Retail suicide?

[Waikato Yamaha]

Would turning your back on TradeMe as a marketing/advertising tool be retail suicide?

[ynot slow]

Nope,if you have a good website and suchlike,the savings on the fees means you can add to discount,much like other outlets.

[Indiana_Jones]

I wouldn't see it as suicide. Sure you may lose some potential costumers granted.

Depends what you're selling. If it's a 'speciality' product, the chances are the buyers are going to look elsewhere apart from trademe.

Trademe is a first port of call for a lot of people, but as crazy as it sounds, people still browse other sites, open up the yellow pages and even use trade and exchange! :shit:

-Indy

[Indiana_Jones]

Nope,if you have a good website and suchlike,the savings on the fees means you can add to discount,much like other outlets.

Agree with the good website comment.

I hate going to a poorly layout and poorly updated website. Most people just go on to the next one if they're only interested in online shopping.

-Indy

[george formby]

Nope,if you have a good website and suchlike,the savings on the fees means you can add to discount,much like other outlets.

+1. I check out websites first, trade me second.

[imdying]

Would turning your back on TradeMe as a marketing/advertising tool be retail suicide?What are you offering as an alternative?

[neels]

Not if you're selling the same thing for the same price elsewhere.

My preference is to price it from a shop and then have a quick look on trademe, if the shop price is near enough (particularly when you factor in freight on trademe) I prefer to communicate face to face with an actual person, and if you're lucky you might get some useful info/advice at the same time.

[YellowDog]

Many go to Trademe for convenience and pay way over the odds.

It's not just fat lazy bastards, some live too far from retail outlets and also just don't trust the internet.

Generally speaking Trademe is a trusted brand.

Some sellers even buy cheap crap from the Warehouse and also Mitre 10 and make a profit on Trademe.

The assumption that everything on Trademe is a bargain is far from the actual situation. :no:

A retailer can run a store, run a website, and also have a presence on Trademe to cover all the bases.

The retail sector is extremely tough and to willfully overlook such a potential cash cow would be foolish.

Considering the huge number of potential buyers Trademe sells to, over the entire country - IMO - Not to cover the Trademe base may well prove to be retail suicide for some :yes:

[Maha]

How did retailers get on before Trademe?

[Scuba_Steve]

I still think of tradeMe as it should be, a 2nd hand trader. So when I go there, it's for "cheap".
I know since Fairfax brought them they've "sold out", got money hungry etc & now let everyone trade old or new, big company or small individual for ever increasing prices, but I still view it as some where I go to try & get cheap 2nd hand gear. When it comes to new I will still try website/store 1st, so I'd say turning your back on Google would be bigger suicide that TradeMe by far:yes:

[oneofsix]

hardly ever use Trademe, still think of it as 2nd hand goods and most of those over priced. I do use the internet and Google heaps.
A good web site, not over fancy but easy to navigate, don't get your marketing/sale guys only to ok it ask your mechanics etc.

[Smifffy]

Would turning your back on TradeMe as a marketing/advertising tool be retail suicide?

First up: Retail suicide would be making business decisions based on the opinions of those on KB.

Having said that, here's my opinion :facepalm:
(following questions are rhetorical)
First of all, why do you ask? Is it due to 1 or 2 deals gone sour?

IMO you need to do some analysis. What is the value that you currently get out of trademe?


How many sales do you make on TM?
How much time does it take up?
What else could you do with that time?
How much does each sale cost, considering time?
What percentage of overall sales come from TM?
Is there 'intangible' value in having a TM presence? EG branding, think pageviews and watchlist counts, plenty of metrics here too.
Do you have an alternative that will bring more value?


I live in the Waikato, and used to hear your ads regularly on Hauraki, and thought you had a pretty good name. I don't listen to Hauraki anymore, since they changed their freq, and I can't get them clearly here, so don't know if you still advertise.

I will say though, that prior to the GFC, when I was shopping around for a bike I came into your store. It seemed like nobody in the store wanted to know me, and I browsed a bit and left without speaking to anyone. IMO that was retail suicide. Luckily at that time it was typical for all but one of the bike shops in the Tron that I visited. Since the GFC, many of the shops in the Tron have smartened up their act with regard to customer service. There is still one of your competitors however that I will likely not ever visit again.

Good luck with your decision.

[Beren]

Almost certainly not, there are many more businesses that don't use trademe than do.

I guess it depends largely on what sector you are selling in though and how large a portion of the market Trademe has in a particular sector. Though even if a particular channel has 90%+ of a sector there must still be a niche...

Trademe is a pretty expensive way to sell once you are talking about large volumes - so if you can offer a larger discount by getting people to your own website and promote it somewhere like... here for instance, you would potentially make more profit and give the customer a cheaper price.

[quickbuck]

Would turning your back on TradeMe as a marketing/advertising tool be retail suicide?

Interesting question....
If it is another "Base" to cover, then I would take a guess, that it isn't really the biggest, or best base.
As a consumer, TM is good for things that I can't be bothered going to look at in the shop, or stuff that takes a few days to get in.
Also they are items that I don't need/ want to try on for size.....

