BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

True, but that is different than steering 90% of the threads into "Well BO does
it..." or whatever. I have never said that there should be no discussion. My
issue with the handful of people that clearly have an agenda.

Something like the currency issue was a real, easily understood issue. The whole
"the MOC shop team can just work on the main site" argument is just conjecture.
(as an example)

As I have said, it is not just the major issues, it is every single little issue
that gets turned into "OMG!!!11!!!1!1 BL is on the decline" from the same
handful of users. That is not the same thing as constructive discussion that
happened on some of the issues you mention.

Scott

I'd love to see this list of individuals who have the agenda and your opinion
on what their agenda consists of.

Author:

aftepes

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 17:02

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

56 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

You haven't done that by now?

What does the 100th message saying the same thing accomplish?

Scott

It says that my frustration is building, but I haven't reached the breaking
point that I actually act on a viable option. It says that you still haven't
addressed my concerns. It says a lot actually. It might also say that while I'm
looking elsewhere, I still want this to succeed.

Author:

calebfishn

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:56

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

38 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

In Suggestions, TheBrickGuys writes:

In Suggestions, lovaquero writes:

Bricklink World Class Programming & Customer Serivce team -

Test before release. This concept is not hard. Perhaps in your eagerness to
pacify the crowd with pitchforks and torches you have forgotten it. Perhaps you
may just not know. Here is how you do it:

For EACH (individual) change to Bricklink:
-----------------------------------------
#1 - Scope your change to know its impact
#2 - Write your test plan to match the requirements for the change
#3 - Recognize that there are at least three (3) internet browsers to support:
Chrome, Firefox & Internet Explorer (IE)
#4 - Make sure that the test plan fails before any change is made
#5 - Implement the change, and only that change, in a development environment
#6 - Execute the test plan (in an isolated environement that matches the live
environment) for Chrome, Firefox and IE
#7 - Repeat steps 5-6 until the test plan passes for all three (3) browsers
#8* - Run the full test plan on the ENTIRE site to ensure everything still works
#9 - If anything fails, return to step #1 and repeat
#10 - Release the change to the live site.

(* Bricklink is written with ancient software that has so many dependencies,
querks, gotchas and 'hidden' features that it is impossible to know what
a change will do to seemingly unrelated features. That is why the software used
to run Bricklink is no longer used nor even supported, not even by the company
that originally created the software...)

Your new mantra must be: "test! Test! TEST! And then test it again!"

Any modern development team worth being paid - especially one that performs
web development - knows this.

Regards,
Rodney
Software Systems Engineer
Solution Infrastructure - Guidance & Machine Automation
John Deere Intelligent Solution Group

Thats a nice pitchfork and torch you carry.

Can you elaborate on what some of these horrible bad things are that BL has recently
done that now make it impossible for anyone to ever use BL again?

So many scream change CHANGE C H A N G E !! then.... oh wait
I dont like this change. I SAID I D O N T
L I K E T H I S C H A N G E ! !

Jim

Jim-

Logic is of no use. Bricklink is in a complete no-win situation at this point.
The 20 or so people that seem to live to instantly criticize them will do that
here in the forum no matter what Bricklink does. (or how well/poorly they do
it)

Fortunately for the complainers, they will have a whole new host of minor issues
to blow up over on Friday when the MOC shop opens.

Scott

i don't donsider it a minor issue that my buyers cannot view important information
about my store.

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:50

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

63 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

True, but that is different than steering 90% of the threads into "Well BO does
it..." or whatever.
Scott

John P

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:40

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

69 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

All true, but coming into thread after thread saying the same things over and
over accomplishes nothing.

How do you know that?

I know many features that BrickLink currently has that took YEARS or arguing
in the forums to get implemented.

Think Multiple Currencies.

Think Fixed exchange rates.

Heck, even inventories took a while to get implemented.

Perhaps we complain about things that don't work in the hopes that they will
be fixed.

Eventually.

Troy

Author:

picabo

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:39

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

55 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

Yes, _____ was so nice. I'll remember to put him on my next party invitation
list.

Pam

While I do not condone his actions, they did spark action on securing the site,
which may not have happened otherwise.

And I think the point John was trying to make was, imagine how much worse it
could have been had they been more malicious. Do you have a recent backup of
your inventory? Imagine logging in tomorrow and your inventory being gone.
Or that all your prices were half of what they were today? Or even more subtle
changes, like random quantity adjustments.

