Building a new Marketplace

**Clinton** · January 1st, 2011, 07:57 PM

FWIW, freelancer.com acquired Webmaster-talk.com last month. I believe the idea is to create a marketplace (among other things).

**grynge** · January 1st, 2011, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Clinton

ID:
Maybe a verification system like Paypal's where a random amount like 29 cents is charged to the card and the customer has to check his statement, get back and type in the 29 (or whatever number) to prove he owns that CC. A link to a bank account or direct debit could also be required to prove ownership of a bank account (customer can cancel the DD as soon as it's made and the marketplace doesn't really need access to his funds). That would establish identity and be a deterrent to spam.

I know as a user I wouldn't even bother applying for something like that if I could not verify the company/people first. If the company was registered in russia/africa/asia I would have great reservations on giving them access to my details until they became a world known/trusted company like paypal/google. Even with escrow.com I rang the californian compliance phone number to make sure they were infact a registered escrow company in california before I even started with a deal using them.

**benitez17** · January 1st, 2011, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by grynge

I know as a user I wouldn't even bother applying for something like that if I could not verify the company/people first. If the company was registered in russia/africa/asia I would have great reservations on giving them access to my details until they became a world known/trusted company like paypal/google. Even with escrow.com I rang the californian compliance phone number to make sure they were infact a registered escrow company in california before I even started with a deal using them.

I don't see the average person going to the trouble you did (not to say you weren't smart to do so), and why do you assume that a person would set up the marketplace in a way that makes it look like a fly by night operation?

**grynge** · January 2nd, 2011, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by benitez17

I don't see the average person going to the trouble you did (not to say you weren't smart to do so), and why do you assume that a person would set up the marketplace in a way that makes it look like a fly by night operation?

Nearly all websites don't have any real data on them. From a first look if I can't find any real contact details I won't supply any real details. I suppose I do go over board when it comes to dealing with money but I gather that could be one reason why I have never been ripped off online.

**Clinton** · January 3rd, 2011, 07:28 AM

From what I've seen, grynge's caution explained above isn't typically. I like to think I'm as cautious as he is, but we're in a small minority - maybe less than 1%.

How many of Flippa's customers do any research into how safe Flippa is before they list their site on there or make a bid? I'd be surprised if there were more than one or two in Flippa's entire history.

OK, Flippa doesn't handle vast sums. So let's take escrow.com as an example. I've banged on about the risks with escrow.com, that there isn't even a company called escrow.com, how easy it is for someone to screw you through an escrow transaction etc. etc. I've made these warnings in Sitepoint, in Flippa, on various blogs and blog comments, in my signature site, on these forums, other forums and elsewhere. Still people rush headlong into escrow.com transactions without even reading the T&Cs!

The rest of the world ain't like us grynge, and any new marketplace is looking to cater for that rest of the world.

**grynge** · January 3rd, 2011, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Clinton

The rest of the world ain't like us grynge, and any new marketplace is looking to cater for that rest of the world.

Are we really that alone? I have never thought about it till now. I just assumed everyone looked after their money like I protect mine. I suppose there must be some reason 419scams still come through the emails.

**richrf** · January 3rd, 2011, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by grynge

Are we really that alone? I have never thought about it till now. I just assumed everyone looked after their money like I protect mine. I suppose there must be some reason 419scams still come through the emails.

I have found that most people do not do necessary due diligence. But I like to ask questions before getting into something. If I were to use Flippa to try to sell Links.com (which is probably going to be an initial venue), I would use my own legal assistance and transfer facilities that I know that can be trusted. But given the recent events in our economy, it is difficult to find any institution that can be trusted anymore.

**Clinton** · January 3rd, 2011, 06:30 PM

Are we really that alone? I have never thought about it till now.

The signs are everywhere. Go to any affiliate program site - those started in the last few years tell you almost nothing about how the program works till you've filled in a detailed form, provided all kinds of personal details, website stats etc., and applied for an account. People seem more and more willing to jump first and ask questions later and most large companies have figured that out and are capitalising on it.