Suggestions

Could I make a plea to the GR team to sort out the old problems first to get the site working as it used to be before the overhaul made a couple of months ago, before implementing some of the good suggestions that have been made on here.

Over and over again we are seeing messages on the boards about error messages, lack of Hot Matches, and my own post from 23 June about the read/unread icons not working.

You only have to read some posts to realise how fed up subscribers are about this, some even saying they’ll not bother renewing, ask yourselves if that’s the case would these same people recommend the site to others????? I think not.

If necessary shut the site down for a couple of days to get it sorted, provided you tell people in advance [on here not on FB] then I’m sure most will not mind as long as it gets sorted..........

My thread mentioned earlier:-
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/suggestions/thread/1272492

I asked on 22 July a similar question, on the stickied thread, and as yet not got a reply

The longer the problems go on and yes they will be losing members but they do not seem to care at all

GR did not answer my question on this thread either

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/suggestions/thread/1275372

No don't shut the site down for couple of days. The site is working reasonably most of the time. The error reports are perhaps misleading but are only transitory and usually the action has been done.

I know error reports are irritating as is being taken to the wrong page and being logged out but they are not as irritating as not being able to use the site for a couple of days.

I suppose it depends on how many error messages each member is getting as to whether or not they see it as a problem

BUT GR seem to have given up on this board

I agree wholeheartedly that known errors should be fixed and complaints attended to before any new 'things' are introduced. I have complained about the non-working new/no new message icons, and also about the fact that the size of font has been reduced. I am still hoping that the size will be restored before I go completely blind from straining my eyes to read the boards. Yes, I know I can enlarge it by clicking on 100% or on the + thing, but that means scrolling back and forth and I find that hard on my arthritic hands.

Huia.

Perhaps if they spent less time on things such as newletters, which was not the first one, and putting things on Facebook and Twitter then this site might get sorted out.

Fed up with all the error messages etc that are still plaguing this site

I understand people's concerns over the faults with the site recently - there have been a lot of them, and I for one don't like the fact that Facebook and Twitter seem more important than the Genes site itself (especially when Genes have a quiz that you can only take part in if you sign up to Facebook!!)

HOWEVER.........people are still not using the Suggestions Board in the way it was meant to be used. This board is meant to be for suggestions for changes to the CONTENT of the site - NOT for asking for things that go wrong to be put right.

All such problems should be sent to [email protected]

Kath. x

"All such problems should be sent to [email protected]"
- or, as requested yesterday by genes reunited staff in facebook, to
[email protected]; which I did, and was then told that the same error was being experienced by genes reunited staff.
Phil posted a nice apology yesterday in the announcements board.

Yes, I saw Phil's apology, but I still can't see why people are not using the Suggestions board in the way it was meant to be used.

Maybe it's just me !!

Kath. x

"This board is for you to add your suggestions for changes you would like to see made to Genes Reunited"


My suggestion is that they make changes to get this site working properly.

Where does it say that suggestions have to be about the content of this site only but that is only my opinion

There was a thread on here a while ago (which seems to have gone now) but I said the same thing on there and Estelle from Genes confirmed that that was what the suggestion board was for.

Kath. x

then why did Phil post a message saying that he was considering 4 categories for use on THIS board?

ENH ...... Enhancement Suggestions

BUG .......... Bugs in System reports

CMT ....... Comments

QST .......... Questions



Mehtinks the right hand at GR does not know what the left hand is doing, or vice versa



and it doesn't help to have members telling other members what not to do and what to do ................. when it is based only on their understanding of things.




I have been of the impression that THIS board, since its inception, has been for Suggestions to IMPROVE the site ....... whether that be correcting faults identified by members but not GR staff, or changes to the way in which to do things, or for changes to GR per se.


Kath ...... I have seen you post this message several times .......... and it is getting rather annoying, as it is against what Phil has been saying, and trying to do.



As I say, sometimes it seems that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, or should be doing.

Sylvia - Thank you I am so glad you posted that you put it so much better than I ever could.

This site is getting worse not better, I just hope that GR listen and actaully do something to put it right before a lot leave. I have already noticed a few people that are missing from here.

Patricia

a lot of members have already left, or at least stopped using the site until it improves.

and I am sure that you are right in saying that others will be elaving.

It already is a much slower less frequented site than it used to be.



It seems to me that they have given up on this board.

Phil tries valiantly ....... but it seems to me that he does much of the work in his own time, not during working hours.



sylvia

I'm sorry you think I'm criticising anyone......I'm really not.......just stating my opinion.

I think Phil does a great job.........but he's a web developer and would be able to spend more time on things to improve the site if problems with the site were sent to the rest of the support team so that they could handle the problems. Estelle said in the thread I mentioned earlier that the support team do not regularly monitor this board.

Sorry if I am annoying anyone, that is not my intention, but lots of people are quick to tell others when they post something on the wrong board.

Kath. x

Kath,

I could not agree more.

The number of sensible suggestions for enhancements on this board can be counted on just one hand.

If, and it is a big if, this board is only for suggestions for content then GR should alter the wording

"This board is for you to add your suggestions for changes you would like to see made to Genes Reunited"

They have the option to delete threads posted on wrong boards

There is no point in considering changes to things on the boards unless the site is working properly.

It is a waste of time reporting error messages to the team as they normally dismiss your email and all you get is a standard reply telling you to delete cookies etc.

Why are they wasting time sending out newsletters, doing things on Facebook etc when the time should be spent sorting out this site.

GB


that is a question that we all must soon ask ...... and GR should answer.


It is we, the members, who keep this site going

It is we, the members, who provide all the help on these boards

If we get so fed up that we leave, then

a) GR's membership count drops, and so does their income from membership fees.

b) the help provided becomes less and less.


They should also try to remember that internet advice re this site is that the free tree making facility is one of the best available for free ............... nothing that I have found says that this site is the best all round for paying members.


That means the number of free members will outnumber the paying members ........ if indeed, that is not already the case, as I think it might well be.




I have already noticed, as have others, that the use of many of the boards has dropped quite dramatically in the last months since the changes. It is particularly noticeable to those of us who are around during the UK night.

There are nowhere near the numbers of people asking for advice and help during that time that we used to see.



sylvia

Yes have to agree that the number of members asking for help has dropped.

Is this because the "older" members have already done their research ?

I think not.

There are so many error messages, blank pages etc still happening on this site that I am certain that some members are simply not posting at the moment.

Why put up with the hassle of hitting the submit button and your reply disappears into thin air or appears twice. Try to switch boards and you get error messages. It is very annoying trying to do anything on this site.