So for Helmets (only ever buy new, and well fitting), Gloves, jackets, trousers, boots etc. I will always buy for the retail store.
Things like Knee Sliders, leavers, wheels, are bought via TM.... Actually, I can't think of anything else I have bought re motorcycling from TM.

The way I see it is, if I want to save a few $ from buying from the Internet, then best I don't moan when my favourite bike shop shuts it's doors.

So, all that said, I suggest the Show Room is where MOST of the energy goes to. Your own Web Site second (As pointed out, Good!). Somebody else's Web Site.... Only if you have the energy/ resources.

[Maha]

First up: Retail suicide would be making business decisions based on the opinions of those on KB.


:clap: Nothing else need be said...

[oneofsix]

:clap: Nothing else need be said...

+1 but still he had to :yes: and a quite well reasoned reply it was too.

[Waikato Yamaha]

From a cost point of view TradeMe listing is done via a wholesale side. 75 lisitings cost $685 + GST per month. Compared to print media (News Papers etc) its cost effective.

My main angle was if there were no new Yamaha's at all on Trademe or Motorcycle trader or any other website other than Yamaha Nz and local dealer sites do you think that Yamaha market share would fall?

[Maha]

+1 but still he had to :yes: and a quite well reasoned reply it was too.

The OP has even answered his own question by voting Yes :blink:....I must now ask..''why the poll''?:facepalm:

[Waikato Yamaha]

The OP has even answered his own question by voting Yes :blink:....I must now ask..''why the poll''?:facepalm:

Because a poll shows everyones opinion. Well thats the aim. Mine included.

[oneofsix]

From a cost point of view TradeMe listing is done via a wholesale side. 75 lisitings cost $685 + GST per month. Compared to print media (News Papers etc) its cost effective.

My main angle was if there were no new Yamaha's at all on Trademe or Motorcycle trader or any other website other than Yamaha Nz and local dealer sites do you think that Yamaha market share would fall?

when you put it like that the answer is, NO. People who go to Trademe are more likely to be looking for 2nd hand, know the type or brand of bike they want. They will already know Yamaha as a brand and more likely to use the retail or Yamaha NZ website to get details on the bike. Could say i bought my last bike off the web, I went to the importers site to check features and decide what I wanted and then around the retailers in the lower North Island to find the one that had what I wanted and what they were charging (this is where your sites usability plays a big part).

[Smifffy]

From a cost point of view TradeMe listing is done via a wholesale side. 75 lisitings cost $685 + GST per month. Compared to print media (News Papers etc) its cost effective.

My main angle was if there were no new Yamaha's at all on Trademe or Motorcycle trader or any other website other than Yamaha Nz and local dealer sites do you think that Yamaha market share would fall?

I see this as a slightly different question, by retail I thought you meant mainly gear & accessories.

For bike sales, I would'nt consider Trademe for a new bike. I would def consider it for used. For MC trader, I think you would have to evaluate the value as I posted earlier for TM.

If I want a brand spanking bike, I will go to the importer websites, the international and local press for reviews of the bike I am interested in, probably poll here for opinions from people whose opinion I value, and then rock on down to my official marque dealer of choice with the expectation that they will sort me out. I would likely go to trademe, mc trader and other local dealer sites etc to confirm the price that I would be prepared to pay.

I've only ever bought one brand spanking bike, I'd like another, but I'm not sure it will ever happen again. Maybe.

[Maha]

Because a poll shows everyones opinion. Well thats the aim. Mine included.

Everyones opinion that votes.... yes fair enough...
That will end up being a mere snipet of your target market surely?
A false result which ever way you look at it.
The question should have been..
'How Many of You Have Purchased a Motorbike via Trademe'
At least then you would have received a true account of who has and most likely will continue to do so.
I sincerely hope you dont make a business call from the results of this poll.

[Headbanger]

The only time I used Trademe when purchasing a new bike I looked simply to see which shops had the bike I wanted listed, then I visited or rang them.

If they hadn't been listed on Trademe I would have just rang 2 or 3 for a price comparison.

That aside, I wouldn't buy a Yamaha.

Nothing personal.

[bogan]

I still think of tradeMe as it should be, a 2nd hand trader. So when I go there, it's for "cheap".
I know since Fairfax brought them they've "sold out", got money hungry etc & now let everyone trade old or new, big company or small individual for ever increasing prices, but I still view it as some where I go to try & get cheap 2nd hand gear. When it comes to new I will still try website/store 1st, so I'd say turning your back on Google would be bigger suicide that TradeMe by far:yes:

This is how I see it too, I don't go to trademe expecting the service backup etc that you get from shops. I would also say it's easier for the OP to answer than us too, surely they know how much revenue is now generated from TM?

[wysper]

My understanding was that alot of businesses used it as advertising more than selling.

Sales were a bonus. (Although given success fees that may not be much of a bonus)

I understood their reasoning to be that Trademe was one of NZ's biggest shop windows and worked well to get their product/service/brand in front of the shopping public of NZ.

