This week Lonely Planet launched Classifieds on its award-winning website, LonelyPlanet.com: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/classifieds. The Classifieds are a new area on LonelyPlanet.com where travellers can connect with each other to buy and sell travel related products, find or advertise rental or share accommodation, find or advertise employment opportunities or meet up with like minded travellers

Lonely Planet’s Digital Products Manager Pamela Philpot says of Classifieds:

“We plan for Lonely Planet Classifieds to become a trusted online resource where like-minded travellers can connect with each other. From hiking boots to a Combi, travellers can buy gear off travellers who have been there and done that. They can fund their next trip by selling their stuff to fellow travellers, find a job to suit their travels, rent a room or simply hitch a ride. We plan for Classifieds to be a niche player rather than a generic service with a lot of irrelevant content.”

On Classifieds, travellers are able to search for products and services via categories (see below), location or keyword.  Travellers will be able to post classified ads based on the same set of categories.  During the initial phase, posting a classified will be free of charge. But after further growth of the site, travellers will have the option of purchasing premium listings. Lonely Planet does not participate in the transaction at any stage; we introduce travellers who then determine whether the transaction is taken through to completion. Uniquely, buyers will be able to search for products from around the globe rather then being restricted to search by regions.

Classifieds Categories include:

á    Flat/house share
á    Stuff for sale
á    Vehicles for sale
á    Travel companions & shared rides
á    Friends & missed connections
á    Jobs

Recent classifieds include:

á    Quetzaltenango’s leading culture and nightlife magazine, XelaWho, seeking travel stories.
á    A pop-up mosquito net for sale because the owner is heading home and doesn’t need it anymore.
á    A traveller in Morocco looking to meet up with other travellers & share chaotic on-the-road experiences over a coffee.

á    A post seeking a good condition diesel or single phase electric diving compressor.

The Classifieds site merely facilitates the connection between the buyer and seller, with the transaction performed externally as determined by the buyer and seller. Transaction types include:

á    Nominated price: the seller nominates the price they will accept for the product/service they are offering.
á    Make me an offer: the seller lists the “price” as make me an offer and can negotiate with various interested parties to get the best deal.
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