State of Panbo: new classifieds, logos & more

... written for Panbo by Ben Ellison and posted on Feb 4, 2012
Panbo_Classifieds_screen_shot.JPG

Eventually Panbo's new Classifieds section will look more like the other sections, but it's already been tested a fair bit and we're declaring today the official opening of the public beta (Google style). Please check it out!  It may be a little rough around the edges -- don't hesitate with constructive criticism -- but I'm hopeful that it will grow into something useful to everyone involved with marine electronics. Individuals and businesses can easily place ads there and right now they're all FREE...

The Panbo elves have been busy recently. Note the new logo at the top of this page and the new ways I can tweak elements around the changing header photos...like the ducky About page, Archives with yawl, and stormy Search. The Panbo business card and hat graphic I once drafted has come along way too, thanks to a new member of Team Panbo. In fact, there's been a lot going on behind the scenes, which is one reason my entry production has been a bit slow. I'll expand on that soon, and also pick up the entry pace. In the meantime please check out Classifieds, better yet place an ad, and let us know what you think of the new section and graphics. Thanks!

Panbo_logo_and_graphic.jpg

Posted by Ben E on February 4, 2012 6:30 AM

Comments

Ben, excellent design for the logo, speaking to both types of boat geeks. Them w/large engines, them w/large fabric wings. Congrats on the classifieds!! great idea to help folks move stuff out of their basements and onto working vessels.

Posted by: linklind at February 4, 2012 8:15 AM | Reply

looks great. thanks for starting this up

Don

Posted by: Don Joyce at February 4, 2012 8:55 AM | Reply

I forgot to mention that one personal motivation for Panbo Classifieds was to create a good place to sell the used gear I've taken off Gizmo or prior boats. And by golly, I seem to have just sold the Horizon Multi (subject to figuring out the shipping cost to Canada). So it looks likes Panbo Classifieds made its first sale soon after opening the door, woohoo, and I'm the seller. Double woohoo!

Posted by: Ben E at February 4, 2012 10:09 AM | Reply

Nice going Ben. I can see this section of the site getting very popular. I have some needs that I will be keeping an eye out for. Chuck

Posted by: Capn. Chuck at February 4, 2012 4:47 PM | Reply

Thanks, Chuck, and I hope that you and other readers tell your friends about Panbo Classifieds. The more buyers and sellers the better for all.

I did just complete the sale of the Horizon Multi, and it feels like concept validated. A Panbo reader named Bob B. up in Alberta, Canada, will soon have hard-to-find spare transducer and display for his Multi system at reasonable cost, and I've already got a few more dollars to "invest" in Gizmo gear.

While placing the ad was fairly easy and cost free, it apparently conveyed enough information for Bob to make a decision. My email was protected until I decided to reply to Bob's offer, and then we consummated the deal with PayPal and USPS international parcel post (less than $12 for 2.5 pounds of used electronics).

In other words, something that often gets thrown out in boatyards, or might have collected dust for more years in my basement, turned out to have a little value for both Bob and I, without much effort. Panbo Classifieds work!

https://www.panbo.com/classifieds/viewlisting.php?view=8

Posted by: Ben E at February 5, 2012 3:05 PM | Reply

Wow, I think that Aaron Held of Octopus Yachts in New Jersey just demonstrated how an excellent dealer/installer ad can be created in the new Classified section. It's got large, well-labeled photos and personable, informative text. I bet it will help Aaron's business and, morever, it helps make the case for why pros are important in marine electronics:

https://www.panbo.com/classifieds/viewlisting.php?view=51

Dealer/installers everywhere: You can do this!

Aaron paid $30 for "Featured" status -- which I appreciate and will pay off as the section gets busier -- but the basic ad is free, and the options like Featured can be added later (as can different pictures and/or text if desired). However, year-long commercial ads like this will not be free forever. Register now and get started.

Posted by: Ben E at February 7, 2012 9:08 AM | Reply

Panbo Classifieds got a little nicer looking and more integrated with the other sections today:

https://www.panbo.com/classifieds/

Plus I learned about another nice site for selling used boat gear, also free. Once you get your photos and text together, it's easy enough to post ads on both:

http://www.usedboatequipment.com/

Posted by: Ben E at February 8, 2012 2:09 PM | Reply

Panbo Classifieds work! Dan just sold his ST60, and I've already had two sales now. But you won't sell anything if you don't list it, which is easy, and free. We are slowly but surely improving the layouts and making the differences between the different types of ads more obvious. Please participate!

Posted by: Ben E at February 28, 2012 8:26 AM | Reply

As of today, all new ads in the Classifieds section also show up on Panbo's main page (for a while). And all "Featured" ads will be regularly rotated on the main page. And basic ads of every type are free, whether for an installer/dealer, a product, an app, or just some used electronics that's slowly losing value in your basement.

Please note that it's perfectly fine for installers, boatyards, and other professionals to list used electronics. But we have put a limit in the manufacturer, dealers, and developer categories of three ads per company. That's because they are free now, and it's quite possible for a company to advertise many products with one ad.

https://www.panbo.com/classifieds/

Posted by: Ben E at March 2, 2012 2:09 PM | Reply

Panbo Classified is easy and worked well for me. As Ben wrote, the ST60 graphic is sold.

Without Panbo this ST60 would have languished in storage after being replaced by my very cool ST70, as it has for two years now. I realize ebay was an option, but jumping thru all the hoops in the ebay system just to sell one thing a year on ebay was not worth the effort for one piece of equipment.

Comparatively, Panbo Classified is quick and easy to work with even for a single listing. I got a little cash, and a Panbo reader got a very low power B&W graphic display ideal for a sailboat, on the cheap. We both win. Thank you Ben!

Posted by: Dan (b393capt) at March 2, 2012 6:38 PM | Reply

Classifieds works! Bob Miller of New York just emailed:

"Just wanted to thank you for setting up the 'Classifieds' section on the Panbo site. I listed a used Furuno radar display some time ago. Just sold it to a lobsterman in Maine. Nice to know it will continue to see use as opposed to heading to a landfill."

We've also been busy fine tuning the main page display of ads and have realized that the best way to do business ads is one ad per business per category. It's fine to highlight products in those ads but the main idea is to profile the qualities that make each marine business different.

Posted by: Ben E at March 25, 2012 2:31 PM | Reply

Handsome new Panbo long-billed logo hats are in, and the person who creates the best Classified ad this month will get his or her choice:

https://www.panbo.com/classifieds/viewlisting.php?view=116

If you've ever written a guest entry on Panbo, you deserve a hat too. Don't hesitate to send me your mailing address!

Posted by: Ben E at May 7, 2012 1:00 PM | Reply

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