ecommerceUI

Marrying Google Maps and Craiglist

2005-12-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

This looks like a wonderful merge.
It looks unpolished. But the sheer idea and its potential seems delightful.

www.yub.com

2005-09-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Liked
1. Check out their super cool rich media ad that spells out their USP!
It's different, it's refreshing, it's bold. It uses the major part of their real estate to sell their USP instead of products. What I would have liked is a CLOSE (X) button so that I don't have to scroll down all the way to do my actual buying. But it closes on refresh - which is a pity as I may want to have checked the ad in detail after some quick reading.

2. I love the maps. It looks cool. But I also find it very confusing to use.

3. They seem serious about the business. But at the same time, it also seems a bit like rocket science with all the announcements and features and new things. See "tough".

4. I like the LOGOS. It's easier to locate your favorite brand this way! It's a bit messy looking - but the % to be earned makes it worth the mess it makes.

Didn't like
The site seems to be introducing too many new concepts.

1. The map looks cool. But it's too confusing to use. How does the "You are here" bit help? Plus I see THREE maps overlapping. Am I missing on a bargain on the lower map?

2. There seems to be too much yapping on the site. More talk than actual shopping. I clicked the 6 month celebration link and there's a whole essay in point wise form. Are we expected to read all that. There's also a graph that one can click and get more information!!

3. Why is Hot Deals in pale blue font?? Is the pale blue font really a sensible option. It's so much more difficult to read!

Mighty good ecom site

2005-09-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

This looks like a mighty good ecom site at first look.

It seems almost spartan in design. The font and color scheme used, the white spaces around, the box around the product snap - all lend to the feeling of an exclusive showroom displaying handpicked items for our shopping pleasure. It's a pleasant surprise from other ecom sites that we generally see.

Liked:
1. You get to ponder on a single item at a time. There is no particular order in which they appear, so there's a surprise element involved. The photographs are clear, well laid out, and small enough to load pretty quickly. The home page is Four "Page Downs" deep which is just about long enough.

2. The writing is gramatically correct and easy to read. Though some of them are written in pure advertising salespeak which doesn't go all that well. But the ones where they state the benefit clearly, and directly, you find yourself liking the product and the site.

3. The links on the left are limited and can be seen without having to scroll.

Didn't like:
1. Why does it not open a link in a new window? After I click on the site where the item is available, I have to do a "Back" to arrive at mighty goods again. That's too many Returns for someone who wants to check the wares. The experience is somewhat like having to leave the store to check a section within that store - and then having to enter from the main door again.

2. The search is basic. It doesn't show any close matchups, or suggestions. No "Did you means..." such a favorite on a shopping site, and at times such a help. But probably, they didn't invest in it because it's unlike other shopping sites where users are always hurried and find themselves in a clutter of items to buy from.

3. Hate having to Aim and Click on those page numbers. Why can't they have the "Next" button so that we can just go ahead in a linear fashion!

4. What is the category of the product that I get to see? It's not displayed alongside the product.

5. The Information section about themselves is almost as much as the product categories they offer. Hmmm... they seem to be taking themselves seriously here!