Help Us Redesign Tradeloop's Broadcast System

We're about to redesign Tradeloop's Broadcast System and we'd like your input. We have a number of suggestions from members already, but we'd love to hear more about what Tradeloop members want and need from Broadcasts.

Some suggestions we've already received include:

• Block User option that will allow you to block users who are spamming the Broadcast lists.
• Keyword tagging - add any manufacturer name you want to your Broadcast.
• Allow End Users to post simple WTS/WTB requests. But they still won't be able to access any wholesale pricing or dealer contact information!
• Larger "Manufacturer" list to make it easier to target Broadcasts and generate more precise WTS/WTB Broadcasts.
• Option to block specific users from searching a company's inventory list.
• Ratings system
• Better lead generation that makes it easier for dealers to sell to End Users.

Our staff members are already at work on some of these, but we'd like to hear more about what you like/dislike about the Broadcast system - and welcome all suggestions for new options and functions!

For instance, one of our most recent additions to the "Send a Broadcast" option was the ability to add a custom signature line to your Broadcast. That very popular change began with a suggestion from a Tradeloop member who wanted the ability to personalize his Broadcast messages.

The Broadcast system is one of the most valuable parts of your Tradeloop membership because it helps you locate dealers who have an immediate need to buy/sell particular products. The Broadcast system upgrade will be a major project through the end of the year, so please send in your suggestions! Contact us by email, phone, Live Chat, or just comment here at the blog.

Navigation Change Makes Tradeloop Easier To Use With Handheld Devices

Using Tradeloop with your iPhone, Blackberry, or other web-enabled mobile device just got easier. We modified the navigation structure to use drop-down menus for navigation. It saves a row of space where the sub-navigation used to be. We know that every space counts when you're accessing the Web with a small screen.

Have you noticed the change? Here's a screen shot of the new, drop-down navigation:



This is a relatively minor change for most users, but we know that Tradeloop members are busy professionals working in a fast-paced industry. You have to take advantage of every opportunity - even if it presents itself when you're rushing through an airport holding your iPhone instead of sitting at your desk.

Is there anything else we can do to make Tradeloop better? We welcome all suggestions from Tradeloop members. Just use the Contact Us link and tell us what you need!

New, Member-friendly Account Registration and Validation Procedures

We're implementing several new policies and procedures that will streamline new account registration, increase dealer visibility, and require registration for all users. These changes will give Tradeloop members access to a larger number of contacts and clearly identify dealers from end users (who buy equipment for their own use, not for resale). We'll have a larger trading community, more retail users, and will continue to protect the integrity of wholesale market information.

The user registration requirement is an important security upgrade. It requires public users to register before they can view retail listings on Tradeloop. Remember that Google and other search engines index "Public" Broadcasts, but not "Dealer Only" Broadcasts. Any public user doing a Google search can find Tradeloop "Public" Broadcasts, then contact a dealer and say "I saw you on Tradeloop." That insinuates that the person calling is also a Tradeloop member. Most times, it's an innocent comment, but we have had cases where fraudsters tried to pass themselves off as Tradeloop members this way.

Now, everyone must be a registered user – no more anonymous searches of retail listings.

Dealers benefit because they'll have more information available about searchers. Now, when a dealer checks his "Search History" reports, he sees something like "PUBLIC 67.42.125.124" when a public user has searched on his retail items. With this change however, that relatively anonymous IP address will be replaced with a contact name and email address. This information will allow dealers to be proactive in contacting these end users to help make deals.

As always, retail users will be blocked from viewing any wholesale prices. End users can only search inventory that's listed as part of Tradeloop's End User program; they can't see wholesale prices now - and never will. And Tradeloop members (as opposed to registered, public users) will still have the option to search anonymously.

We expect that this change will result in a surge in new registrations. We're modifying our verification procedures to make it easier and faster for new registrants and members to contact Tradeloop members.

Many Tradeloop members are small businesses without huge staffs standing by to take and return phone calls, so our policy of requiring phone validation can delay processing by several days or even a week. Unfortunately, we sometimes lose prospective members and end users because they get tired of waiting for access.

We know that member validation is critical for wholesale dealers. After all, you're setting up a deal that could be worth tens of thousands of dollars; you need to know who you're dealing with. But many end users don’t want to join Tradeloop; they just want to buy a laptop battery – and don't want to wait a day or two to do it!

