Having been forced to update to 4.2.2 to accommodate the latest security issue, I would like to try Panjo.

A couple questions:

1. How do I change the wording "Sell an item"? Most of our ads are for local services or freebies. I hope I don't have to go editing templates.
2. How do I set the expiration date for ads? And will any threads associated with that ad be completely deleted when this happens? I would hate to bloat the db with old useless ads.

TIA

At this time, you can't change the "sell an item" link / button.

At this time, there is not an option to set an expiration date for a listing. It sounds like you have noticed that Panjo can optionally create a thread post for each listing (ad) created. You can impose any rules you want on those thread posts. Panjo sends email reminders to sellers every two week to remind them to delist any listings that are outdated or no longer available. Panjo automatically marks listings as 'sold' or 'unavailable' when the status of a listing changes based on a transaction. Rather than think of legacy listings as bloat, depending on the nature of your listings, you may wish to think of them as SEO-rich user generated content. It is probably in your interest to keep them around. However, the needs of your forum may be different than most.

On March 7, Panjo rolled out an upgrade to the shipping field. Sellers can now use Panjo to calculate the shipping cost based on the shipping option selected and the locations of the buyer and seller. You can find more details and screen shots about the new shipping features on Panjo's blog. See the post about Panjo's vBulletin shipping calculator mod.

Panjo also released an update to its vBulletin classifieds iPhone app.

That's just bizarre for a "Classifieds" mod. From the beginning Classifieds have been mostly about things besides "For Sale" including Help Wanted, Services, Housing, etc. And I have never seen one without mandated expirations. In years past the newspapers would give you a weekend, and more recently Craigslist gives you 30/7 days.

Perhaps this mod should be renamed to something like "Panjo Storefront" to more accurately represent nothing but sales.

I understand that you can sale stuff, like very soon,will open a forum where will let users post their auto parts for sale , and from the reading , i will get the 2-4% depends on what i will fill like to put the % at, but i still confuse about few things here with this mod!

Like you said here:

>>>
1.Payment Collection Options for Sellers
a- PayPal, fully integrated via PayPal chained payments API
b- Collect payment on own
c- Local pickup only

2.Listing Types
a- Buy-it-Now
b- Adjustable quantity control
c- Or best offer
d- Trade
e- Wanted
f- Free
>>>

For 1.a. i know that way i can get my 2-4%,
but for 1.b and 1.c , how exactly are we getting our %? as if they choose
to collect payment on their own ,they can contact each other and do the transaction outside of the
forum ,and then i louse ,no $ for me...they only using the market place to list .

Explain please....

Also for 2.a , 2.c , looks like will get the %,
but for 2.d,2.e,2-f how we will get the %,as i don't think i want anyone to
post anything in the market place without paying a % fee to create a listing....

Also will this work for cars? if someone lists a car for sale and then we have a 3% fee and the car
is listed at $20.000 and if the seller and buyer will contact each other and meet ,with out
paying the % fee to the forum/market place!

Please explain so to understand how your mod works!, before i will start install !

Thank you!

Actually, I just tried to turn this 'optional' feature OFF, and it does not seem to be possible. Categories of "For Sale" items must always be linked to a forum, there is no option not to link.

Add New Category>Link this category to a subforum> There is no "none" option. One is forced to link to a subforum.

Great question. You are correct, there is no "none" option. For testing you can do any of the following...

1) Associate a Panjo category with a subforum that is 'acting as a category.'
2) Associate a Panjo category with a subforum that is only visible to administrators.
3) Associate a Panjo category with a subforum where the seller does not have access to create thread posts.

Taking any of the actions above will allow you to "kick the tires" and prevent any listings created via Panjo from showing up in public-facing sub forums.

Panjo partners tend to NOT want thread posts created during testing. Panjo designed the admin dashboard to cover the production use cases.

For the fastest response times, please feel free to email me directly: chad@panjo.com

That is correct. The term for this is leakage. It exists in all online marketplaces. It behooves us and you to do all we can from a feature and service perspective to maximize the value, benefits, and protections a buyer and seller receive via choice 1.a. in order to maximize your transaction fee revenue.

Additionally, you might consider charging listings fees in order to generate revenue from transactions that complete via options 1.b. and 1.c.

Again, absent a listing fee, you won't generate direct revenue from transaction types d, e, and f. However, you indirectly generate revenue by giving your members a good place for all transaction types and the browsing and buying that occurs as a ancillary result.

Right now, Panjo automatically defaults all listings over $3,000 USD to the seller collecting payment on his/her own. Sellers won't purchase a $20k car via their credit card or PayPal balance. Again, listing fees are the best way to monetize high ticket items. And again, quality high ticket items encourage traffic and browsing that leads to purchases downstream. Panjo does see sellers occasionally list a high ticket item and use the system to collect a down payment of some kind.

Thanks for all these great questions. Given the nature of your questions, you might like to see the way Panjo is configured here:

Audi classifieds powered by Panjo
BMW classifieds powered by Panjo
Porsche classifieds powered by Panjo
Ford Mustang classifieds powered by Panjo

Can the Payment api be totally disabled if needed?

I think I found my answer above that it can be disabled.

Thanks,
Rich

Yes, when creating a listing, a seller can select an option that says, "I will collect payment on my own." Selecting that option disables the payment API for an individual listing.

At present there is not a setting to disable the payment API marketplace wide. We have a few requests to force use of the payment API marketplace wide. This is the first request for the opposite.