feedback needed OT

Scott dunno if your aware, the search falls over. I did a search for a "delta"

and got a >>

Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80004005'

[Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access Driver] The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file '(unknown)'. It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data.

/include/connect.asp, line 5

back


the layout is a bit cluttered for me, I use www.dv247.com a lot.. I like the layout of that.

other sites like 3xs ( www.scan.co.uk ) http://3xs.scan.co.uk/ have a system builder page

I don't like how much space is taken up by the makers logos at the bottom, or the massive ADK logo..

Scott,

So here is my two cents worth:

*) Your menuing system is very hard on the eyes a black background with white text is exhausting to look at.
*) I did a search and received an ODBC driver error...bad, bad for customer experience...rather you should display a message indicating that you don't carry the item and for the customer to email you or call you with there request. This would allow you to tally the requested item and determine weather or not you should carry it as a sellable item on your website.
*) Font size is too small...use a larger font size and fewer words.
*) Normally an "Our Clinets" list is a lead list for competitors. Rather place a product or service review where your clients can tell you and others what they think of your service and product delivery. Use there title, name and a vague description of the company but no company names.
*) Your add to cart button on this page (http://www.adkvideoediting.com/viewitem.cfm?id=1774) is too small. remember you are selling stuff and you need to let people know how to get the item in there cart "EASILY". Shopping and comparing shouldn't be a pain in the @ss.
*) Every single product you sell down to nuts and bolts needs to have a thumbnail picture and a zoom in picture remember people are buying stuff on the net and when they go to the store they can at least touch what they are interested in buying.
*) This next one is a hard one to swallow for most companies selling on the net but a few have figured it out and they have figured it out early. People that shop on the net (again my opinion) are looking strictly for price competitive items. They will go through page after page of price searching on google to find the absolute best price and then IF they are gonna buy something they might buy it from the cost leader. I say they might because when we are talking thousands of dollars many people want to go to a sales person personally and ring there neck if something goes wrong. Newegg is a great site to look at as they have figured out pricing, delivery, order fulfillment and customer experience.
*) If you are selling a unique product do not justify your prices. They are what they are and if the customer can find something that costs less then they weren't serious about looking at your stuff to begin with. DELL is NOT the price leader but they still manage to find there niche and Michael never justified his pricing with customers online.
*) Get a FAQ about your online store that addresses common questions.
*) Get a privacy policy so customers know they aren't going to have their info sold or they are going to have there info sold but at least they know.
*) The call or email for best price on this page is Hooey (http://www.adkvideoediting.com/Pmon.cfm) you either have the best price or you don't but this is the net and customers don't have the time to bother and you are giving them another reason to leave your site.
*) I like the view details link next to the pictures but make the pictures themselves hot links as well...always give the customer ample opportunity to get to the product of interest quickly and easily.
*) You might consider a clearance link to get rid of gear you have been sitting on for a while. Also do the wal mart thing and reduce the price on the gear as time elapses...keep in mind this is crap you have to sit on and depreciate anyway...retail clothing departments have got this down to a science they lose no sleep at all when it comes to cloths that don't move.
*) Your sales and support phone numbers in black bold on a white background run into each other...
*) Again my personal preference would to never use any flash on a web site. It draws to much attention from the other people around me at work so they know I am not doing my job...lol funny but true flash does draw attention, most people shop or cruise the net at work and most people do not want to draw there managers attention to the fact that they aren't doing what they are being paid to do...Hmmmmm
*) Your return policy needs to be seamless and without cost based on my prior observation.

*** Sorry if I offended you, I was just following orders in your post...please remember this is just my opinion although slightly educated (I have done project management for this type of development in the past).

-Ken Q.

ORIGINAL: Milamber
*) This next one is a hard one to swallow for most companies selling on the net but a few have figured it out and they have figured it out early. People that shop on the net (again my opinion) are looking strictly for price competitive items. They will go through page after page of price searching on google to find the absolute best price and then IF they are gonna buy something they might buy it from the cost leader. I say they might because when we are talking thousands of dollars many people want to go to a sales person personally and ring there neck if something goes wrong. Newegg is a great site to look at as they have figured out pricing, delivery, order fulfillment and customer experience.
*) The call or email for best price on this page is Hooey (http://www.adkvideoediting.com/Pmon.cfm) you either have the best price or you don't but this is the net and customers don't have the time to bother and you are giving them another reason to leave your site.

Just a fyi for those who may not know. ALL manufacturers of Pro Audio gear (hardware, software, guitars, whatever) Have MAP policies (Minimum Advertised Price) for ALL their official dealers. If you violate that policy, your dealership (and support and warranties) for that product can be rejected by the manufacturer. If you see any website promoting Pro Audio gear for less than everyone else, its either used, refurbs, open box or demo, or not from an actual dealer of that equipment (i.e. bought from their cousin Louie after it fell off a truck). These policies do not apply to computer and consumer equipment like you would find at Newegg or Circuit City. So contacting for a lower price is a necessity in this market.

Interface X has a MSRP of $1099, but you see it at GC, MF, and everywhere else for $899. Thats because the manufacturer has set a MAP price of $899 on said interface. That means they can not advertise (internet, paper, mailer) for less than that amount. BUT they can always sell it for less than that amount if they choose to. You just have to ask, and in this case, a phone call or email will get the actual price that dealer is willing to sell it for.

I am always suprised by how many people don't realize MAP exists in the Pro Audio world.

