18 Jan
2007
18 Jan
'07
5:25 p.m.
Sellam Ismail wrote:
Is there a reason you don't use it? Is there
something about the
interface you don't like? Is there one or two or three or five reasons
why you don't like it or don't want to use it? If so, why didn't you say
so?
Personally, it always seemed to me like a very US-centric site with a
predominantly US-based readership. It'd be interesting to know if that's not
the case any more though (assuming you have any way of relating IP addresses
to some vague notion of originating country) as I admit to not having looked
for quite some time... :(
If it is still mainly centred in one country though, I'm not quite sure what
you can do about that as the amount of "marketing" needed to raise awareness
in other countries probably outweighs the amount of traffic from those
countries that you'll get in return. Personally, I know I've mentioned it
before over on uk.comp.vintage, and I've always had the intention to have it
listed on the museum website (along with other resources) when the rework's
finished - but that's been a "work in progress" for months now.
[I can't remember if you're on the "computer museum admins" mailing list
- if
so then asking there to see if members will add a link to their websites seems
like an easy thing to do]
Anyway, I'd be using it in preference to Ebay if I were either in the US or
were selling things that were economical to ship to the US. In the meantime
though, 99% of what I collect are UK machines centered around only a handful
of manufacturers, and so there are plenty of far more specific mailing lists
and/or newsgroups to interact with without the need (thankfully!) to go
anywhere near Ebay at all to buy or sell.
In short, I suspect that the VCM can and does provide a useful service - but
remember that you're hoping to reach an international audience of people with
a rather niche interest. As an "owner" I'd have serious reservations about
expecting to make a profit from that, other than using it to promote other
services which do generate money. I'd also be thinking twice about running it
all if it needed a lot of effort (although if that turns out to be your
feeling too, please don't just pull the plug - I'm sure willing people can be
found to take over the hosting / management if required! :-)
My two items of low-denomination currency, anyway.
cheers
Jules