Making the Buy and Sell Experience Hyper-Local
VarageSale is a buy and sell app that highlights and enhances the value of your local community - providing members of a community with a platform to connect.
Buying and selling works best when it's local - it's more convenient and you're more likely to deal with people just like you.
Buying and selling works best when it's local - it's more convenient and you're more likely to deal with people just like you.
Product
VarageSale • 2016
Role
User Research, Usability Testing, UI Design, UX Design
Platforms
iOS, Android
Minimum Viable Product
A simple solution could be offering an open text field for sellers to input location details they're comfortable with: address, neighborhood, or intersection. While not a comprehensive fix, it helps gauge user needs while addressing the issue incrementally.
The Problem
Members encounter irrelevant items due to inaccurate location data or items being too distant. However, they hesitate to provide precise location details until they're ready to transact.
Could we develop a system for contextual location info that also respects members' privacy concerns?
Could we develop a system for contextual location info that also respects members' privacy concerns?
The Data
- 85% of members make sales from 2 or less locations
- Only 10% of our users enable GPS tracking
- When surveyed - members identified location as the biggest pain point of the buy-sell experience
- Successful transactions dropped significantly if distance was greater than 7km
Minimum Viable Product - Next Iteration
In order to make it easier for sellers to easily select locations to sell their items, we planned to provide a toggle that would allow sellers to easily turn on and off locations per item post. A seller wouldn't have as many transportation limitations to sell a mobile phone as they would a couch, for instance.
UX Exercise
During a company-wide dogfooding exercise, the number one identified problem employees of VarageSale found was 'Location'
During testing, employees discovered that precise location significantly impacted transaction success within VarageSale's location-based communities. Vague location information led to frequent inquiries about whereabouts.
Recognizing the importance of enhancing this experience, we aimed to empower members and streamline interactions on the platform.
Recognizing the importance of enhancing this experience, we aimed to empower members and streamline interactions on the platform.
User Interviews
User Interviews revealed the 3 most important factors for our users when deciding to get in touch with a seller
- Photos and price
- Location of item
- User reviews
Sketches
The Solution