ScoutingBooks.com Critique

[dcomiskey]

We'd like to invite our readers to participate in our latest e-commerce site critique of ScoutingBooks.com.

Last week, we posted two introductory articles for background information on ScoutingBooks.com:
http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/solut...le.php/3585361
http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/solut...le.php/3585801

Post your thoughts here!

[FlyingCards]

"Am I limiting myself by only marketing to the Scouting community? I am seriously considering expanding the store to a 'parallel Web site,' marketing the exact same items under a more generic name.

An excellent idea much of your product appeals to Campers and a vast market that enjoys outdoor pursuits of all kinds. I also thought the site could be improved by the changing of some of the fonts.

[InfoSourcing]

Hi,

I looked at the website, honestly the site is not upto e-commerce standards, I mean look at the search box it is in the right side of the page whereas traditionally search boxes are either on top of the page center or on left side since most users/shoppers scan from left to right ...

The whole navigation system is on right side which is awfully bad for shoppers since they are mostly used to seeing it on right side, so i wld consider to swap the left and right coulmn ..

There are too many font colors and styles I wld keep it consistent, I would use red color only for getting shoppers attention like price discount etc ...

[JPnyc]

The site is too much of a cornucopia of colors, shapes and fonts. Default blue hyperlinks are pretty much a no-no. Gives the impression the site was just "thrown together" without much attention to detail. There is no continuity of style to the design.

[Sibylle]

I looked at your site. I am no expert but I spend a lot of times on line checking out websites. Ihave to agree there are too many colors, especially the color red is over used. Too many fonts also. It is just hard to focus on any one thing in particular. I am sorry but it does not give a professional feeling.
www.I-love-ebooks.com

[Damian]

I struggled know where to start, I was like a kid at the carnival. There are way too many elements on the page, so I didn't know where to look.

What is the one thing you want visitors to do? Although there is a lot of stuff to look at, I'd still try and have a focus. Otherwise it is all a blurr and I don't read any of it.

Now where is that BACK button?

Damian Driessen
IT Metrix
Are you making these common IT management mistakes? http://www.itmetrix.com

[ptf218]

The Tabs at the top need some work. The text is to hard to read and in general I think tabs are a bad idea. Plain old text links are best for usability. Overall the site has a scatter brain effect to it.


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[prasad_v2biz]

Most of the other users have already mentioned about the look and feel of the site. A consistent font removing clutter will definitely help the buying experience and thus increasing the “conversion ratio”.

I liked the clear categorization of the items on the top tabs. It will help the buyer quickly to get to what he/she has been looking for.

I also suggest that have “add to basket” button should be just next to the price of the item. Currently, one has to come down the page looking for the button. Your check out process seems to be a bit lengthy. I would suggest that you should do click trail analysis to find the drop outs at every stage. It will throw a good amount of understanding of why buyers may be leaving the site.

Thanks,

Prasad
Managing Director
V2Biz (www.v2biz.com)

[tomkuegler]

The mix match of colors and fonts immeadiately gives the feeling of spam and scam.

I think you need to take the design up another notch and eliminate some of the content to give a cleaner look.

[dappadan]

who is the target audience? needs to be less clutered and less colour..needs to be welcoming and fun..