Warnings About Non-Members

We have many non-members searching at Tradeloop, so we've added another security feature to email messages. You'll see a warning if the person emailing you is a non-member.

When a non-member sends you an email using the email link on your Member Profile, the standard message now includes the text below:

Tradeloop NON-MEMBER

We made this change in response to a Tradeloop member's suggestion that we highlight when a sender is not a Tradeloop member. That notation adds credibility to email leads that do come from Tradeloop members and warns members to take additional precautions before setting up a deal with a non-member.

It's easy to check someone's membership status at Tradeloop. Just search for the company or individual's name at the Dealer Directory link. Membership status is listed directly under the company or individual's name. Non-validated listings also display a small warning icon:

Non-Member
Tradeloop Member

Are you sure the company you're dealing with is a Tradeloop member? Search the Dealer Directory and find out fast!

Receive Tradeloop Broadcasts Via RSS Feeds

Most Tradeloop members subscribe to Broadcasts and have the information delivered to their email inboxes. Did you know that Tradeloop offers another option? RSS feeds. They're an easy way to quickly scroll through Broadcasts without opening your email client.

To subscribe to our Broadcast RSS feed, click on the Broadcast tab in the top navigation bar. The RSS feed links are in the left navigation bar. You can subscribe just to Public Broadcasts, Dealer Broadcasts, or all Tradeloop Broadcasts.

Click on the link for the Broadcasts you'd like to subscribe to and choose your RSS feed reader:

Note: if you aren't already using RSS feeds, you may have to install a plug-in for your browser or another application. Just search for "RSS feed readers" to find the one that works best for your needs.

Are you already using RSS to receive Broadcast information? Share your opinions here at the member blog.

Saved Search Email Alerts Easier To Identify

We've tweaked the Saved Search email function to make it easier to identify and scan Saved Search email alerts.

Previously, the "From" email address was Tradeloop Customer Service. We changed it to read "Tradeloop Saved Search." That makes the email's purpose more clear and also allows you to set up an email filter to route Saved Search alerts to a designated folder.

This is a small change, but most members say they welcome any tool that helps them manage their overloaded email inboxes. A 2008 New York Times article estimated that United States businesses lost $650 billion in productivity due to worker interruptions from email and other distractions. We can help with that problem! Use these Tradeloop member tools to manage your time more efficiently:

• Saved Search: receive an email when someone uploads a part or parts that match your search.
  
• Inventory Match alerts you when a buyer searches on your inventory.
• Price history charts are a helpful market research tool.

We frequently roll out new tools and features to make Tradeloop a more valuable business resource for members. Watch the member blog for new announcements!

Who's Spamming the Broadcast Lists? And What Should We Do About It?

Last month, a Tradeloop member complained about being spammed after he signed up for the DEC product list. After receiving several Broadcast emails that were not about DEC equipment but had been sent to the DEC list, he contacted Customer Support to complain. Was it a Tradeloop system problem, perhaps?

NO.

In fact, we recently implemented a new feature - Broadcast filters - that helps members control the content delivered to their email inboxes. You can set a broadcast filter to monitor Broadcasts and send you just the WTS messages for a particular Compaq part number or the WTB HP messages from Europe or many other combinations of variables. (Learn more about Broadcast filters.)

However, some Tradeloop members prefer to watch the market on a broader basis. Instead of setting a filter to look for particular manufacturer part numbers, they subscribe to entire manufacturer or keyword lists. And unfortunately, they sometimes have to scroll through Broadcasts for totally unrelated products. That's because some Tradeloop members are sending Broadcasts to the wrong lists - whether intentionally or not - and it's a form of spam.

Do you think another member is spamming Broadcast lists? Check the bottom of the Broadcast message for the "Keyword" line. It lists the names of all the Broadcast lists that received the Broadcast. If the sender appears to be sending Broadcast messages to unrelated lists, you can alert Tradeloop to possible list spamming.

We need your input.

• How should we define Broadcast spam?
  
• How should we handle the worst offenders?
  
• Is spamming the Broadcast lists a bannable offense?
  
• Should we issue warnings and if so, how many and in what format?

Tradeloop members: please share your thoughts and opinions on this important community issue here at the member blog.

Contact Multiple Sellers With A Single Email

Use Tradeloop's new RFQ checkboxes to select multiple sellers of a product and request a quote from each using one email contact form directly from the Trading Floor. Everyone on your list receives an individually-addressed RFQ email; they don't know who else (if anyone) you're contacting for a quote.

