Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Oh Noes! One less thing to bitch about!

In the dark of night Etsy made.. gasp... a professional improvement!

NO MORE BRICK WALLS! - I think I need some tea and a lie down from the shock.

Any suggestions what we'll call this screen when the next seller is shut down unfairly?
I'm suggesting "snow blindness".

ADDITION: Oh wait, spoke too soon, one of our commentors found this gem.
So much for newly attempted professionalism.

38 Comments:

eclipse said...

Halle-fucking-lujah!!
I have wanted a better error page for so long, this is almost perfect!
It would be perfect if there was an ad for my shop at the top. LOL
can you imagine the traffic that page gets? They need a 404-showcase.

Anonymous said...

Some of them are shut down fairly! Witness the ullja shops shutdown. Took a while, but who except her can say it was unfair?

Anonymous said...

I noticed that earlier today and nearly fell over! Kudos to Etsy for *finally* making this change.

The Legend of Zelda thing was kind of funny to start out with, but it got pretty tired, confusing and ultimately unprofessional as the site grew - especially given the non-geeky audience! I also wonder if they actually had permission to use the image too.

By the way, who else remembers that weird little animal photograph they used to have before the brick wall of V2?

eclipse said...

Yes I remember the critter. When I was trying to choose a username, before I registered at Etsy, I tested all the names I liked by typing name.etsy.com, and if I got the animal then I knew that name was available.

Elizabeth said...

Holy. Crap.

Go, Maria!

Impetuous said...

.....The Oopsie page?

Sorry to be a bitchaholic but this page, although better, looks awkward to me. It also looks like it took 2.5 seconds to implement which makes me wonder why they waited and what on earth the "new track" is going to look like.

Unknown said...

Much better. I wish the text was larger, or a different color or something. There's just so much on that page that "Uh oh! This user does not exist." doesn't really stand out. But I still like it much better than the brick wall. :)

Anonymous said...

I know this is off topic, but apparently Maria and Rob are going to address the masses soon via a storque article. Supposed to be about the new direction, process and flow of Etsy.

Can we hope that Maria is going to start cracking the whip and making them grow up and act like a business.
********
Rokali says:
Hi everyone,

Our article (we merged them into one) is about process & leadership at Etsy, not about new features.

I know that new features are important, and what everyone wants. Our article both explains what we need to do *in order to* launch new features, and why there's been some delays.

In talking with people who specialize in launching new features on large, complex websites, we've gotten this advice:

People > Process > Product. We need the right people in the right places, sticking to a process that works, and the product (new features) will follow.

This means having experienced leadership at Etsy, a detailed and maintained priority list, a clear workflow; the new features are the fruit of getting these right.

I sincerely believe this. If you see this as fluff, I understand: you want specific new features, and when they're going to be launched. I want the same thing.

I'm being honest with everyone here and saying that we're getting the people & the process in place now, and the new features will follow. When we have specific information about them, we'll share it happily.

The Dangerous Mezzo said...

Unbelievable. I'm so glad they've made this change!

idyll hands said...

I'm not even going to say how I think that page could be different because I'm beside myself with joy (although I do have some recommendations, we'll save those for another day). That looks SO much better than the crummy Nintendo image did. It's more professional without being straight laced and boring.

Hopefully more good things will come. I'll take baby steps over no steps at all.

Anonymous said...

Knock me over with a feather! Etsy actually changed something and made it look more professional? Daaammmnnn.

Anonymous said...

Wow. You know we're in bad shape when a new error page invokes ecstasy. It's like getting orgasmic over a better paper towel.

wristeroni said...

Indeed . . . but when will they learn to spell http://www.etsy.com/error.php?error_id=18

Or, is this supposed to be ironic?

Crazy Cat Lady said...

I remember seeing the "brick wall" about a year before I finally joined etsy and being totally confused. Then again, I'm a surburban middle aged woman with too much disposable income...NOT their target demographic, lol.

I'm happy with the change...much more professional.

Anonymous said...

I think they're doing it for the lulz. Wrong audience again, guys!

(http://lolcats.com/images/u/07/32/lolcatsdotcom34hawxyb0oh8uhe8.jpg)

Anonymous said...

