AUDIOGON's new format - Page 2

It almost goes without saying, but a BIG +1 above.

I only know one person who was as active as I was on AG. Several times a day I would take a quick check of what was available in certain categories, just to try and catch a glimpse of a killer deal...keep myself abreast of the going rate on certain items, etc.

If you're in the hobby, it's almost like looking at porn...looking at gear...lol. Point is, I never found the site to be lacking one bit! Sure...some of the search features they were trying to introduce would have been nice; find all SS amps $1k and under...only look at DACs rated in condition 8 or above, etc. Fine; but not at this expense.

It didn't need a complete overhaul. I suspect, as others have suggested, it was mostly about ad revenue, finding a way to make sure they got their newly instated 2%...making it work on Pads, and someone just thought it looked outdated.

I think this maintenance they are doing, is possibly scrambling to get the old configuration back online.

CD

Well...they're going to have a sh*t-storm on their hands, PR and CS wise. This isn't a chat board down; there is e-commerce on this site. I have items up for sale...and obviously, while they're down...or so inept they might as well be...nothing is getting bought or sold.

This whole thing was amatuer hour, AFAIC. They should have suspended ads while they went through such a messy transition.

CD

Well like I said in another site, if they don't change anything lets just use Videogon it's free, don't know for how long but it's still stay with the same formats for years, pretty much like what Agon look before this debacle!

Djoel

It's a terrible redesign. One of the best online sites ruined. Hopefully the furor that they must be noticing will have them reconsider the site's new format.

Audiogon before





Audiogon After

I agree. I won't use it anymore.

I agree with most of the prior points but wanted to add some and emphasize some points.

A positive change to me is the ability to use additional search filters, i.e. condition rating, price, etc. Would have been even better if it was possible to use multiple features. Based upon my surfing of the new site this does not appear possible.

Or, is this possible?

I also like the additional information of providing the time left on a listing. (And do miss the prior days when a user was provided with the number of offers generated on a listing. Anyone remember this?)



On the not so positive side are the following: 1) the requirement to log in in order to send an e-mail to a seller, etc. 2) the requirement to navigate through multiple pages at times. (for example scrolling through "New Today" listings (wherein the prior version a user scrolled through the entire inventory without having to navigate to additional pages), 3) the inability to view "Other Items" available from seller. (The current site seems to have this feature but seems to only show 3 items). 4) The feedback item shows percentage but currently does not alllow a user to review the feedback. However, this is nominal to me because other members have stated that Audiogon now allows a Seller to reject negative feedback so the feedback system seems pretty useless and explains why so many sellers have 100% feedback. (I'm not positive on this policy. I have not confirmed it with Audiogon but members have stated this. Doesn't make sense to me.)

Overall, I saw no reason to make such a major change and would be interested in someone at Audiogon providing feedback as to why they made the change and what they were hoping to accomplish. (Besides the "corporate speak" that they have already provided).

Bottom line to me is that the site is less user friendly and requires more steps to navigate. The good news is that I'm likely to peruse Audiogon less and therefore likely to save money in the coming year. Never a bad thing.

What the hell folks, lets give it a shot. Yeah, the transition was awful but we made audiogon.com, audiogon.com.....trying to be a voice of reason and positive spirit.....don't roast me....

I don't mind it - it's getting better with each little update they've done.

Are you guys able to login? I still can't.

Thanks
Brad

Multiple problems for me. I do not think this was ready to release.

1) When I search by manufacturer, I get a whole lot of non-related items by other manufacturers at the end of the list.

2) When I try to refine the manufacturer search using the left side options, all the extra items from the end of the list in 1) come into the list, making the left side options useless.

3) When I do a search on manufacturer, the resulting list is in some random order. It used to be sorted by category (amp-Multi, amp-ss, amp-tube, etc.), then by date of the posting, newest first. Also the new list does not say what the category is. For cables, for example, it is common to have the same name for interconnects and speaker cables. All of this makes getting a quick look at what is available for a specific manufacturer very difficult. Because of 1) and 2) you cannot reliably refine the search. Even if you can, it is a pain to have to refine, expand, refine, expand, etc. just to see all the products that are available from a given manufacturer sorted into categories. I would remove the classified/auction field or make it into a column with a C or an A and add the category back in, with the list sorted like it used to be. Better yet, let the user configure the sort order.

4) You used to be able to click on a seller's zip code and it would tell you where is was. This was handy especially for heavy items.

5) You used to be able to get estimated shipping costs. They were definitely an estimate, but still quick useful.

6) You cannot get feedback on a seller.

