Tradeloop's End User Program Is Now Free

Say goodbye to pay-per-click charges and hello to end users. Tradeloop's End User program is now free and you can start selling to end users at retail prices. We've made the End User program absolutely free: no set up fees and no PPC charges. Learn how to add retail markup to your wholesale prices!

This program is an easy, cost-effective way to expand your customer base to retail consumers without eroding the value of the wholesale market. Retail customers can't access wholesale pricing information: they can only see retail prices. Program features include:

• Robust reporting features that let you keep track of who's searching and what parts get the highest traffic.
• Pricing flexibility. Set an overall percentage markup for all your items or price them individually. Note: retail prices must be prices at least 5% higher than the wholesale price you list at Tradeloop.
• Stock & price guarantees that protect both buyer and seller. You'll need to have a posted returns policy, accurately describe the product, and have it in ready to ship (unless you clearly indicate otherwise).
  

Tradeloop's End User program is a cost-effective way to expand your customer base to retail customers without eroding the value of the wholesale market. Sign-up is easy and it's free to participate, so what are you waiting for?

Start selling to retail customers.

Let Search Engines Index Your Retail Inventory Listings

Use Tradeloop's End User program to expand your retail customer base and increase your company's visibility to online searchers. The program gives our wholesale dealers a way to market their products to end users at retail prices. With the End User program, you can post your retail stock lists for sale to end users and receive sales leads from public users.

As an added benefit, Google and other search engines index your retail inventory listings so they display in search results. This helps you promote your products to anyone searching the Internet - not just those searching at Tradeloop.

The End User program is available to all Tradeloop wholesale members and set-up is free. You only pay when a searcher clicks on your listing and visits your profile. Learn more about the End User program's options, features, and benefits:

• Program Details
• Frequently Asked Questions
  
• End User Setup Options
  

Remember: end users can only search inventory that's listed as part of Tradeloop's End User program; they never see wholesale prices. The End User program is a way to market your products to end users and retail prices without eroding the value of your wholesale pricing. At the same time, it increases your company's online presence. What a deal!

Trading Floor Display Change Benefits Members & End Users

We've made a slight - but important - modification to Tradeloop's Trading Floor display. It prevents non-members from seeing any portion of a dealer-only listing. We made this change to further protect the integrity of the dealer-only area. Also, it was a bit frustrating for end users to see row upon row of search results they couldn't access.

Previously, when an end user or non-member searched on Tradeloop, the dealer name and price was hidden, but the part and description would show. The vast majority of Tradeloop listings are wholesale listings, so those searchers would see this message over and over: "Wholesale Listing - Members Only"

That's frustrating to someone who wants to buy a replacement battery for his laptop, not wade through scores of search results that he can't access anyway. With the change, this same searcher can browse through 43 results on a Trading Floor search for "Toshiba notebook accessories" and every result is for product that's available to end users.

The page also notes that there are an additional 33 dealer only listings that aren't displayed.


When the searcher clicks on the "Dealer-Only listings" link, he's taken to a page that prompts him to log in (because it's information available only to Tradeloop wholesale members) or register for a Free Trial membership at Tradeloop.

This change keeps retail customers from accessing even a little bit of information about wholesale listings and gives them a search results page that's more readable and usable.

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.

Big Blue Products: Authorized Remarketing Distributor of HP and Compaq Products

Big Blue Products is a leading supplier and authorized remarketing distributor of HP and Compaq computer parts and equipment to dealers, maintenance companies, large end-users and self-maintainers worldwide. Founded in 1984 by Jeff and Marie Alnwick, the company is based in Huntington Station, New York. With over $25 million of in-stock inventory and a support staff of HP-certified technicians, Big Blue Products offers value, experience, and quality.

