Quebec Search expansion

posted by emily on May 18, 2012 in Site Updates + Improvements.

As part of our dedication to improving our site and making it easy for people to buy and sell locally, we have made some exciting changes to our Québec site.

Based on suggestions from our community in Québec we are adding new subareas to Montreal. The current Montreal site is be broken into 4 subareas under the ‘Greater Montreal Area’ header:

When you post an ad into one of the new subareas it will automatically be posted within the Greater Montreal Area site to allow for greater visibility.

To switch between browsing all of the Greater Montreal Area and a particular location within the City of Montreal, click on the drop down menu next to the ‘My Location.’ Then, select the Greater Montreal Area, or one of the subareas, and click “Go”
We have also recently launched 3 new city sites to reach more customers in Québec:

The goal of these changes is to allow our customers in Québec to search more locally for items in their area. Kijiji is always open to suggestions from our community to try and improve our user experience. If you have any questions or issues with the site please send us feedback here

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Guest Post – How to save money and create show-stopping décor

posted by emily on May 16, 2012 in Kijiji for the Home.

Guest Post by Vicky Sanderson

Shopping for gently-used second hand items has long been one of my favourite ways to save money and live just a little more lightly on the planet. It’s also ensured that the family’s finances have remained fairly happy and healthy. I love the idea that pieces that have outlived their usefulness for one family go on to become a treasured possession for another, especially if it means they don’t get carted off to an already overflowing landfill site. Chez moi, we’ve always lived by the “waste not, want not” maxim, even before it was cool (which it totally is now.)

In the old days, most of my finds came from scouring thrift shops and garage sales. But I’ve decided shopping locally on Kijiji is faster, easier and greener. It also saves me time and gas money! I appreciate being able to both “watch” items of interest and be alerted when an item that matches my search term comes online. They’ve recently added outdoor items, appliances and reno materials as distinct categories, which makes searching for housewares even easier.

But there’s another reason — on top of all these other excellent ones — for my passion for Kijiji-ing It means my house is full of interesting and eclectic pieces that completely reflect my personal taste, allowing me to create a unique look without blowing the family budget. In fact, Kijiji has become my secret weapon for expressing my signature style sustainably, and on a slim budget. After all, why should I spend $150 on linen pillow shams when I can whip some up out of a pre-loved tablecloth? But because it’s in my nature to share, I’m letting you in on it. Below you’ll find several examples of unassuming pieces, easily found on Kijiji, which I glammed up to create one-of-a-kind décor, accents and accessories.

A spray of rich brown paint was all that was needed to turn this ho-hum chandelier into a chic fixture for a dull hallway. This one cost about $30, including cost of the fixture, new bulbs and paint. I’m sure I’d pay $100 at a swanky store.

Paint out the messy bits on older pieces, and leave the rest as-is.

An old plate becomes a distinctive timepiece. I’ve seen these in vintage stores for upwards of $50. Mine cost $12.

An inexpensive kit turns an urn into a lamp that no-one else will have – guaranteed!

Now it’s your time to share – are you renovating or refreshing your home this spring? What’s your Kijiji secret? Or your best-ever makeover?

About the Author

Having tried and tested just about every new home product, décor item and countertop appliance to hit the market in the last 10 years, Vicky Sanderson is an expert on all things home related. She shares this expertise in Hot Home Products, a widely-read weekly column that appears every Saturday in The Toronto Star and on an interactive community on CasaGuru. Follow her on Twitter @vickysanderson

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Griffin’s Adventure

posted by emily on May 14, 2012 in Awesomesauce, Kijiji Pets, Uncategorized.

When Trina Regimbal lost her beloved Congo African Grey Parrot earlier this week she turned to Kijiji and social media to help find him.

Griffin the parrot went missing on May 6, when he fell of his owners shoulder and flew away. Trina started her search by posting an ad on Kijiji and putting up posters in her Ottawa neighbourhood, but widened the net by using social media.

On May 7, Kijiji’s Twitter feed picked this up:

We immediately re-tweeted it to help Trina find her bird. We weren’t the only ones. News of Griffin’s disappearance was being retweeted by Trina’s many followers and was eventually picked up by local news outlets, including the CBC.

