[Need input]Market Redesign

[SuF]

The staff would like opinions about redesigning the market from both frequent market users and non-market users. I am going to outline some ideas below. Please look through them and post your thoughts about them and include whether you are an active market user or not (you can decide if you think you are active).

The current market design we have is:

Market
->RuneScape Markets
->WoW Markets
->Star Wars: The Old Republic Market
->Diablo III Markets
->Guild Wars II Market
->Other Game Markets
->XBOX Market
->Non-Virtual Items
->Digital Currency and Non-Game Items
->Guide & eBook Sales
->Software Market
->Vouches Forum
->MiddleMan Forum

That's one category and 13 forums.

All the ideas we have going currently (not all of them have to be implemented) would be:

Runescape Markets
->Gold Exchange
->Item Exchange
->Pures and Skillers
->Other Accounts
->User Services
->Miscellaneous

Other Games Markets
->WoW Markets
->Star Wars: The Old Republic Market
->Diablo III Markets
->Guild Wars II Market
->Other Games Markets

Other Markets
->XBOX Market (I don't know where this should go or if we should make it more general)
->Non-Virtual Items
->Digital Currency and Non-Game Items
->Guides & EBook Sales
->Software Market

Market Tools
->Market Discussion
->Price Checks
->Middlemen
->Vouches
->Report a Scammer (Link)

That's 4 categories and 21 forums. If you don't put Runescape on the front page it becomes 3 categories and 15 forums. If you put Runescape on the front page but don't split up the other markets you get 3 categories and 21 forums.

We want to know what your thoughts are (pros / cons), whether you agree or disagree with the different aspects the outlined changes and if you are an active market user.

Thanks!

 

[x339]

Runescape Markets
->Gold Exchange
->Item Exchange
->Pures and Skillers
->Other Accounts
->User Services
->Miscellaneous

Other Games Markets
->World of Warcraft Markets
->Star Wars: The Old Republic Markets
->Diablo III Markets
->Guild Wars II Markets
->Console Markets
->Other Games Markets

Other Markets
->Non-Virtual Items
->Digital Currency and Non-Game Items
->Guides & EBook Sales
->Software Market

Market Tools
->Market Discussion
[s]->Price Checks[/s] [B]Price checks should be kept within their respective sections to avoid confusion.[/B]
->Middlemen
->Vouches
->Report a Scammer (Link)

This is how I feel it would work the best. I mostly just made some grammatical changes and moved a few things around and added Console Markets.

 

[Sebastian Vael]

Why is the market being consolidated at all?

Sythe has a large variety of markets, and a lot of them are big enough to justify being on the front page. Consolidating all of these different markets is going to have quite a few cons including:

1. It's going to make Sythe appear smaller, while also giving the illusion to people browsing that we are much more limited on markets then we actually are.

2. Inside these new "super sections" there will be chaos due to the amount of activity each of the current market's has now.

3. There is no good way to combine everything fluidly due to the variance in each market, which means there is going to be loads of useless confusion down the line.

I am all for change, and I think it is completely necessary, but trying to downsize and combine the market is just going to cause problems. I really can't see any positive side to this.

I agree, why make the forum look smaller when it is big enough - and also make the newcomers think there is no market for them. every section of the market is regularly visited and traded on, so i don't see a point.

 

I like the new layout idea, however I don't see where things such as PS3 trades would go. So the Xbox should be Consoles Market, with inner sections.

Also, the software market should be renamed. Website designing isn't really software, it's a service.

 

[Soviet Union]

Personally I don't like the new idea, I feel that it hides, things from people. Yes it reduces the size of the page but for finding something I feel it would take longer to find. I also don't particularly see the need for changing it, as I have not seen any complaints. Overall I feel this is uncessary and the current system works well.

Fairly active market user.

 

[SuF]

Why is the market being consolidated at all?

Sythe has a large variety of markets, and a lot of them are big enough to justify being on the front page. Consolidating all of these different markets is going to have quite a few cons including:

1. It's going to make Sythe appear smaller, while also giving the illusion to people browsing that we are much more limited on markets then we actually are.

2. Inside these new "super sections" there will be chaos due to the amount of activity each of the current market's has now.

3. There is no good way to combine everything fluidly due to the variance in each market, which means there is going to be loads of useless confusion down the line.

I am all for change, and I think it is completely necessary, but trying to downsize and combine the market is just going to cause problems. I really can't see any positive side to this.

You have gone full retard. There is absolutely no consolidation. There is no downsizing. It's going to make Sythe appear bigger since it is going to expand the index and make the market longer. There is no "super sections". I have no idea where you got this idea from.

Did you even read the OP?

 

[x339]

You have gone full retard. There is absolutely no consolidation. There is no downsizing. It's going to make Sythe appear bigger since it is going to expand the index and make the market longer. There is no "super sections". I have no idea where you got this idea from.

Did you even read the OP?

My bad, I completely misunderstood what you meant. Rethinking my post.

 

[Grim_Reaper]

I'm yet to set up my gp shop and stuff and I'm a new member but I've looking around Sythe and sell gp to big buyers for more than two years and I reckon the current layout is fine but there is nothing wrong with the new one either.

Win/Win situation in my opinion.

 

[Lee Sin]

I very much like the new one been suggested. However, having Runescape as the main focal point is all dependant on how successful Runescape remains (obviously). At this point in time, I would suggest changing to the one suggested... as its clear Sythe is predominantly known for its Runescape market and niche.

Also, I recommend the RSPS market gets its own subsection under Runescape markets, rather than everything related to RSPS trading going under Misc. It is active and popular, and most people don't even know what the Misc section is for, yet alone visit it.

However, I don't see a Market setup change adding traffic to Sythe or increasing the number of users we have.

