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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:24 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: page not found..
Quote: kirsib I find the item I want to review but when I click on it I'll get "Sorry, the page you requested was not found."
Uh oh. That ain't good, is it?
Please report it using the "other" bug form. |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:26 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: categories...
Quote: jps246 I've got a quick question...
I noticed with the updates that if I look at my reviews off my profile page (when you look at all of them), the category listing for many of my reviews is missing
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some of the ones that are missing a category are also missing the "Opinion On" follow-up
Yep - this is an outstanding bug. We'll keep working on it. Please report your examples using the bug form as that helps us see and investigate the remaining problem areas. |
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| bob_tomato |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:27 am |
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Reviews written: 285 Member since: Nov 17 '02
 in Musical Equipment |
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RE: New Search Engine
Quote: mobiprof I suggest that, in keeping with spirit and nature of this site, everyone should feel free to give their opinions.
I remind the Bobbing Tomato that providing our opinion on epinions.com is epinions.com's oldest standing request.
Your suggestion that anyone should refrain from doing so goes against what this site is for, what it is members do best, and what its members like to do. Are you the real Bobbing Tomato, or his Halloween twin?
- MorePinion
I'd like to ask the gentleman from the Dutch Mountains to consider that my suggestion had to do with keeping the discussion at hand on-topic, not with repressing anyone's opinion.
We've recently had a rather lenghty conversation about the need to keep topics from wandering, and that is what I'm attempting to do here, especially in light of the fact that there have been several duplicate topics posted today after the search engine implementation. I don't feel particularly inclined to allow this topic to wander into a debate over the efficacy of this implementation, or to rehash old gripes about Epinions in general. If people want to talk about such things, they need to do it in a dedicated topic, of which there are many still floating around in the deeper pages of this board.
If anything, this topic really belongs in the Bug board, but I've let this one stay open while closing down others in order to help point members towards reporting issues and using the Bug board to discuss the various issues they are finding.
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:28 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: categories...
Quote: pvreditor I can't get to that review at all. It's a good earner, too. There is a correct listing for it, but I can't get into the review to move it. That also means that I can't get the URL to the review to report it. Not sure what to do about that.
If you can't get the exact url of the review, then send us the URL of the page where you see the broken link and enough description for us to know which one you mean. We'll take a look. |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:32 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: categories...
Quote: shopaholic_man I don't know which bug report applies for de categorized items.
When in doubt simply use "other".
Don't worry overly much about the "decategorization." It's not that your review no longer has a category, it's just that your profile page doesn't know what category it is. In most cases it should still be associated with the product, which is in turn associated with a category. This is mostly just a display issue on profile pages.
If you can't click through to the review page, or if the review page itself shows bad or missing data, that's more serious and you should report it. |
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| ladyconsumer |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:44 am |
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Reviews written: 634 Member since: Jul 11 '05
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Quote: Andyman This is not a permanent situation but the fix is going to take some time. Here's the issue. It's technical but let me see if I can explain it in a non-technical way.
1) We're now using Shopping.com's search engine
2) One of its features is that it chooses the most relevant results to show you at the top based on what people have clicked in the past
3) Since Shopping.com's site does not have some of our categories, like Travel, they have not yet had a chance to get any clicks
4) So they'll appear lower for a while until they develop some clicks
5) It might seem like they'll never get clicks this way but eventually the SE has a way of balancing things out
To find "Chicago:"
1) Enter "Chicago" in search, submit
2) On the results page, at left, click "More" under "Category"
3) Scroll down to "destinations" and click it
As people use the new search it will learn and things will eventually self-correct.
We've actually got some coding left to do on this piece so it will take a bit longer.
In the meantime our pages are still available to outside web search engines, which will continue routing hits your way.
That was very clear Andy, thanks for the explanation.
Would it be possible to print more categories in the "narrow down" box (rather than the 5 + "more" that show now)? In other words, make it easier for us to narrow down, without clicking more and looking for the category we want?
Obviously, I don't mean "now", "today", or even "soon", just, in general, could this be done?
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| jps246 |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:47 am (Updated: Oct 30 '07, 10:51 am) |
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Reviews written: 849 Member since: Jan 25 '01
in Outdoor Gear, Sporting Goods |
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RE: categories...
