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Who moved the cheese? Ha ha, meaning, I just figured out the rat maze, and now it's all different.
Seriously, I tried to use the search feature to test out how specific I could get, and it seems to be quirky. Maybe they haven't entered tags for each of the pipes yet or something. And, as far as using the "pipe finder" I don't have time for that. If a pipe comes up in a Google search and it leads me to one on their site, I would consider buying it. But, I am not going to waste valuable time away from this forum on using a questionnaire style pipe finder.
Other than that, mmmmm, who cares? The old one was good, the new one is different. Just different. It's how companies try to fool us into believing things are getting better.
Seriously, I tried to use the search feature to test out how specific I could get, and it seems to be quirky. Maybe they haven't entered tags for each of the pipes yet or something. And, as far as using the "pipe finder" I don't have time for that. If a pipe comes up in a Google search and it leads me to one on their site, I would consider buying it. But, I am not going to waste valuable time away from this forum on using a questionnaire style pipe finder.
Other than that, mmmmm, who cares? The old one was good, the new one is different. Just different. It's how companies try to fool us into believing things are getting better.
Similar look and feel. No big difference from my perspective. I like Smoking Pipes and their site is O.K. by me.
No. The page layout is really poorly designed. The scale is way too large in margins, borders and text adding a lot of visual clutter. I like the idea of no sidebars on the main page, but they aren't consistent with this when viewing pipes within a brand. Why do I need to see every brand offered when I'm looking at the brand I want? Again, there's too much clutter when viewing a pipe listing. What I would like is higher rez photos, a larger image or simple way to magnify a photo but with the statistic sidebar and the larger font the photos seem more compressed even though the files are the same size.
Overall, there's too much competing for your attention visually and the net effect is adding stress and eye strain (no joke) to what was once a relaxing process.
Overall, there's too much competing for your attention visually and the net effect is adding stress and eye strain (no joke) to what was once a relaxing process.
Yeh, the more I look at it, the more I hate those drop down (?) images that pop up below that red bar as the mouse moves across the page. It's very distracting and may just trigger a seizure.
Yep Bigpond, clutter, clutter, clutter.
Oh well good try.
Yep Bigpond, clutter, clutter, clutter.
Oh well good try.
I thought the previous version was much cleaner and utilitarian. The new version is cluttered and not as intuitive. If it was put to a vote, I'd go back to the original.
Agreed.
Edit: Additionally, I would love to see them implement a more rounded search algorithm based on simpler, refined tags (#tan, #cumberland, #1/2 bent). Would also help them more clearly identify similar pipes in the suggestion bar, in which I do see value.
Edit: Additionally, I would love to see them implement a more rounded search algorithm based on simpler, refined tags (#tan, #cumberland, #1/2 bent). Would also help them more clearly identify similar pipes in the suggestion bar, in which I do see value.
I know they had big issues last night but I just looked at it and had no problems getting around. Like anything else we'll get accustomed to it.
Being a designer and GUI person - the usability is missing. They removed things like "new pipes" and "all tobacco tins" from the menu systems and replaced it with recently or hot items. It may look a little more "fresh" but its suffering in usability that's my main issue.
Edit scratch that - they didn't remove them, they are still there. Just... didn't stand out to me for some reason.
I do like the pipe finder option.
Edit scratch that - they didn't remove them, they are still there. Just... didn't stand out to me for some reason.
I do like the pipe finder option.
No customer ever would say that having half the page covered with an annoying picture when you drag your mouse across the page makes the shopping any easier. It would be like a giant sheet falling over a whole display as you walk by in a store.
Webdesigners usually have no clue what a customer would want. They just like to add things that bolster their ego on how tech savvy they think they are.
I'm not even sure why they changed the site. I had just started to go to their site, because I was finding it easier to use than P&C's site. :::sigh::: ...now back to P&C.
Webdesigners usually have no clue what a customer would want. They just like to add things that bolster their ego on how tech savvy they think they are.
I'm not even sure why they changed the site. I had just started to go to their site, because I was finding it easier to use than P&C's site. :::sigh::: ...now back to P&C.
I agree. Serious usability problems but the site is hipper/fresher. I like SPC, but this and their support for Reddit makes me doubt them.
NO,Sent them an email ripping them. We should have the option to choose between the Hippy Dippy , mod, useless site or the clean uncluttered old site.
Thanks for the warning folks. Although I have been to the site recently, apparently not recently enough, or maybe I'm just so preoccupied I didn't notice (?). All new sites are a little disturbing to me, not being terribly technically adept, but it sounds like this one needs a lot of re-working. I thought the "recent" version was good, but even it had been updated not long ago. Maybe they're trying too hard?
They hate us!!! Damn web-businesses, always making it harder and harder for me to throw money at them. Damn their eyes!!!
Okay, I've made my initial visit, and I'm trying to factor out my not being technologically blessed. I do find the new format opaque. The previous two versions lay the menu out at the top and you pretty much went where you pleased right away. It seemed user friendly right at the door. This version, I feel I'm being marched through information I don't want before I get to even making the choice of what I want to see. I may get all this on automatic pilot and get right to it, after a while, but I feel like it slows me down. smokingpipes has made an excellent reputation on customer relations, so I hope they will heed tbrad and the rest of us and tweak this new page for smoother use. I'm glad I didn't walk into this one unwarned; thanks folks.
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