"Manufacturers Beware" Topic

Well "the limitation of the software" is not an excuses, it means it was poorly designed – like most of the software out there.

So, you think that a shoe-string garage shop operation can afford custom software? It's interesting that "most" software is poorly designed…since the comment was written on a computer, posted on the internet, read by many on their computers…with no trouble at all.

Software like clothes off the rack is inexpesive because it is designed to be used my many people. Sure, I could have word processor, browser, or web store that does exactly what I want it to…if I cold afford to pay the software engineer his $100K+ salary, and the programmer his $80K+ salary, and the testors their $60K+ salaries along witht he tech writers and admin costs.

Get the idea? Has the light come on? If you want to be able to buy your stuff over the net at a reasonable price, you just might have to put up with writing down a few password. In my book, that's a small price to pay.

As for the original poster, all I heard was "waaaaaaah".

My credit card information was stolen when I purchased some miniatures from the UK, so I prefer Paypal and will only purhcase from manufacturers who offer Paypal as an option.

Second the security aspect of Paypal, especially if ordering from outside the respective country of manufacture/retail.

It is interesting that most of the replies to my statement about poor design have jumped to the conclusion that I pushing for custom designed software. I AM NOT. I am stating that just because an application is "off the shelf" it does not mean it has to be poorly designed. There are some very elegant applications available for web stores available. Retailer need to remember that it is a company's face to the world. Before everyone leaps on me and say "we make figures and are not computer people", selecting that face is one of the MOST important decisions a company will make. Would a retailer accept buy an "off the shelf" branding for their company and accept bad design of a retail shop or factory because it was "off the shelf"? probably not, so why do it with the web store. That face is seen by for customers that a physical shop.
Retailers should look at what they need in a web store, what it does, try it out, get some of their trusted customers to try it and speak to companies that have the application running. A company does not have to spend thousands on developer, testers etc there are plenty of applications out there and software house that produce good product who are willing to help with their "off the shelve" applications. I can point you in the direction of 3 in little old New Zealand who are more than willing assist.

So X-ray Vision "Get the idea? Has the light come on?

Software is a tool and only a tool, but in the case of retail and web store applications it is the retailers image to their customers – what is that worth. I say a lot more that just a quick look and accept want a supplier says is good. As the saying goes "one size does not fit all".

The fact is that the software is deigned to function well of the majority of customers. If the majority of customers weren't using thier web stores to collect demographic information then the "registration" would go away.

Since many retailers do, however, then the products that are on the market support that capabability. How is that bad design? Except of course that it doesn't do what you want it to. As many respondants to this thread have indicated, they either don't care, of find the annoyance minor. A few, of course, take great exception.

Because a program doesn't do what any particular individual wants, doesn't mean that it's a bad bad design.

Besides, when it comes to web annoyances, creating accounts has got to rank way below those Luddites (mostly, but not exclusively, in the UK for some reason) that simply post scans of their catalog pages with obscure price codes, paragraphs of instructions for phoning in orders using international postal money orders and no pictures at all.