CJ Marketplace: Clicking into gear
CJ Marketplace: Clicking into gear
The advent of the internet has opened up all kinds of possibilities when it comes to buying and selling goods. From on-line auctions such as eBay and buying books, CDs and DVDs from the likes of Amazon, to reverse auctions for bidding on tenders and identifying supplies of obscure commodities, the internet has them all.
Now Contract Journal has launched www.cjmarketplace.com, a free-to-view, on-line classified service listing all types of construction plant and products for sale, as well as kit for hire and machines wanted.
So instead of spending hours telephoning endless suppliers for products, or in the car visiting dealers and auction houses, you can locate everything you want without leaving the office.
Logging on
Potential buyers and hirers logging on to the system find an at-a-glance table showing machines for sale, hire and wanted. This is divided into 13 categories (such as access equipment, ADTs and dump trucks, backhoes, excavators, cranes and so on) and it displays how many items are available in each sector.
When you click on the area of interest – for example, excavators – the heading subdivides into mini excavators, crawler excavators, wheeled excavators and trenchers. Click again, and it breaks this down further into machines for sale, for hire and wanted.
Clicking on the relevant section brings up a list of machines in the category. If you like the look of a machine, one click and up come details of make, model, year, condition (including a photograph), price and location.
In the materials section there are even more categories, 24 in total, covering areas such as concrete, cladding, steel, windows/doors/stairs, heating, ventilation, electrical and roofing. The process of identifying the product you need and the supplier is exactly the same as with plant – a few clicks get you all the provider’s contact details.
Where www.cjmarketplace.com differs from some other web-based offerings is that it does not own the equipment or products, nor does it take a commission from the sale. The aim is to put buyers in direct contact with sellers, and hire companies in contact with plant users. Therefore, a further click of the mouse brings up the vendor’s / hire company’s details, allowing potential purchasers and users to contact the supplier directly either by telephone or via e-mail.
Users can refine the listing to display the cheapest items first, or to have them ranked by condition or the most recently listed. If the specific machine you seek is not on offer, you can set up an e-mail alert to notify you immediately if the kit you are looking for is posted on the site.
Sellers and hirers
Sellers and hire companies need to register, and, having done so, can advertise a machine or materials on the site for four weeks for £10. There are no additional charges. Drop-down boxes prompt sellers to provide the required information. Suppliers (and viewers) can see how many times each advert has been viewed and as the service is web-based, it is equally accessible to buyers from overseas. This removes the need for separate marketing in the UK and abroad.
So whether you’re looking to buy, sell, rent or hire equipment, products and materials, make www.cjmarketplace.com your first port of call.