I was looking at an interesting product but had a question that wasn’t answered on the site. The vendor kindly provided a feedback form which I diligently completed. Then it got interesting.
There was no SUBMIT button.
Being the nice guy I am I phoned the company and told them that the button was missing. The CS rep said she would tell someone right away. That was October 10. This is today’s screen shot. Submit button still MIA.
Not sure they really want to hear from anyone!
As UX designers we’re always talking about appropriate timing for feedback to users – letting them know when they have made an error or need to do something at a point in a process. But there are limits to how soon you should do that and the following real example has clearly reached it. I just finished confirming the email address and then I got this alert (highlighted).
Perhaps a little patience is in order!
I have an account with a software provider which requires a login. In the very frustrating process of trying to accommodate their desire to change login ID formats I wound up on this page.
I’m really not sure why it would be more desirable for me to change my name (born with it) which they allow rather than my username (made it up) which they apparently don’t?
I guess it was easier for their system – actually I don’t care if it is – dumb request!
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The top navigation says Pricing which would lead a viewer to conclude that there was pricing information available on that page.
As logical as that may sound apparently the vendor doesn’t share that POV. There are product comparisons but no prices. Even when clicking the Sign Up there are no prices. There are a couple of options here. Rename the Nav link to Product Comparison and make no promise about pricing OR provide prices. Who orders things without knowing what they cost!!!!!
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That was the title of a cool Yardbirds song from the 60s. It applies well to this recent UX encounter.
I got to the bottom of this registration form only to encounter instructions which would have been much more useful at the top. I clicked on Outside US? and the form inserted a limited country list box (apparently Canada is “Non US” – I knew that) and slightly rearranged the order of the fields. That would have been a useful action right at the beginning …
Then why keep required* a secret until the very end. This isn’t a murder mystery novel. Play nice with your site visitors – let them know what they must do right at the beginning!
I love PetSmart, we use their products all the time for our very lively Cats.
I was surprised to learn that there are products designated for Live Pets.
So who buys stuff for dead pets?
I encountered this “helpful” message on a new client’s site.
Yes, there is a problem, the viewer didn’t select some required data.
How many is “some” corrections?
And, it isn’t “some” data, it’s specific data; it’s not incorrect – it’s missing.
Since there are only two selection points on this page the viewer will most likely figure it out.
BUT ….this vague error message is perpetuated throughout the form.
Why not create a more effective user experience by providing specific information starting at this point in the process!
