New website is really bad.

[jlaquatics]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I've tried to reply to specific statements as best I can:

Originally Posted by d33ps3a

What is with the new website? It's really bad. I can't even navigate in it. Please return to old style.

- Sorry for the negative experience. If you don't find your woes addressed in this reply, or elsewhere in this thread, please let us know specifically what you would like to see and I'll add it to the list

Originally Posted by JDH

[Home Page] Shop Now>Dry Goods>Aquarium Equipment>Protein Skimmers

I can "hover" over it with my mouse, but if I move too fast or slightly on an angle, the menu disappears and I have to start from the beginning (I'm sure we have done this on other sites, and how annoying it can be)

I think a vertical side menu w/ filters is a smart idea [when implemented correctly] but should be in its own 'frame' and not load an entire new page just to get there. Keep what is on the screen to the right, where you can navigate through the menu, and the right side of the page changes when clicking on a link.

Here is an example. Click Shop Now, and then when you hit the links with the + beside them, a sub menu pops up below it, and you can navigate much easier. A click would be required and no more hovering.

- Thanks for the feedback! We're working on a persistent menu similar to what we had on our old website. Given the feedback received here, and elsewhere, it will alleviate a lot of the navigation issues experienced thus far.

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Making more use of the search facility, and that helps a bit, but the onus in on the searcher to come up with good search terms. For example if "widget A" isn't something for sale but "widget B" is, but it might not turn up in a search for "widget A".

- I completely understand what you are saying. Often times one is shopping for items LIKE what one has in mind, and the search isn't the best approach in that circumstance. We will look at increasing the "power" of the search to suggest other options to the user, but I agree that the menu system is a key element in this area.

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Now I'm more tempted to just send an email with inquiries. This may or may not be welcome by the receivers of said emails depending on the number of people who feel the same way.

- Lol! Please feel free to send us emails. at least until we get this jjjuuuussstttt right

Originally Posted by Sackler

It's much more difficult on mobile I have to go on my computer to view website

- Many people have expressed concerns about the mobile version and we are listening! We are reviewing our options to see what the best plan of attack is. I'm thinking it would be nice to have an option to revert to the desktop version (or said another way, higher resolution) version of the site.

Originally Posted by Skimmin

It looks fancier now but much less user friendly. Get rid of it. Or at least get the category/item list back that used to be on the left side of the page.

- Menu changes are in the works! Beyond that, the new website is built on a platform that allows incredible customization and we will work to optimize the site based on the feedback we receive here and elsewhere!

Originally Posted by Sidius

The new site will take some getting used to but I'm sure I'll like it more once I do.

- I appreciate you acknowledging that! Please keep in mind though that this platform can be modified and improved with your feedback, so if you think of something not elsewhere described shoot us an email


Thank you to everyone!!

Jeff O'Neill
J&L Aquatics Ltd.
sales@jlaquatics.com

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Jeff,

It's really great to see someone in retail who takes the time and effort to specifically try to address concerns expressed by members and customers in this way. Good job and keep up the good work.

Anthony

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

Jeff,

It's really great to see someone in retail who takes the time and effort to specifically try to address concerns expressed by members and customers in this way. Good job and keep up the good work.

Anthony

Totally agree with you Anthony, it sometimes takes time to tweak everything to make it work to the optimum.
It's sort of like a new skimmer, you don't just throw it in your sump and turn it on and have it perfect right from the get go. It can take some time to dial it in just right.
With positive feed back Jeff will address the problems.
I actually like the new site and when the adjustments are made I'm sure it will be great.
Thanks Jeff for your efforts

[jlaquatics]

Thanks a lot guys.

This dose of support really hit the spot.

Jeff

[Aquattro]

Jeff, can we get the color changed to more of an aquamarine? The blue isn't doing if for me. Thanks.

[George]

Maybe it's too late now, but there is a thing called "beta" in the software/web development world where you basically release your software to a small, controlled group to test the reaction and flushing out the bugs.
For future reference.

[skp]

Originally Posted by George

Maybe it's too late now, but there is a thing called "beta" in the software/web development world where you basically release your software to a small, controlled group to test the reaction and flushing out the bugs.
For future reference.

I think that beta testing has its place but not in this situation. The entire premise of a website is to attain a presence on the web to reach a very high upper limit of users with one scalable application. If the goal is to debug actual errors in functionality, such as a system crash when trying to add to a wishlist, then that should be handled internally by User Acceptance Testing. If you're trying to tailor the application based on user feedback aka 'opinions' then it isn't feasible to do so for a website (since you're trying to go 'viral'). It becomes really expensive very quickly if you're trying to make every potential user on the world wide web (or even just Canada) happy. And believe me, everyone has a different opinion on what they dislike.

Personally, if I'm just looking for info and I come across a frustrating website then I just go somewhere else. If I'm trying to purchase a service or product from a known vendor and their website is frustrating then I just call or email.

resources: Programmer/analyst for the last 15 years.

I see that Jeff is glued to that computer behind the cash register way too much and I don't thing he's just browsing the web looking at pictures of corals and fish.

Thanks for all the hard work Jeff.