[Quasievil]

I have been in Business for about 7 years and I rarely use trademe, I see it as the place to go for cheap stuff, I prefer not associated my brand with "cheap stuff" so I avoid it.
I certainly don't need trademe and wont get into it in a heavy way to be only lost amongst the thousands of other listings.
I invested my money in a new website which is one of the best around (I think) from that I can use it as a great networking/marketing tool

[White trash]

It's certainly a tough one. It's a great medium to project your current new stock and also what demo models you may now be selling.

What will be pissing some Yamaha dealers off, is other dealers trying to dump old stock and advertising their bikes below cost on Trademe, effectively driving potential customers out of area to get the cheaper price. The only real way to stop this happening, is obviously to say "No more Trade-Me advertising boys and girls"

[Waikato Yamaha]

Thanks everyone for your feedback on this poll it has been very helpfull.

Thanks again James.

[Waikato Yamaha]

It's certainly a tough one. It's a great medium to project your current new stock and also what demo models you may now be selling.

What will be pissing some Yamaha dealers off, is other dealers trying to dump old stock and advertising their bikes below cost on Trademe, effectively driving potential customers out of area to get the cheaper price. The only real way to stop this happening, is obviously to say "No more Trade-Me advertising boys and girls"

You obviously know what I am refering too.

[Ender EnZed]

My main angle was if there were no new Yamaha's at all on Trademe or Motorcycle trader or any other website other than Yamaha Nz and local dealer sites do you think that Yamaha market share would fall?

Probably not by much. No one is going to buy a GSXR1000 instead of an R1 because they didn't know they had the choice.

However, you don't have too read to many posts by noobs on here to realise that there are people that have money and want to buy a bike but know nothing about anything. Having a look on Trademe is a very obvious place to start, far more so than coming to KB to ask advice. I'd be very surprised if not one person that's bought a new Scorpio saw it for the first time on Trademe.

[Maha]

What will be pissing some Yamaha dealers off, is other dealers trying to dump old stock and advertising their bikes below cost on Trademe, effectively driving potential customers out of area to get the cheaper price.

What the hell is wrong with that?
It will always be a buyers market and it is up to the individual dealer to get with the programme and make the sale no matter what I would have thought?

If I were to walk into your store and offered you $15K cash on a bike that I wanted, and it was on the floor @ $15,995...you would take my money right?

[White trash]

What the hell is wrong with that?
It will always be a buyers market and it is up to the individual dealer to get with the programme and make the sale no matter what I would have thought?

If I were to walk into your store and offered you $15K cash on a bike that I wanted, and it was on the floor @ $15,995...you would take my money right?

I personally see nothing wrong with it Mark. And you don't need Trademe to walk into my shop and offer me money either :)

But seriously, I can't say yes or no because there's so many variables in that equation. For example, bike might be used, just in and already priced better than any other advertised. Or it may owe more than $15k. Just don't know.

[Jantar]

If I was looking for a new Yamaha, then I wouldn't bother with Trade-Me. For a 2nd hand one, maybe.

For parts and accessories I got straignt to my local Suzuki dealer, but I also check out e-bay rather than Trade-Me.

In fact I hardly ever look at Trade-Me as I much prefer e-bay.

[Maha]

I personally see nothing wrong with it Mark. And you don't need Trademe to walk into my shop and offer me money either :)

But seriously, I can't say yes or no because there's so many variables in that equation. For example, bike might be used, just in and already priced better than any other advertised. Or it may owe more than $15k. Just don't know.

I personally feel that TM/Websites have their place within the bike market Jimmy.
IE: It will certainly increase the 'walk ins' surely..?

We recently spent $1600 on gear that we saw online.
Anne recently purchased a Bandit first seen on TM..(Colemans)
I bought my Honda (brand new) because of TM ...

TM maybe primarily 2nd hand sales, but if Brand new stuff is there to be seen also, that can only be a good thing in getting potential buyes into your shop.

[imdying]

if there were no new Yamaha's at all on Trademe or Motorcycle trader or any other website other than Yamaha Nz and local dealer sites do you think that Yamaha market share would fall?Yes it would fall.

[White trash]

I personally feel that TM/Websites have their place within the bike market Jimmy.
IE: It will certainly increase the 'walk ins' surely..?

We recently spent $1600 on gear that we saw online.
Anne recently purchased a Bandit first seen on TM..(Colemans)
I bought my Honda (brand new) because of TM ...

TM maybe primarily 2nd hand sales, but if Brand new stuff is there to be seen also, that can only be a good thing in getting potential buyes into your shop.

Yup. Zero argument from me on any of those points mate.

[Lula]

How did retailers get on before Trademe?

They used Motorcycle Trader.

Most dealers find it difficult to support the industry media now that all of their marketing/advertising budget is spent on TradeMe :facepalm:

The smart ones are not putting all their eggs in one basket and taking advantage of the package print and web making them stand out from the mass.

[Maha]

They used Motorcycle Trader.

