New Barter Website: WhiteWilly.com
So it’s been a while since I’ve been to a new swapping site…and this one is silly enough that it got me interested. WhiteWilly.com invited me to check out their site. Here’s what I found:
The home page design is pretty enough, though I just don’t know what a white elephant has to do with barter, unless it’s some low-level dig at a white elephant party or something. And why Willy? Anyway, let’s get on with it.
The how it works section says you can sign up for no cost and they give you money to use on the site. Strike one for me. If you have to bribe people to use your site like that then there might not be value, and if you are giving your money away for free, there really isn’t any value.
The sign up process was smooth enough. Create your account, sign up, with an email confirmation.
One thing they got right is the list of things available. The list is laid out well, and when you click for details on any given item, it comes up in a nice lightbox instead of navigating away from the page.
Unfortunately, this is where the good feelings left my heart.
I found something cool, something I wanted (a 3030 rifle), and hit the button that says Express Interest. My assumption is that by expressing interest I would be able to send a message or something, but instead I’m taken to a screen called Make an Offer. Whoa there buddy! I wasn’t ready to commit just yet, and the text of the new page says that this will be a legally binding contract. A little early in the process for me to get that committed to the product, whatever it is, you know?
So then I think, I ought to add some items, so I click the Add Items link at the top. Instead of being taken to a form where I can actually add items to trade, I am taken to my Profile….
What?
I wanted to add something…
So I clicked again.
Profile again.
At this point I gave up. If it wants me to buy stuff but won’t let me put stuff up for trade, I’m done.
The site obviously has some beta bugs. And since it is in beta, we’ll be kind and say that they have a good start and that there needs to be some fixes before we feel confident sending people their way.
I give the site a C-. The UI is ok. The look and feel saves the site from getting a D. Sorry guys.
Whoa partner, Slow down a bit, You signed up on our site and didn’t provide any details that would be required if you did trade an item.
Am I going to send my 30/30 rifle to someone that didn’t provide a real name, or address or phone number? (no)
The site requires you fill out all the data, by taking you to exactly where it needs you to fill it out. (the profile page) It says at the top of that profile page,, to “fill out the profile completely to proceed” then does its best to verify your authenticity via paypal. If it can, you get verified user status meaning you convinced paypal, a respected site that you exist and have a bank account and it matches your name etc… I’m sure all will agree that we wouldn’t be worth much if we didn’t attempt to verify authenticity for our other clients.
Our FAQ’s page explains the basic details of the site.
Showing interest is like E*Bays watch list for the browsing client.. except it lets the listing client see who is interested,
example: “User1 is interested in your 30/30″,
If User1 has items, you can view what they have to hopefully MAKE AN OFFER.
Offers are not treated lightly on WhiteWIlly and yes they are contracts,, I offer my item and if you accept the deal is done. No wasted back and forth. The details of the item that you posted on the site can be described in words, and shown in an unlimited number of photos, and explained in a video hosted on YouTube. (developers are working on direct upload to youtube right from whitewilly and likely will be out of testing before Oct 1 2011.)
Messages can be sent to the lister of the item and if they are online you can see they are online at that moment. (An instant chat feature is arriving within the next two weeks.) Until then messages can be exchanged from within the site similar to email but no need to leave the site. Messages can be sent from the main listing screen, the items profile and the users profile that has the item for sale. Ajax coding alerts you instantly if you have an offer, interest shown or a message.
Posting items is super easy,, (if you have a complete profile) and yes it is free right now. Why give away a service like ours? We know you will love it and I frankly cannot afford to pay for commercials to convince you, so yes, I am bribing you and anyone who will try it, Once you try it you will be hooked.
The real power of the site was not even discovered by the reviewer. Items traded can be re-traded before you ever touch them. Offers can be accepted on the items that were offered for your item. The abilities of the site are frankly far beyond my ability to explain but so easy to use. Once you understand the site, Its capabilities will boggle the mind.
While I regret the site was not a bit more transparent to the reviewer, (I will work on this, and a video tutorial is already shot we are just working on the triggers and integrated player)
Here is my criticism of the review, the three minutes spent being disappointed after merely assuming how they felt the site should work while not following any of the on screen instructions or attempting to read the “FAQ’s” or “How does this work” pages, or the instructional video is an unfair review. Its unlikely a first time user of ebay could figure it out in three minutes and could get frustrated and leave. The site is still viable and has value.
I built something far different than anything else in existence. It may not work the way you’re used to doing things. Yes, it is in BETA testing which we proudly display, and yes there will be some major improvements coming down the pipeline as we get constructive feedback like this, but take a minute or two and follow the instructions and give WhiteWilly.com another chance.
“If you keep doing what your doing, you will keep getting what you’re getting”. Willy does it different.
I sure do appreciate the chance to be viewed by all your followers! Thanks! And I hope you do call and interview me because there is so much more to the site than what you saw, it will blow your mind, Really.
I’m super busy this week. I might be open to an interview soon. In the mean time, here is my response: websites are very much like jokes. If you have to explain how they work, they weren’t that good in the first place.
You’ve got some good points, but at this point, for me, the usability just isn’t there.
You’re right about jokes.. no matter how good it is.. there is always someone that just dont get it.