Messaging
Yclas Neo includes a built-in messaging system so buyers and sellers can communicate directly on your marketplace — no need to share phone numbers or email addresses.
How messaging works
Messaging is tied to listings. When a user is interested in a listing, they can send a message to the seller from the listing detail page.
Starting a conversation
- A user visits a listing they're interested in
- They type a message in the message box on the listing page
- They click Send
- A conversation is created between the buyer and seller
The message form is only visible to logged-in users and only appears on active (non-expired) listings.
Who can message who
- Any logged-in user can message a listing's seller
- A user cannot message their own listings
- Each listing can have multiple conversations — one per interested buyer
The inbox
Logged-in users can access their message inbox by clicking Inbox in the navigation bar. The inbox is a table showing one row per conversation:
- Participants and listing — An avatar group with the other participant and the listing thumbnail, plus the listing title and the other participant's name
- Last message — A preview of the most recent message in the thread
- Activity — When the most recent message was sent
- Unread badge — A count of unread messages in each conversation
The inbox automatically refreshes every 30 seconds to show new messages.
Unread count
The Inbox link in the navigation bar displays a badge with the total number of unread messages across all conversations. This makes it easy for users to know when someone has responded.
Banned users are hidden
If the other participant in a conversation is banned by an admin, the conversation disappears from the inbox and the unread count. See Moderation for details.
Conversation view
Clicking on a conversation opens the full thread, laid out as a chat with messages stacked vertically. The conversation header shows the other participant and the listing context.
Features
- Chat layout — Messages are displayed in chronological order, oldest to newest
- Sender labels and avatars — Each message shows who sent it, with the sender's avatar
- Auto-refresh — The conversation updates every 10 seconds to show new messages
- Read receipts — Messages are automatically marked as read when the user opens the conversation
- Reply form — A text box at the bottom for sending new messages
Email notifications
When a user receives a new message, they get an email notification at the address they registered with. The email includes:
- The sender's name
- The listing title
- A preview of the message
This ensures users don't miss messages even when they're not actively browsing your marketplace.
Email verification required
Email notifications are only sent to users who have verified their email address. Unverified users still receive messages in their inbox on your marketplace, but won't get email notifications until they confirm their address. A callout in the storefront reminds unverified users to verify. This helps cut down on spam. See User accounts for verification details.
Staying connected
The combination of inbox auto-refresh, unread badges, and email notifications ensures that buyers and sellers can communicate efficiently without leaving your marketplace.
Privacy
- Users never see each other's email addresses
- All communication happens within your marketplace
- Email notifications are sent from a generic address, not the sender's personal email
- Conversations are tied to listings — if a listing is deleted, its conversations are also deleted