Most dealers find it difficult to support the industry media now that all of their marketing/advertising budget is spent on TradeMe :facepalm:

The smart ones are not putting all their eggs in one basket and taking advantage of the package print and web making them stand out from the mass.

My question was rhetorical Lula but I agree with your answer.
Pre TM days there was a thing called Yellow Pages with the catch phrase ''Let your Fingers do the Walking''.
A small Yellow pages add use to cost me $1100 from memory (mid 1990's) and when it came time to renew, I said ''no thanks, I cant afford it''..and I couldn't. But they came back with '' Can you afford not to have it''?...I could see thier point but still opted not to renew for that year.
Did it do my business any halm?.. no not really.
The money talked about earlier is not alot to be honest if thats the only advertising that is done?

[tigertim20]

suicide No, Stupid? yes.
advertising is great on a local basis, but alot of people will happily buy from the other end of the country if a part is the right price, and or in stock.

Also, plenty of people own bikes, but arent really in a motorcycling circle, so would just go to TM for bits and pieces rather than know the best place to go otherwise

[ynot slow]

My old boss had the idea of print advertising of spending say 1 employees wages(at the time say $15-2000).This was in mid 90's when internet wasn't as prevalent as now,also used yellow pages.Basically he had contract weekly for provincial paper back page once a month,and local free rag weekly,with a back page once a month,since then with internet they still advertise on all media.

[St_Gabriel]

I will say though, that prior to the GFC, when I was shopping around for a bike I came into your store. It seemed like nobody in the store wanted to know me, and I browsed a bit and left without speaking to anyone. IMO that was retail suicide. Luckily at that time it was typical for all but one of the bike shops in the Tron that I visited. Since the GFC, many of the shops in the Tron have smartened up their act with regard to customer service. There is still one of your competitors however that I will likely not ever visit again.

Good luck with your decision.

Unfortunately I had an experience exactly the same but was in July/August 2010. Had the money in the bank (from insurance write off of previous bike) was looking for a new bike including all gear (helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and could have been talked into new boots). I went into the store and sat on a new (I think) XV250, waited a while and still wasnt even acknowledged, got off the bike, walked out of the store and have never been back.

[marty]

IMHO advertising brand new on TM is a waste of time. Those bikes are available on the manufacturer's website, and having stock pix on TM is pointless.

2nd hand though? Go for it. Make sure the pix are actually good quality though, and not just 1 or 2 of them. You get a 20 pix with a basic listing, so use them all.

[DMNTD]

It's certainly a tough one. It's a great medium to project your current new stock and also what demo models you may now be selling.

What will be pissing some Yamaha dealers off, is other dealers trying to dump old stock and advertising their bikes below cost on Trademe, effectively driving potential customers out of area to get the cheaper price. The only real way to stop this happening, is obviously to say "No more Trade-Me advertising boys and girls"

Personally I see TM as an essential tool for work on several levels.
"What did people do before TM?"...something different but that is in the past for the most part as we all know.
There's a lot I want to say re the whole other dealers advertising below RRP thing but would rather say off an open forum TBH.

PS...there are ways to minimise TM fees too :sunny:

[Swoop]

My vote is "no".

Having recently spent a little while tracking down an extremely common motorcycle part, tardme was sixth on the list of places to visit for availibility and pricing.

The sale went to a local bike company after looking at their own website and making a phone call.

[Zamiam]

Possibly suicide

If all you want to sell is new bikes at RRP then it would probably not make a lot of difference as generally who is going to buy out of town at the same price as they can get it locally.

For specials, used, accessories etc. then definitely would be suicide IMO not to use Trademe. I bought my bike new off the showroom floor but have shopped online (websites and Trademe) for a multitude of other items. I have bought quite a few used vehicles off Trademe and used it for price comparison and even just availability of new vehicles.

It todays market you need to reach as many people as possible - you need to commit your advertising spend where you get the best return.

[tri boy]

Trademe is probably a very good media for product/brand exposure.
If it is cost effective, then using it is a no brainer.
MHO

[jaffaonajappa]

As a consumer, TM is good for things that I can't be bothered going to look at in the shop, or stuff that takes a few days to get in.
Also they are items that I don't need/ want to try on for size.....


Perhaps over generalised a little...
Theres some awesome deals on TM. I went to Cnell and tried on a leather suit today, paid cash, walked out. I would not have visited that shop if I hadnt won an auction from them.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=381950467

Happy TM customer Riiiight here :)

[short-circuit]

Perhaps over generalised a little...
Theres some awesome deals on TM. I went to Cnell and tried on a leather suit today, paid cash, walked out. I would not have visited that shop if I hadnt won an auction from them.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=381950467

Happy TM customer Riiiight here :)

That shamelessly unproffessional, ethically redundant, obtuse tosspot Quasi obviously missed your post...hope he doesn't miss mine :corn:

[allycatz]

Ive bought a few things fom your shop via the net. I tend to buy from an actual shop rather than individuals obscure companies

[Quasievil]

That shamelessly unproffessional, ethically redundant, obtuse tosspot Quasi obviously missed your post...hope he doesn't miss mine :corn:

I miss nothing, the above probably buys cheap 10 year old tyres for track riding as well...... afterall cheap is as good as expensive isnt it ??

