Would You? - Site Launched!

[Fishkeeper2004]

Would you use an auction forum to buy and sell fish products, and fish livestock? It will be a setup just like ebay, with a feedback system, and payments can be made via paypal, cheques, cash etc. Just checking to see what people think of the idea, everything would be free to use on the website, meaning you can list items for no charge at all, and then people can bid on your items just like ebay.

This auction site would be just for fish equipment, along with fish sales, such as tropical fish etc. Please post below what you think to the idea, as I am getting the auction script but was just wondering whether anyone would actually use this system?

Thanks for your time to read this, and I hope you can give your input below..

 

[Bloo]

Something like Aqua Auction ?

 

[CatLover]

I would use one to buy hardware and the such, but I personally am against shipping live fish through the mail, so I wouldn't bid on fish unless they were within driving distance so I could pick them up.

Not to put your idea down, it is a nice one, but it'll be VERY hard to attract any business because of Aquabid. They have millions of things on there including live fish, hardware of all sorts, food, cultures, aquariums, etc. Aquabid is exactly what your idea is, and thousands of people already use it and are happy with it, plus it's well known. Good luck, though!

 

[Bloo]

Not to put your idea down, it is a nice one, but it'll be VERY hard to attract any business because of Aquabid.

Aquabid is in the USA - Fishkeeper2004 is in the UK no competition with Aquabid whatsoever.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Yes, I would be Uk based meaning it would surely attract the british users? And yes, I am sure most people would be happy for you to collect in person so it shouldn't be a problem - as I am against shipping live fish too.

 

[modernhamlet]

I would use one to buy hardware and the such, but I personally am against shipping live fish through the mail, so I wouldn't bid on fish unless they were within driving distance so I could pick them up.

How do you think fish stores get their fish?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

I would use one to buy hardware and the such, but I personally am against shipping live fish through the mail, so I wouldn't bid on fish unless they were within driving distance so I could pick them up.

How do you think fish stores get their fish?

Thats a valid point, but they buy from professional sources dont they to maximise the success rate while the fish are in transit? As for other members, they may not want other fishkeepers sending fish via shipping/courier, but I see both sides to the debate.

At the end of the day, you will always have some people who are happy with shipping live fish, and others that are not and that would only collect the fish in person.

 

[modernhamlet]

Thats a valid point, but they buy from professional sources dont they to maximise the success rate while the fish are in transit? As for other members, they may not want other fishkeepers sending fish via shipping/courier, but I see both sides to the debate.

At the end of the day, you will always have some people who are happy with shipping live fish, and others that are not and that would only collect the fish in person.

I can understand not wanting some joe shmoe to ship you fish, but there are a lot of professionals and expert amatuers out there that ship fish to individuals and know how to do it right. Most of the people on auction forums (like Aquabid) are professionals or experts who have the equipment and know how to ship fish. Otherwise, they would very quickly lose money and business due to high losses.

Sorry to say it, but the death rates for fish shipped to LFS's are pretty high. I would guess they are substantially higher than smaller, more cared for individual shipments. The shipper and the fish stores basically rely on volume to make up for the losses and pass the costs on to the consumer.

Sure there are two sides to the debate, but in this case one of them is wrong. I've yet to hear a rational argument from the other side. There are people who don't believe in cycling either, but we don't have to accept they have a valid opinion on the matter either.

Sorry, feeling cranky and self-righteous today...

peace,

mh

 

[Jules H-T]

Your right about the bulk livestock shipping mh, but that will be the case whether it's to a lfs or an auction house warehouse. Avoiding another leg of posting avoids fish being posted more than they already are.

So it is a valid and effective policy to only pick fish up personally.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Well, with that settled, can we get some more opinions on whether they would actually use this auction system to buy and sell fish products and livestock? (With the livestock having an option of collecting them in person.)

 

[Jules H-T]

Sorry Fishkeeper. In theory it's great, but you may have difficulties getting it off the ground. You'll need lots of listings for people to repeat visit, and you'll need lots of visitors for things to sell at a decent price. Bit of a catch 22.

How are you expecting to cover running costs (and ultimately make a profit)? Sponsorship will be nigh on impossible to get without decent hit volumes.

That's not to say it won't work- ebay started like that, but expect a long hard slog. Good luck if you go for it!

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

I have already contacted several hosting websites which have agreed to give me free hosting in exchange for me displaying there small banner on my homepage. As for the domain, someone has given me that and it doesn't need renewing for two years.

So, there will be very few costs. And also, we are going to offer people to list their items free of charge, to get the system off the ground. And, we will be advertising on several fish websites AND forums to gain hits to our site.

 

[Bloo]

We I suggest you look at the Aquatic Auction link I gave you. That's fairly new too (a few months as far as you know) so you can certainly get some ideas from there and check out how they are doing things

 

[jungle king]

It would be cool but like e-bay some of the thing I like and want are only in england and only colect in person. Missed out on a cool big tank cause o that

 

[debiasir]

i would def use it for foods, hardware and accesories rather than a shop just because of the ease. but not fish (prefer seeing the fish face to face before i buy)