Trade Me Alternatives - Viable Marketplace, Jobs, Automotive, Property and Other Sites Revealed
We explore alternative sites for marketplace, jobs, motor, and property sectors.
Updated 29 August 2024
Summary
Our guide covers:
Know This First: What Has Happened to Trade Me?
Disclaimer: Please note that the links to Reddit posts included in this guide are not verified, and the content of these posts represents the opinions of individual users. The accuracy and reliability of the information provided in these posts cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, we suggest you exercise caution and use your judgment when interpreting and acting upon the information found on Reddit.
- Trade Me has been around for decades. It's iconic and is (or was, depending on your view) an incredibly useful tool to declutter, browse for a new car, look for a job, browse houses or rentals, and find hidden gems.
- However, as of 2024, many New Zealanders will be unclear whether Trade Me is still a good site to use to buy/sell products or whether there are better alternatives. There is a constant stream of posts on Reddit, with this highly detailed example in early 2024 showing the limitations of the website.
- Too often, posts bemoan bemoan Trade Me while public perception suggests there are few alternatives. However, our research reveals many popular alternatives for specific goods and services.
Our guide covers:
- Why is Trade Me Becoming Less Popular?
- The Most Popular Trade Me Segments
- Alternatives to the Trade Me Marketplace
- Alternatives to Trade Me Jobs
- Alternatives to Trade Me Motors
- Alternatives to Trade Me Property
- Alternatives to Trade Me’s Other Non-Core Offerings
Know This First: What Has Happened to Trade Me?
- There is much criticism about Trade Me, but we don't believe every interaction with the website creates a negative experience. Specifically, some users are not happy about the numerous fees and continue to protest the increases.
- There are also problems reported about the scams and the abundance of dropshipping.
- This March 2024 experience of someone selling a car in Wellington showed the issues Trade Me creates for private sellers, while someone buying a stroller found that with the leading bid in an auction learned that doesn't mean anything. One former Trade Me loyalist Reddit post, bemoaning the state of things, allegedly had Trade Me staff responding in agreement (although nothing can be verified).
- Trade Me is over 25 years old, and while it was once known as the marketplace of used goods, they have arguably now extended into other verticals.
- Today, Trade Me provides a space where individuals and businesses can buy and sell various products and services, including new and used goods, properties, jobs, and vehicles.
Disclaimer: Please note that the links to Reddit posts included in this guide are not verified, and the content of these posts represents the opinions of individual users. The accuracy and reliability of the information provided in these posts cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, we suggest you exercise caution and use your judgment when interpreting and acting upon the information found on Reddit.
Is Trade Me Becoming Less Popular?
We have no evidence to support a 'yes' answer. However, New Zealanders have shared their views online, which we summarise below:
1. New management and owners
When Wellingtonian Sam Morgan started Trade Me, the product was revolutionary, and the New Zealand roots were obvious. However, with the decision to sell Trade Me to Fairfax in 2006 (and the subsequent private equity acquisition by Apax Partners in 2019), it's clear that Trade Me needs to be profitable for its owners. Since the 2019 purchase, Trade Me fees have increased, much to the disappointment of some users.
2. Increased competition
It has never been easier for offshore technology companies to expand to New Zealand. As a result, many overseas technology platforms (particularly well-funded global and marketplaces) have branched out and now compete with Trade Me. These include Aliexpress, Temu, Shien, Etsy and others.
When an incumbent provider has a dominant position, there can be less of a desire to innovate. While we can't assume anything about Trade Me, many new websites have been launched to compete with certain Trade Me segments, such as OneRoof and real estate.co.nz (housing) and various car marketplaces aim to offer cheaper, higher-quality, and more tailored solutions.
3. Complacency
When an incumbent provider has a dominant position, there is less of a desire to innovate. While we can't assume anything about Trade Me, many new websites have been launched to compete with certain Trade Me segments, such as One Roof and real estate.co.nz (housing) and various car marketplaces aim to offer cheaper, higher-quality, and more tailored solutions. We explore the alternatives below.
4. A raft of media-reported issues
Recent social media coverage shows stories about Trade Me included discussing the high risk of scams and not taking appropriate actions to remedy customers, among other issues. Trade Me does attract some bad players (through no fault of its own), and as a result publishes an annual transparency review (the 2023 example can be viewed here) which outlines their efforts.
1. New management and owners
When Wellingtonian Sam Morgan started Trade Me, the product was revolutionary, and the New Zealand roots were obvious. However, with the decision to sell Trade Me to Fairfax in 2006 (and the subsequent private equity acquisition by Apax Partners in 2019), it's clear that Trade Me needs to be profitable for its owners. Since the 2019 purchase, Trade Me fees have increased, much to the disappointment of some users.
