CozyBug launched today. It is best summed up as an eBay for big stuff. It’s meant for large items that people often sell locally because they’re too big to ship or are used and need in person inspection. Sellers get a mini virtual web storefront, and have the option to advertise their storefronts throughout the site.
The site doesn’t support shipping goods and is meant to replace local business classified advertising. They say it’s ideal for “antique stores, second-hand furniture stores, local car dealerships, flea market vendors, and small businesses that do not have websites.”
Listings cost $1.00, include up to four images and last 30 days. Premium listings cost $2.00, but include four images and the option of uploading two additional images for $1.00 each. Virtual storefronts cost $5.00. New registrants get one store and listing for free.
The company was formed in late 2002, and I can’t help but think they were coaxed into launching by the entrance of eBay’s Kijiji into the market. Both are taking on the large incumbent Craigslist. While Kijiji is essentially Craigslist, CozyBug differentiates itself by adding storefronts.
CozyBug has a tough road to plough if they want to be a localized eBay. They’re up against LiveDeal and sandwiched between Craigslist, which serves the “garage sale” crowd, and eBay, which serves local businesses looking to scale their business internationally. They also face a growing local advertising market that helps local businesses generate sales based on search terms.
In all fairness i just had 4 margaritas and i might not be thinking clearly….but this sounds like a bust to me.
craigslist already has this, listings are free, and seriously, cozybug? wtf is that?
i hate to be a hater…ok no i don’t, but i just burnt my thumb really badly on these matches. i have to go.
furniture.com
Yeah, I’m having a tough time seeing the opening for them here– I’ve got pretty much 3 places to potentially sell things. Physically big stuff and popular stuff like iPods go to Craigslist. Less popular stuff goes on eBay or in a pinch eCrater when I want a much longer listing for esoteric stuff. Below the $10 mark it’s either a gift or garbage.
As for CozyBug… No idea what I’d list there.
Yep it is a nice concept, but the road ahead maybe bumpy, that too bca the company was launched in 2002– 5yrs for product launch!!
They might have to over come their mgmt practices
Vijay
Hmm.. Am I reading this right? It took them 5 years to launch a product that competes with well established players.. too little too late
The name of the company alone might put them in the dead pool.
The negative comments took me to their site, and I would call them a niche player. No rideshare, housing, jobs, forums, services, etc., just physical items. Lots less “clutter”. But, the interface needs improvement, and I have to believe their original business/technology must have been altered.
One differentiator, is their offering of partnerships with local property owners whereby they will share revenue or pay a flat fee to stage a flea market of sorts. This has scaling issues and details are slim (very short explanation provided).
They need to find some 3rd party logistics companies to partner with and negotiate some bulk rates. My friend runs a local branch of a national 3PL, and they often have extra space on one of their trucks. This would remove the local constraint, and help buyers and sellers.
I don’t think the guys came up with this using the internet at all
CRAIGSLIST.ORG
Pretty bad concept
a) If its such a big item, I’d probably go to the store for it or list it on craigslist for free
b) Pretty sure there was another big site launched in cali, which tries to do local search. Pretty much gets you local rates in stores nearby.
c) the name..cozybug?
d) There are no listings currently for my whole state
e) Looks like a word press design
f) their description, leads me to believe they never heard of craigslist
g) they only allow you to list 4 images for the initial dollar…then its a whole dollar more for 1 additional image…WTF
h) cozybucks…whats the point of another name, if your conversion rate is 1 to 1? I can see if 1 dollar bought you 10 cozybucks…then it might be understandable
Conclusion: site was probably designed by someone in their off time, after all it took them 5 years to launch, and they are hoping that techcrunch will get them millions.
Can’t see it working if other forms of posting adverts e.g. craigslist, Kjiji, gumtree are free.
There is not point paying even for free adverts if there is not traffic!
It is hideously implemented, awful sites like this that give me the strength to keep putting in 16 hour days, even when one VC after another totally ignores my emails. Thank you CozyBug.
Nick
http://www.ahyer.com/
and TC reviewed this garbage, and in general was more bullish on it that streamy … ugg
how can you compete with free?
– with no vaule ad?
– we’ll see them next week on TC right side adverting for sure
I don’t like the name either. There have been a lot of new auction sites come and go in the last ten years. I hope they have a chance, because it takes a lot of work to build a website and get traffic to it. I would say that it’s harder to get traffic then it is to build it. Anyway I wish them lots of luck.
The concept is great, but not just as fresh as it would like people to think. If it were a free platform, I might even be a little interested.
What makes us different is the ability to create a listing with rich
content, for instance our Garage Sale mapping mashup which allows users to create a comphrensive map of multiple garagle sale locations,(not possible on Craigslist) at a very low price, and we’re
not an auction site. Our goal is to create a niche in local markets not only for
businesses and independent artists etc. to have storefronts, but a key
part of our strategy is the creation of CozyBug.com Swap Spots. Swap
Spots are designated CozyBug.com “partners” within local communities that are the site for physical meet-ups between buyers and sellers. Swap Spotsoffer a safer way for people to connect and they provide local businesseswith the opportunity to drive more foot traffic.
You don’t get it? It’s all about the experience. Because people make human, emotional choices.
Pretend your an average person. Not a young twentysomething male who gets all his news via rss. If you are the type of person who tries to get away from the clutter and avoid the stress of information, a simple website offering just this antique webshop experience might easily become one of your stops of the day.
The site looks great and polished. If website design can be even remotely comparable to packaging and decorating, then this design will be very succesful with their target audience. Most of which will turn out to be women and not the kind of nerds who can’t see the difference between Noka N 95 and the iPhone because they have the same tech specs.
Correction: That should read “Nokia” N95, of course..
What makes us different is the ability to create a listing with rich
content, for instance our Garage Sale mapping mashup which allows users to create a comphrensive map of multiple garagle sale locations,(not possible on Craigslist) at a very low price, and we’re
not an auction site. Our goal is to create a niche in local markets not only for
businesses and independent artists etc. to have storefronts, but a key
part of our strategy is the creation of CozyBug.com Swap Spots. Swap
Spots are designated CozyBug.com “partners” within local communities that are the site for physical meet-ups between buyers and sellers. Swap Spots offer a safer way for people to connect and they provide local businesses with the opportunity to drive more foot traffic.
David, how do you square your name with the bedbug epidemic, much of which seems to stem from used furniture? For example:
http://www.asso..._from_ebay.html
The bedbug epidemic is an unfortunate event and we extend our sympathies to those affected. However, we do not feel that the bedbug epidemic will cause a slippery slope negatively affecting our branding. One would hope that the majority of users will not even bother themselves with the association that is being implied. We are more focused on appealing to users and communities that have associations referenced in the below article:
“CozyBug launched today filling a niche that has been overlooked in the past Think of it as eBay for big stuff — the stuff that is too bulky and costly to ship.
Sellers get a mini virtual web storefront, and have the option to advertise their storefronts throughout the site.
This is perfect for me as I just won a prize package from NFL.com (through Gimme Sweeps) and one prize is a huge leather recliner that I have already allocated for sale.
With free registration and $1.00 listings plus a free storefront, how can you go wrong? I have wished for competition to eBay which has grown too large, with bloated ego, and nickels and dimes you to death.”
cozybug.com is a FREE Market Place to buy and sell locally. Yes its all FREE so if you need to unload your stuff do it here.