Using the new marketplace forum section

[Shaun_E]

Hi Everyone,

In an effort to simplify and clean up Blatchat, "For Sale" and "Wanted" have been combined to form a single "Marketplace" section.

To help identify whether an item is "For Sale" or "Wanted" a radio button has been introduced to select between the two - this radio button simply pre-pends the words to the topic title so you can either use the button or type the text yourself. To use the button, click on the "Advanced" tab and then click the relevant button.

Shaun

  

[Wile7]

Thanks Shaun 

[gileshudson]

Just MHO, but I'm not sure this is an improvement or that it helps I'm afraid. The page appears as just a long list of items that are unclear as to whether they are 'For sale' or 'Wanted' unless someone happens to have started their post off with the relevant words.

[TomB]

Im really not convinced that this change is for the better.  Whats the reasoning for mixing up the 'For Sale' and 'Wanted' areas?  Its made what was abundantly clear into a completely unclear section.    

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Tom

I think it helps the prominence of the "Wanted" posts.
I'm also sure that people will soon put a "Wanted" or "For Sale" marker in their header as a matter of routine.

[rj]

Is that an improvement?

[Stewart Collier]

This is all immaterial. The changes have altered how navigation is made between forums, headings and postings. I will reserve judgement on whether merging ages is effective. 

[7 wonders of the world]

GJT,

How can mixing two categories make them more prominent...?

Anyone in the MT,

The idea of making changes is the increase footfall to the site and increase membership, illogical changes of this nature will merely encourage members to post their items on other forums which are easier to navigate and have simpler more logical operation.

Isn't it about time the MT applied a little common sense here and changed it back..?

There are many areas for which we need Shaun's expertise - this is not one of them, a total waste of precious resource.

[Wrightpayne]

Looking at the 'Marketplace' section, having given it time to bed in, it is still very unclear whether something is 'for sale' or 'wanted'? Previously it was quite simple - pick your category and type your description. This intuitiveness doesn't seem to have carried over to the combined section. 

When are the effectiveness of the changes being reviewed? I think this is a prime candidate for backing out!

Ian 

[Shaun_E]

If members select either "For sale" or "Wanted" when they create the post, as described above, then it should be very clear.

People have different ideas about how things should work so we can't please you all. This change was made by a team of people experienced in IT and was agreed by them all.

[Wrightpayne]

Shaun,

There is another post going also querying the effectiveness of this change!

Anyone in IT should know that a change which increases the number of ‘clicks’ or inputs performed by the end user is not a step forward!

Ian

[rj]

Not always true.

Some "local" newspapers deliberately create headlines that'll cause you to click although once you've done the article is obviously not of your interest simply to generate clicks which will then increase the income from ads.

Does the club benefit from the same?

Shaun: One thing I've learnt in my almost 35 years as self employed is that things that are obvious to developers or engineers not necessarily are to "the average user".

To be honest I find the forum to be more and more useless just like Fakebook is.

[Wrightpayne]

RJ,

I think ‘useless’ is a bit OTT / harsh. I use several forums and in some areas ours is better and some it is not.

I think the distinct lack of correct use of the marketplace forum leads us to the conclusion separate forums for wanted and for sale worked better.

Ian

[rj]

Ian,

You're entiteled to have your view on my comment. Unfortunaltely the recent chances has made me think "from bad to worse".

Correct use or not, in my view it's a mess, just like Facebook. 

Then the other bit about userfriendliness: I saw your post at 1AM but wouln't answer. This morning I didn't remember which section it was in. Could of course not use "new and updated" but the after looking in ChtiChat I remembered it was in "Marketplace". (I have given up on the search facility) Found it and would comment. For some reason I had been logged out. Hit login, enter details and then find Blatchat to go to Marketplace and open the sticky post. Is that user friendliness? The reason should be that you then only have to log on one place for the whole site. Blatchat is pretty much the only part of the club I use being foreign. This is the reason I want a forum I think if useful rather than something where everything is messed up like on Facebook.

I criticise the forum because I want it to be something worth paying for. Not because I want to be harsh or nag at anyone who put a lot of effort in it, but like others I think I can air my concern about the way it changes.

 

Regin

 

 

[RedCat7]

I preferred the separate sections but if combined is the way forwards please can the radio button be forced to ensure all posts start For Sale or Wanted?

[Phil G]

I firmly believe the MT has put enormous effort into the new forum and now it has become familiar we can see the benefits. The 'Marketplace, however, is an exception as it is clearly causing confusion. 

Some you win, some you lose.....with this one I feel it's time to admit it was a mistake!

[TANGO7]

All things considered I think it was much better to have separate  “For Sale” and “Wanted” Sections. More User Friendly, easier to navigate etc. I think we should revert to the previous separate sections.

[manningpaul]

I have to say that I also preferred the separate sections. I don't know on which post it was shown as an example on here but the Westfield site makes it much easier to scroll between categories. I do appreciate the work that is put in by people with a much better grasp of modern technology than me.

Regards Paul.