Classifieds

These days the web is where classifieds are,  just look at job adverts where the online volume far exceeds press.

Classifieds are  perfect  for the  web ;  sellers can  easily  add and  manage their  adverts,  buyers  can quickly search  and  narrow  adverts down to their own unique search criteria.  Generally  online adverts are far more  up-to-date  than those in  print,  I can remember many years ago trying to buy a Laser and becoming very frustrated as most of the magazine adverts I  phoned were for boats long sold.

For traditional publishers the challenge is getting the right balance between their online and print offerings,  in the past classifieds have been a useful and regular revenue stream,  also handy space filling content.

I agree a forum based for sale section would be a great place e to sell unwanted gear/boats etc.  years ago before Internet Y&Y was the only real national press for finding dinghy's same as perhaps you would use autotrader mag for a car! Times have obviously change with the Internet and now very few people buy autotrader mag etc. (anyone sen a copy of the old car finder paper recently??!)  and just use the internet at lunch time at work to find there next car, the dinghy market will be similar most boats for sale in magazines are long sold by the time you receive a copy.  I know Y&Y has an on line classified page but I'm sorry it wouldn't have half as much coverage or input as a on line forum based classified section!

There is this...
Free classifieds for items under £1000

I would have thought most people go direct to class association sites to buy a boat now, which makes anything else a bit redundant!

Oooh, a thread I started that got noticed... how novel!!

To respond to those saying they were successful selling boats; I would agree that Y&Y is still a good place to sell, probably only second to the relevant class.

I'm currently in the market for an RS600, there is only one on the Y&Y classifieds (which also appears on most online dinghy classifieds sites).  When I started the thread there were 3 on the class association site, 3 (relatively new adverts) on boats and outboards and a smattering of other ads across the internet.  Unfortunately this is where the legs start to crumble beneath my arguement because virtually all these other boats have sold or the adverts expired.  However, continue I shall; I think the area in which the current system is failing is for the buyer.  There seems to be fewer boats advertised here than elsewhere and I suspect this is largely because of the cost.

I don't know how much income Y&Y generate from the classifieds compared to income from magazine sales, it is not something I'd considered.  From a business point of view then, the only incentive to move to a forum based section would be increased traffic through the site, increased awareness of articles in the mag and therefore higher sales of that.  That seems unlikely to perhaps I rest my case!