Online classifieds portal upgrades, simplifies site

CEBU, Philippines - A classified ads website announced it is making changes in its site to make online trading more accessible to Filipinos.

OLX Philippines, which allows users to buy and sell stuff online, said its online platform is now optimized as the page loading time has sped up by as much as 70 percent.

"With the level of reach that OLX is attaining, we want to continue making it easier for more Filipinos to experience online buying and selling," OLX Managing Director RJ David said in a statement.

The online firm also said it has simplified its sell form to allow users accomplish more in lesser time, such as selecting a certain location for targeted queries and choosing item categories faster through the auto-suggest feature.

It has also removed its feedback system and the number of free ad slots.

According to David, limiting the number of free ad slots and removing the feedback system give the site more "quality ads" and equal selling opportunity to all types of sellers.

The classified ads site said the removal of the feedback tool has increased the number of sellers getting buyer inquiries by 17 percent from 51,000 to 60,000; the paid limits on free ads has also resulted to a 38 percent rise from 43,000 to 60,000.

Despite the changes, it said it still remains a free online classified ads platform where sellers can post items without charge. 

"Paying for additional ad slots is just an option since you can either delete items that have already been sold or remove inactive ads," it noted.

OLX currently has over three million registered sellers. — Carlo S. Lorenciana (FREEMAN)