Some newbies are still confused by the eBid sign up page

[johnwash1]

Some people are so utterly confused they visit confused.com and expect psychotherapy.

[Anniemcc2]

Thanks for that Annie. Not sure where she was confused in that case. Maybe she didn't tick the buyer button and was taken to the lifetime offer ? Anyway I'm still waiting for her to pay so whatever confused her has probably put her off.

Probably once registered and trying to get back to your listing in order to pay?

+ The Buyer option is the default joining choice. She would have to had to select the Seller+ option - maybe it was the text on the left that confused her.

[theElench]

Having seen the Sign-Up form again I can't see any real problem either. It reminded me that I joined as a buyer, bought one or two things, to see how ebid worked, then upgraded to seller. I don't recall having any problems doing any of that.

It was only when I started listing that I had to start asking "How do I" type questions on the boards. I also remember the "Light-Bulb" moment when I realised that I was causing most of my own confusion. Having got used to how another site did things, I was trying to do the same here with a completely different format. Instead of going from A > B > C to do X, here it was actually easier and I could go straight from A > C and do X. By trying to find B I was throwing myself off-track.

But surely that's the nature of confusion, a small mistake leads to a wrong conclusion and takes one onto a path that leads anywhere but the desired destination. Just because most people don't make the first mistake doesn't mean that some won't and end up hopelessly lost.

I was also a beginner using a computer and still finding that the ways of IT were often counter-intuitive and very confusing. How many times do the regular responders here have to answer the same questions from newbies? The answers are usually obvious (once you know) but totally unfathomable to some who don't.

If the OPs buyer is having a problem, it should be taken seriously and looked at. If only because if one buyer is having it, drawn attention to it but has been persistent enough to find a work-around, there are undoubtedly many more who weren't and just gave up and bought elsewhere.

Edit. Sorry I've condensed Rebecca's and Annie's posts about two different buyers, but I think my point is still valid.

[cornishmaid1961]

Having seen the Sign-Up form again I can't see any real problem either. It reminded me that I joined as a buyer, bought one or two things, to see how ebid worked, then upgraded to seller. I don't recall having any problems doing any of that.

It was only when I started listing that I had to start asking "How do I" type questions on the boards. I also remember the "Light-Bulb" moment when I realised that I was causing most of my own confusion. Having got used to how another site did things, I was trying to do the same here with a completely different format. Instead of going from A > B > C to do X, here it was actually easier and I could go straight from A > C and do X. By trying to find B I was throwing myself off-track.

But surely that's the nature of confusion, a small mistake leads to a wrong conclusion and takes one onto a path that leads anywhere but the desired destination. Just because most people don't make the first mistake doesn't mean that some won't and end up hopelessly lost.

I was also a beginner using a computer and still finding that the ways of IT were often counter-intuitive and very confusing. How many times do the regular responders here have to answer the same questions from newbies? The answers are usually obvious (once you know) but totally unfathomable to some who don't.

If the OPs buyer is having a problem, it should be taken seriously and looked at. If only because if one buyer is having it, drawn attention to it but has been persistent enough to find a work-around, there are undoubtedly many more who weren't and just gave up and bought elsewhere.

Edit. Sorry I've condensed Rebecca's and Annie's posts about two different buyers, but I think my point is still valid.

Yes, very valid thanks. We can't afford to put anyone off from using the site !