Author Topic: Building a group buy site  (Read 13148 times)

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Offline Drew Baumann

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #50 on: Sun, 13 May 2012, 15:13:16 »
Quote from: ripster;591795
How's the site uptime?

Don't wanna end up like MySpace.

Ha no doubt. Its up now, but not ready for release.

Offline boost

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #51 on: Sun, 13 May 2012, 15:17:32 »
I like the idea...
"Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines."

-Enzo Ferrari

Offline Drew Baumann

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #52 on: Sun, 13 May 2012, 19:52:05 »
Quote from: boost;591801
I like the idea...

Well thank you.

Offline 1391401

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #53 on: Sun, 13 May 2012, 20:26:06 »
http://www.drewbaumann.com/The_Desk_of_Drew_Baumann/Welcome.html

this you?  the 'made on a mac' part gets me worried... all this talk of ruby too... this cause it came with OSx?  you at least updated it right?
People I've given money to from this webform who never respond to me and have not shipped me anything: ctrlalt.io 1 2, Team Readline Reputable alternatives to GH group buys: http://pimpmykeyboard.com, https://www.massdrop.com,

Offline hashbaz

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #54 on: Sun, 13 May 2012, 21:26:39 »
Quote from: Drew Baumann;591356
Regarding trust: I don't want to screw anyone over. Ever. It's just not my way. Plus look at my username. Its my name! You can google me and see that I'm reputable. Now that the GB is being lead by someone else I wont have to spend a lot of time ramping the site up for immediate use.

Like I said before, it's nothing against you personally, and it has nothing to do with how much interest there is.  You need to be established in the community for at least a few months before you start trying to run group buys.  I have no reason to doubt that you'll do so and that you could run a great group buy, and that you're trustworthy.  It's just kind of off-putting to see someone that no one knows with such a low post count trying to start a buy.

Quote from: cactux;591428
OP there is plenty of room for improvement, and yours ideas are as valuable as any body else in this community.  Is nice to see people coming here proposing solutions (may be not the silver bullet) , instead of just complaining.

Google apps for sure are far from perfection, but they are handy and available on line for "free" (kind off ;-)).

BTW WTGH

This ^^

A lot of people around here like to complain.  Props for diving in immediately and showing a willingness to contribute to the community.

Offline Drew Baumann

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #55 on: Mon, 14 May 2012, 01:36:03 »
Quote from: 1391401;591992
http://www.drewbaumann.com/The_Desk_of_Drew_Baumann/Welcome.html

this you?  the 'made on a mac' part gets me worried... all this talk of ruby too... this cause it came with OSx?  you at least updated it right?

Ha yes thats me... I made that several years ago and need to take it down when I have the time. It was basically something I threw together a summer while I was an intern at a company that did webdev in java. I didnt want to make a site in java because its a *****, so instead I threw it together in iWeb. Since then I have come a long way. Basically I'll just redo it in rails or node when I find the time and my interest isnt peaked by other projects.

Offline Drew Baumann

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #56 on: Mon, 14 May 2012, 01:37:50 »
Quote from: hashbaz;592019
Like I said before, it's nothing against you personally, and it has nothing to do with how much interest there is.  You need to be established in the community for at least a few months before you start trying to run group buys.  I have no reason to doubt that you'll do so and that you could run a great group buy, and that you're trustworthy.  It's just kind of off-putting to see someone that no one knows with such a low post count trying to start a buy.



This ^^

A lot of people around here like to complain.  Props for diving in immediately and showing a willingness to contribute to the community.

Thanks. Ill try and live up to it. I like you guys a fair amount from my short stay.

Offline Wildcard

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #57 on: Tue, 15 May 2012, 23:23:46 »
While I applaud you on the initiative, I do agree that the current system works well with google docs/apps. Perhaps it might serve the community better to make a simple "group buy 101" page in the wiki on what works best.

My only issue with small sites like this are the security issues that arise. The web is not as simple as it once was and you really need a team of individuals to build a site like this safely online.

Offline ChaoticKinesis

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #58 on: Wed, 16 May 2012, 02:15:30 »
I'm not so sure this is what the OP had in mind, but I do think it would be nice if instead of buyers sending PMs and organizers manually updating spreadsheets, there was something with a database backend that would allow users access to their own orders. For example, if people could log in, place and/or update their own orders, viewing current pricing and order status in real time, that should make everything easier for everyone. All the organizer would have to do is set up the pricing structure and everything else should take care of itself.

As for billing, I know nothing of PayPal API integration but presumably the billing process could also be automated. That leaves organizers with only having to place the initial order, sort/pack shipments, and mail them.

This can be integrated with the current group buy forum, essentially just replacing the use of Google docs and PMs.

Offline Drew Baumann

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #59 on: Wed, 16 May 2012, 02:18:36 »
Quote from: ChaoticKinesis;593834
I'm not so sure this is what the OP had in mind, but I do think it would be nice if instead of buyers sending PMs and organizers manually updating spreadsheets, there was something with a database backend that would allow users access to their own orders. For example, if people could log in, place and/or update their own orders, viewing current pricing and order status in real time, that should make everything easier for everyone. All the organizer would have to do is set up the pricing structure and everything else should take care of itself.

As for billing, I know nothing of PayPal API integration but presumably the billing process could also be automated. That leaves organizers with only having to place the initial order, sort/pack shipments, and mail them.

This can be integrated with the current group buy forum, essentially just replacing the use of Google docs and PMs.

That is precisely the idea. Are you a dev? If so feel free to collab!

Offline ChaoticKinesis

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #60 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 02:47:36 »
Quote from: Drew Baumann;593835
That is precisely the idea. Are you a dev? If so feel free to collab!


I'm a DBA, so most of the coding I do is SQL, along with some Perl and some very occasional PHP. I haven't worked on any major programming projects in a while but wouldn't mind contributing. However, the major issues I see have already been mentioned: too much data residing under third-party control and with significant security requirements.

Offline Djuzuh

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #61 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 03:06:42 »
make the thing open source so the GB coordinators can host it themselves ? :o.

Offline demik

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #62 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 12:03:54 »
wait, is that new ripster? or have i never noticed it.

it's pretty nice.
No, he’s not around. How that sound to ya? Jot it down.

Offline demik

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #63 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 12:13:41 »
ah, mock ups. nowhere i couldnt see them.

looks good, i hope he goes through with it.
No, he’s not around. How that sound to ya? Jot it down.

Offline boost

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #64 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 13:04:10 »
Quote from: ChaoticKinesis;594457
I'm a DBA, so most of the coding I do is SQL,

Nice...


Hows this GB site coming along?
"Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines."

-Enzo Ferrari

Offline ChaoticKinesis

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Building a group buy site
« Reply #65 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 14:17:36 »
Quote from: boost;594729
Nice...


Hows this GB site coming along?

I completed it yesterday.