2. Increased competition
It has never been easier for offshore technology companies to expand to New Zealand. As a result, many overseas technology platforms (particularly well-funded global and marketplaces) have branched out and now compete with Trade Me. These include Aliexpress, Temu, Shien, Etsy and others.
When an incumbent provider has a dominant position, there can be less of a desire to innovate. While we can't assume anything about Trade Me, many new websites have been launched to compete with certain Trade Me segments, such as OneRoof and real estate.co.nz (housing) and various car marketplaces aim to offer cheaper, higher-quality, and more tailored solutions.
3. Complacency
When an incumbent provider has a dominant position, there is less of a desire to innovate. While we can't assume anything about Trade Me, many new websites have been launched to compete with certain Trade Me segments, such as One Roof and real estate.co.nz (housing) and various car marketplaces aim to offer cheaper, higher-quality, and more tailored solutions. We explore the alternatives below.
4. A raft of media-reported issues
Recent social media coverage shows stories about Trade Me included discussing the high risk of scams and not taking appropriate actions to remedy customers, among other issues. Trade Me does attract some bad players (through no fault of its own), and as a result publishes an annual transparency review (the 2023 example can be viewed here) which outlines their efforts.
The Most Popular Trade Me Segments
Trade Me's offerings can be segmented into several key categories, including:
- Marketplace: This is the core of Trade Me, where individuals and businesses can buy and sell a wide variety of new and used items. Products range from clothing and electronics to home and garden items.
- Jobs: Trade Me Jobs is an employment marketplace connecting job seekers with employment opportunities across various industries and sectors.
- Motors: This segment is dedicated to buying and selling new and used vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, boats, and caravans. It also includes related services and accessories.
- Property: Trade Me Property is a platform for real estate listings, offering rental and sale listings for residential, commercial, and rural properties, as well as businesses for sale.
- Other/Non-Core Services: This segment includes listings for personal and professional services, ranging from trades and home services to business services and personal training, as well as other areas like community notices and personal ads. TradeMe also has affiliated brands such as Trade Me Insurance, Holiday Houses, FindSomeone (Trade Me's online dating service), MotorWeb (which they acquired in 2013) and Homes.co.nz (which they acquired in 2021).
Why would I consider other platforms if TradeMe had different functions on one website?
While it's helpful that Trade Me has so many different functions on one website, as alluded to above, its quality (in particular, the listing quality) has arguably deteriorated with higher fees and less controls around sellers. In contrast, bespoke alternative platforms can often provide far better experiences. We list these below in detail.
Alternatives to the Trade Me MarketplaceSeveral marketplace and retail alternatives to Trade Me have emerged (both for used goods and also for new products), offering various features and catering to different market segments. There is a perception that Trade Me is increasingly filled with listings from dropshippers, but there are still plenty of local sellers.
Trade Me is no longer a "flea market" - the days of $1 sales and bargains are, arguably, long gone. Both sellers and Trade Me appear to be focused on profits, which lowers the buyer experience. Many Trade Me users are now using other websites; we list the most popular options and how they compare with Trade Me. Important: For new products, the Consumer Guarantees Act governs buying from New Zealand-based online and physical retailers - this includes professional ‘in trade’ sellers on Trade Me. If something is faulty, you can return it or resolve the issue with the retailer. However, no such protection is offered if you're buying new items from private sellers on Trade Me. While Trade Me offers Buyer Protection, you'll need to pay using Afterpay or Ping; not every seller will accept this. As noted in this Reddit post, buyers won't get any protection when sellers don't sign up. 1. Facebook Marketplace
2. Secondhand Stores and Offline Markets
3. Local Retailers
4. Online Retailers with Marketplace Features
5. Once It
6. Etsy
7. Temu
8. Shein
9. Aliexpress
10. Ebay.
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Alternatives to Trade Me JobsImportant: The New Zealand job market is dynamic and depending on economic conditions, can be highly competitive, requiring job hunters to leverage multiple channels beyond traditional platforms like Trade Me. While Trade Me remains a prominent job listing site, relying solely on it will, in no uncertain terms, limit opportunities.
Employers have increasingly turned to digital platforms, social media, and company websites for recruitment. Now, more than ever, personal connections, referrals, and networking will play a significant role in securing job opportunities in an arguably struggling economy. If you're applying for a job, we suggest considering all of the job sites below to maximise your chances of finding suitable positions. 1. LinkedIn
2. Seek
3. Industry recruiters
4. Apply directly to companies through their careers pages
5. Get referred internally from ex-colleagues, friends, family or acquaintances.
6. Zeil (new tech platform)
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Alternatives to Trade Me Motors1. Are you selling a car? Trade Me consistently has the most vehicle listings of any website, around 80,000 (July 2024), compared to AutoTrader (around 40,000), and has the most website traffic, meaning more people will view your car. The fees for selling a car range from around $29 to $450 using Trade Me (depending on the car's value), whereas AutoTrader charges a fixed $20.