But lets not forget, his actions were not entirely benign. There were changes
made to the catalog and other issues.

Troy

I'll agree on that.

But it was difficult getting email from BL members asking me what was wrong with
me and why was I doing this since he was posting as me. Little did they know
that when I figured out how to cut and paste I felt like a champion. Hack a site.
Huh?

And the forum was ablaze with comments to the then current owners instead of
directing their anger to the hacker. Without Eric straightening everything out
with me I would probably have never come back.

Pam

Author:

mnementh

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:31

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

71 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

Yes, _____ was so nice. I'll remember to put him on my next party invitation
list.

Pam

Author:

picabo

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:23

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

56 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

It should have become clear to you by now that you aren't going to get what
you want from BL, so why still remain here making the same complaints and "world
class" jabs over and over? Do they get more witty when they are made for the
200th time?

Scott

Scott: How many times are you going to complain about the people complaining?
Do they get more witty when they are made for the 200th time?

What should the users do? How do they get the owners to fix things? If you
have a better way let everyone know and then they can use that way to affect
change. You seem to forget how long this has been going on. What is the solution?
Is it to sit back and suck it up while things get worse? Instead of complaining
about complaining come up with a solution. Also find a solution to get that
COMMUNIST FLAG OFF MY SCREEN. And do not use the mantra "don't come here
if you don't like it." This site is composed of members, or has been. There
was even a community overseer at one time. This is a community that cares about
BrickLink and wants it to continue, to be successful, and to be easy. Other
sites do it, why can that not be done here? I have never one since I started
using eBay has the site been down while I was using it and I just went over 8000
feedbacks on eBay. I have used Amazon for years and never a problem. But BrickLink
that was supposed to be working and fixed puts a Communist Flag on my screen
and that is not fixed. What are these people going to do if the site gets hacked
again? A hacker could erase all inventories, all history and find passwords
to use on PayPal. If the security is commiserate with the workings of BrickLink,
watch out.
John P

Just to be clear and not cause a panic for those unaware, Paypal is separate
from BL and there isn't anything related to Paypal stored within BL.

Pam

The last time BrickLink was hacked they looked at the id and pass words and went
into paypal and could get into user accounts that used the same passwords. That
is scarey.
John P

John, I honestly don't think that anything actually happened with anyone's
Paypal account. My BL account was one of the hacked accounts and there wasn't
any log in history related to BL on my Paypal account.

That being said, in this day and age with everything that's been in the media
about Target, etc., if anyone has the same ID and password for any account that's
just dumb.

Pam

The hacker admitted it on the forum and said that he just went into the paypal
accounts that had the same passwords and just looked around.
Thank goodness he was a nice hacker, will the next one be so nice?
John P

Yes, _____ was so nice. I'll remember to put him on my next party invitation
list.

Pam

Author:

picabo

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:21

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

46 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

Just to be clear and not cause a panic for those unaware, Paypal is separate
from BL and there isn't anything related to Paypal stored within BL.

Pam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbgtHaoMPn8

John P

Author:

mnementh

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:21

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

73 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

All true, but coming into thread after thread saying the same things over and
over accomplishes nothing.

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:18

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

64 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

I do not recall reading that people could not place orders, only that a few could
not see the tabs.

http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=846670

And I do find is suspect that you don't recall this, as you post on the thread
yourself:

http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=846711

Just saying. Not being able to place orders, on a site that is made for buying
and selling LEGO, is a significant issue. They may want to test better in the
future to avoid such problems.

Personally, I was able to place 13 orders yesterday afternoon. And I believe
a couple orders DID come in. My concern is that we do not know how many orders
DIDN'T come in because of the glitch. Your orders may be going up steadily,
but COULD they be going up at a greater rate?

Troy

That was a totally different issue from the tabs issue.

The checkout issue lasted for what appears to be a very specific amount of time
two nights ago (Monday)

The tab issue was related to some changes that were made last night (Tuesday)

Scott

Aren't they both bugs as a result of the same rollout though? Why does it
matter when they were reported? The new features were rolled out on Monday.
The problem with ordering was on Monday. I feel it is safe to say they are
related.

Troy

I did not consider them to be. The Monday issue to be seemed like a regular
old crash of the site.

The other seemed to be a result of the "upgrade" or the maintenance.

