Marketplace
 

Hello,
I was wondering if there is a function or add-on that would allow me to set up a Marketplace within the forum (running vBulletin 4.2.2). Not looking for a 3rd party site but a way in which members could place orders, make payments directly through the forum?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
MLF

Here are few:

[DBTech] DragonByte Classifieds v1
[OzzModz] Classifieds
vBulletin classifieds mod from Panjo
And it could be others too...

I also in few weeks i may install Panjo mod, but will see.

GoodLuck.

Thanks for the info

I looked into the Panjo service that came with the vBulletin license. Not at all what I am hoping to do ... use of a 3rd party listing site while Panjo serves as a link service

MLF - Chad here from Panjo. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Yes, components of Panjo are hosted in order to provide the most up-to-date features to all partners. You get a local copy of all the listings. Panjo integrates with new or legacy classifieds sub forums and populates them with your members' listings. I am not sure what you mean by "Panjo serves as a link service." Feel free to call if we can help you configure Panjo to achieve what you are hoping to do: 1 (424) 272-0291

from my understanding any items I would like to offer the forum membership would have to be hosted on a 3rd party site, a sort of classifieds? Through Panjo the membership would be redirected to that site?

correct?

Not a knock against your service, it's just that is not the sort of set up I would like to go with.

Ideally I would prefer listing, shopping and purchasing capabilities all within the forum. As a new site owner and learning vBulletin as I go I'm not sure what the capabilities are or not.

Not exactly correct. You can see some samples here:
Porsche marketplace / classifieds
RC marketplace / classifieds

Note that in each case above, you are viewing the site's marketplace through an embedded iFrame within the parent site. That gives buyers the ability to sort, filter, and search results in ways that aren't possible via thread posts. However, 100% of the listings you find above are also accessible in legacy thread-post format. The thread posts synchronize with the "master" listing.

Porsche thread post classifieds synchronized with the marketplace referenced above
RC thread post classifieds synchronized with the marketplace referenced above

Hopefully through the examples above you can see that membership is not redirected to another site. You keep the traffic on your site. You index the thread post versions of the listings for SEO purposes.

Let me know if you have other questions or if the info above didn't help clarify.

So the classifieds would be part of the forum and Panjo works as a shopping tool?

I guess what I was hoping to do was a little more complicated than just a general classifieds section on the forum.

Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the info

But I'll take another stab at it. Let's consider the standard classifieds set up in a forum. There is a classifieds subforum (or many classifieds subforums) and sellers create thread posts that serve as ads for the items they are selling.

What do you get if you use Panjo? You still get classifieds subforums. You ALSO get upgraded thread posts. Now, the thread posts contain "buy now"buttons that allow buyers to make purchases. When the item is purchased, the listing gets marked as sold. You ALSO get a visual gallery of the listings which buyers can sort, filter, and search while they are browsing. You ALSO get upgraded listings with better visual design than the classic thread posts.

I hope the description above and visualization below help clarify.

Attachment 148027

It might make more sense to browse some sample marketplaces that are running on vBulletin and using the Panjo classifieds plugin.

Feel free to call if you are seeking further clarification: 1 (424) 272-0291

thanks for the additional info

I'll take another look at it and call with some questions