Right. At end of life, or for other reasons, some products get MAP reduced or de-MAPped by the manufacturer. Look at the way UAD1 cards went down and down over their lifespan, thats a good example. The Yamaha N8 and N12 just had a fairly hefty MAP reduction from Yamaha as well. A certian reseller shows "$300.00 PRICE DROP! Was $1,499.99, Now Just $1,199.99!" and it makes you think they are doing you a favor, but in actuality Yamaha dropped MAP to allow it to be advertised at that amount.

To be honest I mainly go on a site for a purpose

The product page isn't good on the majority, in my opinion

I've always thought it should be done better

It's forever fiddly

argghhhh....

thanks guys
Mike the comment about BandH god i hate them they are the walmart of video they break map all the time with video gear and get away with it
audio they dont get away with...

going to the front page they have pics... like i did on video (sorta) which is what some of my guys think we need...

yes i know its never ending i am on like ver 7.

26% of viewers on audio are @ 1024 res and 36% for video... (hard to believe in this day and age, i have been on 1280 or higher for 8 yrs) (1600 when i had a big CRT)

so yes the large flash nav banner is taking up alot of space, my width is designed for 1024
since 1024 is the largest viewing i am trying to get whats most important in that first 780 pix.

we thought about dumping the flash header for rotating (flash, jpeg etc) of product.

FOG, well dont know what to say about cluttered... i think DV247 is absurdly cluttered compared to us, and yes we have system configrators.
see thats what i mean how did you miss that?

Hey Andy,
after going thru the first dozen or so that page is completely wrong...
all the errors it says are there are not..LOL

ORIGINAL: jcschild

looking trollish

how about a little respect for Cakewalk? It's members or the fact that this is a SONAR forum. You could at least put this in the gear section or something.


At the very least, you could show some respect by putting OT in the title.

this marketing spam should be moved and doesn't belong here. Scott, you should know better but obviously feel entitled.

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue


How does this discussion hurt Cakewalk?

Maybe Scott can sell a few more copies of SONAR with the improvements he wishes to make.

best regards,
mike

Well, it's in the TOS that everyone agreed to when joining:
"Advertising
Cakewalk does not allow any form of advertising, therefore promoting websites or products in the forum is inappropriate. Hyperlinks to 3rd party web sites are allowed only if they pertain directly to the discussion topic."

so there is keeping your word and being an honest person for one.

But there is also the unclear title. Put OT at least so people don't waste their time thinking they are going to help with a SONAR issue.

like i said, this does not belong on this forum and should be moved.

You've made a sound and reasonable argument.

I will continue to disagree with your conclusion... but I certainly can't contend the points you have made.

You should report this thread if you feel strongly.

Personally, I think you are inciting an issue where the outcome will benefit no one.


best regards,
mike

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue


Personally, I think you are inciting an issue where the outcome will benefit no one.


best regards,
mike

the benefit is that people can continue to come to the SONAR forum to discuss SONAR and things related to SONAR.

Another benefit is that it keeps spamers from cluttering the place up.

Hence the TOS and hence the fact that this forum is titled SONAR Producer and Studio.

This thread does not belong here and it's offensive to me because I see it for what it is. A disrespect to the Sonar community and Cakewalk themselves. Maybe not a huge deal, but the principle is what counts.

This should be moved and Scott should know better and have more respect.

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue

I understand your premise which leaves me to wonder why you are posting to this thread.

Just report it rather than cluttering up the forum with your justifications for being so single minded.

I personally think tolerance goes a long way in this world. I recommend it.

all the best,
mike

Whatever. Of course tolerance goes a long way. That isn't the point. Lets review my web site and improve it too. And everyone else while we are at it.

The fact is that this place has been established as a SONAR discussion forum.

Not a web site reviewing forum (there are plenty of those too).

So this is a troll/spam thread. it's still inappropriate here.

ORIGINAL: sandman5000

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue


How does this discussion hurt Cakewalk?

Maybe Scott can sell a few more copies of SONAR with the improvements he wishes to make.

best regards,
mike

Well, it's in the TOS that everyone agreed to when joining:
"Advertising
Cakewalk does not allow any form of advertising, therefore promoting websites or products in the forum is inappropriate. Hyperlinks to 3rd party web sites are allowed only if they pertain directly to the discussion topic."

so there is keeping your word and being an honest person for one.

But there is also the unclear title. Put OT at least so people don't waste their time thinking they are going to help with a SONAR issue.

like i said, this does not belong on this forum and should be moved.

advertising? please i am looking for feed back did you not read the post? do you ever see a link to my site or in my sig otherwise?

thanks for being the forum police.

ORIGINAL: jcschild


advertising? please i am looking for feed back did you not read the post? do you ever see a link to my site or in my sig otherwise?

thanks for being the forum police.

Whatever. This is a troll thread, just like you said in the very first sentence of this thread. But hey, since I'm not the police, feel free to disrespect Cakewalk and the people that come to the Sonar forum to discuss Sonar.


BTW-there really are way better places for this type of feedback.

ORIGINAL: sandman5000

ORIGINAL: jcschild


advertising? please i am looking for feed back did you not read the post? do you ever see a link to my site or in my sig otherwise?

thanks for being the forum police.

BTW-there really are way better places for this type of feedback.

really? i posted this here due to this being the most friendly and civil forum, guess i was wrong on that account.
also due to the repsect i have here as people KNOW i dont ever spam. i dont need to, my clients brag on me enough in here already.

i also expected a decent amount as well as a wide variety of feeedback from differing POV.

i needed feedback from the actual people who would view my site, not a code writter i can write code.