The tabs were fine on Monday night after the site came back up. We started to
notice the "half tabs" in FF late last night. (I actually cannot find any posts
about the tabs that were made before the end of the August 20th maintenance late
last night)

Scott

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:15

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

47 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, Cyberclark writes:

Opps his post before I attached the image. My apologies. Here is what the screen
looks like after blocking the image

Thanks that is cool.

I am not really that upset. Hell, most of what I buy is made in China. I do
not even think my toilette paper is made in the US. But my two American flags
on my house are made in the US and I had to look far and wide to find those.
My cat flag is made in China though. If things keep going the way they are,
we all will need to learn to speak Chinese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZD4ezDbbu4

John P

Here you go John:

http://plamenppetkov.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/china_flag_af_fl.jpg

Chinese flag made in the US

That must come from a Chinese Walmart.
John P

Author:

mnementh

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:14

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

85 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, Cyberclark writes:

Opps his post before I attached the image. My apologies. Here is what the screen
looks like after blocking the image

Here you go John:

http://plamenppetkov.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/china_flag_af_fl.jpg

Chinese flag made in the US

Author:

mnementh

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:06

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

73 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

I do not recall reading that people could not place orders, only that a few could
not see the tabs.

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:04

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

51 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Just to be clear and not cause a panic for those unaware, Paypal is separate
from BL and there isn't anything related to Paypal stored within BL.

Pam

The last time BrickLink was hacked they looked at the id and pass words and went
into paypal and could get into user accounts that used the same passwords. That
is scarey.
John P

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 16:03

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

53 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

Just to be clear and not cause a panic for those unaware, Paypal is separate
from BL and there isn't anything related to Paypal stored within BL.

Pam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbgtHaoMPn8

John P

Author:

Cyberclark

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:47

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

49 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Are you alleging that the vocal few represent more than 50% of BL users? I find
that hard to believe.

Scott

Scott you don't need to have more than 50% of the users to get something
done, apparently you only need to be .03% of the userbase, much like the need
for a Chinese localization

I think threads like this just go to prove how valuable the chatroom was. If
we still had chat we could all go in there and post all these rants, get it off
our chest, and keep the forum clean for real issues. Wish I lived closer to
Arizona I would take you out for a beer and hug it out!

-Steve

Author:

picabo

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:47

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Just to be clear and not cause a panic for those unaware, Paypal is separate
from BL and there isn't anything related to Paypal stored within BL.

Pam

The last time BrickLink was hacked they looked at the id and pass words and went
into paypal and could get into user accounts that used the same passwords. That
is scarey.
John P

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:42

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

61 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Just to be clear and not cause a panic for those unaware, Paypal is separate
from BL and there isn't anything related to Paypal stored within BL.

Pam

The last time BrickLink was hacked they looked at the id and pass words and went
into paypal and could get into user accounts that used the same passwords. That
is scarey.
John P

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:40

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

60 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Cyberclark writes:

Opps his post before I attached the image. My apologies. Here is what the screen
looks like after blocking the image

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:39

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

48 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, lovaquero writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Sadly, the long line of complaints about every little thing BL has done (from
the proposed logo changes on) impacts your timing. If you truly intended to
pass this information on in a serious manner to BL, you would have done that
by going through the Help Desk rather than posting it here to be hijacked by
the "BL is the worst thing ever" crowd.

You aren't new to the forum and I am sure you read it from time to time.
You had to know that your post would do nothing but embolden those in the BL
does everything wrong crowd.

I also don't see that either Jim or I "belittled" anyone. What Jim said
is exactly true. Everyone shouted for change, then they got a change and are
now doing nothing but shouting for the changes to be rolled back.

Be careful what you wish for...

Scott

Oh, I agree. On all points. I am with you on just about all of it.

And yes, I knew full well what would happen with this thread. Better it be focused
in one place than in every thread (even though I am guilty of that too). Hence,
my original response to Jim. What I wanted to originally post was most
definately what you are advocating against...luckily my wife got to me first...

As far as passing along information, well, I've tried the official route
and received no response at all. Which is OK, if not somewhat frustrating.

Bricklink has their own agenda and reasoning. I can live with that. I struggle
with actions not matching words. Bricklink has an image problem in that arena.

What Jim said is true. He also chose to take my post in a way that it was clearly
not intended. Your comment on logic, while quoting mine and Jim's post comes
across as belittlement in my book. I guess that is just the dangers of a forum.

I must needs grow thicker skin... /shrugs

I was speaking to the broader sense as I felt Jim was speaking...not about this
specific thread. I think that if you go through the official channels that is
all you can do. The ball is in their court at that point. They can do with
it what they will. (or won't!)