With the new system, new members and public users will have access to the Tradeloop community when they register. We'll still validate their information, but this change will give them access while validation is in process. All users will be clearly identified by their status: DEALER, NON-VALIDATED, END USER. Tradeloop members can tell at a glance who has been validated and who hasn't. It's up to them to make the decision to deal with that company or not. We think it's a better system than blocking all contact until verification is complete.

Note that we will still use the same rigorous criteria to validate all new members: those who don't meet the criteria will be removed from the community immediately. These new policies just make the registration and membership process easier and give Tradeloop members in the End User program a new way to market their products to retail users.

New Option to Hide Broadcast Messages

We've given our Customer Support staff the ability to hide a member's Broadcast messages upon the member's request.

As a security measure, we don't allow members to hide their own Broadcasts. That's to keep someone from sending out a Broadcast message that's fraudulent in some way (such as counterfeit parts), and then hiding the message on the Tradeloop site. Even though the original Broadcast wouldn't be accessible, members would still receive the email message, and the sender could set up deals based on that.

When a member asks to have his Broadcast messages hidden, Customer Support will ask for a reason and check for signs of fraud before hiding any messages. We rarely encounter those. Usually a member wants to hide a Broadcast to keep it from being indexed by Google and other search engines. He may still be getting calls about parts he's already sold or Broadcasts sent out by someone who's left the company. By hiding the Broadcasts, we can keep them out of Google.

Although it would be less work for our staff if members could hide their own Broadcasts, we think it's important to include this quick verification step. It's part of continuing effort to serve members and keep Tradeloop a safe place to do business.

Easier Navigation in the Ethics Area

In June, 2008, we launched the new Ethics blog that helps the Ethics Committee resolve disputes more quickly and transparently. The new system gave all Tradeloop members access to the details and Ethics Committee discussions of closed cases, as well as the ability to comment on cases.

We just completed an upgrade that significantly improves the navigation of the Ethics area. The new system clearly identifies which sections are for all members and which are limited to the Ethics Committee. Visit the new Ethics Area to browse posted and closed cases - or even add your own comments in the Members tab.

Another addition to the Ethics Area is an option for any Ethics Committee member to start a discussion on a non case-related topic. Committee members are invited to discuss broader Ethics issues as they relate to the industry and Tradeloop community. Tradeloop staffers often take part in these discussions, and we've received many good suggestions about how to make the community more safe and secure.

Of course, we invite all members to share their suggestions on that - or any - topic. Contact us anytime with your questions, complaints, suggestions, or compliments.

Customer Support That's Fast, Efficient, and Personal

The global economy doesn't go home at 5pm, and neither does our Tradeloop Customer Support staff. We're dedicated to providing fast and efficient customer service when you need it – not days after you contact us.

Tradeloop's Customer Support team covers the world from our offices in Europe, the United States, and China. We provide live support 20 hours a day with staffers fluent in English, German, Spanish, and Chinese. Our staffers pride themselves on answering most email inquiries within ten minutes. And you get a personal response that answers your question too; not the usual canned response that carries this subtext:

"Thank you for contacting us! We want to assure you that your question is important, and we value your business. We're pretty busy here though; so we probably won't bother to respond to this email, well, until pigs fly. If you're smart, you'll solve the problem yourself."

Does that seem depressingly familiar?

Well, be assured that you'll never get that from Tradeloop! We make it easy to contact us:

• Live Chat: When Live Chat is available, there's a link to the chat function on most pages of the site. Our Customer Support staff holds weekly sessions to review the transcripts of Live Chat sessions.
• Email: We respond to the vast majority of email inquiries within ten minutes. Here's our email form.
• Phone calls: Between our EU, US, and China offices, we offer phone support 18 hours per day.
  

Our phone support numbers are:

• Call Toll Free: 888-946-5667 (888-9GO-LOOP)
• International: Dial 781-505-1400
• Fax: 1-781-505-1401
• China phone number: 86-0571-85859556
  

Your "My Account" page also has links to helpful FAQ pages and descriptions of Tradeloop account options and services. If you can't find what you need, contact us. We're standing by to help.