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| Zibbet error message, frequently showing, from the "stabilized" relaunched site. |
As we all know now, 2 weeks plus after the relaunch, it's less stable than it was before. It takes forever to load and often times out.
And a search that doesn't work at all. And that the owners knew didn't work, but went with anyway, according to the CEO, Jonathan Peacock, knowing it didn't function even as well as the messed up one in the previous version!
The message above is seen...often and for long periods of time. The new site was beta tested, and still launched with major problems and fewer features. Like, it takes forever to load. Like, people can't work in their shops. Like, SOME shops that were premium were converted into free ones with no features, but with messages telling sellers to purchase again. Like, timing out when searching. Like exposing personal information of sellers. Photo issues. And much more. They've been in major fix-it mode ever since. So why was it hurried out?
What was accomplished for sellers and buyers?
What did it accomplish for the owners?
Why DID they rush out this debacle that was clearly not ready to launch?
Well, in the relaunch, the owners successfully hid all the information prospective sellers need to make an educated decision on whether or not to purchase a shop subscription. Which is how the owners make money. They don't make any money from sellers' sales, not having fees, only by enticing new sellers to purchase a premium shop subscription. Which some suggest had been generating a nice income for the owners until lots of experienced sellers bought them last fall and then expected the site to function as advertised.
Frustrated buyers and sellers have experienced major difficulties in the relaunch, but here's what the owners got to work perfectly! Hiding information.
1. They hid the ability to see how many shops there really are on Zibbet. No way to compare actual shops with the giant banner claiming tens of thousands more shops. (Last verifiable count before relaunch was under 8,000, day of relaunch, that exploded to over 43,000, according to their banner). Of course, hiding that info means buyers can't search for their favorite sellers, either. It's not a good number, so they don't want you to be able to find out. Because a site with few sellers has little traffic.
2. They hid the ability to see how individual shops were doing, sales wise. No way NOW to gauge whether similar shops are enjoying sales or are sitting there bleakly with few. 10 sales a week or 10 in a year? It's not a good number for the overwhelming majority of shops, so now you are not able to find out.
3. They hid the ability to check stats via google analytics. Now, you can only rely on THEIR stats, only. Before the relaunch, google analytics showed that views were just chock full of bot, not actual buyers. No GA for you!
4. They hid the ability to see how sellers are doing via the forums. They have been systematically trying to discredit anyone who expressed an opinion that was not absolutely hero-worshipping of the site (almost comically, you'll have to read previous posts here and elsewhere to see how they and some of their most ardent supporters pathetically attempted to besmirch the reputation of whistleblowers, one even going so far as to compare whistleblowers to work place mass murderers!)They've muted, booted, and made their forums visible only by approval of the owners (which means links to those forums in blogs like this are hidden). Unless of course, you know how to view them from the back door!. Owners who revealed that they search the internet looking for any negative comments by users on social media in order to know who to block.
And when that didn't work, they simply removed the ability to even FIND their forums to ask questions! (With an incredibly buggy relaunch, nowhere to turn). You need to know the internet address to even FIND the joint! Fortunately, they do not control the whole internet. The information is out there now, backed by screenshots in various blogs like this.
So what works perfectly in the relaunch is hiding information that would help a prospective buyer of a premium shop membership make an educated decision.
So why was this half-baked relaunch rushed out?
For a more stable site?
For sellers, with fewer features than before and a search algorithm that doesn't even recognize plurals?
For buyers, who can't even find their favorite shops anymore?
Or for the owners, who make their money SOLELY on premium shop subscriptions? The relaunched site works perfectly in controlling the information prospective premium paying shop sellers have access to. Makes you wonder. Well, no surprise for most.
So again, I want my money back. Every cent.
