Bloom’s new trading feature lets parents buy, sell baby gear locally

[Wireless News]

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/37Kluhj59alH8YEp_QRt9g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9ODY7cT03NTt3PT EzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/digital_trends_973/84778a71569dd0d3de524e3a2b624ddb (http://news.yahoo.com/bloom-trading-feature-lets-parents-044530474.html)Combining the functionality of sites like Craigslist and Quora, parenting app Bloom has launched a new feature that lets new and upcoming parents locally trade goods related to the care of their-children. In short, parents can ask questions about specific products and look for other parents in their area that are interested in selling said products. This would allow parents to save money on used products while also connecting with parents that have experience with-the same items. Alternatively, a parent would have to research the product online to read reviews on Amazon as well as various baby blogs. To find a used model of that specific product, they would have to turn to online marketplaces like eBay and Craigslist. Bloom aims to simplify that process, assuming other parents in the area are using the Bloom app and have something to sell. Speaking about the new trading feature, Bloom founder-Manuj Bahl said “ At Bloom we believe a conversation with your neighbors and friends is a natural way to progress into a transaction. It saves time and you trust their advice more than a search engine giving you feedback from someone far away and years ago .” Of course, Bloom is also competing with local social networks that have a broader appeal than a niche audience of new parents. Nextdoor, for instance, allows neighbors to connect and post messages about various topics including-advertising products within the classified section. In addition, many communities have opened up a Facebook group to connect multiple neighborhoods in a specific area. Those groups often allow the trade of items as well as asking for-recommendations for local services, thus eliminating the need for sites like Angie’s List. The Bloom app is currently available on iOS as well as Windows Phone. According to the Bloom site, the Android version of the app is coming soon.



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