7) If you use the left side to refine the data, the screen keeps refreshing. If you select PreAmp, it refreshes the screen and you have to scroll down again to select the sub categories (e.g. Tube). Bad design. I would also have the left hand side list in a logical order (e.g. Amps and Preamps in the same section) rather than in alphabetic order. Instead now, it starts with Accessories, with PreAmps and Speakers at the bottom

8) Advanced search used to be very flexible. Instead of the new fixed price ranges, you could search on the range you want. $1000-$2500 is too wide in many cases.

9) I used to search by partially zip code (e.g. 01 or 018) to see what was available in my area. No longer available.

10) I used to search by country (e.g. Swilzerland) but cannot do that anymore.

Overall I think the navigation is not very user friendly, is pretty clumsy and that too much functionally has been removed. I understand some of what they are tyring to do, I just don't think this interface is ready for prime time, especially given how user friendly the old one was.

I like your selection of Zoe Saldana. I just watched Columbiana on blu-ray this weekend. Wasn't as bad as some say -- for me. Plus she was a knockout.

BTW. Who is the guy in the "after" picture?

I won't roast you. I believe you have some good points. I noted the positive in another post. But I am surprised with how much the site changed things that I thought were useful.

Two more examples. 1. They used to let you know in the "New Today" how many new listings there were. This was useful to me. Now I don't know. 2. I liked the way they used to segment the auction from the classified. And now they don't.

But I'm sure they are doing their best and had the best intentions. Just surprised that based on my feedback and the responses in this thread, that they seemed to really miss the mark. Especially after they delayed the conversion and said that it was based upon feedback from members. So where are these members whose feedback they based the changes on. Seems like they should be piping up and saying how great the new site is or how happy they are that the 'Gon listened to them.

No?

Do I dare to say, is that Micky Rourke????


Btw I was just on AGon, and while I think there are a few things that could have been added on the old format, I generally hate it still today..


Djoel

Mickey Rourke

Yea the new format is way bad It just doesnt seem easy to navigate. Well hopefully the old Audiogoner's will start using Videogon more often now they still use the old format.

http://videogon.com/

I agree, the decisions that some business owners make are perplexing. Nevertheless, capitalistic endeavors have driven them to change. Let's hope that they get it together because there are characteristics that I miss as well. Most important was the new equipment added, that you mentioned.

Not all capitalists are successful. We just might be witnessing them imploding.

Holy cow Batman!!! That is Mickey Rourke? I'm a long, long time Mickey Rourke fan. I never would have guessed. What was he thinking? I really wonder, if, in his mind, he thinks he looks better.

LOL I guess my picture analogy was perfect if you couldnt tell that was Mickey Rourke!!!!

Netflix comes to mind There was an article a just a few days ago watching these companies that might be gone by the end of the year, and netflix was one. They were about to be the only game in town if they would have played their game right, no but greed got in front of everything else.


Dan

Uggh. I hate ebay. Between all the low-bidders and the ebay + paypal fees it is hard to make any money or worth the effort sometimes. There needs to be an ebay alternative.

New changes. I noticed a search for something like Monitor Audio will give me serach results for lots of other stuff + Monitor Audio. So it is not as good as before which would only give me Monitor Audio results. Another choice was a search for Integra DHC as I am searching at multiple Integra DHC model number preamps like the 80.3, 80.2, etc. I would type a serach like that because sometime people skip dashes, etc. Now I search and it is missing some that are on the site. I have to type that search multiple ways for it to work. Not good!

I've been playing around with the new site, mostly on my iPad and a little on my iMac. The site has only been active for few days and is still in beta. Frankly, I like the new look and don't have any real issues. The search function does need refinement but can quickly be fine tuned with one or two additional clicks. I would expect a better search function forthcoming. No issues with speed as it as fast or faster than before.

A bit of an over reaction by many to a change. Comments, like goodbye and I'll never use AG again are knee jerk and extreme, IMO.

There is a "let us know" link on the top of the screen at AG. Seems a better place to post comments, gripes rather than on another site.

I asked yesterday. Are you guys able to login ok?

I still cant.

Thanks
Brad

Ok, what other sites are as good or nearly as good as AG?

stevensctt:

I noticed your location is Scottsdale, AZ. I just had the pleasure of spending a few days in Scottsdale with family amd friends for the Fiesta Bowl. I enjoyed my time there and appreciated the hospitality of the locals.

Haven't had that issue. Are you logging in from a bookmark?

You must not have met Sheriff Joe! I've been in Scottsdale for 10 years with no plans to leave.