I've got a question about the new categories in general...from what I understand is that in order to merge with the shopping.com info - new categories had to be created. For example most Outdoor Gear items now seem to have become "Sport and Outdoor" topics, not Outdoor Gear topics. Is that a real change with new categories or will everything eventually be merged back down into the existing categories we are used to? If they won't, then I'm guessing that the hatted 'spheres of influence' will be expanded/modified to fit the new categories since at the moment there appears to be no advisors or TRs (or leads) in many of those categories. Just curious - thanks for the earlier clarifications on the categories and search in general.
Jeff |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:47 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: Absolute Disaster!
Quote: wlswarts All of the listings are what would have previously been under "Related Details," clearly deliniating that these are NOT items that can be reviewed on ePinions. No such deliniation apparently exists now.
It's true that we're showing products you can review alongside merchant deals you can't review (in many categories). I understand your frustration with this. The upside we're looking for is greater earnings for the category, which should benefit those who write there. My hope is that we can get used to the presentation and learn which products can be reviewed and which are just merchant deals. But I do understand your protest and on many levels I agree. This is a subject of long-term conversation we need to keep having with Shopping.com, which provides our product catalog.
Quote: wlswarts And yes, I'll chime in that whenever a search is done now, results are no longer organized by cataegory, so it's incredibly difficult to swim through the results to find what one is looking for.
Not that you care, but this is one vote for scrapping this new search engine and restoring the previous one!
Of course we care!
But it's not true that category organization has gone away. It's just presented differently. Unless the search engine skips you directly to a category or product, the main search results page should show "by Category" right at the top of the left-hand navigation set. |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:48 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: categories...
Quote: jps246 I'm guessing that the hatted 'spheres of influence' will be expanded/modified to fit the new categories
You got it dead-on exactly right. The display of hats is our most urgent outstanding bug right now.
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:49 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Quote: ladyconsumer Would it be possible to print more categories in the "narrow down" box (rather than the 5 + "more" that show now)? In other words, make it easier for us to narrow down, without clicking more and looking for the category we want?
That's a great suggestion. I've been thinking the same thing. We should have 15 or so. I'll work on it.
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| pilarzmom |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:52 am |
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Reviews written: 774 Member since: Jan 18 '03
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Quote: Andyman This is not a permanent situation but the fix is going to take some time. Here's the issue. It's technical but let me see if I can explain it in a non-technical way.
1) We're now using Shopping.com's search engine
2) One of its features is that it chooses the most relevant results to show you at the top based on what people have clicked in the past
3) Since Shopping.com's site does not have some of our categories, like Travel, they have not yet had a chance to get any clicks
4) So they'll appear lower for a while until they develop some clicks
5) It might seem like they'll never get clicks this way but eventually the SE has a way of balancing things out
Andy, can you explain to us what is happening to the Beauty/Wellness categories?
For example, "bath and body" products are now categorized as "Personal Care" which now comes under Health/Wellness. Where does that leave us Beauty reviewers? All of a sudden our former beauty reviews are now under another category.
I'm not sure if this is a bug or the way it's going to be from here on out . . .
Obviously this will have a huge impact on what I chose to review as I do not have a hat in Health. I would roughly guess that a good 75% of the products I review in beauty come under bath and body, so obviously this whole change has left me wondering what to do.
Peggy |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:57 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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"opinions"
I don't mind hearing people's reactions but I do want to ask everyone to keep some perspective.
I fully expect that there will be some issues with the site today and that folks will find sources of confusion or consternation. We have switched catalogs in many areas and our main search engine. But this isn't the end of the road. It's the beginning. From here we continue working to make things better and better until we're all happier.
So if you have a concern, let me know. I do want to know what you think. I would just ask for a wee touch of patience and perspective. The SE is out, but it's a living work in progress and always will be. If a search query doesn't take you where you think it should, let us know what it should have done.
I would also ask that our entire staff, including QA, be treated with respect. Walk a mile in their shoes, etc. |
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| mobiprof |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 10:59 am (Updated: Oct 30 '07, 11:06 am) |
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Reviews written: 181 Member since: Jun 27 '00
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RE: New Search Engine
Quote: bob_tomato I'd like to ask the gentleman from the Dutch Mountains to consider that my suggestion had to do with keeping the discussion at hand on-topic, not with repressing anyone's opinion.