With the phrase "Big Blue," in its name, some customers are surprised to learn that Big Blue Products sells HP and Compaq products only – not IBM. Company president, Jeff Alnwick, admits that the name now "is a complete misonmer," although during the 1980's the company did focus on IBM. In fact, the Alnwicks fought IBM in court over the name, winning the right to keep "Big Blue Products" in 1989. "No way we were going to change it after that!" Alnwick says.

"Big" is also an adjective that describes the company's inventory, Alnwick notes. "We have about 250,000 parts in stock with a market price of $25 million." Much of that product carries an HP warranty – generally one year. "If it doesn't have a warranty, it's checked by an HP-trained, Big Blue technician, and then carries our standard 30-day warranty. Our failure rate is just six tenths of one percent."

The significant partnership that Big Blue Products developed with HP and Compaq led Alnwick to obtain numerous HP certifications. Big Blue is one of only 10 "HP Authorized Parts Resellers" in the United States and one of only 3 "HP Authorized Remarketing Distributors." That last designation is the most recent certification – and quite an important one because it opens many new marketing options, explains Alnwick.

"Our ability to sell HP-warrantied parts was the impetus for Big Blue's return to Tradeloop. I'm the only distributor in the US who is authorized by HP to sell HP-warrantied parts or Big Blue warrantied parts. I looked at Tradeloop and saw that Compaq and HP account for about 60% of parts bought and sold, so we're a perfect fit. I can provide parts from my inventory, and the customer knows it's a legitimate purchase in the eyes of HP."

Alnwick also plans to expand his customer base using the Tradeloop End User program. "That has a two-pronged attraction. I can present the same inventory in two different modes in two different marketplaces. We've only sold to resellers before, but the End User program gives us a new marketplace."

Alnwick expects that end users will be particularly interested in HP "Renew" products and systems. These products are refurbished to "like-new" specifications and carry an HP warranty. "They offer a great value to end users because buyers get "like new" quality at a lower price."

This search for value in the marketplace has made Big Blue Products a surprising beneficiary of the struggling economy, notes Alnwick. Customers are demanding more value for their money. "They aren't as interested in buying the latest and greatest products. Now, the focus is on repair or refurbished products that are like new, but have a lower cost."

Taking nothing for granted though, Alnwick says that Big Blue Products will continue to focus on its core business goals:

"Our philosophy has always been to keep product in stock and stand behind it. We ship 75% of orders within 24 hours and only ship from our own warehouse. People know our product is going to work and are willing to pay for quality. We don't even do that much advertising; customers just find us – like a beehive to a bear."

Note: Tradeloop publishes member company profiles on a monthly basis. Would your company like to be featured? Contact us!

How A Good Company Profile Can Boost Your Search Engine Visibility

Tradeloop membership is limited to dealers, and wholesale prices are hidden from the public. However, Tradeloop members can make some information available to the public by choosing to make their Broadcasts public. Another option is to participate in the End User program that displays retail pricing to public users.

One benefit of the End User program is that it increases your company visibility on search engines by making your company information available to search engine spiders. The spiders index your company description and display it to Web searchers. In many cases, carefully-written, keyword-rich Tradeloop company profiles appear in the top ten of Google search results.

A good company description answers three questions:

1. Who are you? Briefly describe your company and its business focus.
2. What do you sell? Explain what products and/or services you specialize in. Be complete and use manufacturer names and your targeted keywords. For instances, if you sell "used disk drives" and specialize in certain OEMs, be sure to mention it. Those are terms that Web searchers will use to find you.
3. Why should I buy from you? Emphasize the qualities that make your company stand out from the crowd. Maybe you offer 24-hour phone support, extended warranties, or free shipping.

Also, check to make sure you've selected the most accurate Business Type in the Company Information section. That, along with your company's name and location appears in the title section of the browser. See how yours looks by going to your Company Profile page and looking at the very top bar of your browser window.

A complete company profile gives you added credibility with fellow Tradeloop members too. It's often the first impression members have of your company, so write carefully and put your best foot forward.

There's a limit of 4,000 characters, but that should be plenty. This entire blog post is only about half that!