Sign up for personal catalogs
- Enter your name and short self-description
- Provide valid email address so we could send your temporary password.
As you get it, you can sign in and start cataloging your items. But before, let’s take a look at My Profile page you presented upon sign-in. You can edit information you provided during sign-up process, reset your password, upload picture of yourself, and set your privacy preferences. To better understand different privacy options please take a moment to familiarize you with data organization on our site. All items stored in our shared catalogs.
Catalog structure
Catalogs are generally made for structured data storage and ease of item search and retrieval. Our catalog structure is two-level: Category > Subcategory one-to-many relationship. Catalogs are expandable so you can come up with your own Category and/or expand existing list of Subcategories as needed. Before doing so, try to answer following questions:
- Do I need a new entry, or existing subcategory may suit my item just fine?
- Will my new entry be usable for other members or visitors of the site?
And if you agree to both of these questions – please go ahead and expand! Thank you for making our catalogs better everyday.
Each member could have different set of categories in their catalog, based on what kind of items member inventorying. This is sample view of member’s catalog categories:
Filter properties
Along with category/subcategory comes rich set of filter properties to further categorize and distinguish your items. Filter properties can be bound to either category or subcategory - whichever is more appropriate. Properties and their values are also expandable. Each filter property has fixed set of values as in the picture below for Music’s Genre.
Our catalog is implemented so you can quickly locate items of your interest, search and browse items using multiple filtering criteria. As you navigate your catalogs, Total is calculated, displaying value of your assets in particular category.
Item structure
The main piece of storage in the system is an Item. You enter items in My Stuff section via “Add New Item” button. Each item bound to particular Subcategory from Catalogs, so there is Category>Subcategory>Item relationship. Item piece consists of Title, Details and optional Picture. Those are fields, visible to all visitors and shared among all item owners. Do not put secret information in shared fields! Item could also have one or more filter values assigned to it.
Item is anonymous; it doesn’t have ownership associated with it. We designed it that way so owners could relate to the same item and communicate effectively. It also simplifies adding new items - if somebody enters particular item, others can simply attach to it, typing in only personal fields.
Item ownership
Personal fields include Price, Item State, Comment/Review and Private notes.
Those fields link an item to its owners. There is one-to-many relationship: 1 item > multiple ownerships. All owners of the item and their comments are listed in right-hand side of item details page. This is an important area of interaction with other members.
Member interactions
Along with product research based on owner’s comments, users could also contact owner directly. Name hyperlink in owner’s comments provide a way to email owner your questions and offers. Since our site is a place to lend and borrow, there is automatic way to help you in the process. Item State in owner’s comment is a hyperlink. When allowed, you can click on it to instantly request appropriate action from the owner. In case item is available for borrowing, system sends email and places alert in owner’s profile about you waiting to get your hands on the item. Track and respond to your alerts and requests in My Profile page.
Member profile
My Profile page includes your personal information, picture, privacy options and permissions for groups you’re member of. By changing your privacy options you can control whether other members or visitors may see your ownership of particular item, contact you about it, and request items from you. You may also choose to appear as Anonymous in the owner’s comments list to your item. Your comments could be of great value to other members, so we encourage not hiding yourself completely. Choose privacy set that you fill comfortable and confident with.
Bottom portion of My Profile page has your Recent Alerts and Requests list. When member requests your item, system sends an email and places new alert. You may review alert and based on your decision – approve or deny, - click appropriate status icon. User who issued request will also see your decision in his Requests list. When you approve request to borrow, item state automatically changes from 'Available' to 'Lent', so you always know which of your items are out there in the open. When user returns your item he’s obligated to issue new status change request to you. When you get your item back, - you approve his alert and item state automatically changes to Available once again.
Member Groups
We don’t limit you expressing yourself through what you catalog on our site. You can catalog your collection of music, DVDs, inventory your tools, clothes or baby items. From people you know and their birthdays you always forget, to your professional skills, expenses or perhaps, fears. Our Groups feature allows members to create and join groups with particular agendas. If you have hobby club friends and want to share your achievements with them – create such a group of people and set permission to share particular hobby catalog subcategories. You will see each other’s models, project in the works or whatever you decide to catalog. For example, with your co-workers you may want to share only books, music and movies. With your relatives or friends – much bigger set of categories, including baby items, tools, kitchen electrics etc. You decide. The point is – you could have different catalog permission sets for different groups you’re part of. Depending on permissions from each member of the group – resulting set of items you see in My Group Stuff is different for each group. It simplifies browsing and gets you to the item of interest quicker. You see only what you could borrow, and it limits displayed owners to group members only. You see list of your groups in My Profile page. Selecting a group lets you set or change permissions for it by checking checkbox alongside subcategory. If checked – your items from that subcategory are shown to all members of that group.
Miscellaneous
to be completed...
Future features
to be announced...