As a CONSUMER how important is a great looking maintained website?

[snowmansnow]

This thread isn't meant to knock any of the sponsors here in any way. I realize purchasing and maintaing a working website is both labor and coast intensive, but how important is a nice looking functional website to you as a CONSUMER?

Personally, I find it very important. Particularly if livestock is pictured and up to date with prices and so forth. Perhaps this comes from being out of town.

There's nothing like traveling 2 hours to a shop only to find they have nothing of interest (which doesn't happen very often really).

Also, what is the best LFS site you've seen (not counting mega stores like DRSFS).

What aspects of these pages did you like?

Just curious if I'm the only one who really appreciates the importance of a maintained FUNCTIONAL site.

B

 

[dakota9]

LOL,

The coolest eqipment site I've seen is for the lowest quality stuff that is mass marketed...

aquatraders.com

Check it out! Great way to sell low end stuff

Love the easy to follow tabs on that site. No looking and searching, everything laid out in a way that makes sense.

 

[snowmansnow]

Dakota9;443883 wrote: LOL,

The coolest eqipment site I've seen is for the lowest quality stuff that is mass marketed...

aquatraders.com

Check it out! Great way to sell low end stuff

Love the easy to follow tabs on that site. No looking and searching, everything laid out in a way that makes sense.

Ya I kinda want to see what people like about smaller shops that have cool pages... if there are any

B

 

[schwaggs]

The problem is, I wouldn't want to pay for livestock at a LFS that had a fancy, up to date web site. The maintainance cost for keeping a site up to date with accurate inventory pictures would be huge and that cost would be built in to the livestock, right?

I do, however, expect the site to be nice looking, have accurate directions, hours, phone numbers, and not look like the last time it was updated was shortly after Al Gore invented the internet.

 

[hackman72]

Schwaggs;443905 wrote: The problem is, I wouldn't want to pay for livestock at a LFS that had a fancy, up to date web site. The maintainance cost for keeping a site up to date with accurate inventory pictures would be huge and that cost would be built in to the livestock, right?

I do, however, expect the site to be nice looking, have accurate directions, hours, phone numbers, and not look like the last time it was updated was shortly after Al Gore invented the internet.

I agree. They'd need 1 person dedicated to updating the site as things are sold all day long and new shipments come in. That's an overhead and the prices have to go up to support that.

Half the fun and excitement for me is going out and seeing what's in the stores. It's always a surprise and never a let down.

 

[weaglereefer]

I always liked Optimum Aquarium's site (haven't been there in a while so I don't know if it changed). They had pics of the tanks, some general information, and easily accessible (AND CORRECT) hours of operation.

I don't care if the livestock info is up to date, but it's nice to see sites that list the manufacturers they carry. For example, I wouldn't call Einstein looking for an Odyssea fixture.

 

[weaglereefer]

AndyMan;443928 wrote: Dak, you forgot MY website
How can anyone forget my website

Haha, the one the filters at work won't let me access?

 

[snowmansnow]

I guess it's kind of like a store front to me.

if its nice, clean, and modern looking I'm just much more inclined to give it a shot.

B

 

[dakota9]

AndyMan;443928 wrote: Dak, you forgot MY website
How can anyone forget my website

Yeah, but your live webcam show gives so much more detail the website pails in comparison.....

That premium membership was SOOO worth it!