[jaffaonajappa]

I miss nothing, the above probably buys cheap 10 year old tyres for track riding as well...... afterall cheap is as good as expensive isnt it ??

Err no i dont.
And no, im not making any clains to the Quality of the product I bought. Why ya having a dig again?

My road gears dont zip together, and I want to go bucket racing. Top speed around 60kmh? slow falls in corners mostly. Cant see me needing a real set of gear, so Im farken happy with a $199 set.

So. Whats the go with old tyres?

[Jantar]

.....afterall cheap is as good as expensive isnt it ??
Sometimes it is. A new battery for my cell phone is $69.99 from Smith City, $49.99 off Trade Me, and $2.47 (including postage) from Ebay. In this case cheap is as good as expensive.

[Quasievil]

Err no i dont.
And no, im not making any clains to the Quality of the product I bought. Why ya having a dig again?

My road gears dont zip together, and I want to go bucket racing. Top speed around 60kmh? slow falls in corners mostly. Cant see me needing a real set of gear, so Im farken happy with a $199 set.

So. Whats the go with old tyres?

$199 are you serious ?

[Jantar]

... so Im farken happy with a $199 set.

....
Hell, that is cheap. Where can you get leathers for $199 a set?

[jaffaonajappa]

$199 are you serious ?

Have you just woken up?

[Ender EnZed]

$199 are you serious ?


Hell, that is cheap. Where can you get leathers for $199 a set?

Slightly further up this page.

[p.dath]

Would turning your back on TradeMe as a marketing/advertising tool be retail suicide?

I don't think it would be wise if you sell cars/motorbikes. You'd be missing a large captive market that is interested in separating with cash.

[Quasievil]

Have you just woken up?

yeah Kinda actually, but $199 dude I wouldnt want to fall on the floor let alone a track even if it was at 60kmph. That is so cheap I would hate to think how it was made, mate seriously
then again maybe it was a 2nd hander or a clearance deal ?

[jaffaonajappa]

yeah Kinda actually, but $199 dude I wouldnt want to fall on the floor let alone a track even if it was at 60kmph. That is so cheap I would hate to think how it was made, mate seriously
then again maybe it was a 2nd hander or a clearance deal ?

Yeah, I am hearing you.
I would not want to rely on these at a full speed slide / fall....although I suspect they would do an 'average' job for one fall. I dont plan on finding out. For race use, or road 'sports' use - Id stick with something made well. Your gear is well reputed in this regard. But for bucket racing at Mt Wellington, and the speeds I hear people come off at (20 to 35 maybe 40 km/h) and the top speed I am likely to achieve (60 to 70 kmh) - these will be fine. Not sure how many falls they will handle, but hell I have come unstuck on gravel at faster speeds on my mountain bike - I shit you not.

And yep. They were a one dollar auction - think he normally sells them for $699? Dunno, dont care.

The point of my original post is still: From a consumers point of view, there are some awesome bargains to be made on TradeMe. (From a retail point of view - beware making one dollar auctions for low volume/turnover or specialised equipment :P )

ok. WTB: 10 year old tyres for my 30 year old type bucket racer.....

[Lula]

A small Yellow pages add use to cost me $1100 from memory (mid 1990's) and when it came time to renew, I said ''no thanks, I cant afford it''..and I couldn't.

I've heard that TradeMe recently put their prices up by 15% for Dealers to advertise their products for sale.

Some are spending well over the figure you quoted above each month to advertise their stock but I guess Fairfax has to make those millions back that they paid for the website and now we all can't seem to live without it to run our businesses they've got ya :yes:

[Coolz]

Twice Ive bought stuff off you guys through Trademe.Would never of heard of you otherwise.

[avgas]

First up: Retail suicide would be making business decisions based on the opinions of those on KB.
You mean "customers" :girlfight:
Try use the word "solely" once and a while - might save your ass.

[avgas]

I've heard that TradeMe recently put their prices up by 15% for Dealers to advertise their products for sale.

Some are spending well over the figure you quoted above each month to advertise their stock but I guess Fairfax has to make those millions back that they paid for the website and now we all can't seem to live without it to run our businesses they've got ya :yes:
Rumor on the street is that they are trying to sell it for $800M

[avgas]

[B]Personally I see TM as an essential tool for work on several levels.
"What did people do before TM?".
Bay Trader bro.
Buy a CX500 with "Te Puke Thunder" painted on the tank.
Would go fast as on the Route PKJ sprints I reckon aye.
:lol:

[Big Dave]

I think it's a good tool for selling low-margin retail products.

Personally I only visit it when someone posts up a joke listing.

[Maha]

What is notible is lack of bike shops that advertise in M/Trader unlike a couple of years ago when there were alot more.

[White trash]

What is notible is lack of bike shops that advertise in M/Trader unlike a couple of years ago when there were alot more.

