I too have given up on ebay. As a seller you can not now leave negative feedback on customers, even if they mess you about forever over payment, or delivery details.
What's the point in feedback if every customer has 100% positive feedback?
@ Clarington Thanks for taking your time expressing your constructive and intresting views to say the least. I wish the website you spoke about could be located as it would be a good barometer on the marketplace right now.I intend to make it open to both professionals and individuals alike looking to earn an extra income. Clarington, I have compiled a growing list of florists/gardening enthusiasts who have indicated their interest in marketplace after explaining the concept to them. At this stage, its a developing concept still very much in its infancy.I am speaking with you guys, because a website built by florist will be the ultimate judge of the idea plus I want it to be user driven. Regarding the issue of manpower required to upload a listing on the website, my intention is to make it as seamless as possible for both professionals and individuals alike because I know not everyone is computer savvy. I am also thinking of providing a service where we do the upload for you for a small fee especially at the beginning. I am not the biggest fan of a monthly subscription services but id that were to be implemented, the price would be quite negligible.At this point, I am leaning towards a free for all type model with an intention to generate income on the back end from a percentage anywhere between 2-5% per delivery.(the maths is still been worked out am sorry I cant provide a definite answer on that). The issue of quality control while a great concept, could backfire especially at the early stages of the business.Although this is something I am considering but that could mean either centralizing the marketplace i.e interflora model or having to pay an inspection type visit to the respective vendors. What this will simply do, in my opinion, is raise the startup/running cost of the marketplace which would then have to be passed on to i.e. the customer, vendors or the company.This in turn, would raise prices. To circumvent this I intend to burrow the customer feedback concept used by amazon. At least for now and I totally understand your concerns. Unfortunately, would payments would have to be made to me or rather the online payment processor (merchant) before being passed down to the florists/vendor. I also intend of implementing other payment methods like Bitcoins in order to reduce merchant fees or receive your money faster (i.e as soon as delivery has been made.) As I said, it depends on the merchant or the payment form that has been used. I do not intend to charge admin fees,listing fee etc only a simple percentage of sales That's all. Catchy names are the norm these days and its something I am working on. something short and sweet. (I am open to suggestions please. I need help in this department). Finally, I would do my best to protect us from hackers and people of that sort of ilk. The website is still being built and you guys would be the first to try it out (that's a promise moreover that would be darn helpful). I love to be flashy and smooth in implementing my design but it all comes down to users and the question is what do they really want?.
Thanks Clarington for your questions and if you've got more please do not hesitate plus any suggestions no matter how small it might seem is always welcome by me. Thanks again.
@ Jo Amazon actually grew into the market giant we know it today. Lest not we forget, they started out as a marketplace for books. Its not about competition really, That's not my aim in starting up this marketplace. The aim is to help florists who have to throw flowers away from non sales and enthusiasts at home who would like a bit of extra income to support their families. Another reason, is because it would make it easier to find rare flowers or gardening plants/seeds if its properly indexed and structured in a marketplace.
@Hostafan, you have a great point. I would allow the sellers a chance to leave feedback to buyers in an interactive way. I know ebay customers who abuse the fact ebay's so lenient towards buyers.I think vendor feedback would make an excellent concept. Thank you
Could you take a look at this website, http://queensparkstationflower.com/. This is the website of one of the florist I have on my list. There is no option to purchase online. This is symptomatic with a number of small florists. That's one of my objective. I do agree with you. Though not an auction site, there would be competition especially if you aim to deliver quality service.Competition is not a crime the end user or customer gets to enjoy the benefits. I cannot stop anyone from purchasing from another website or seller/nurseries what I offer is an alternative option. I understand its a risky proposition from every perspective but "noting ventured noting gained"
Feedback can be a "chore" if you maybe want to write an essay. A feedback structured along certain cafeteria could take less than a minute especially if you had a great service. Having a two way feedback system helps to build a community. Maybe you might decide to tryout a florist online shop as a hobby? Who knows..
I have to disagree with you. feedback helps in the sense that it gives confidence to first time buyers and also helps to distinguish between quality and mediocre services. In my opinion,
I don't know anything about floristry online but as a guest house owner we find a feedback score essential. It might not be entirely fair and it might not always be correct but so many people will only consider booking if the score is high, especially if there are a few in the same area with high scores and one has only a 4 or 5, why would people even consider taking a chance? We work extremely hard to maintain our high score and always check with everyone whilst they are here that all is OK and try and fix any issues.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
James, do you have much experience of producing cut flowers or gardening in general? You may not be aware that the requirements of the cut flower trade are very different to the type of flowers grown by most home gardeners.
Florists' flowers are developed especially to have long straight stems and firm long-lasting buds and blooms which will survive packing and transportation etc. Most of these require specialist growing conditions which will be difficult for home gardeners to replicate. They will also need to be able to predict when and how many of a particular bloom will be ready and have facilities to transport them in temperature-controlled vehicles.
It is not the sort of thing that anyone could do as a hobby and expect to recoup their expenditure let alone make a profit.
Small and amateur growers are far more likely to achieve a profit by growing and selling their own flowers at markets and regular roadside stalls.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
I too have given up on ebay. As a seller you can not now leave negative feedback on customers, even if they mess you about forever over payment, or delivery details.
