Lee Valley Online.
#11
I don't know why.... To answer your question. 

But I did notice the "Free Shipping Ends 4 November" (or, sim. notice) and I suddenly had to have something. Anything. From Lee Valley. Strange, that ordering almost anything qualifies for free shipping. And, up til now I always missed free shipping.

This online catalog is the most convoluted, strangest journey I have encountered. Short of lights blinking out and the computer shutting down. But that did not dissuade me from cranking up the Visa account.

It started with single windows showing a single object. But but, .... I want a feather file, not a feather duster..... So that went on for awhile until....

I pushed the home button. The opening page and where is my favorite catalog, the one I peruse in the bathroom? Yes, there we go, all 552 pages. Dang! I want that file, but all it does is Zooooom  i-n and oooout. ZZZZ oooom, ... ... zoom. Oh, I'm seasick. Bang! Oh, the single item page. What now? Add to cart! Zing!!! One item and a total. 

Gee Gads! The prices are outrageous! And, where am I? The Home Page. Well, at least, it's only a hundred pages this time, to get back to where I was. 

And, on it went. 

Turns out the prices were for rich folks. I like Canada. I stumbled through over a thousand pages (reruns) and covered my mouth during the rocky boat ride until the Thank You! page. ... .... Continue Shopping? 

I am sure there are instructions. Somewhere. But who reads instructions?

So, what's your LV story?
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#12
Are you using a desktop browser or a mobile device?
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#13
(11-05-2019, 11:22 PM)mdhillss Wrote: Are you using a desktop browser or a mobile device?

Life is slightly easier on the desktop version, but the new site is still not as user-friendly as the old site in the search functionality. It took me a while to figure out where to log in my account. I think they're still working on it as they keep switching back and forth between two (or three?) different home page looks.

Simon
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#14
(11-05-2019, 11:32 PM)Handplanesandmore Wrote: Life is slightly easier on the desktop version, but the new site is still not as user-friendly as the old site in the search functionality. It took me a while to figure out where to log in my account. I think they're still working on it as they keep switching back and forth between two (or three?) different home page looks.

Simon
SWMBO calls it "tool porn". 

They could be a bit more upfront with the currency selection, though.
Better to follow the leader than the pack. Less to step in.
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#15
While I like the updated look of the new site, I too find it very frustrating to actually find anything. Even if you know exactly what you are looking for i.e. “bench plane”, then good luck finding only those items containing both terms. You will also see results for workbench plans and (possibly) toy plane plans. I get 45 pages when searching for “bench planes” (with or without quotes, doesn’t matter) and the same item may appear on multiple pages. There also doesn’t appear to be any ranking in how the results are presented. In the first week of the site rollout, I couldn’t find a specific item and an email to customer service got a reply that not everything had been entered into the site yet!

As for the currency selector, I too get Canadian English as the default. Even after I log in, I have to set it manually. I get the impression that they are not using cookies, as even the cart contents are not remembered unless I first log in. The old site didn’t work that way.

I also cannot find where, if at all, the overview section is for certain items. As example, the old site contained a very nice area to inform and help the customer configure one of the Veritas Custom Bench Planes. That appears to be gone now, and curiously enough now if the customer wants to actually customize one of these planes (wasn’t that the point), they cannot do it online. One has to contact customer service directly, and there is no link/info provided to inform the customer how to do that.

I appreciate that the site design was a major undertaking and I’m confident that they will work it out, but I guess I’m a little surprised that it did not roll out with Lee Valley’s usual high quality for everything.
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#16

Confused  And I thought I was the only one having problems! Maybe we're just the "beta" test group and they'll roll out the real site once all our comments have been addressed.
Jim

Demonstrating every day that enthusiasm cannot overcome a lack of talent!
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#17
(11-06-2019, 07:51 AM)Greg Jones Wrote: I appreciate that the site design was a major undertaking and I’m confident that they will work it out, but I guess I’m a little surprised that it did not roll out with Lee Valley’s usual high quality for everything.

Reminded me of the Affordable Care Act website debacle a few years ago.  Website re-designs are notoriously very difficult to pull off successfully with the first go-round, and I agree it is hard to actually find something you know is there as the search function is over-inclusive to the point of being almost unusable.  My solution was to go to the catalog and get the product number.  LV will eventually sort it out, as did LN several years ago when they did a re-design, which was pretty clunky for several months (or more).
Credo Elvem ipsum etiam vivere
Non impediti ratione cogitationis
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#18
Oh..... I was not aware the 'store' was that new. It's been 4 or so months since I was there. 

I know the direction is probably to phase away the print catalog but that visual is obviously my connection to order at LV. I would be lost without the catalog. And, it's good marketing. Kinda like walking through Wally World; only in a pleasant way.
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#19
I echo Greg's surprise remark as Lee Valley is not known for sloppiness or ill preparation. But to be fair, Lie Nielsen's web project was no where near in size or complexity as Lee Valley's.

Some people may like it, but I'm no big fan of the large images taking up my screen (mobile or desktop). I also prefer the old product pages on which I could see all the selections (size, price, etc.), images or information on one page. It's also a big nuisance that you have to retype everything for your search after you visit one of the results. Suffice to say that previously, I seldom had to rely on the paper catalog to find something that I knew was carried by Lee Valley.

Simon
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#20
(11-05-2019, 11:22 PM)mdhills Wrote: Are you using a desktop browser or a mobile device?

Hah! I grew up listening for a dial tone--partyline days--and used only 4 characters to dial out. For me, mobiles are literally nothing more than a phone with a crappy connection. But, yah, the seasick boat ride was almost like my wife's fancy glow stick.
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