Craigslist, the popular go-to web classified ads portal created by Craig Newmark in 1996, has all but made local paper based classified ads a thing of the past. Since the service expanded to cities besides San Francisco in 2000, paper-based classifieds have become less and less relevant, when faced with the real time ease of use of Craigslist.
Eggdrop looks to further refine this popular concept, bringing location based services and both classified ads and eBay-style auctioneering to the local scene. With this app, users can post pictures of items for sale, find only local items for sale, and even set up push notifications for items on a watch list. The implications here are stunning, though it does seem as though the mobile app is needed for the service, limiting it to smartphone users (an android version exists, as well).
According to the iTunes App Store page, the app features include:
- Listing Items for sale as easy as taking pictures
- Share on Facebook and Twitter, auto-post to Craigslist to reach more buyers
- Browse and search for items by location
- Falling price model gets you the best deal
- Real-time messaging between buyers and sellers.
- Support for identity and reputation makes it a safe environment
- Unlike eBay and Etsy, no listing or transaction fees
- Can’t find something? Add it to your WishList. We’ll notify you immediately when the item is listed.
Eggdrop comes from a company founded in 2010, according to ReadWriteWeb, from Dan Zheng from Google and Brian Lynch from Playdom. They created EggDrop as a response to a percieved lack of use of eBay and a dissatisfaction with Craigslist’s user experience. When users post an item for sale, it can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and even on Craigslist, where a link will show potential buyers a way to download the app. What takes this app to the next level is what they call, “Falling Price Auctions,” which is essentially an automated auction system in which the seller sets a starting and minimum price level, and the service will automatically reduce the price over the time the item does not find a buyer. This eliminates any direct haggling and allows for a more gentle experience. In addition, the app uses some game mechanics to keep users interested in using it, including “karma” badges and watch lists.
The concept here seems fairly revolutionary, and could spark a new way of buying and selling stuff locally. EggDrop is currently a free download, and available now in the App Store.
Released: 2011-06-23 :: Category: Lifestyle