Griffin was reunited with Trina a few days later. Trina purchased Griffin off of Kijiji in 2011, and we are so happy to have helped spread the word of his disappearance and get him home!

We caught up with Trina recently to find out more about Griffin’s ‘vacation’

Q. How did Griffin get home?

A. Griffin was reported by a couple living on McEwen Ave down by the Ottawa Parkway River saying he was on their balcony on the 25th floor. They called the Humane Society which gave our number.

Q. How do you think posting your lost parrot ad on Kijiji helped your search effort?

A. Kijiji was the first place I posted an ad when he went missing. I definitely knew it would help in spreading the news quickly.

Q. Did your community come together to help you find Griffin?

A. It was amazing how the community help and how the word spread so quickly about his disappearance. He went missing Sunday 06 2012 around 6pm and that late night early Monday morning it was broadcasted on 1310 news radio which they replayed a few times through out the day. Then CBC News came to my house to film a report that they aired that evening on CBC News.

By Monday morning when my husband and I started work everyone had heard about a missing parrot in the west end of Ottawa on the radio I couldn’t believe how quickly the words spread just over night and I had the whole day and the weather was beautiful I just had a gut feeling that today I was going to get him back.

Everyone’s comment is how do you find or even catch a bird, its like finding a needle in a hay stack! I didn’t know the answer to their question, but I did know that I was going to do everything in my power to get Griffin back.

Griffin was one of the lucky parrots that sought out refuge onto a caring couples balcony home that gave him cut up apples and grapes and called the Humane Society.

Q. Are you a regular Kijiji customer? How do you use Kijiji?

A. I use kijiji often, I’m on the site several times a day, just to browse, look for items that people are selling or check what is going/events in the community even advertise for my business when looking to fill a spot in my home daycare. Kijiji is great, everyone uses it and I recommend it to everyone.

Q. Have you ever bought anything for Griffin from Kijiji?

A. Haven’t bought anything yet for Griffin off of Kijiji but I do have an ad posted in search for a Parrot Perch for him on Kijiji.

We are glad Griffin made it home safe and sound! See Griffin in action on his YouTube channel!

If you think a parrot is the pet for you, check out our listings

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Kijiji – One of Canada’s most Reputable Companies

posted by emily on May 10, 2012 in Uncategorized.

This morning we were thrilled to discover that Kijiji had been named one of Canada’s most reputable companies by Marketing Magazine.

It’s our first time on the list and we are in 37th place, edging out many large companies that have either packaged goods, or retail stores.

We work hard every day to give consumers the best possible experience and we are so happy to be included on this list. Thanks to everyone at Kijiji and our users for making this happen!

Click here to read the full article

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It’s Never too Early to Plan Your Summer Vacation

posted by emily on May 3, 2012 in Uncategorized.

It doesn’t get any more Canadian then escaping summer in the city to unwind in the great outdoors. Whether you are in Kamloops, Edmonton, Hamilton or Quebec City the wilderness always beckons when the days get longer.

If you aren’t lucky enough to have your own cottage (or you don’t have a friend who will let you mooch theirs for free) Kijiji Canada offers vacation property listings coast to coast, and internationally. You can search by your favourite destination, and then refine by bedrooms, or vacation type. You could also use your vacation to see a part of your region or province you have never seen before. If you are used to the woods in Northern Ontario, check out Mahone Bay in Nova Scotia, or the lakes of the Eastern Townships in Quebec.

Renting a vacation home can be way easier (not to mention less expensive) then buying. Here are some of the reasons we think it’s a great idea to rent a vacation spot:

Savings – the average price of a rental property is generally less than a hotel in the area.
Privacy – have a space of your own with few interruptions from staff or other hotel guests.
Pets welcome – some vacation properties will allow pets. Make sure you confirm this when you are booking.
No maintenance – arrive, enjoy and leave without a to-do list or chores. Sounds like a dream vacation to me!

We recommend starting early to avoid disappointment. Many rentals book up early so make sure you get yours booked. Just don’t forget to clear your vacation time with your boss!

Check out some of these beautiful vacation homes for rent.