list our stuff on here for the benefit of other members; it would in most cases be just as easy, and cheaper just to list on eBay or a photography forum with free classifieds (which also allow you to bump, which RFF's doesn't, meaning that a $7, 30 day ad is only any good for about a week)

Sorry about the rant - am I missing something? Is it just me?

The $2 fee increase is necessary to pay for the new servers, which came in higher than first anticipated. I think its a small price to pay for having a much faster and more reliable site.

Another possibility is having membership fees like most other large photo forums. For the people who want to load large pics and have large galleries, that might be the way to go.

Stephen

shadowfox · 01-24-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by CameraQuest

The $2 fee increase is necessary to pay for the new servers, which came in higher than first anticipated. I think its a small price to pay for having a much faster and more reliable site.

Another possibility is having membership fees like most other large photo forums. For the people who want to load large pics and have large galleries, that might be the way to go.

Stephen

Yes, people easily forgot that bandwidth and reliable servers are not free.
$2 fee increase per ad is very justifiable.

I'm surprised that quite a few members has a lopsided view on what they get vs what they have to pay.

I do not like APUG or Fred Miranda because of their subscription only policies.

back alley · 01-24-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowfox

Yes, people easily forgot that bandwidth and reliable servers are not free.
$2 fee increase per ad is very justifiable.

I'm surprised that quite a few members has a lopsided view on what they get vs what they have to pay.
I do not like APUG or Fred Miranda because of their subscription only policies.

some people have a larger sense of entitlement...

gliderbee · 01-24-2012

I can live with $7, but I just bought an extra two weeks, and the ad is not bumped to the top of the list.

I think that would be the least one can expect, otherwise, in the future, I'll just make a "new" ad by copying and pasting from the old one.

Stefan.

gdi · 01-24-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by back alley

some people have a larger sense of entitlement...

Yeah! I say raise the price to $15! Any price is a steal.

huntjump · 01-23-2012

^^hah fair enough.

I dont really care THAT much either way, if the fees help RFF than im all for it. The servers run a lot cleaner/faster.

chris00nj · 01-23-2012

RFF beats ebay in almost every instance

Cost of Fixed Price Ad (assuming the item sells)
$0-$28 Ebay is cheaper
$29-$100 RFF is cheaper
$100-$120 Ebay is cheaper
$120 and up RFF is cheaper.

RFF is very low cost if the item is expensive and definitely worth the risk the item won't sell. If you sell something $800 on Ebay, they will take $41.50 (fixed price) or $72 if it is an auction. Here it is $7.

People have to do the math themselves, but at least here you know that the money is going to a worthy cause. The only thing I have found difficult here is when I want to sell very low value items.

ampguy · 01-23-2012

I think there should be 2 tiers:

1. Leica Users Classifieds - these ads are going to sell high value items. Ads are $20 per ad. $20 is a drop in the bucket for selling Leica priced items.

2. Non-Leica Classifieds - these folks are more value conscious, and will be selling and buying Bessas, and CV lens and similar value conscious products. Stay at $5/ad.

Saves time for readers as well. Most readers know if they are looking for Leica gear or non Leica gear, but can still browse all if they like.

How does that sound?