SIGIA-L Mail Archives: SIGIA-L: summary of recommended "ad
SIGIA-L: summary of recommended "advisor" utility feedback
From: samantha bailey (a2slb_at_bellsouth.net)
Date: Fri Oct 12 2001 - 19:36:41 EDT
Thanks to everyone who sent me feedback on this topic.
The following sites were recommended as having particularly good "advisor"
tools:
* www.ebags.com (two people brought this up independently)
* ibm's thinkpad device
* pcworld.com
* epinions.com
* computers.com
* amazon.com
The following sites were mentioned as having examples of these kinds of
features; quality may be more variable:
* www.bestbuy.com
*3 automotive comparison tools:
http://www.honda2001.com/models/civic_sedan/competitive.html
http://www.ford.ca/build_price/default.asp?year=2002&make=Ford&model=Focus&s
VehCategory=FordCars&language=en&country=CA&source=FC&postalCode=
http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/echo/index.html, then select
compare
I didn't think to ask people for examples of *bad* comparison
interfaces--that might have been interesting; I often forget to work
backwards when I'm trying to establish best practices.
>From Christina Wodtke: "I think the secret to making them work is begin able
to sort by any of the criterion offered."
>From Jackie Fry:
"Some observations about the features that enhance comparison interactivity:
1) Allow users to select more than one other like product (# would depend on
the level of detail for the comparison and how much could reasonably be
displayed - 3-4 products?)
2) Provide users with a visual of the things being compared
3) Give users the ability to then take their comparison shopping to the next
level, such as request a quote, as in the case of automotive sites, or make
the purchase from the competitor (would only work through third party
product)
4) Provide the user with a clear understanding of the level of detail
returned, e.g. is the comparison being made to compliment the custom
product, or is it a list of standard and optional features that occur on the
base model
5) Provide the user with just the advantages for each product
6) Provide the users with the ability search again from inside the results
7) Compare different models of the same product and products from other
manufacturers
8) Provide a method by which the users can find out more information or
description about a detail or feature if language is jargon heavy.
In general, I found that product comparisons could sometimes be seen to
return information that was not neutral, bringing into question the validity
of the returned response. This may have only been an appearance as the data
was often branded heavily with the host site's identity, but the price may
have indeed been in favour of the competitor."
Samantha Bailey
samantha_at_baileysorts.com | http://baileysorts.com
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