What's the point in feedback if every customer has 100% positive feedback?
@ Clarington Thanks for taking your time expressing your constructive and intresting views to say the least.
I wish the website you spoke about could be located as it would be a good barometer on the marketplace right now.I intend to make it open to both professionals and individuals alike looking to earn an extra income.
Clarington, I have compiled a growing list of florists/gardening enthusiasts who have indicated their interest in marketplace after explaining the concept to them. At this stage, its a developing concept still very much in its infancy.I am speaking with you guys, because a website built by florist will be the ultimate judge of the idea plus I want it to be user driven. Regarding the issue of manpower required to upload a listing on the website, my intention is to make it as seamless as possible for both professionals and individuals alike because I know not everyone is computer savvy. I am also thinking of providing a service where we do the upload for you for a small fee especially at the beginning. I am not the biggest fan of a monthly subscription services but id that were to be implemented, the price would be quite negligible.At this point, I am leaning towards a free for all type model with an intention to generate income on the back end from a percentage anywhere between 2-5% per delivery.(the maths is still been worked out am sorry I cant provide a definite answer on that).
The issue of quality control while a great concept, could backfire especially at the early stages of the business.Although this is something I am considering but that could mean either centralizing the marketplace i.e interflora model or having to pay an inspection type visit to the respective vendors. What this will simply do, in my opinion, is raise the startup/running cost of the marketplace which would then have to be passed on to i.e. the customer, vendors or the company.This in turn, would raise prices. To circumvent this I intend to burrow the customer feedback concept used by amazon. At least for now and I totally understand your concerns.
Unfortunately, would payments would have to be made to me or rather the online payment processor (merchant) before being passed down to the florists/vendor. I also intend of implementing other payment methods like Bitcoins in order to reduce merchant fees or receive your money faster (i.e as soon as delivery has been made.) As I said, it depends on the merchant or the payment form that has been used.
I do not intend to charge admin fees,listing fee etc only a simple percentage of sales That's all.
Catchy names are the norm these days and its something I am working on. something short and sweet. (I am open to suggestions please. I need help in this department).
Finally, I would do my best to protect us from hackers and people of that sort of ilk. The website is still being built and you guys would be the first to try it out (that's a promise moreover that would be darn helpful). I love to be flashy and smooth in implementing my design but it all comes down to users and the question is what do they really want?.
Thanks Clarington for your questions and if you've got more please do not hesitate plus any suggestions no matter how small it might seem is always welcome by me. Thanks again.
@ Jo Amazon actually grew into the market giant we know it today. Lest not we forget, they started out as a marketplace for books. Its not about competition really, That's not my aim in starting up this marketplace. The aim is to help florists who have to throw flowers away from non sales and enthusiasts at home who would like a bit of extra income to support their families.
Another reason, is because it would make it easier to find rare flowers or gardening plants/seeds if its properly indexed and structured in a marketplace.
@Hostafan, you have a great point. I would allow the sellers a chance to leave feedback to buyers in an interactive way. I know ebay customers who abuse the fact ebay's so lenient towards buyers.I think vendor feedback would make an excellent concept. Thank you
@Pancyface . Thanks
HI Jo.
Could you take a look at this website, http://queensparkstationflower.com/. This is the website of one of the florist I have on my list. There is no option to purchase online. This is symptomatic with a number of small florists. That's one of my objective. I do agree with you. Though not an auction site, there would be competition especially if you aim to deliver quality service.Competition is not a crime the end user or customer gets to enjoy the benefits.
I cannot stop anyone from purchasing from another website or seller/nurseries what I offer is an alternative option. I understand its a risky proposition from every perspective but "noting ventured noting gained"
Feedback can be a "chore" if you maybe want to write an essay. A feedback structured along certain cafeteria could take less than a minute especially if you had a great service. Having a two way feedback system helps to build a community. Maybe you might decide to tryout a florist online shop as a hobby? Who knows..
Thought so.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Dovefromabove
maybe, maybe not.
@ Jo.
I have to disagree with you. feedback helps in the sense that it gives confidence to first time buyers and also helps to distinguish between quality and mediocre services. In my opinion,
I don't know anything about floristry online but as a guest house owner we find a feedback score essential. It might not be entirely fair and it might not always be correct but so many people will only consider booking if the score is high, especially if there are a few in the same area with high scores and one has only a 4 or 5, why would people even consider taking a chance? We work extremely hard to maintain our high score and always check with everyone whilst they are here that all is OK and try and fix any issues.
James, do you have much experience of producing cut flowers or gardening in general? You may not be aware that the requirements of the cut flower trade are very different to the type of flowers grown by most home gardeners.
Florists' flowers are developed especially to have long straight stems and firm long-lasting buds and blooms which will survive packing and transportation etc. Most of these require specialist growing conditions which will be difficult for home gardeners to replicate. They will also need to be able to predict when and how many of a particular bloom will be ready and have facilities to transport them in temperature-controlled vehicles.
It is not the sort of thing that anyone could do as a hobby and expect to recoup their expenditure let alone make a profit.
Small and amateur growers are far more likely to achieve a profit by growing and selling their own flowers at markets and regular roadside stalls.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
is it just me who comes back to this " looking at a car crash " type thread.
As they say on Dragons' Den. " I'm out"