The Bobbing Tomato should consider he phrased it like a request for self-censoring...
Quote: bob_tomato I don't feel particularly inclined to allow this topic to wander into a debate over the efficacy of this implementation
Oh? What if that happens to be is what members desire to discuss?
Quote: bob_tomato If people want to talk about such things, they need to do it in a dedicated topic, of which there are many still floating around in the deeper pages of this board.
LOL. Sounds to me that you are not really ready to be moderator yet. That's just not how a bulletin board works.
Especially not when members would need - gasp - a good search engine to find those post. Cough.
Then again, if you do care about multiple topics, be a good moderator, and make everybody happy with the brand spanking new "OFFICIAL EPI SEARCH ENGINE DISCUSSION THREAD" and pin it. Duh.
Quote: bob_tomato If anything, this topic really belongs in the Bug board [sic]
Eh, you think a site being down for half a day and new search engine are not general enough for this forum?
You think both roheb and Andy man are wrong for posting here?
That does not sound right. You can't be real the Bobbing Tomato.
I am convinced now that you are a drunk evil Halloween Pumpkin.
- NoBobProf |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 11:03 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Quote: pilarzmom Andy, can you explain to us what is happening to the Beauty/Wellness categories?
Yes, good question.
The Health category and the Beauty category are being merged into "Wellness & Beauty" at the highest level. I use the present tense because there's still an outstanding bug with hat display.
There's a lot of natural crossover between these areas. For example, are cotton balls for first aid or makeup? Could be either. That's why it's all under one tent now. It should still be organized into different types of product though. We're simply using the navigation links to provide that organization now, instead of brute-forcing it by segmenting into multiple categories.
Don't worry, Beauty folks. You haven't been "acquired" or demoted :) Let us sort out the hats. Explore the taxonomy and see what's there. If you see a taxonomy choice that doesn't make sense to you, let us know. We have some limited influence over the catalog team at Shopping.com and may be able to correct it. But first take a look around and get your bearings a little. I need to do more of that myself, as well. |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 11:04 am |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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guys
Professor? Tomato?
Let's leave it there, please. I have a lot of work to do in here today. |
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| ladyconsumer |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 11:53 am |
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Reviews written: 634 Member since: Jul 11 '05
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Andy, can you please explain why this message sometimes comes up:
There are 36 items that matched your selection. There are no additional ways to narrow down these results.
I received this message when searching for a book. With 36 items found, many of them non-books, I would have expected to be able to narrow my search. I don't know if this a bug, or not, since I don't know why sometimes we can narrow and sometimes we can't.
Mona |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 12:18 pm |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Quote: ladyconsumer Andy, can you please explain why this message sometimes comes up:
There are 36 items that matched your selection. There are no additional ways to narrow down these results.
I received this message when searching for a book. With 36 items found, many of them non-books, I would have expected to be able to narrow my search. I don't know if this a bug, or not, since I don't know why sometimes we can narrow and sometimes we can't.
Mona
I'll be happy to take a look if you tell me what you searched for.
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| ladyconsumer |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 12:31 pm |
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Reviews written: 634 Member since: Jul 11 '05
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Duh. That would help, I guess.
I searched for "shattered silk" (no quotes).
Thanks
Mona |
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| Andyman |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 12:44 pm |
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Reviews written: 131 Member since: Sep 29 '99
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Quote: ladyconsumer I searched for "shattered silk" (no quotes).
Ah. Good catch, Mona. You're right - the products returned are in different categories so why won't it give you the "Category" list so you can narrow down?
I have seen the Shopping.com search engine do something like this before... if all the results will fit on a single page it tosses out the narrowing options on the assumption that you are happy to peruse one single page. I don't like that feature much. And obviously these results span more than 1 page. This is my best guess right now. I'll report it.
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| ladyconsumer |
Posted: Oct 30 '07, 1:56 pm |
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Reviews written: 634 Member since: Jul 11 '05
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RE: New Search Stuff...
Hi Andy,
If, indeed, the results all fit on one page, I can understand not giving the "narrow down" feature. But when it spans more than 1 page, the narrow down would be Most Helpful. :-)
Thanks for reporting it.
Mona |
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