Blah ... try this instead: http://tinyurl.com/2e3n93

Meredith said...

I noticed that yesterday afternoon and almost went into shock! It actually looks like a business site in that regard.

Anonymous said...

awesome, although I think a general error splash page (with larger text) that then automatically forwarded to the etsy homepage would be much more elegant and clear solution.

wristeroni said...

Qb for President! That's the way it should be done.

Anonymous said...

wisteroni: hah, I politely decline the nomination :) I like my little anonymous bubble.

Foxglove Studios said...

wigtime said...

Wow. You know we're in bad shape when a new error page invokes ecstasy. It's like getting orgasmic over a better paper towel.
-------
Bounty select-a-size... *swoon*

Yes, this is a definite improvement. I think we get so excited because it's something we can actually SEE. :)

Combustion Glassworks said...

Well.. its good that it has been changed but it could certainly be a bit bigger and more noticeable.

So i take vacation Mode is next then, right etsy?

Anonymous said...

wigtime said...

Wow. You know we're in bad shape when a new error page invokes ecstasy. It's like getting orgasmic over a better paper towel.
---------------

yes, it's like how I felt when bounty introduced their "select-a-size" line- it was a happy day.

Anonymous said...

hey! I typed my comment before reading foxgloves lol. I wonder how many other people are in love with "select-a-size" bounty...

Anonymous said...

There is now an article from rokali and maria in the storque that was posted today.

And it sounds like the teacher came back into the room and is getting the out of control kiddos back to their desks and back on task.

Anonymous said...

One small step for Etsykind. That page was one of the most amateurish things I have even seen on a business website. I agree with qb--it should redirect to Etsy's homepage.

Anonymous said...

That's exactly what it sounds like, sillywabbit! Go Maria!

(Although I have to say, for all of etsy's "business school is for old fogies" talk, Rob's letter seems to be chock-full of (I assume hip) business-speak. I'm not sure what he means when he uses "silos" the way he does, but it sounds like a term snapped up from some recent business vision book!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like some people are going to be getting managers and rules.

wristeroni said...

Good God, Rokali
Amanuensis . . . please!!!

Stacey Jean said...

ZELDA! that's what it was. it's been a long time since i wasted time blowing air into the cartridges of a nintendo.

heh.

Jen Segrest (verybigjen) said...

I have a funny 404 on my webdesign site:

"Error 404! Oh no, they strike again! No such page!

Probably due to some hilarious mix-up involving a monkey. Monkeys are to blame for everything you know. No really!

Global warming? Monkeys.
Extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger? Mean Aussie monkeys. Hole in the Ozone? Yup, monkeys. Well, orangatans actually, but still "monkeys". They control the internet too. That's why server rooms smell like bananas. Trust us, it's not pretty back here.

Shhh, they might be listening now.

Anyway, the point is the page you want isn't here."


Cracks people up. I get mails about how funny it is. But then I'm catering to a much more tech saavy crowd, not middle aged, middle class housewives who may not be up on their net lore or gaming of the early 90s'.

Jen Segrest (verybigjen) said...

and I'm not a "corporate" site representing a million users... it's just me.

Anonymous said...

I love select-a-size bounty and the new error page!

Anonymous said...

wristeroni said...

Good God, Rokali
Amanuensis . . . please!!!
========================

So, Rob was a stenographer?

Did I mention he makes my skin crawl?

Anonymous said...

What exactly is brick walling? How does your account get delayed? Items listed?

Anonymous said...

Okay, so now when they unfairly close my shop without due process or warning, I get to see this page instead?

Not much of an improvement, really, exccept cosmetically. And I do agree it was time for that. The Legend of Zelda screen was so stupid. I wonder if my complaint to Nintendo's legal department had anything to do with it?

Anonymous said...

oh geeeze nintendo's trademark and copyright legal teams would have a field day (or their hands full,depending on your pov) with infringement cases if they went thru the "geekery" category

stars mushrooms and marios OH MY!

Unknown said...

I liked the zelda page, but I understand the need for the change.

Orangutans are apes, not monkeys.