Before online auctioning became popular, we would go to actual sites and raise flags/yell numbers in hopes to take home whatever it was we wanted to buy (like those we only see in movies). Thanks modern communication we now have various online auctioning websites, one of them being the ever so popular eBay. Ebay is one of those staple sites every college student resorts to, whether for cheap books, clothes, or some cool bootlegged gadget made in Bangladesh. Personally, I am addicted.
The website is relatively easy to navigate. Usually to save time I just type in whatever it is I'm looking for in the search engine located at the top center of the page. However, if you are just in the mood to browse, eBay has made a 37 (yes I counted) category specific list that caters to all of your needs-- and if that is not enough, just click "visit all categories", which takes you to more item-specifics. The side panels also make searching easier. Ebay tries to refine searches according to categories (e.g. Men's Clothing, Women's Shoes), therefore you are not going through pages of unnecessary items. There are various other panels that include price, condition, and seller preferences--these can be minimized with a simple click. In addition, Ebay accomodates to buyers through customized view options. Not feeling very text-friendly? No worries, just select the "snapshot" option, and all your searches will appear as thumbnails. The one thing I really like about this site is the feeling of unlimited possibilities. You never know what you might encounter through a simple search. For example, typing in "shoes", Ebay returned 12,407 items!
The entire user interface is laid out in a friendly sans serif font, with bright primary colors that scream "cheap, buy me". However, with words, pictures, ads, everywhere it can be a little frustrating for the viewer to have a single focus point. There are many times when I'm not sure what it is exactly I'm looking for anymore--it's either too much or the search begins to snowball into multiple venues (from eBay, to external sites). However, I believe that eBay purposely does this to hype the buyer, making them distracted and yet hyper-aware of that item that is ending very soon, which ultimately leads to lavish amounts of extra spending.
The website is relatively easy to navigate. Usually to save time I just type in whatever it is I'm looking for in the search engine located at the top center of the page. However, if you are just in the mood to browse, eBay has made a 37 (yes I counted) category specific list that caters to all of your needs-- and if that is not enough, just click "visit all categories", which takes you to more item-specifics. The side panels also make searching easier. Ebay tries to refine searches according to categories (e.g. Men's Clothing, Women's Shoes), therefore you are not going through pages of unnecessary items. There are various other panels that include price, condition, and seller preferences--these can be minimized with a simple click. In addition, Ebay accomodates to buyers through customized view options. Not feeling very text-friendly? No worries, just select the "snapshot" option, and all your searches will appear as thumbnails. The one thing I really like about this site is the feeling of unlimited possibilities. You never know what you might encounter through a simple search. For example, typing in "shoes", Ebay returned 12,407 items!
The entire user interface is laid out in a friendly sans serif font, with bright primary colors that scream "cheap, buy me". However, with words, pictures, ads, everywhere it can be a little frustrating for the viewer to have a single focus point. There are many times when I'm not sure what it is exactly I'm looking for anymore--it's either too much or the search begins to snowball into multiple venues (from eBay, to external sites). However, I believe that eBay purposely does this to hype the buyer, making them distracted and yet hyper-aware of that item that is ending very soon, which ultimately leads to lavish amounts of extra spending.
Lucy,
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis. Your comment about going immediately to the search to find what you're looking for speaks to the idea of the user. Sites like this and Fandango have other content, but users go straight for what they want/need, and that's guided designers in putting those features/services in the best places for easy access.
What does this say about media culture in general though?
Keep up the good work.
Cheers,
paul