www.bananas4free.co.nz - Here we go again?

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Forums › Startups › www.bananas4free.co.nz - Here we go again?

DonGould

3892 posts

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#112336 5-Dec-2012 13:56

http://www.bananas4free.co.nz/index.php

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/technology/8036251/New-online-trade-site-free-and-fruity

"Ask how the company will make money when it is offering so much for free,..."

Is it any wonder that the MSD network is so insecure or ACC are sending client details in emails or paying teachers is outsourced to Australia, when there are just so many talented people building auction sites rather than working for the state?

Wheedle... ListTradeSell... bananas4free... the list goes on. It seems everyone wants a slice of the $75 million dollar TradeMe space.

How does this one stack up?

Is it secure?

Is it another vacuum for user names and passwords or have people got the message not to use the same password on two sites now?

Colours don't seem so bad.

Logging on with facebook seems like and easy way to side step the registration process, but is this safe?

Seems to allow for PayPal integration as well, handy, again safe?

Thoughts?

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

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1539 posts

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#727443 5-Dec-2012 14:22

By the looks of the Source Code, This one is based on http://geodesicsolutions.com/ Geo Auctions Software with a customised template.

Much like the other sites I can't see them being a serious competitor to trademe with no real point of difference other than being free. Just look at Sella.co.nz

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gzt

15184 posts

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#727448 5-Dec-2012 14:28

I had a quick look only. Unlike some of the others it does not emulate the TradeMe model. The chat features and communication facilitation are a genuine difference. TradeMe's public only question and answer model will tend to provide more information to market participants. As a buyer I like the idea of chat being available for direct communication with the seller if I need it. As a seller that could be annoying real fast but it probably isn't compulsory.

[Edit: If I was selling items with a small market and high value I think I would appreciate more the possibilities for real time communication]

davidcole

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#727452 5-Dec-2012 14:39

It has a wanted to buy feature as well doesn't it?

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mattwnz

19374 posts

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#727455 5-Dec-2012 14:49

I think the graphics look a bit amateurish, and looks like it uses quite a lot of stock images. Colour scheme first reminded me of the yellow pages. If it is built on 'off the shelf 'software, then it is likely to be pretty secure and tested.

I see that list trade one is now offering a 1 million dollar prize to paying subscribers..

ajobbins

5050 posts

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#727456 5-Dec-2012 14:51

Yawn

Twitter: ajobbins

stevenz

2800 posts

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#727472 5-Dec-2012 15:35

One would hope that all the recent "competition" would encourage TM to innovate a bit more, some parts of their system, such as the search function, could use some work.

@KnightNZ

MikeB4

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#727475 5-Dec-2012 15:52

It is little wonder that start ups so often fail in NZ, the land of the great knocker

mattwnz

19374 posts

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#727492 5-Dec-2012 16:15

KiwiNZ: It is little wonder that start ups so often fail in NZ, the land of the great knocker

It is more constructive criticism. But that definitely isn't the reason why many startups fail, it is because they don't have a good business model, and a way to monetize their business. Trademe did start out free themsleves, and then started charging as they got more customers. If you want to read a positive story about this read www.aardvark.co.nz and some of the features it has. It is good that it does have a wanted to buy section which tradem is definitely lacking, and I hope that it will succeed. But it also does have concerns over how they will actually make money to keep it running, as they aren't charging to use it.

RedJungle

Phil Gale
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#727495 5-Dec-2012 16:23

stevenz: One would hope that all the recent "competition" would encourage TM to innovate a bit more, some parts of their system, such as the search function, could use some work.

I'd agree if any of them had been credible ;)

farcus

1455 posts

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#727500 5-Dec-2012 16:34

when I try to access http://www.bananas4free.co.nz/index.php it redirects me to this site

http://www.lolking.net/summoner/euw/21887981

I'm outside of NZ so perhaps they have some kind of geoblocking going on.

mattRSK

819 posts

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#727537 5-Dec-2012 17:40

I kind of like the look of this site.

bananas4free

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bananas4free

#727584 5-Dec-2012 18:59

So many questions I see :)

@Farcus Yes we have programmed custom software to geoblock if your not from NZ. We have done this to protect the our members the best we can. Nothing is 100% of coarse but its a step in the right direction we feel.

@Dongould - Yes it is very secure when you place ads you will notice it will take you into https secure socket layer.
All passwords are encrypted not even we can see them. We can change the password but we can not see the password people put in. This just makes sense to us.

Yup we use facebooks API and follow all the rules. So logging in with facebook is perfectly secure.

Paypal is quite interesting actually. You could sell your product and during the place ad process enter your paypal email nothing more. When a client buys one of your items we simply send them to paypal. With the item title and description. So we have no information what so ever other then your paypal email which in most cases is a person email any how.

@boby55 its actually alot more then geodesic out of the box. It is extremely customized.

@gzt We are not emulating anyone. We are doing our own thing. The chat took quite some time to work in. We can turn on chat where anyone on the site can interact and chat with each other. Right now we have it off. So people contact each other directly on products they offer.

@davidcole yes we offer a WANTED TO BUY section.

@mattwnz ahhhhhh you do not like our graphics. :( We actually had special costumes made with fans in them to run all over town and just be crazy. See our Costumes here.

@ajobbins says yawn.... I can relate with that with all the work we have done we are all very tired. :)

@stevenz yes I could not agree with you more. The search function needs more work which will be coming. Little by little it will come together.

@KiwiNZ
@mattwnz We LOVE constructive criticism the more the better. We do have one amazing business model but I can not tell you that would be giving away top secrets. :)

@mattRSK ahhhh why thank you we like the look too :)

We never gave some grand announcement we are out. We see no reason to yell from the heavens. We would rather our clients (users) do that for us. Right now we are watching server speeds and keeping and eye on she is doing. We have had a couple hiccups but nothing major. We have fixed. We also have many items on the list we want to add in over the next few months.

We appreciate any INPUT any of you or anyone else has. Your emails will not go ignored so please do not be afraid to send us email. My links above might not work being this is my first post. But I am sure you google some keywords you can find it.

I am but 1 of the many programmers. :)

Hope you all enjoy the site.

mattRSK

819 posts

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#727612 5-Dec-2012 20:04

I've listed something on there. Loads of useful features, works well on the ipad. The only thing I don't like so far is that I couldn't create a unique username when logging in with Facebook, it takes your Facebook username.

mattRSK

819 posts

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#727613 5-Dec-2012 20:04

I especially like the you tube option :)

gzt

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#727623 5-Dec-2012 20:45

Inspired by mattrsk, I'm going to list a few items. Just started the process.

Terms and conditions: http://www.bananas4free.co.nz/index.php?a=28&b=140

I listed a few items on Sella last week. The result surprised me. One specialist item was paid for and gone in 24 hours. That must have been luck because the rest are getting no hits at all if the sella page hit counter is correct.

It's early days for bananas but it will be interesting to see them get started. For the average user they are providing more innovation than any other platform so far.

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