Forum: MarketPlace Customers


Subject: Store Improvements in Progress

bast opened this issue on May 15, 2000 ยท 1 posts


bast posted Mon, 15 May 2000 at 7:50 PM

I wanted to officially introduce myself to you all, and state my major function here, other than pissing you all off with my very direct viewpoints. In my other life, I do web site design, ecommerce usability visualization and design, as well as a whole slew of illustration for everyone from Nasa to the FAA to Global One. Why am I here lately, night and day, day and night, plaguing you with my opinions? I want to get ideas and responses and concerns out in the open since this too is part of usability testing. One way I accomplish this sometimes is to find the fire and toss a can of petrol at it. Understanding the concerns and needs of one's projected user base is always my first need before I can go to work. I am already in the process of redesigning the user interface of the store to include many new utilities that will accomplish some of the things you all have mentioned. Do not fret, I am way way ahead of you ;) It will take a bit to implement, and it will go slowly since I am the only front end coder we have that I am aware of, and I believe we only have one back end coder too. We are non-paid volunteers and have real lives and full time jobs to lead as well. Some of the improvements I plan are: A) Form confirmation upon purchase that will include an url to a site that the purchaser may log in to rate the product, just as you already rate works of art here, as well as write product reviews. B) Voluntary self created user profiles that enable faster purchasing by memorizing and storing on your OWN machine the details ordinarily entered into online purchase systems that are flat out just a pain. This would enable "one click purchasing" for those who wish this option. C) Wish lists that are rather like a bookmark or shopping list, noting down on a list the items you might see on a casual browse of the store, but do not wish to purchase at that moment. Later you may go back to your wish list and instantly retrieve these items without a long search of the site to relocate them. You manage your own wish lists, adding, deleting, updating, purchasing, at will. D)Request Lists that enable you to fill out detailed forms of objects you might need, and be posted to a request list bboard, where artists who are contributors may or may not wish to create those things. E) Record Keeping of past purchases, for those of you such as myself who are considered a business, and who make no purchase generally that is not going to wind up on your income tax statement as a business expense. This will enable each person at tax time to print out a overall statement of all transactions made in the store. I know how hard it is to keep up with records a whole year long. F) A new and improved user interface, with a friendlier feel that focusses more on your needs, based once again on a voluntary profile you may or may not wish to create. G) Standardized testing of all brokered items, and a standardized process for submitting works for brokering. So... as you can see, due to your excellent input the wheels in my head are turning, and I am pleased at the passion and energy each of you feel over the issue of the store. The only thing that would worry me seriously is if I saw no one at all show any response. Let me know what you need, and if it is achievable with the technology, and with the hands we have to work with, we will certainly make every effort to implement whatever we can to bring your neighborhood store, run by folks you know, selling things made by folks you know, to reality.