Idea: Craigslist Drop off Kiosk ...? Thoughts, criticisms and opinions

B

biscuithead

Me likes the eargasm retroplasm...
What do you guys think of a CL Kiosk-Locker drop off center?

I have issues with the time I work, the time I pick up/ drop off the kids, and dinner time cutting into my CL availability, both as a buyer and seller. A regular busy-body with no time for the hobby anymore:(

What I propose is this: A place that has electronic combination lockers, big lockers, small lockers, square lockers, rectangle lockers. Small lockers cost X amount, large lockers cost XX amount. Cameras everywhere.
Step 1.) list something on CL. 2.) buyer contacts seller, discusses price, agrees on price, and who will pay for locker rental 3.) Seller tells buyer it will be in a Locker on Thursday, as long as He gets payment by Tuesday (paypal) 4.) After payment on Tuesday, seller puts in an online reservation for appropriate locker, and passes the Combo to buyer. 5.) Wednesday, seller deposits item in locker and gets receipt. Can be done at sellers schedule discretion... 6.) buyer picks up on Thursday.

This idea is open to the capitalist who thinks it is brilliant and a source of revenue. Steal it please! I just want another option, and I'll pay for it.

It is also open to the criticisms of the mob... I know, in our hobby we want to see and hear the item before purchasing. I know, a camper, or pick-up topper won't fit into the locker. I Know, you need insurance for that $40,000 Rolex that gets "lost".

Will it be manned or unmanned? How about funded by the city for the sake of safety? Maybe it already exists and I am slow to the punch...
 
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ferninando said:
CL will no longer be free.
If govt gets involved its taxes, lic., permits, EPA, and on and on.
15 yrs for approval.
Sorry but no thanks.
Click to expand...


How does this affect the free status of CL? You do not have to use this optional service. Oh and the EPA would not be involved.
 
They already exist in most larger cities. Private CL consignment sellers, who have a warehouse. You drop something off, they log it in their system, create the ad, give you the CL listing ID, and when it is sold they give you 65% of the realized sale, no fuss, no muss.
 
already done - google this. Also, amazon is trying this in big cities.

if you truly believe in this, put together a business plan, and if it has "special" sauce
then file a patent - also do so in Europe. if it's well written enough and easy to implement
then post on one of the crowd funders.

ebay has a service that you send your stuff to, they take pix, they sell, they pack and ship
the eBay shipments and deliver to your door.

I also bought something from Walmart that was delivered in 2 days to my door.

I think the world is moving towards same-day door-to-door delivery.

The only reason I can think of for not delivering to your door is theft. then the great idea
is to have a giant metal box with a lock and access in your front door or the lobby
of your building. another great idea for someone else to develop (I don't need this service)
 
sheltie dave said:
They already exist in most larger cities. Private CL consignment sellers, who have a warehouse. You drop something off, they log it in their system, create the ad, give you the CL listing ID, and when it is sold they give you 65% of the realized sale, no fuss, no muss.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I didn't know. I knew about the ebay folks, but not the service for CL.
My thoughts were more along the lines of airport-bus station lockers, the demographic being strange-schedule Sam.
100% of sale minus paypal fees and locker fees goes to seller. Oh well...
 
Bob said:
already done - google this. Also, amazon is trying this in big cities.

if you truly believe in this, put together a business plan, and if it has "special" sauce
then file a patent - also do so in Europe. if it's well written enough and easy to implement
then post on one of the crowd funders.

ebay has a service that you send your stuff to, they take pix, they sell, they pack and ship
the eBay shipments and deliver to your door.

I also bought something from Walmart that was delivered in 2 days to my door.

I think the world is moving towards same-day door-to-door delivery.

The only reason I can think of for not delivering to your door is theft. then the great idea
is to have a giant metal box with a lock and access in your front door or the lobby
of your building. another great idea for someone else to develop (I don't need this service)
Click to expand...


This is a different approach... maybe along the lines of the people who deliver food from places that don't offer delivery.
I don't truly believe in this... I just want this service. Someone else can gamble, succeed or fail.
 
Good thinking, but my favorite part about Craigslist isn't necessarily getting deals on stuff. I really enjoy getting to meet the different folks who buy and sell this kind of stuff. Either they're a likeminded person who is into gear or they're an original owner who has a story about the stuff. Or sometimes they're jerks, but I still enjoy the process and shooting the bull. Wouldn't be for me.
 
bberkom said:
Good thinking, but my favorite part about Craigslist isn't necessarily getting deals on stuff. I really enjoy getting to meet the different folks who buy and sell this kind of stuff. Either they're a likeminded person who is into gear or they're an original owner who has a story about the stuff. Or sometimes they're jerks, but I still enjoy the process and shooting the bull. Wouldn't be for me.
Click to expand...
You know... you're right! The people I've met during my CL forays have mostly been fantastic! Maybe I just need to simplify my busy schedule...
Good Point!
 