Scott

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:36

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

58 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, me00rjb writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

That said, a small percentage of programmers have posted with specific
ideas about this issue and that is a far cry from many in the crowd that have
complained about every little thing that BL has done (or not done).

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

Scott

Maybe those that complain manage to put into words others are thinking? The
numbers that post may be small, but I agree with what's being said, and believe
it needs to be said. I can add to the noise if that is what's needed for
people to realise it's not necessarily a minority who are frustrated by what's
going on.

Richard.

All true, but coming into thread after thread saying the same things over and
over accomplishes nothing.

What has it accomplished so far? BL has attempted to make changes and the vocal
few just complain about those changes!

Are you alleging that the vocal few represent more than 50% of BL users? I find
that hard to believe.

Scott

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:34

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

I do not recall reading that people could not place orders, only that a few could
not see the tabs.

Author:

StarBrick

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:33

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

43 times

Topic:

Scott,

You just joined the gang

When's the first meeting at the clubhouse?

Cheers

StarBrick

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:32

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

60 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, WoutR writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

In Suggestions, aftepes writes:

In Suggestions, WoutR writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

What other option is there?

There are four options:

1) Migrate the stores to Amazon/eBay and utilize their interfaces to move your
product

2) Migrate the stores to Brick Owl which attempts to implement a similar model
as compared to BrickLink

3) Develop your own version of this type of marketplace meeting the unique needs
of the LEGO community

4) Do nothing

5.) Stay right here and deal with the ancient technology

Exactly. And part of the coping strategy here is to try to let them know what
we think.

You haven't done that by now?

What does the 100th message saying the same thing accomplish?

Scott

Author:

picabo

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:28

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

60 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Just to be clear and not cause a panic for those unaware, Paypal is separate
from BL and there isn't anything related to Paypal stored within BL.

Pam

Author:

Cyberclark

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:28

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

59 times

Topic:

Opps his post before I attached the image. My apologies. Here is what the screen
looks like after blocking the image

In Suggestions, Cyberclark writes:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:
Also find a solution to get that COMMUNIST FLAG OFF MY SCREEN.

I found a solution John. If you are using Firefox, install an addon called AdBlock
plus. Once the addon is installed load bricklink.com. Go to the flag and right
click on it. A popup menu will appear and there will be an option AdBlock Plus:
Block Image. Click on that and it will give you some options to setup the filter
like just blocking on the current page or I set to block that image CN.gif
from any page on the Bricklink domain. reload the page and voila it should look
like the attached image. Enjoy

The only downside to this solution is if
that flag (CN.gif) is used elsewhere like in the order screen or something, then
that image will be blocked there as well.

As you can see in the image in my google search bar I am researching how to write
a Greasemonkey script that will block the image so that you don't have to
use AdBlock Plus. But I am by no means a javascript coder so not sure if I will
be able to accomplish the task. If there are any Greasemonkey coders in our
midst, it shouldn't be too hard to whip up a userscript that will block that
image and maybe even the link

Author:

Cyberclark

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:27

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

61 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, legoman77 writes:
Also find a solution to get that COMMUNIST FLAG OFF MY SCREEN.

Author:

WoutR

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:21

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

49 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

In Suggestions, aftepes writes:

In Suggestions, WoutR writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

What other option is there?

5.) Stay right here and deal with the ancient technology

Exactly. And part of the coping strategy here is to try to let them know what
we think.

Author:

WoutR

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:19

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

51 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Leave BL if it is so terrible?

It is not terrible, but there is much room for improvement. Mainly in communication
and how changes are implemented. I do not want to leave, I do not want to move
to another site, I just want this place to work. Large parts do work excellent,
and the rest should work also.

At this point do you feel that they are somehow going to listen to your complaints?

They might listen some day. Maybe today.
I really believe that many people complain because they care about BrickLink.

Several of you that have now posted here are the same few that post to every
single one of these threads about how terrible BL is. (I think that the gang
is all here now...I only see one or two missing) That is a bit of a shame because
this thread does have some legitimate content that should have been passed on
to BL via the Help Desk.

I've tried the Help Desk. Got some responses, did exchange some e-mails with
developers and some problems were fixed. Other tickets are closed without solution
or communication.
And now when a ticket is not solved in 30 days, it is closed after 30 days automatically.

