A QUESTION FOR KARL?

[smitcompton]

HI,

Honestly Karl. I,was browsing Loupe Troop when an idea occurred to me. Since you are a computer guy, why don't you construct a website that members can sell their used personal jewelry on, much like loupetroop, but with rules that are followed. I find LT useless, whereas in the beginning I purchased items. There are so many professional vendors that it is no longer interesting to me. Perhaps you could charge a nominal fee to list for pricescope vendors, have a separate section for professional vendors, at a higher listing charge. and get paid for ads, being placed by google.

I read that employment was an issue you had and you could turn this idea into gold. If you do this, please no moissonitte, created, or a separate section. This might work. I hate loupe and DB. No order there. Think about it. We do need a second hand outlet.

Sincerely,
Annette

 

[Karl_K]

Hi, Annette

First off, thank you so much for thinking of me.

I looked into it at one time.
The problem is that it quickly turns into a full time job without the income to make it a full time job.
That is more than likely what is happening with LT, they find by allowing the mass listings the traffic goes up and the money goes up closer to sustainable levels.
You can't make a living with a few hundred listing a month but the time needed isn't all that different with a few hundred listings vs a few thousand.

I would not target the PS vendors and compete with PS so that revenue steam is out.
There is only so much advertising $$ available and targeting them would draw from PS.
I want PS around another 20 years+

I think it would be a lot of fun but would also be a lot of work and hard to make a buck.
I also just started with DBL.
I dont want to say never because who knows what the future holds, but at this time I dont see it.

Thank you so much for thinking of me!!!!

Karl

 

[smitcompton]

I want to correct one thing. I made an error in writing PS vendors when I meant PS sellers. No, you couldn't do PS vendors.
I'm wondering out loud if for example you partnered with someone like Gypsy and asked for volunteers to help, somewhat like PS. I would donate an hour or two of my time per week to do something for free. Id rather see a good secondhand jewelry website than what we have. LT doesn't monitor at all. I'm going to keep thinking and maybe the smart men and women here will read this and have other ideas to make this happen for you.

Annette.

 

[monarch64]

Who would pay for him to build/program the site in the first place? That's a time intensive undertaking and most programmers I know ask for $75 (low end) and up an hour. Correct me Karl, but I imagine it would take you somewhere between 10-20 hours to build a site? Based on previous work I've done in helping small businesses with their websites and hosting them on private servers I also know it's a round the clock job for those behind the scenes. And by those behind the scenes I mean actual skilled individuals who know how to keep things up and running tech-wise. What if the site gets hacked? Would Karl want to be responsible for the fallout from that? I think it's asking a lot of a PS member to build a better website because some are not happy with the user-friendliness of LT...

 

[Karl_K]

A good coder could write the code for a fairly simple listing site in a couple work days so yea 10-20 and $75 a hour is a good average.
However all the other work that goes into it can and will take weeks.
Writing the code is the quick part.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

I saw my thoughts on Loupetroop as a possible opportunity for Karl who has been unemployed until recently. I thought that was what Karl did--build websites. If you are building one for yourself, I didn't think the thought was over the top. I assure you that I know I don't have to go to LT, which I now rarely do. The possibility may be too hard for you to see him doing it, but Karl has commented he has given it some thought.

Annette

 

[Karl_K]

Hi Annette,
I really do appropriate the thought and the shout out.
There is nothing wrong with exploring ideas and who knows what the future holds.

Karl

 

[monarch64]

Sorry Karl and Annette if others shouldn’t reply here—Annette, I get the feeling that you’d rather I hadn’t.

Number 1, I just didn’t think it was right to publicly call upon another member to take it upon her/himself to build something in their spare time that suited everyone else’s whim but paid the party doing all the work absolutely nothing.

Number 2. I don’t think the OP (Annette/Smitcompton) actually knows how any of this works nor what’s involved to keep all those in the secondhand market feeling good about what websites the come across and stick with while they’re undercutting people who’ve fallen on hard times or those who are trying to keep the roof over their heads or those who are helping loved ones with medical bills.

Number 3. What sort of skill do you intend, or think others would intend to bring to the voluntary table, exactly?
Would you write copy for each page? ($$typical charge?)
Would you constantly keep up with the influx of listings?
Would you assist/be the helpline around the clock for those who aren’t sure how to list their item?
Would you pick up the phone in the middle of the night and agree to fix a glitch right then?


Straaci would you mind stepping in here? I’m probably being less diplomatic than I intend. You’re far better at this than me.

 

[Karl_K]

@monarch64
Anyone who wants can post in this thread with in the rules of the board as far as im concerned.
I get approached with stuff like this both online and in person all the time.
I do not expect everyone to know what is involved and do appreciate the thoughts.
It does not bother me at all and on occasion I have got some good ideas from them.
I do not mind talking about it with anyone who is interested.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

Monarch, my thoughts came from knowing how loupetroop was started. PS ers had the same complaint about Diamond Bistro. A pricescoper replied that she had asked her husband if he would build another website where pricescopers could sell their jewelry. He said he would, but he would not monitor it or take care of it. Recently some pricescopers contacted the individual to ask them to limit the number of items professional vendors could list and they agreed to do that. This couple do not monitor and do not think of this as a full time job. They wanted to be helpful to pricescopers.

You are certainly right in that I do not know how to do this myself or what it may entail. Its your put down of the idea that was annoying. Since so many websites are constructed and LT was just a thought on someones part, I put the idea forward for Karl. It may not be for him and that of course is his decision.

Annette