This is off-topic, but I strongly believe advertising would take Sythe far, and allow us to compete with other larger forums.

We should also cater for new games such as GW2. I know we have a section for it, however a larger emphasis is needed on that section, as-well as advertising it as much as possible, to draw in new users.

 

[Jiwi]

I really like the separation of categories in the new layout.
However, the only real thing I'm debating is whether or not the Runescape Market needs its own section, with the solution being putting it at the top of the list of game markets. Still deciding on that end, but other than that, I'm a fan of further organization.

 

[-Ryan]

I am fairly active in the market and I support this, as it would make the Market section larger and it would make it much easier to use for everyone.

 

I think it looks nice, but I'm wondering if this would make it harder for newer users to find the specific sub-section(s) they're looking for. When someone scrolls down and sees the market section, each sub-section pertaining to the market is right there, so you can easily navigate to your desired area. But it would be harder to do so with this layout, and someone might feel what they're looking for isn't here. I'm not sure if that's going to be a problem, but I thought I'd point that out.

 

[SuF]

I think it looks nice, but I'm wondering if this would make it harder for newer users to find the specific sub-section(s) they're looking for. When someone scrolls down and sees the market section, each sub-section pertaining to the market is right there, so you can easily navigate to your desired area. But it would be harder to do so with this layout, and someone might feel what they're looking for isn't here. I'm not sure if that's going to be a problem, but I thought I'd point that out.

I was thinking it would do the exact opposite of that. Make it easier to find everything and showcase everything Sythe has to offer.

 

I was thinking it would do the exact opposite of that. Make it easier to find everything and showcase everything Sythe has to offer.

Really? I saw this thread earlier where someone suggested that a PS3 section could be added, but we have one, it's just buried under another section: http://www.sythe.org/showthread.php?t=146042. And, looking at the PS3 section now, it's barely active, and I think that's because people can't find it as easy as sections like Xbox. I'm still doubting how easy some members can find the section they are looking for, but I think a trial would help out. We can revert back to the old layout of this one doesn't work.

 

[Emperor Nero]

So I havent read all of this because I am on my iPod and it hurts my eyes but my opinion is adding more to the main index is a bad idea. We are already very cluttered. There shouldn't be 90 sections and subsections on the main index. Everything should be condensed and aptly named. You want a runes ape market related item go to the rs market section, want software go to non-game/software section, you get what I am saying. Adding fluff to the man index is bad.

 

[Ohhburned]

Runescape Markets
->Gold Exchange
->Item Exchange
->Pures and Skillers
->Other Accounts
->User Services
->Miscellaneous

Other Games Markets
->World of Warcraft Markets
->Star Wars: The Old Republic Markets
->Diablo III Markets
->Guild Wars II Markets
->Console Markets
->Other Games Markets

Other Markets
->Non-Virtual Items
->Digital Currency and Non-Game Items
->Guides & EBook Sales
->Software Market

Market Tools
->Market Discussion
[s]->Price Checks[/s] [B]Price checks should be kept within their respective sections to avoid confusion.[/B]
->Middlemen
->Vouches
->Report a Scammer (Link)

^ Loving this.

 

Runescape Markets
->Gold Exchange
->Item Exchange
->Pures and Skillers
->Other Accounts
->User Services
->Miscellaneous

Other Games Markets
->World of Warcraft Markets
->Star Wars: The Old Republic Markets
->Diablo III Markets
->Guild Wars II Markets
->Console Markets
->Other Games Markets

Other Markets
->Non-Virtual Items
->Digital Currency and Non-Game Items
->Guides & EBook Sales
->Software Market

Market Tools
->Market Discussion
[s]->Price Checks[/s] [B]Price checks should be kept within their respective sections to avoid confusion.[/B]
->Middlemen
->Vouches
->Report a Scammer (Link)

This is how I feel it would work the best. I mostly just made some grammatical changes and moved a few things around and added Console Markets.

^This is how it should be.

 

[blazee]

I really like this layout. The only thing I would like to see changed is the names "Other Game Markets" and "Other Markets". I just think they're too similar.

 

[Brendan]

Runescape Markets
->Gold Exchange
->Item Exchange
->Pures and Skillers
->Other Accounts
->User Services
->Miscellaneous

Other Games Markets
->WoW Markets
->Star Wars: The Old Republic Market
->Diablo III Markets
->Guild Wars II Market
->Other Games Markets

Other Markets
->XBOX Market (I don't know where this should go or if we should make it more general)
->Non-Virtual Items
->Digital Currency and Non-Game Items
->Guides & EBook Sales
->Software Market

Market Tools
->Market Discussion
->Price Checks
->Middlemen
->Vouches
->Report a Scammer (Link)

I'll be fair and say this first; I don't use the market often, so I may be a little off with some statements.

Personally the theory of the above structure looks great. I particularly enjoy how we have a market tools section. It looks very organised as well and I think it'll make things much easier to clean. Wouldn't this somewhat require different permissions for moderators? Will that be a problem at all?

Also, does anyone have vBulletin running on an old, unused forum or something? I'd love to see a screenshot of what this would look like.

 

[SuF]

Really? I saw this thread earlier where someone suggested that a PS3 section could be added, but we have one, it's just buried under another section: http://www.sythe.org/showthread.php?t=146042. And, looking at the PS3 section now, it's barely active, and I think that's because people can't find it as easy as sections like Xbox. I'm still doubting how easy some members can find the section they are looking for, but I think a trial would help out. We can revert back to the old layout of this one doesn't work.

I'd just say move the PS3 and Xbox markets to under Console Markets and then it will obviously be easy to find.

Also, we are not going to let people start asking for price checks randomly within buying and selling forums. It should be visible so people can easily find it and figure out how much to sell their stuff for.