It's quick and easy:

• Visit the Trading Floor and enter your search term.
• On the search results page, select the vendors you'd like to contact by clicking the RFQ checkbox next to their listings.
• Scroll down to the green box at the bottom of the page and click on the link: Send RFQ Email.
• Enter your subject line and message text into the pop-up box and send the email.

Several Tradeloop members requested this feature because they found it time-consuming to contact sellers individually - particularly when they had a long list of needed items. This new feature allows you to quickly contact multiple sources with a single click.

Use Broadcast Filters to Customize Your Tradeloop Broadcast Digest

Tradeloop members can opt to receive Broadcast emails in real time, several times per day, or daily. Now, the new Broadcast filters give you even more control over your inbox. Create personalized filters and receive just the Broadcasts you want, when you want them.

Previously, members could subscribe to particular Broadcast lists and then specify when they'd receive emails sent to the entire list. You could receive messages real-time or in digest form every few hours or daily but you still received all messages sent to that particular list. Now, you can set individual filters that are targeted to your business needs and receive only the Broadcasts you need.

For instance:

1. You have an immediate need for 10 Compaq motherboards. Create a Broadcast filter that sends you those WTS Broadcasts in real time.
2. You're always interested in lots of used Dell desktops to refurbish and watch the market for good deals. Create a Broadcast filter that sends you those Broadcasts every 6 hours.
3. Your company is looking for new business contacts in Europe who buy/sell used memory. Create a Broadcast filter that watches specifically for those items in that geographic area and receive the Broadcasts on your schedule.

What do you do when you've found those 10 motherboards from example #1? Either delete the filter or make it "inactive." You can set up as many filters as you need and turn them on and off as business conditions require.

Learn more about Broadcast filters here at the blog and learn how to create them at our Broadcast Filter FAQ page.

Members: Have you tried the new Broadcast filters? Do you like the new system?

Share your comments here at the member blog.

New Broadcast Messages Provide More Information in an Easy-to-Read Format

With Tradeloop's new Broadcast email format it's easier to read messages on your mobile phone, scan your email inbox for a particular sender, access the message content - and more. We launched the new email format last week and are already getting feedback from Tradeloop members.

Important changes include:

• Mobile phone accessibility: Broadcast emails now display in full size, making them easier to read on an iPhone or other mobile device.
• Content on top: We eliminated the administrative information at the top of the message. Now, if your email reader uses a preview pane you can see the message content right at the top.
• Broadcast filter name displays: The filter name displays at the top of the Broadcast so you can see exactly why you're receiving a particular Broadcast - such as "WTS Dell laptops in Europe." Learn more about Broadcast filters and how to set up your own custom filters.
• See the sender name: Previously, all Broadcasts displayed the "From" address as "broadcast@tradeloop.com." Now, you see the actual sender's email address, making it easier for you to quickly scan your inbox and search for a particular sender.
• Subject line now says "Tradeloop," followed by the rest of the subject. That's how you know it's a Tradeloop Broadcast message.
  

Note that you may want to adjust the filters in your email account. Some Tradeloop members had an email filter set up based on "broadcast@tradeloop.com" that sent Broadcast messages to a special folder. Now, instead of filtering based on sender, you may want to filter messages based on the "subject" line instead.

We've received comments and feedback already from some Tradeloop members. If you haven't commented yet, let us know what you think.

What do you think? Do you like the new message format or do you prefer the old format?

Share your opinions with our staff and with other Tradeloop members here at the member blog.

Broadcast Options Help You Manage Your Email Inbox

The "spam filter" option on the "Manage Broadcasts" page allows you to control the number of Broadcasts you receive per day from individual Tradeloop members. Click on the "Filter SPAM" link at the top of the page and select the number of Broadcasts you'd like to receive from each seller per day.

Select any number between 1 and 99 or place no limit on the number of messages using the "all" option.

Note that this option doesn't limit the total number of Broadcasts you'll receive each day. It only limits the number of Broadcasts you'll receive from individual members. Set other Broadcast filter options on your "Manage Broadcasts" page. You can also elect to receive a digest of all Broadcast activity on Tradeloop or subscribe to Broadcasts for certain manufacturers and/or geographic areas.

New Inventory Search Report Receives Rave Reviews From Tradeloop Members

Tradeloop's Inventory Match email report has a new layout. We changed it to a simpler, text version that lists individual searches in a simple, easy-to-read format. The slimmed-down report also displays more easily on hand-held devices.

The Inventory Match report option alerts you when a buyer searches on items in your inventory list. It's a good way to connect with potential buyers and identify your most "in demand" items. You decide how often to receive the report: hourly, every 3 hours, or daily.

When we launched the new format a few weeks ago, we asked for member feedback and it was overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to those Tradeloop members who responded with compliments and suggestions!