It is indeed. You'll also notice less and less dealers advertising in MTN. The problem is simple. There is no way of guaging interest or contacts made through print media, unless it includes a coupon or a "quote this ad" type line. I read the private listings in MTN, because I get the mag for free. Personally, I wouldn't buy it to look at bikes for sale,

[Maha]

It is indeed. You'll also notice less and less dealers advertising in MTN. The problem is simple. There is no way of guaging interest or contacts made through print media, unless it includes a coupon or a "quote this ad" type line. I read the private listings in MTN, because I get the mag for free. Personally, I wouldn't buy it to look at bikes for sale,

Its a wonder no dealer has come up with the ''quote this ad'' and get 10% off the floor price where a trademe ad is concerned?

[DMNTD]

Its a wonder no dealer has come up with the ''quote this ad'' and get 10% off the floor price where a trademe ad is concerned?

Have done it before in/on both print and internet. Most people utilise the Net these days...fact

[Maha]

Have done it before in/on both print and internet. Most people utilise the Net these days...fact

I totally agree.
You can do all but hand over the money from the comfort of your office chair.
Dealers need/surely know this and it is why any chance to secure a deal via this sorce, is paramount for any business.

[Quasievil]

lol tag = can I read, yeah but read what ?
I dont like TM really I always think it cheapens what youre doing, shall I change my opinion ?
I dunno so many dodgy fuckers selling gear on there I dont want to be tarnished with that brush.mmmmmmmmmm thinking thinking

[nallac]

lol tag = can I read, yeah but read what ?
I dont like TM really I always think it cheapens what youre doing, shall I change my opinion ?
I dunno so many dodgy fuckers selling gear on there I dont want to be tarnished with that brush.mmmmmmmmmm thinking thinking

If i was you Quasi i would sell/advertise more gear on there......

T/me is the first stop for a lot of buyers, easy to search the whole country from your Computer or phone.
I've bought a new Helmet on run out off there from Gore,a new Jacket from Christchurch.
Wouldn't of Known about em if they weren't on T/Me.....

Theres alot of bikers out there who aren't on KB and have never heard of Quasi.

[Brett]

It would depend entirely on your product and customer base. Most people I know who are looking for a bike (not so much other motorcycle gear or merchandise) will use trademe as their point of reference for researching what is available.

You will know your own sales statistics...how many come from people walking in off the road looking for a bike as opposed to having come across the bike on trademe?

[jaffaonajappa]

Theres alot of bikers out there who aren't on KB and have never heard of Quasi.

Bingo.
TM would be a great way to promote a local (relatively) unknown product in the bike scene, IMO.
You dont have to try and compete on cost. Just get your message out there about the quality. Even if ya sell nada via TM....you would still be getting your name out there. Which may create interest / conversation / sales down the track?

[CRF119]

It depends, I know a lot of people will see some thing advertised and they cheek trade me to see if some body is selling a near new one or just has some cheap. Trade me take to much % now so it makes giving deals hard. A retail out let should state on trade me "Visit us in store and receive 10% off the listed trade me price" because trade me take like 7% now i think depending on value. Plus the store gets them in the door that way

[jaffaonajappa]

I miss nothing, the above probably buys cheap 10 year old tyres for track riding as well...... afterall cheap is as good as expensive isnt it ??

Oh yeah. Tested them leathers today - very slow speed off a bucket. But...they performed exactly as I wanted them too.

But. They arent new and shiny any more lol.

[Quasievil]

Oh yeah. Tested them leathers today - very slow speed off a bucket. But...they performed exactly as I wanted them too.

But. They arent new and shiny any more lol.

Bugger, mate just check all the stitching and make sure there are no breaks, Im picking they are double stitched so if no damage you will be good to go down next time, if not get a over stitch done, I can do that for you

[jaffaonajappa]

Bugger, mate just check all the stitching and make sure there are no breaks, Im picking they are double stitched so if no damage you will be good to go down next time, if not get a over stitch done, I can do that for you

Cheers man - I will be visiting one day.....finances kinda stuffed at the moment tho.
No damage to the stitching - yeah double stitched but the damage was in the middle -not near any stitching. A stitch-over would be great - one day. But again....these arent going to take long slides - just low speed lowsides on a kart track. All good.

[oldguy]

Would turning your back on TradeMe as a marketing/advertising tool be retail suicide?

I would say yes.

its how I found my bike, through your advertising on trademe, I was able to work out most stuff online, so I new it wasn't going to be a wasted trip down.

On a side note, I have been very happy with my bike:2thumbsup

Sorry lula,
haven't brought a MCT since trademe, only time i see a motorcycle trader
these days, is if im in getting a WOF or reg. and there's a copy in the waiting room.
which is normaly 6 to 12 months old.

[lakedaemonian]

They used Motorcycle Trader.

Most dealers find it difficult to support the industry media now that all of their marketing/advertising budget is spent on TradeMe :facepalm:

The smart ones are not putting all their eggs in one basket and taking advantage of the package print and web making them stand out from the mass.

I will agree and disagree.....

I agree that dealers across NZ USED to use the like of Motorcycle Trader, Buy Sell and Exchange 10 years ago because the internet medium(even at the height of the first dot com boom) has not yet been leveraged by small retail companies en masse.

Fast forward 10 years and it's a totally different game.

Here's where I disagree and will expand a bit.....

Dealers that fail to embrace the internet as a marketing, sales, and communications medium(assuming the dealers already have their sh!t sorted INSIDE their showrooms in terms of high customer satisfaction and service levels) are ultimately doomed.

The internet has become as ubiquitous as the telephone.

Can you run a motorcycle dealership without a telephone? No.

Can you run a motorcycle dealership without the internet? No.

It's not just motorcycle industry specific print media that have to improvise, adapt, and overcome...the same can be said of radio and television.

The same can also be said of the likes of Kiwibiker Forums.

While KB is NOT a traditional internet sales/marketing medium it does have an add/on component to it with potential to turn into a viable community peer to peer based business......but even KB is at risk if it doesn't improvise, adapt, and overcome.

As a member of the motorcycle industry, as a marketing and communications medium KB fails due to it's anonymity. NO ONE is going to stick their neck out here in a big way to get it chopped by anonymous snipers......but peer to peer....maybe....with Facebook being a HUGE threat to forum communities long-term.

Where Motorcycle Trader and it's peers fail(and I've said this face to face with everyone I know in the industry) is that it gets BETWEEN the customer and the retailer.....and as a retailer....I want a DIRECT relationship with my customers....which is why we've developed an email database in the thousands, a Facebook base of thousands, and a couple of BIG projects in the works.

Communication is instant and direct......

Look at how Craigslist.org has almost singlehandedly devastated the US newspaper industry.....most newspaper revenue came from the little guy's classified ad(the big guys get HUGE discounts)...Craigslist stole it all with instant, real-time, and free searchable, local ads.

We use Trademe, probably more than most other dealers in NZ and it has been an effective sales/marketing tool for us. It does come at a cost, but it more than pays for itself with the scale we have had on it. It only represents a tiny portion of our M&A budget and we run a lean marketing budget(leaner than many of our peers).

We've also used, and will continue to use, the likes of Motorcycle Trader when we feel it's appropriate.

But I think EVERYONE needs to continue to adapt to this fast changing landscape....and VERY few are doing so, or even trying.

I used to work for Amazon.com in their very early days and had a god's eye view of their distribution, logistics, marketing, and metrics.... I'm still up to speed on their dynamically changing business. And with the advent of the Kindle, iPad, Galaxy etc I think that newspapers and print media need to quickly and effectively adapt to the new medium or they will become irrelevant.

I LOVE books and magazines....my house is like a library.....but the fact is that uptake/conversion on book/newspaper/magazine reader(Kindle, iPad, etc) is staggering....I've seen some numbers that are nearly unbelievable....and for sales/marketing focused publication.....monthly(hell even weekly or daily) is TOO SLOW......consumers demand real time.

Look at your favorite magazine rack in a bookshop......the herd is thinning for LOTS of reasons.

The day Motorcycle Trader(and everyone else) can offer a rich magazine experience on a tablet with great editorial and value added content and allow a reader to one-click to a specific dealer product and ethically share that customer with the dealer is the day it(and others) will be safe for a little while with a defensible position.

Right now, no one is safe(bar maybe Trademe for a little bit).

And the only reason why Trademe has a pretty solid defensible position is because with the internet if you're not first, you're last.

Social Media is becoming a bit overused lately.....but those who can build and leverage the biggest/fastest meshed network of folks willing to put their real names on the line wins.

So this isn't just a M/C Trader vs Trademe thing.....this goes far, far beyond that.

Just my 0.02c

[Quasievil]

NO ONE is going to stick their neck out here in a big way to get it chopped by anonymous snipers......

I do all the time

[thepom]

Now where,s that gun........:lol:

[Big Dave]

>>offer a rich magazine experience on a tablet with great editorial and value added content and allow a reader to one-click to a specific dealer product <<

Find me the NZ retailers who'll support it (buy the advertising) and I'd do it. Love too.

So far it appears there's you and....and.....

[Quasievil]

>>offer a rich magazine experience on a tablet with great editorial and value added content and allow a reader to one-click to a specific dealer product <<

Find me the NZ retailers who'll support it (buy the advertising) and I'd do it. Love too.

So far it appears there's you and....and.....

I would be interested to see what you think of our new site Dave.

[lakedaemonian]

I do all the time

Then you would be a rare exception.

And I would guess that may be due to the fact you are running a mostly internet only operation which compels you to focus on and experiment with the internet as a medium for exchange/communication/marketing/sales.

Have a few dealers popped their heads up in here on occasion? Of course.....

Is it common? Of course not.....

That's not a criticism of KB, just an observation and my perception which I believe is accurate......I didn't start the forum, nor do I know the ownership or their purpose/doctrine in running it...encouraging open industry/dealer involvement here may be at the bottom of the wish list.

I'm just expanding on the fact that M/C Trader Vs. Trademe is really just one part of a much bigger machine with a whole lot of very fast moving parts....and KB is a part of it as well.

