Classified Ad Plug-In for vB4 - WHICH is BEST???
 

In years past, I thought that PhotoPost Classifieds was the best of the best in vB classifieds products, as long as you were willing to shell out the $$, however, looking at their integration for vB4 looks very generic and UGLY. The formatting of the text, and how the categories are listed, is not appealing at all.

PhotoPost does have cool attached photo handling, and a nifty zip code distance calculator, but I can't get past the lack of design with the text.

I'm also aware of MicroHellas, but I'm not sure that product is mature enough yet, as it still is in BETA stage. I researched the previous version from MicroHellas, which she says is a better product but she transfered the rights to vBHacks.com, but they can't even get their website working right yet, so I'm not going to buy a product from them.

I don't mind paying for quality, but with all the turmoil I've gone through so far upgrading to vB4, I NEED to make the wisest choice I can here.

What is the BEST vB4 classifieds add-on or product? Please only recommend one, which you are using it on a vB4 board. If possible, please give links to where I can see it active on your board and test drive it myself.

Thanks for the feedback!
:D Jeff

I'm using Photopost Classifieds on my site, and it does what I need. I was using a different one, but the developer I think just let it go and hasn't updated it.... As far as I know.

Sure, maybe integration could be a bit better maybe, I wouldn't mind a few more features, but it does what my users need, which is enough I suppose

Thanks for the feedback, got a link I can check out?

Ya, it's not like there's a lot of choice right now. Those are the only two games in town. I have pp classifieds ready to go, but MicroC was so easy to install (as a product) that it's been in place for a month or two now.

Which is better for listing services for hire, instead of products for sale?

Oh, no question PhotoPost is better. But it's also a lot more trouble.

I know PhotoPost has cool image handeling, and zip code distance calculating, but for SERVICE for hire, such as a painter, or electrician, where there really are no images, what makes PhotoPost "Better" over MicroHellas?

Also, can you please provide a link to your classifieds so I can check it out. (Both if you have both systems active on your test board.)

Thanks a lot for the feedback! :D

I've been using PP Classifieds for years.
I don't know what the complaint is about their style is.
It's similar to vB4.
It has a tight integration, which is what is most important to me.

I have PP-Classified and have been looking for an alternative ever since I installed it. Problems I've found with it are:

• No integration of vb member profiles. They insist on running their own member and profile setup instead.
• Numerous bugs requiring code modifications that never seem to get fixed and which have to be re-inserted every time one upgrades to the latest version.
• Numerous phrase and code entries that indicate a lack of understanding of auction terminology.
• Support that leaves a lot to be desired. Presumption that you are wrong is the general attitude. When you make your case and a solution is offered, it is curt and not always helpful.
• Numerous entry items that cannot be changed or even viewed once ad is placed. Number of days ad will run or when it expires for one.
• A general lack of development since Techimo stopped any development and turned it over to the guy who provides support.
• An ongoing feud with the vbAdvanced author resulting in a poor compatibility between the vbAdvanced CMS and all Photopost products.

Well, now that PP is the only classifieds mod available for vb4, perhaps what we need is to upvote an official add-on to VB? I'd be interested to see what kind of a market there might be for it.

PS I hadn't even noticed it's not linking to the vb profiles. Is there a fix for that?

I agree that such an item would be a significant add-on for vBulletin. It would be enough to push me over the edge to upgrade to version 4. I cannot imagine the need for an integrated and well thought out classified ad addition as not being of interest to the majority of vBulletin licensees.

I know of no fix for the profile issue. What I did was to add a field to add in the link to the vb member profile and instructions on how to fill it in for advertisers. This hasn't been an ideal solution since easily 75% or more of our advertisers either ignore it or fill in their user name instead of a link to their profile. If I knew how to do a lookup and fill in, that would probably be a reasonable solution.

All VERY valid points I believe!

I actually purchased PP almost a year ago, and have yet to install it on my site. I'm just not very impressed with it and not in the mood to do all the work which I know it will require.

Regretfully, I don't see a viable alternative. No one is in a hurry to make add-ons for vB anymore.

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As much as I would LOVE to dream about that, I don't think it is realistic at all. vB can't even handle what it has going on currently, and hardly anyone else is building quality add-ons for the suite.

But if ever there is... I'm there!

I have been using Photopost Classified for about 6 months now. So far so good. Minor bugs here and there but it does the ad listing ok.

You can check out my site at -> http://www.soft.com.sg/classified/

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7...iedpage.th.jpg

What's a link to your site, so i can see what a rough look of the photo classifieds add on looks like?

refer post #4

Feel free to check our classified setup out as well.

looking for another classified ads add on. if anyone knows, plug me in!

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microhellas is not working on my forum...