Remember that you also have the option to have receive many different email reports - and have control over how frequently they receive them. Other available email reports include:

• Manage Your Broadcasts: Customize which Broadcasts you receive, choose real time or digest modes, set vacation mode, set spam filters, and more.
• Parts Search Report: View what people are searching for on Tradeloop. Also, view what searches match your inventory.
• Saved Search Alerts: Tradeloop will alert you by email when a seller lists an item you are looking for.
• End User Impressions and Clicks: A report detailing clicks and impressions of the inventory you display to the Public.
  

Just go to your Tradeloop account's Email Center to review your options and request reports.

Who's Who on Tradeloop? Check Out The New User & Company Profile Pages

Tradeloop's Dealer Directory is an indispensable tool when you're looking for a reseller in a particular geographic area or one who specializes in certain products or manufacturers. And now we've made it even better. Our redesigned company profile and member profile pages prominently display the important information you need to make business decisions:

• Is the company a Tradeloop member?
  
• For how long?
  
• Are there any pending Ethics complaints?
  
• What do they sell?
  
• How do I contact them?
  

Learn all that - and more - in our new easy-to-read format.

The most important change is in how we identify Tradeloop members. Look for these notations under the company and contact names:

The "System Stats" section shows when the Tradeloop member or user joined/registered at Tradeloop. Members are identified with their "Member Since" date and we display the "Join Date" of registered users.

The User and Company Profile pages contain even more information that's useful to your fellow Tradeloop members. Many prefer to arrange deals only with other members, while others check to see if any Ethics Complaints have been filed before agreeing to a contract.

We know that privacy and security is also a big concern for all Tradeloop members, so we let you choose how much information to display to other members and to public users. Use the options on your Privacy Settings page to:

• Display or hide your email address from other Tradeloop members.
• Display or hide your company profile from public users and search engines.
  
• Display your photo to Tradeloop members or public users.
  

As always, we strongly encourage all members to create a complete company profile. It's a feature that increases your credibility and visibility to other Tradeloop members and is also an excellent technique for increasing your search engine visibility.

Access Your Member Account Options From The Main Navigation Menu

Need to upload your inventory list, tweak your company profile, or update your privacy settings? Tradeloop members can now access these functions and more directly from Tradeloop's main menu. The "Account" tab contains drop-down options that take members directly to many account management functions.

Here's are the new options available under the Account tab:


All these options are also still available at your Account Information page as well and there's no change to the layout or page function. The new tabs simply make it easier to access the most-used account management functions.

Let's quickly review some of the important management tools on the Account Information page. This is the place to go to keep your account up to date. Use it to manage contact information, set up sub-accounts, maintain inventory listings, and more.

• Set Email preferences to opt in or out of Tradeloop emails.
  
• Manage email accounts and keep contact information updated.
• Manage your sub-accounts (learn more about sub-accounts at our multi-user FAQ page).
• Update billing information or upgrade your Tradeloop membership.
• Manage your End User program inventory (visit Tradeloop's End User program details page to learn more).
  
• Change/update your Privacy Settings
• Manage your Tradeloop inventory.

Remember that you need to be logged into your Tradeloop account to access these functions.

We encourage all Tradeloop members to regularly check their account and company information. A simple typo in an email or phone number can mean lost sales. So can a couple of parts accidentally deleted from an inventory list. The new navigation options will make it even easier to maintain information and get the most from your Tradeloop membership.

Set Your Privacy Preferences on the New "Privacy Settings" Page

We've made it simpler for Tradeloop members to contact each other. Now, your email address is automatically displayed on your profile page. Other members can quickly send you an email directly instead of using the member contact form.

Members can opt out - and set other privacy preferences - using our new "Privacy Settings" page. We let Tradeloop members decide how much information they want shared with other members and public users.

We began displaying email addresses in response to member requests. Many dealers wanted the ability to simply click a link and send an email to another dealer without having to use Tradeloop's contact form. When a clickable email address is displayed, it's more convenient for members to contact each other.

This change helps connect buyers and sellers; it's an especially good feature for those who monitor their email reports (like Search History and/or Saved Search reports). When a seller sees that someone has been searching his inventory, he can more easily contact the searcher if the email address is displayed.

We know that some members may prefer to keep their email addresses hidden due to concerns about spam, viruses spread through email clients, the burden of an increased volume of email, or other reasons. That's why we're giving all members control over their information.

You can choose to hide your email address from other members (the public users never have access to that information). Just log into your Tradeloop account and select the "Privacy Settings" link under the "Account" tab located on the top navigation bar. The Privacy Settings page gives you other options too, such as the option to hide your entire member profile from public users.