Some believe(with reasonably good arguments) that publications like M/C Trader and others may not be long for this world.....the same arguments could possibly be made in regards to KB if you stretch your time horizon out a bit.

One only needs to look at the pre-internet Bulletin Board Services that people modem'd into directly...mutating into things like Compuserve and AOL....before the WWW forced them to join it or die.

There are thousands of VBulletin forums around the world with huge user bases and Facebook/Social Media represents a threat to each and every one of them that fails to adapt to it and with it.

The last 10 years has seen a seismic shift in how we market/communicate/buy...the next 10 is likely to be another order of magnitude greater.

This is the part where I like to read up on stories of companies that were very early adopters to radio and tv advertising.

[Big Dave]

Tres grunge.
Looks very professional.

[Big Dave]

I have an iPad2 and think ESPN and NBA apps are brilliant. So are all my sports team's info for that matter. The NZ herald's is quite good and so is Stuff. Reading anything on the backlit screen is way cool.

The Fairfax (Aus) and Murdoch model is to charge for a subscription to read the papers on a tablet - but their web sites are still free and so are several other paper's apps - like the NZ Harold or the Sun.

I won't pay the fee while there are free options of similar quality. There's the rhubarb at the moment.

It would need Murdoch's capital to prop it up till there aren't any free options left - if ever. Or a significant sponsor.

[lakedaemonian]

>>offer a rich magazine experience on a tablet with great editorial and value added content and allow a reader to one-click to a specific dealer product <<

Find me the NZ retailers who'll support it (buy the advertising) and I'd do it. Love too.

So far it appears there's you and....and.....

That the tough part with any shift to something new.....who is the one(or the minimum number required) to make the leap?

Making that leap comes with a bunch of risks, but also a couple potentially big rewards...often referred to as "founder's profits" if you hit the mark.

Personally, I think the recipe is all about building the network...the network being membership and the connections amongst and between members.

As mentioned, NOT the old school hub/spoke model....and that includes publisher/reader, dealer/customer, motorcycle club/member...but a network model....and the same goes for management of the network....less about ownership and more about stewardship.

A model that let's everyone within the community reach everyone else DIRECTLY.

I think a critical part of it is members/businesses/clubs all sticking their own and/or their entity's real name on the line to encourage the same behavior we would likely have as if we met in person(good or bad).

Facebook is a gamechanger.......the ability to drill down and specifically target individuals is amazing.....but the cost of doing so has risen 7 fold in the last 12 months in our experience...and it's still worth it.

What we are hoping to achieve with a few projects in the works is to build our own network rather than renting the networks of others.

Motorcycling is big business globally, but generally fractured, sliced, and diced into little niches with little scale to justify huge investment with a poor(or negative) return on investment....we just don't have the numbers.....but someone will have the idea, the flexibility, the speed, and the agility to execute and succeed....and I doubt it will be an existing brand, an existing distributor, or even most existing publishers that will achieve it....I reckon it will be a motorcycle enthusiast coming into the industry from a different angle.

With the internet, often an average execution TODAY can beat a perfect execution next week due to first mover advantage.

When it comes to future thinking motorcycle community building and marketing does the early bird get the worm, or does the second rat get the cheese? :)

[lakedaemonian]

I have an iPad2 and think ESPN and NBA apps are brilliant. So are all my sports team's info for that matter. The NZ herald's is quite good and so is Stuff. Reading anything on the backlit screen is way cool.

The Fairfax and Murdoch model is to charge for a subscription to read the papers on a tablet - but their web sites are still free and so are several other paper's apps - like the NZ Harold or the Sun.

I won't pay the fee while there are free options of similar quality. There's the rhubarb at the moment.

It would need Murdoch's capital to prop it up till there aren't any free options left - if ever. Or a significant sponsor.

Yup....people doing it out of love and passion......and the possibility that if they build a big enough network, then they might be able to leverage and monetize it.

I'm on a Samsung Tab.....I definitely think tablets are here to stay and will eventually become the primary means for reading...if not responding.

I think the continued GFC, of which we are probably only about 3-4 chapters deep in a 12 chapter novel, will play an important role in the shift.

With rising commodity prices, paper isn't getting any cheaper to print or distribute.

Any paper isn't getting any faster, interactive, or able to pass the instant gratification test.

I read recently on Stuff(Yup...like you I'm reading Stuff and Herald every morning with my coffee but haven't bought a paper in a LONG time) that Kiwis will own on average approx. 5 internet enabled devices by 2015(if memory serves).

It's obvious where we are heading.

But how and when we get there is the zillion dollar question.

[Big Dave]

Edit - we're cross posting hyar - This is in reply to the previous message.

Yeah - I still recommend a range of advertising options - there are so many variables, but ultimately the message is the same - you just have to determine the optimum messenger.

[Smifffy]

Then you would be a rare exception.

And I would guess that may be due to the fact you are running a mostly internet only operation which compels you to focus on and experiment with the internet as a medium for exchange/communication/marketing/sales.


Nah, I'd say it's just because he's an opinionated SOB ;)