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:15

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

72 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Author:

lovaquero

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:13

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Author:

me00rjb

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:12

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

56 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Author:

mnementh

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:10

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

82 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

I do not recall reading that people could not place orders, only that a few could
not see the tabs.

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:09

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

51 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, aftepes writes:

In Suggestions, WoutR writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

What other option is there?

5.) Stay right here and deal with the ancient technology

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:08

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

44 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, lovaquero writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

As I said in my reply to Steve...this issue may be the one that deserves the
complaints,...

Which 'issue' do you refer to? The issue of my OP was in no way directed
at the items you have enumerated. I was addressing the process, or lack
therof. Perhaps part of the challenge is that there are two different conversations
going on:

1 - Frustration over the process by which Bricklink releases updates (my
original post and point)
2 - Frustration over the changes made by Bricklink (that point you appear
to be addressing)

Original quote from Steve's (Cyberclark) post:

"But come on you have to admit there were bugs in this last release that could
have easily been avoided with some proper QA and testing."

The QA and testing issue is what I was replying to. I was not speaking about
the full software development process, just the final rollout.

I don't believe that the frustration is a real issue. I think people need
to suck it up and live with it at this point or move on. It is clear that this
is going to be a difficult and frustrating process. Continually complaining
about it will not change that in any way.

Scott

Author:

aftepes

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:05

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

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Topic:

In Suggestions, WoutR writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

What other option is there?

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 15:03

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

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Topic:

In Suggestions, WoutR writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

What other option is there?

Leave BL if it is so terrible?

At this point do you feel that they are somehow going to listen to your complaints?

Several of you that have now posted here are the same few that post to every
single one of these threads about how terrible BL is. (I think that the gang
is all here now...I only see one or two missing) That is a bit of a shame because
this thread does have some legitimate content that should have been passed on
to BL via the Help Desk.

It should have become clear to you by now that you aren't going to get what
you want from BL, so why still remain here making the same complaints and "world
class" jabs over and over? Do they get more witty when they are made for the
200th time?

Scott

Author:

lovaquero

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:58

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

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Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

As I said in my reply to Steve...this issue may be the one that deserves the
complaints,...

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:58

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

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Topic:

In Suggestions, lovaquero writes:

Jim & Scott -

If your replies are designed to parady certain behaviors on the forum, I commend
you. Otherwise you have mischaracterized what I said & suggested.

I have no problem whatsoever with the changes being made to Bricklink. I welcome
a great many of them. I question some, and scratch my head over others, but
overall it is good. It is the delivery and execution that I am addressing.

There is a time and a place when 'complaining' - making a statement that
a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable - is valid and acceptable.

Belittling others for voicing a dissatisfaction is no better than the behavior
it attempts to decry.

~Rodney

Author:

WoutR

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:56

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

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Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

What other option is there?

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:52

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

61 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, aftepes writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

In Suggestions, Cyberclark writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Fortunately for the complainers, they will have a whole new host of minor issues
to blow up over on Friday when the MOC shop opens.

Scott

That is the funniest thing I have read all day Scott, you actually think the
MOC shop will be open on Friday

But come on you have to admit there were bugs in this last release that could
have easily been avoided with some proper QA and testing.

I said "Friday", not this Friday.

Here is the thing...this issue might be the one that deserves the ire
of the crowds, but the incessant complaining and criticism over the past few
months about every little thing that BL has or has not done by a small group
of individuals make this issue just blend in with all the others.

Scott

The issues that I have seen are all systemic in nature. One or two issues are
slip ups. We all have them. Implement some process improvement and move on.

But what I'm seeing now are indicative of projects that fail:
-Poor testing and QA. Poor communication.
-Constant shifting of (SELF-IMPOSED) deadlines.
-Split development teams.
-Suspect prioritization of requirement implementation.
-Constant changing of personnel.

Software development is not some mystical art that this community doesn't
understand. A fair number of us are in this field and can see issues all over
the place.

That may be, but no business is under an obligation to change what they are doing
based on who their customers are. McDonald's may have a ton of customers
that are cardiologists who tell them that Big Macs give people heart disease
and that doesn't mean they stop selling them.

That said, a small percentage of programmers have posted with specific
ideas about this issue and that is a far cry from many in the crowd that have
complained about every little thing that BL has done (or not done).

The problems may be systemic, but the incessant complaining by a vocal minority
on a forum will not be what changes that.