Even if you opt out of having your email address displayed, other Tradeloop members will still be able to contact you by email. However, they'll contact you via the Tradeloop contact form instead of their own email client.

Note that you can set your email preferences now and immediately begin either hiding or displaying your email address to other Tradeloop members.

Other options on the Privacy Settings page are still in development and will be launching soon. Visit the page now and select your options. We'll save your preferences and implement them as soon as we finish testing and implementing the page's other privacy options.

We welcome your feedback on this and any matter related to your Tradeloop membership. Contact us and share your suggestions.

Broadcast Policy Change Will Help Members Manage Their Email Inboxes

Many Tradeloop members have requested changes to our Broadcast policies and procedures to help control Broadcast list spamming. Once these changes are implemented, members will be able to send a "regular" Broadcast to up to three lists at no charge. But any Broadcast that goes out to more than three lists will be classified as a "premium" broadcast and will incur premium charges.

This was actually standard Tradeloop policy until 2006, when we allowed members to send regular Broadcasts to all lists for no extra charge. It was an effort to help members who manage large, diverse parts lists distribute their Broadcasts more quickly and cost effectively. However, we've had a continuing problem with members who use it as an opportunity to spam Broadcast lists.

For instance, members on the "Printers" list - which is relatively small - complain about receiving Broadcasts for Cisco networking equipment, used laptops, memory, and other items. Their email inboxes are full of Broadcasts that have nothing at all to do with printer equipment, which wastes time when they have to sift through the clutter looking for leads.

In June, we invited Tradeloop members to an open discussion about the problem of Broadcast spamming. Members who contacted us about the issue were very supportive of the change. Our technical staffers are working on implementation and the change will be in place soon.

The new policy is easy to remember: up to three lists are free, but four or more require a premium Broadcast, which costs $1 per list per Broadcast.

This change will help the vast majority of Tradeloop members manage their email traffic and encourage every member to send Broadcasts only to relevant lists.

Keep Your Contact Information Up To Date

Validation is the the most important part of email management and communication, and it starts with you! We can't validate your Tradeloop membership application without a valid email address. Other members can't contact you either. An invalid or non-working email address can also lead to account suspension.

We recently launched the Email and Report Center to give members a central location where they can manage emails, set email preferences, and more. Now, we've implemented more internal controls to validate email addresses when members register or create new sub accounts.

Tradeloop email error checking routines look for the following:

1. Only one email address can be entered into the email address field. We understand that many people use multiple email addresses, but each Tradeloop account and subaccount can only be associated with a single email address.

2. Emails must be in a valid format - like "yourname@yourcompany.com" not "yourname@yourcompany.com TL email."

3. Every subaccount must have a unique email address. Subaccount holders need this to upload parts lists and it also helps other dealers easily contact the right person in your company.

Note that none of these validation routines checks to see if the email is actually working. Our Customer Service staff does that when they validate membership applications. Tradeloop's email system also keeps track of email bounces: too many bounces may cause your account to be suspended. Bounces also look suspicious to other dealers because so many fraudulent companies use disposable or incorrect emails.

Avoid that problem by updating your Tradeloop account when you change your email address - or many any changes to your contact information.

Saved Search: Let Tradeloop Watch The Market For You

Never miss out on a hard-to-find item again! Tradeloop's new Saved Search feature automatically notifies you by email when someone uploads a part that matches your saved search.

This feature replaces the old "Email Alerts" system which used to match "Want to Buy" lists to "Want to Sell" lists. The new system is much more efficient and easy to use.

For instance, suppose you've purchased some refurbished Sony VAIO laptops and need 30 replacement batteries for them. A search on part number "DR5472" returns two results with a total of 16 batteries available. You still need more, so save your search by clicking on the "Save this search and Alert Me" link underneath the search bar.

You'll be prompted to give your search a descriptive name. Once you save the query, we'll send you a notification email each time someone uploads that part. Search for a dozen parts or just one. Each part has its own Saved Search name and report.

You can modify or delete your saved searches at any time just by going your "Account Information" page and selecting the "Email Center" link. From there, select the "Your Saved Search Alerts" option in the right-hand column. It takes you to your "Saved Search" report where you can change or delete saved searches.

As you use the Saved Search feature to find the parts you need, remember that Tradeloop members can also receive alerts when someone else is searching for a particular part. Use the Search History feature to find new buyers or as a market research tool.

Both features help you avoid time-consuming searches for buyers and sellers. Use the Search History to see what buyers are looking for, and let the Saved Search report help you find what you need!

Manage Emails, Broadcasts, and More at Our New Email Center

We've made it more convenient for members to manage emails, set email preferences, monitor search history, and see who is viewing their inventory. The new Email Center offers all these options and more in one place.

The Email Center is easy to access and navigate. Just log into your Tradeloop account and click on the "Email Center" link on your Member Home Page. It's divided into two sections: "Email Administration" and "Email Alerts and Reports."

The Email Administration section allows you to:
· Edit the email address associated with your login or add another user to your account.
· Set email opt out preferences for marketing emails, parts deletion reminders, and other options.
· Review the Tradeloop privacy policy.
· Check your bounce history. An excessive number of bounces will result in account suspension, so check to see if our system thinks your email address is bouncing.

The Email Alerts and Reports section contains these account management options:
· Manage your Broadcasts by setting filters, delivery preferences, and more.
· Saved search alerts notify you when another dealer posts a part you're searching for.
· Searches matching your inventory report alerts you when someone searches for a part in your inventory. Learn more about this market research tool.
· End user impressions and clicks is a report associated with the End User program. Track who's searching and clicking on your public items.

Many of these options have been available to members for a long time. The Email Center format just brings them together in one place, saving you time and making account administration easier.

Broadcast Digests More Mobile Phone Friendly

We've modified the format of Broadcast digest emails to make them more readable on mobile phones, including iPhones. This change gives members better access to Tradeloop information from anywhere they have a mobile phone connection.

Have you signed up to receive Broadcast digests? Members can elect to receive information about all activity on Tradeloop in a short digest form. Digests are sent via email either hourly, every 3 hours, every 6 hours, or daily.

Some members prefer to subscribe to Broadcasts that pertain to specific vendors or products. You can even filter those Broadcasts by geographic area.

Manage your digest and Broadcast preferences from your member account page. The "Email Center" link allows you set your email preferences, filter spam, and chose which digests or Broadcast messages you'd like to receive.

Better Email Communication Between Buyers and Sellers

Several months ago, we made it easier to reply directly to sales lead emails by using the sender's email address as the "reply-to" address instead of a Tradeloop email address. In this latest tweak to the sales lead system, we changed how the "Subject" line displays in the email.

Instead of the previous subject line that read: "Lead from Tradeloop," the subject line displayed is now whatever the sender types in the form when he sends the message. This should help you track and respond to sales leads – especially if the sender is specific about the subject.

Another change to the email system was completed just a few days ago. Our technical staff moved all outbound email to a faster email server. That means emails and Broadcasts sent through Tradeloop's Web site will be delivered more quickly and reliably.

Your Tradeloop membership is valuable because it gives you access to such a large pool of buyers and sellers. With these changes to our email system, communicating with those dealers is easier than ever.

New Captcha Helps Capture Spam Emails

Can you add 2+2?

Spam email programs can't, but (we hope) most Tradeloop members and end users can. We've added something called a "captcha" to our sales lead form to let legitimate queries in while keeping spam out.

One of the benefits of Tradeloop membership is the exposure you get in the industry and increased visibility to Web searchers. However, the downside to added exposure on the Web is often an increase in spam emails. That was becoming a problem in our system that generates leads for members by allowing non-members to contact them by an email form.

Previously, an email contact form was the best defense against spam bots because they couldn't fill out the form. They got a little smarter though - and so did we.

Now, when someone uses the sales lead form to send you a message, the sender will have to correctly answer a simple math problem. It's nothing too difficult - something like "What does 2 + 2 equal?" If the sender can't answer, the message isn't sent.

You may be wondering about the next step, should spam bots learn how to add. Not to worry: Customer Support will have the "How to Solve Differential Equations" tutorial ready in plenty of time.

Easily Manage Your Tradeloop Emails With Our Opt-out System

In 2007, the Washington Post reported on a growing trend in the business world: people declaring "email bankruptcy," and either deleting their entire email inbox or - more drastically - refusing to use email altogether.

We don't want Tradeloop members to view our messages with such fear and loathing, so we give you numerous options to manage Tradeloop emails and Broadcast messages. Just log into your account, and click on the "Email Center" link. From that page, you can select options that let you receive a daily or hourly digest of Tradeloop activity. Or, use the filter options to just receive Broadcasts related to the supplier, product category, or geographical area you're interested in.

There's also a link on that page titled "Email Opt Out Preferences." To unsubscribe to a particular message category, click the checkbox next to the option and save the changes. Your preferences are applied immediately. The process is completely reversible. Just go back to the email opt out page and deselect the checkbox, and you'll automatically begin receiving the notifications again.

These options save you time and give you more control over your email inbox. You'll have more time to read and respond to those messages you do want to receive.