Beta Site re-design comment thread

[Wor-Gar]

I like how it works...not so much how it looks. As others have said, it's too busy, too "corporate", too much to read through. But it is much better organized; love the drop down menus and the way it sorts news for each topic. I'd have to spend many hours on there to get the hang of it.

But I guess I'll get used to it.

My biggest comment: if Sideshow's site is primarily to sell products, then that's what should be BIG on the site. Too much "news" and stuff gets in the way of sales. Maybe SS needs bigger promos or "buttons" for their most recent products -- like Indy, Gandalf, etc. Make them easy to see and easy to buy. Or make that "Most Popular Products" section larger and with pictures of the figures that you can click on.

 

[Batty]

Overall I like the changes. I love the layout and the navigation... It makes it much easier to find items. I really like how the product pages are now set up. Very nice!

It's good to see the Highlander figures are back! I hope they don't disappear again.

I do think the backgrounds look a little bland and cold (it definitely needs a some color). I also think the product bar should stand out a little more. It almost gets lost up at the top. Make it larger or have it stand out more. I also hope the Top News will only show more recent news and not info from 4 months ago.

The biggest change I would have liked to have seen but don't was in Order History. It doesn't look like that's changed at all. I've always thought it would be nice to have what the orders are by name instead of number.

Just some minor criticisms. I'm sure things will still be tweaked. Great job so far!

 

[Red]

Thanks Mesa.Not bad at all might just take a bit of getting used to,we'll see.

 

[HAPPYBOY]

OK, so some of you already know I live in one of the last nooks and crannies on Earth that still can't get broadband. Yes, I live in the mountains and doesn't look like they have plans to get it here anytime soon. But geesh, it took me almost a half an hour just to laod the new homepage. Hopefully that is just part of the beta, I can't imagine it to be like that always. And no worries Dusty, if something doesn't work, I already know that Chris is to blame.

 

[Mooncat]

not exactly fun is it ?

Prefer the old one

 

[occulum]

might just take some getting used to, but at first glance it looks/feels like a nicely done personal blog...

 

[superdoug]

i think it might be easier to get around and search for stuff this way. i like it overall.

 

[Darth Madden]

But geesh, it took me almost a half an hour just to laod the new homepage. Hopefully that is just part of the beta, I can't imagine it to be like that always.

I guess we shouldn't tell you that 12" Darth Vader goes up for PPO tonight then huh.

 

[bagelsncheesey]

Looks ok, poor navigation as everything is just kinda laid out in a non user friendly format.

Too much stuff going on in the header on the main page.

I do web design on the side, so just trying to be critical in a friendly way. I like the current Sideshow page myself.

 

[Darklord Dave]

As Dusty said in the intro - the slowness is just because it's a beta - that won't be the case when it officially launches.

 

[occulum]

after browsing a little more, I do like the site once you get into the sections and product pages. its the front page that Im having trouble with. just a little too busy.

Maybe prioritize what REALLY needs front page exposure.
Like i think the production blog ad has too much real estate.
How about text that has a hint of whats new in the Blog if you click on it?

Seems like most of the time Recent Product announcements and Popular Products may usually somewhat mirror each other as well. Is this another area where content could be reduced.

The nav bar for the News section can be confusing when you have a similar product navigation bar just above it.

Is the News section going to be redundant of the links in the Recent Articles section? if so, I think thats another area that can be tweaked/consolidated.

The header at top of the page seems a little too "Business" to me. THats prime real estate. id use that area for ads that encompass and show off nice images/products.

I do like the list of recent contests.

Maybe try to use background color to break up your categories a little more also to avoid confusion.

Love the navigation when on a prduct page of the product information/pics. Slick.

Overall the site seems very responsive and quick.. nice...

hope that help out a little....

 

[Dusty]

I also hope the Top News will only show more recent news and not info from 4 months ago.

Also pointed out in intro... the News has not been updated on the beta site since Feb. 2nd. When it live and official, news will show whatever the most recent posts on each topic were. Syncing the news and ministry articles will take a massive upload, so they're not going to do that until it's ready to officially launch

 

[Dusty]

It's good to see the Highlander figures are back! I hope they don't disappear again.

I can't for the life of me find where you are seeing those figures...

 

[Batty]

Also pointed out in intro... the News has not been updated on the beta site since Feb. 2nd. When it live and official, news will show whatever the most recent posts on each topic were. Syncing the news and ministry articles will take a massive upload, so they're not going to do that until it's ready to officially launch

Sorry, Dusty. Reading is hard.

I can't for the life of me find where you are seeing those figures...

Seriously?

 

[pixletwin]

I just took another look and submitted a suggestion. It would be nice to be able to see which item on product pages are available for gift card use.

 

[Dusty]

I just took another look and submitted a suggestion. It would be nice to be able to see which item on product pages are available for gift card use.

If it's available for Gift Card use, it has an orange 'check your gift card here' banner in the right column of the page

 

[Dusty]

If it's available for Gift Card use, it has an orange 'check your gift card here' banner in the right column of the page

OH, and there's also a 'Gift Card Eligible' denominator right under the Reward Points text on eligible product pages. It looks like this:

No worries, things are in different places so it make take some time to get used to it

 

[lcummins]

I can't for the life of me find where you are seeing those figures...

I can't find them either Dusty... I was hoping to save a copy of the pages...

 

[darthviper107]

I have to say this redesign is really great. I particularly like how easy it is now to go through product lists and organize them by type/price/etc. But what about the figure line pages? Like the page about Star Wars stuff with pictures and Star Wars news is now just a list of all Star Wars products.

 

[lcummins]

I have to say this redesign is really great. I particularly like how easy it is now to go through product lists and organize them by type/price/etc. But what about the figure line pages? Like the page about Star Wars stuff with pictures and Star Wars news is now just a list of all Star Wars products.

The license home pages are still there. There is a navigation bar (right below the blue box at the top of the page)... click on the down arrow beside a license (in this case, Star Wars) and a drop down menu appears; near the bottom of the menu there is a link to the Star Wars Home page. Even easier, just click on the license name and go straight to the home page. Also, if you want to close the drop down menu and not use any links on it, there is a close link at the bottom or just click on the down arrow again.