Facebook Marketplace is another alternative; Facebook allows sellers to display their cars without paying any fees. Communication within Facebook Marketplace is done through Messenger, and you’ll instantly receive a notification when someone makes a comment or has an inquiry on your listing. However, it's not without its risks, and online users suggest avoiding it for car sales. You can also advertise your listings in local Facebook Groups to increase your car’s exposure to interested buyers. Some Facebook Groups to look at include Cheap Cars New Zealand | Sell | Buy | Swap | Trade, NZ Cars Buy Swap And Sell or Buy And Sell Cars Auckland (if you’re in Auckland). Turners is one of New Zealand’s largest used car deal networks. This can be a great place if you want to sell a damaged car with no warranty or “as is” because fixing would simply be too expensive for you. There are three ways to sell your car with Turners:
Know This: Before going any further, we suggest reading our guide to selling a car which has more information to help you make the right decisions. 2. Are you buying a car? Trade Me boasts the most vehicle listings in New Zealand, with around 80,000 listings as of July 2024. Some listings are from dealerships, meaning you'll be protected if something goes wrong with the car. As an alternative, AutoTrader has around 40,000 vehicle listings, providing a substantial selection. Facebook Marketplace can be the wild west and either easy or a lot of hassle. Scams are routine and communication is done through Messenger, meaning you could be dealing with anyone. However, there are Facebook Groups that have some moderating - examples include Cheap Cars New Zealand | Sell | Buy | Swap | Trade, NZ Cars Buy Swap And Sell or Buy And Sell Cars Auckland (if you’re in Auckland). Turners is one of New Zealand’s largest used car dealer networks, offering various purchasing methods. You can use your old car as a down payment towards your new purchase, with financing options available for the remaining balance. There are also auctions where the market determines the final price, often providing good deals. Know This: Before making any decisions, we recommend reading our comprehensive guide to buying a used car for detailed information and tips to help you make an informed purchase. |
Alternatives to Trade Me PropertyTrade Me Property is a popular site if you needed to find a property to rent, flatmate or browse homes to buy. However, there are alternatives, as outlined below:
1. OneRoof.co.nz
2. realestate.co.nz
3. Homes.co.nz (owned by Trade Me but running as a separate website)
Other options: Live Listings of Real Estate Agents.
Must Know Facts related to Trade Me Property Alternatives 1. When in doubt, triple check the estimates
2. As a buyer, be extremely wary of the “house price estimate” on these platforms.
One of the consequences of this perverse incentive is that properties saw substantial increases in estimated value shortly before being listed for sale. For example, Stuff cites:
Supposedly, real estate agents better understand local market conditions and property specifics than those running the property platforms/marketplaces (e.g. RealEstate, Homes, OneRoof, etc.). However, real estate agents have a strong incentive to push the price of the property up (whether to get current owners to try and take their property to an auction house or for prospective bidders to bid up the price on auction day). Either way, it's best to take the property marketplace valuation estimates with a grain of salt and get your third-party assessment (ideally from a real estate agent or registered valuer who has no vested interest in trying to get a transaction away by selling the property). 3. The house price valuation is only as good as the data (and algorithm) underpinning it. The underlying pricing algorithm is the biggest determinant of what value a property gets assigned. New Zealand property marketplaces don’t normally share these algorithms as they’re considered unique 'intellectual property' (that they want to keep a secret to ensure their competitors don’t copy it). However, this means that there’s no real way to tell whether the “home value estimate” you see is any more or less accurate compared to other platforms (or relative to the CV). This is why the best approach is to check multiple property websites (e.g. go to each website to check the house price estimate) and looking at the property's CV. 4. While many features are provided free of charge, be wary of their accuracy. Property valuation marketplaces are a great free resource for all the problems they create. You can get free property data and sales histories of properties (that otherwise would have been very hard to source 10 years ago), see comparable company sales in an easy-to-view map format with relevant dates and house details, and access price estimate data (even if it is a little "iffy"). 5. Understand and remember the reason these platforms exist—to get you to transact (buy/sell). These platforms are great, but at the end of the day, they exist to make money. Most of the time, these platforms are monetised by charging people to list their properties on the platform (or taking a cut when a buyer and seller connect). Alternatively, advertising is another source of revenue for these companies (given that millions of New Zealanders are on these sites every month—that's a lot of visibility). |
Alternatives to Trade Me’s Other Non-Core OfferingsTrade Me has strategically grown over the years, buying up innovative busineses and integrating them into its own, or starting new ventures outright. Our guide does not focus on these non-core offerings given their size. These include:
There are plenty of well-known and more popular alternatives to every offering above, given the rise in technology and changing habits. Know This: We believe Trade Me is still good (but not as good as it once was)
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