used airplane website - idea

[LanceDriver]

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica]Guys/Gals

As the proud owner of a 2004 Honda Pilot, purchased on Ebay, I continue to be amazed by "the power" of the Internet.

Being an avid 'net surfer and hobbyist, I am contemplating this idea....please provide comments

A variety of web-based "used car" sites exist, charging $29.99 to $50 for a 2-week to "until sold" listing, with one photo. Such sites are Ebay Motors, AutoBytel, and others.

I am considering forming a "message board" format site, dedicated to used aircraft sales, in which up to 3 photos plus the advertisement could be placed. In addition, with PM capability, the buyer/seller could communicate in public or in private. One would search for a particular plane using key words, such as SEARCH--->"2004 Bravo TAWS"

I would ideally charge $20-25 for an "until sold" listing [/font]

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica]Note that ASO.com charges $35-95 a month for a listing. AeroTrader charges $84.95 (online+print ad) for a 4-week listing.[/font][font=verdana, arial, helvetica]

I am still working out the details on how to allow regular shoppers free viewing versus listers paid listings.

However, please comment on my overall idea

thanks[/font]

 

[qmaster3]

20-25 is a little cheap. Don't short change yourself! IMO.

 

[User546]

20-25 is a little cheap. Don't short change yourself! IMO.

Remeber, you can always go down in price alot easier then you can go up! (From a customer standpoint!)

I think the idea is well thought out and has great potential, but let me as you just how "web savvy" you are when it comes to puttin together a site of this magnitude. Your going to have to include online purchasing and posting (for new people to add their planes), your going to have to find and probably pay nicely for a "message board" type software, include in complex searching capabilities, and also be prepared to back it up with some "quick available" tech support for all those dummies out there that will have problems with using and signing up to your site.

Do you have the capacity and capabilities to do all this, or would you be considering out sourcing it to another group?

Keep us informed of how things go with it!!

 

[qmaster3]

Keep us informed of how things go with it!!

YES let us know when you get the site up.


User,

Consumers in general are stupid and will pay it.
For a list it until sold I'm thinking at 75$.

 

[crash-proof]

Remeber, you can always go down in price alot easier then you can go up! (From a customer standpoint!)

I think the idea is well thought out and has great potential, but let me as you just how "web savvy" you are when it comes to puttin together a site of this magnitude. Your going to have to include online purchasing and posting (for new people to add their planes), your going to have to find and probably pay nicely for a "message board" type software, include in complex searching capabilities, and also be prepared to back it up with some "quick available" tech support for all those dummies out there that will have problems with using and signing up to your site.

And then the biggest of em...attracting visitors! No use havin a neat site with all them bells whistles when no one knows it's there!

 

[LanceDriver]

thanks for the replies...

well actually I already have software in mind, acquisition cost is not that crazy however you need some knowledge of database programming to get it up and running

I was thinking used airplanes since I am already familiar with the aviation industry, however one must go where the money is. With that said, Autotrader.com has over 2 million listings online, discussed here

http://www.autotrader.com/about/index.jsp

they also charge $15 for an online, no photo, 2-week ad. Assuming ALL listings are that type (which they are not), that is $30 M in revenue they are bringing in via online ads.

I am NOT looking to take over Autotrader or Trade-A-Plane, since I won't be able to anyway, HOWEVER I would like to supplement my pilot job income with my internet hobby, and I am evaluating the above idea.

thanks....keep the comments coming!

 

[qmaster3]

a great name for the site would be banginaplane.com

OOOOPS thats my site idea.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

A good name, but how about....

a great name for the site would be banginaplane.com

OOOOPS thats my site idea.

....shopaprop.com

wingforching.com

wingblingforchingching.com

cheapwings.com

flyride.com

flybuy.com

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

seriously though

I think flybuy.com is a good one.

"Personally, I don't think your gonna make dollar one. But if you do, I want a taste of the gig."

Sid, from the Blues Brothers.

 

[imacdog]

Not that you would be charging very much for someone selling a $XX,XXX+ aircraft, but competing for dollars versus Barnstormers (free when I had something to sell) will be difficult.

 

[navigator72]

Findaplane.com

Hi,
I had the same idea and had the perfect website domain name. www.Findaplane.com until a couple of weeks ago when I sold it to the guy who owns Buyaplane.com and USaviation.com.

I think the hardest part of that kind of website is getting customers to pay for the listing. If you do a quick search you will find a hundreds of aviation sites similar to what you are looking for.

I just did a quick search under Google.com:
[size=-1]Results 1 - 10 of about 3,970,000 for aircraft classifieds[/size]

If you do pursue this idea, the way to get your website out there is to have a major marketing plan.

I have done a ton of research on these kind of websites and if you need any help, send me an email and I will try to point you in the right direction.

Goodluck

 

[Immelman]

I believe your main competition will be trade-a-plane. Their listings go into print as well as on-line.

But here is the kicker: How much business can you drum up? People will list with you if their ad gets viewed. People will view the ads if there are many to view. I like trade-a-plane not because of the yellow newspaper, but because there are the greatest number of listings for the type of aircraft I'm interested in... so IMHO your biggest challenge will be overcoming existing preference of 'net cruisers and classified ad readers out there.

 

[Wings Level]

Agreed. I built a site for aircraft classifieds and have found that it is difficult to attract people to submit ads even when they are free. It's a catch 22, you need to have ads so people will view the site, but people won't view the site unless there are ads. Also, finding a unique domain name that people will easily remember is nearly impossible...

http://www.myplanead.com

 

[urflyingme?!]

TRy linking up your site with an in-print paper...