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Show HN: I built a local/fast marketplace for used gadgets, games

kloomo.com

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Re: Show HN: I built a local/fast marketplace for used gadgets, games

#32

Post by earlyriser »

mikemikemike wrote: post #30

Looks like a fun product to build. When I see this type of marketplace I always wonder how you get a user base... why will people pay to list products here if there aren't many buyers in their city yet, and why would buyers pay to shop here if there aren't many sellers in their city yet? Why not use craigslist for free? I'm just genuinely curious how others tackle the chicken/egg problem.

This is a good question that I've asked to myself so many times.

The chicken/egg problem is not solved at this point because I'm just starting, but my plan is to attract videogame sellers in some big cities at the beginning. The nice thing with videogame sellers is that they are also buyers: I have Assassin's Creed & I want GTA V, for example. Then the first step is to bring some critical mass and grow the inventory.

This is a very different kind of marketplace, built by someone like me. I have some games in my mental wishlist but I'm not in a rush to buy them, also I'm a money saver, then the option to make offers and repost them until I got a deal is pretty convenient.

The same goes for selling, I'm not an active seller, what I want is just to click the items I have and I want to sell and wait for a good offer that could come tomorrow on in 5 months.

Those are qualities that other marketplaces (Ebay, Craigslist) don't have. Sure, Kloomo is more expensive (for $1) than Craigslist, but I want to believe it's more convenient in some ways (long listing period, easy listings). And compared to Ebay, it's a lot cheaper for a seller.

Re: Show HN: I built a local/fast marketplace for used gadgets, games

#35

Post by smgoller »

jlees wrote: post #21
earlyriser wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My idea is to bring the buyers first. Doing thing that doesn't scale the first weeks like inviting gamers personally and give free credits to grow the inventory. But I'd love to hear what do you suggest.

I like your idea of letting buyers express interest in things that aren't actually for sale yet, which helps sellers gauge what demand there is. But you do need to follow up quickly with sellers or the buyers will end up going elsewhere. Perhaps you could add something unique e.g. paying with Bitcoin?

CoinBase might be a good integration point for Biitcoin support.

Re: Show HN: I built a local/fast marketplace for used gadgets, games

#38

Post by sebkomianos »

earlyriser wrote: post #3
sebkomianos wrote: post #2

Thumbs up for the design/ux, a good idea nicely executed I think!

Thanks a lot. I wanted to make the listings/offers as faster as possible.

If you add European cities too, I can be your first user in Berlin or anywhere in Greece.

Re: Show HN: I built a local/fast marketplace for used gadgets, games

#39

Post by earlyriser »

smgoller wrote: post #37
earlyriser wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure. I added it for you :)

Someplace mid-peninsula in the bay area would be nice too, like Mountain View, Palo Alto or similar.

I added Mountain View. Thanks for the tip.

Re: Show HN: I built a local/fast marketplace for used gadgets, games

#40

Post by earlyriser »

sebkomianos wrote: post #38
earlyriser wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks a lot. I wanted to make the listings/offers as faster as possible.

If you add European cities too, I can be your first user in Berlin or anywhere in Greece.

I'll take that in consideration. And yes I want to go international once that the USA cities are consolidated.
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