Maybe your idea will take off. But I think there are enough alternatives out there.

Not enough time because of your schedule, buy on ebay.
Worried about security, meet at police station.
Don't want to deal with buyers, take it to consignment shop or pawn shop.

The cost added by operational cost of locker facility could be greater than ebay fees/shipping costs.
 
Items sold, and temporarily stowed in lockers, that except parcels for pick-up by purchasing clientele, possibly in a crowded commuter area?
Hmmm, lets see how long it takes Homeland Security, to rightfully remove this concept, citing national security.
 
h2o4nyc said:
Items sold, and temporarily stowed in lockers, that except parcels for pick-up by purchasing clientele, possibly in a crowded commuter area?
Hmmm, lets see how long it takes Homeland Security, to rightfully remove this concept, citing national security.
Click to expand...

Ha! I live in Colorado, where every other add on CL is some pot ad.... I never even thought about the elicit, illegal, egalitarian possibilities... The cops would be on this like Blue on Freedom!

Forgive.
 
biscuithead said:
What do you guys think of a CL Kiosk-Locker drop off center?

I have issues with the time I work, the time I pick up/ drop off the kids, and dinner time cutting into my CL availability, both as a buyer and seller. A regular busy-body with no time for the hobby anymore:(

What I propose is this: A place that has electronic combination lockers, big lockers, small lockers, square lockers, rectangle lockers. Small lockers cost X amount, large lockers cost XX amount. Cameras everywhere.
Step 1.) list something on CL. 2.) buyer contacts seller, discusses price, agrees on price, and who will pay for locker rental 3.) Seller tells buyer it will be in a Locker on Thursday, as long as He gets payment by Tuesday (paypal) 4.) After payment on Tuesday, seller puts in an online reservation for appropriate locker, and passes the Combo to buyer. 5.) Wednesday, seller deposits item in locker and gets receipt. Can be done at sellers schedule discretion... 6.) buyer picks up on Thursday.

This idea is open to the capitalist who thinks it is brilliant and a source of revenue. Steal it please! I just want another option, and I'll pay for it.

It is also open to the criticisms of the mob... I know, in our hobby we want to see and hear the item before purchasing. I know, a camper, or pick-up topper won't fit into the locker. I Know, you need insurance for that $40,000 Rolex that gets "lost".

Will it be manned or unmanned? How about funded by the city for the sake of safety? Maybe it already exists and I am slow to the punch...
Click to expand...


Maybe it already exists and I am slow to the punch...

Actually it does. Its called the Greyhound Bus Station. It's a good way to transfer a few kilos of coke also. :D

Regards
Mister Pig
 
in some cities there are third party food deliverers that cater to the restaurants that don't want their
own delivery systems.

one of these days, the Ubers and Lyfts will expand into deliveries as a planned phase
march to the IPO.

Amazon and others already use USPS to deliver some packages as a supplemental delivery service.

also FedEx allows you to reschedule your delivery so it can accommodate your time availability.
 
Bob said:
Also, amazon is trying this in big cities.
Click to expand...
They recently put one of these units outside one of our QT stations...and I'm in "po-dunk" Fort Mill, SC. To be fair, Fort Mill is a "bedroom community of Charlotte. :biggrin:
It's a boon for all the apartment and condo dwellers.

Amazon-Lockers.jpg


Bob said:
I think the world is moving towards same-day door-to-door delivery.
Click to expand...

Last year I ordered some Utz Pub Mix from Amazon. Placed order at 10 AM----It arrived on my front porch 6 1/2 hrs. later. :eek: :thumbsup:

We also get Sunday delivery compliments of Amazon..regular mail is oft times in the box as well. :)
 
I'm waiting for the time you're driving and you punch a lunch order in, roll your windows down, stretch
out your arm and have a Philly cheesesteak drop right in.
 
Cheesesteak drones? <G>

Wondering why anyone would even use the Amazon lockers ... the post office will drop the package right at your door, even on Sundays, even where they normally would deliver to a parcel locker ...

One of the better advances in CL transactions is establishing "safe zones". We've a couple of those in the area - one's a police station parking lot. Can't just drop something off - you do need to make a meet - but at least you don't have a bunch of strangers who now know where you live, or agree to meet in dark alleys.
 
the battle for the future will be delivery to door vs driving somewhere. the retail stores are closing
like crazy. Driving somewhere may be work, play, and CL.

it remains to be seen whether the rest can be delivered to door step like groceries which have an
element of surprise and spontaneous purchases. during the dot-com bust, Webvan spent
about quarter-million to custom build refrigerated delivery vans to do grocery deliveries.
 
Some anecdotal evidence Amazon is taking over... I re-purpose boxes for shipping. Smile boxes are everywhere and in all sizes. They are easy to find, so easy that I never have to buy boxes. All these boxes represent one less trip to the mall.
 
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