Scott

Author:

lovaquero

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:50

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

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Topic:

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:46

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

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Topic:

In Suggestions, Stragus writes:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Logic is of no use. Bricklink is in a complete no-win situation at this point.
The 20 or so people that seem to live to instantly criticize them will do that
here in the forum no matter what Bricklink does. (or how well/poorly they do
it)

For QCBricks, perhaps BrickLink is such a modern wonder, so perfect that it is
above any criticism?

Come on!... It seems hard not to criticize BrickLink when they hardly ever perform
any update, and when they try to do so, they screw up the most elementary testing
to implement features no one had asked for (do we really need a prominent Chinese
translation for the 0.3% of BrickLink users from China?).

At least the feedback percentage is mostly right, though it would be preferable
to give more weight to recent orders.

Yea...that's exactly what it is.

Bricklink is a place for buying and selling Lego and it works magnificently at
that. I could care less if they translate it into whatever language. We have
seen nothing but a steady increase in our sales and in the amount we make on
Bricklink. Whatever they are doing, they should keep doing.

Now, for those that are interested in BL being something else other than primarily
a place to buy and sell Lego (a place where every promise is kept, a place that
is the world's greatest catalog site, a place where the "English Only" rule
is militantly applied, a place where feedback percentage is statistically significant
to 8 decimal places using the world's most recursive algorithm, etc...),
I am sure they can find a ton of things to complain about and I am sure they
will. As I have said before, it is abundantly clear to most that read the forum
that there are about 20 users here that will complain about practically anything
BL does. We know who you are at this point.

We, along with many others will still be here growing our stores and doing right
by our customers in spite of the ceaseless complaining.

Scott

Author:

aftepes

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:40

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

66 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

In Suggestions, Cyberclark writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

Fortunately for the complainers, they will have a whole new host of minor issues
to blow up over on Friday when the MOC shop opens.

Scott

That is the funniest thing I have read all day Scott, you actually think the
MOC shop will be open on Friday

But come on you have to admit there were bugs in this last release that could
have easily been avoided with some proper QA and testing.

I said "Friday", not this Friday.

Author:

legoman77

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:38

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

63 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

I said "Friday", not this Friday.

Scott

The problem seems to be that the original announcement gave hope that what problems
there were would be fixed with the new owners. However as the days go by, more
and more little problems pop up. The only way to get things fixed is to complain
about them. It seems that the new owners do not have a clue. Or, they hire
people that are not as competent as everyone was led to believe. What the members
are complaining about is every fix has a bug. The criticisms seem valid so I
do not understand why anyone would complain about people complaining.
If this were ebay or amazon things would be fixed. Not only that they caned
the one guy who know what was going on and who had been here from BrickLink's
inception. A really dumb move and we are now seeing the results of the dumb
move.
I also do not believe it is incorrect to assume that the site should be working
making it easier for sellers and easier for buyers. This is not happening.
When will it happen?
So hold your judgement about complaining and maybe do not complain about those
that complain.
AND GET THAT DARN COMMUNIST FLAG OFF MY SCREEN.
John P

Author:

bb138026

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:33

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

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Topic:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

For several hours yesterday, no one could place orders: it would throw some garbage
server script error.

Surely that's a significant issue worth complaining about.

Author:

QCBricks

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:31

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

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Topic:

In Suggestions, mnementh writes:

In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:

I think that this is an unfair characterization of what happened.

Sure, complaining about the appearance of the changes made can seem petty.

But complaining about an update that was so poorly tested that it made it impossible
for some people TO PLACE ORDERS? That seems fair to me.

Troy

(For the record, my comments about how the new feedback percentage is calculated
were meant as a suggestion, not a complaint. I am happy it is there even in
its current state)

I do not recall reading that people could not place orders, only that a few could
not see the tabs. This alone does not stop one from placing an order, just from
potentially seeing the terms. We've not been able to replicate the disappearing
tabs in FF or Chrome. (Can't speak for IE, Safari, Opera, etc...)

As I said in my reply to Steve...this issue may be the one that deserves the
complaints, but there is no way to tell that among the continual complaints from
a vocal few. These all still remain full of conjecture about who is doing what
and who should be doing certain tasks. None of us are there it is futile to
speculate about whether or not people from the MOC Shop Team could be helping
the "Store Tab" Team. Who knows.

Scott

Author:

bb138026

Posted:

Aug 20, 2014 14:28

Subject:

Re: BL Development Team: Test before rollout!

Viewed:

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Topic: