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New look sucks, and the fact that you cannot contact IMDb directly sucks even more.
Posted 6 years ago
Peter, Champion
The fact that you have to come here to voice your complaint is telling. IMDB is not all grown up yet.
And whatever you do, DO NOT give your credit card information to IMDB. A person who would give their credit card information and name and address to a company that has no means of talking to a live human being is a fool. Please see this question, and my response here:
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/hi-imdb-imdb-pro-account-billing-query?utm_source=notificati...
And whatever you do, DO NOT give your credit card information to IMDB. A person who would give their credit card information and name and address to a company that has no means of talking to a live human being is a fool. Please see this question, and my response here:
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/hi-imdb-imdb-pro-account-billing-query?utm_source=notificati...
GG, I have never given IMDb my credit card info and never would. If you have and are experiencing a problem with IMDb as a result, and are not receiving any communication from them, I would contact the credit card company directly and let them know. I've had issues with companies in the past who do not communicate with me as a consumer, and the credit card company has reversed charges and taken over the line of communication with the company.
LuvsToResearch, Champion
You would be best served to address whatever complaint, question, suggestion you have via the Help Desk here: http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact_...
That's really not true LuvsToResearch. Your reply is the same as the several other "Champions" on this website, that merely redirect complaints back to the IMDB help desk form. What's funny about that is the Help Desk form web page tells member they should go here to seek help.
The official IMDB Help Desk rarely helps anybody. They take months, literally months to respond, and when they do respond, it's a stock response, scripted, and no customer service rep ever offers to help you.
Personal customer service is why companies like GoDaddy and Amazon are getting the market share. They go above and beyond, and stay on the phone until the problem is solved. IMDB doesn't even try.
The official IMDB Help Desk rarely helps anybody. They take months, literally months to respond, and when they do respond, it's a stock response, scripted, and no customer service rep ever offers to help you.
Personal customer service is why companies like GoDaddy and Amazon are getting the market share. They go above and beyond, and stay on the phone until the problem is solved. IMDB doesn't even try.
LuvsToResearch, Champion
I have always had excellent responses from the Help Desk, for years. I have no issues with how IMDb offers assistance because I fully understand the logistics of other possible processes. I am content.
However, apparently you have a particular problem with all aspects of IMDb, so much so I wonder why you continue to utilize their site. But to each their own.
Therefore, I suggest you continue seeking assistance and giving assistance in the manner you are pursuing. It has been so useful and productive so far.
Best to you.
However, apparently you have a particular problem with all aspects of IMDb, so much so I wonder why you continue to utilize their site. But to each their own.
Therefore, I suggest you continue seeking assistance and giving assistance in the manner you are pursuing. It has been so useful and productive so far.
Best to you.
"However, apparently you have a particular problem with all aspects of
IMDb, so much so I wonder why you continue to utilize their site. But to
each their own."
- You've got to love the presumptuous smugness of the so-called "Champions" on this site. Makes you wonder who they're "championing" for, huh?
Your own help has amounted to what, exactly?
"Therefore, I suggest you continue seeking assistance and giving assistance in the manner you are pursuing. It has been so useful and productive so far."
- If I can't get help, then possibly it will be useful to continue pointing out the ways IMDB fails its members. Of course, your experience may differ, but obviously, based on the number of unresolved complaints on this board, experiences opposite that of yours exist. Of course, the so-called "Champions" don't respect those opposite opinions for some reason.
- You've got to love the presumptuous smugness of the so-called "Champions" on this site. Makes you wonder who they're "championing" for, huh?
Your own help has amounted to what, exactly?
"Therefore, I suggest you continue seeking assistance and giving assistance in the manner you are pursuing. It has been so useful and productive so far."
- If I can't get help, then possibly it will be useful to continue pointing out the ways IMDB fails its members. Of course, your experience may differ, but obviously, based on the number of unresolved complaints on this board, experiences opposite that of yours exist. Of course, the so-called "Champions" don't respect those opposite opinions for some reason.
Vincent, If you are referring to myself when you say you are " gonna answer someone that came in here with an attitude, I tend to give a little of it back while also answering their questions if I can", then all I can state is what I stated before, that being, If IMDb had a forum for people to comment to them directly which is easy to find on their site, then I wouldn't have posted what I did post, and I certainly wouldn't have been so pissy about it. Fact of the matter is, IMDb does not make it easy for someone to communicate directly with them.
To all those who understood my frustration, thank you for validating that I wasn't the only one who was/is annoyed with IMDb.
To all those who understood my frustration, thank you for validating that I wasn't the only one who was/is annoyed with IMDb.
Vincent, Champion
If you notice my prior two comments in this section are in direct response to (and even quote from) Daniel Nerlien
You hadn't posted anything that solicited commentary from me, but if you would like one than may I respond to this:
IMDB staff reads these forums (though if they comment it's typically Monday through Friday during business hours). There's also the contact us link page that's already been pointed out.
I don't see the point in being frustrated by either of these options under the circumstances.
The fact that they have a tiny staff in comparison to the volume of work they are loaded with is simply truth. If other users can help you through your issue faster than staff, than we will.
It's my opinion that the contact us page and this forum are very easy ways to communicate directly at them. Whether or not your issue warrants a response or not, is entirely up to them. Chances are if it is something that can be found in the FAQs or that could be talked through, than other users here on this forum are likely to find the answer for you faster than waiting for IMDB staff.
Their main goals is keeping the database updated (and if you look at http://www.imdb.com/czone/times?ref_=hlp_brws you know how busy they are)
Personally I find that a little bit of understanding can go a long way. For me these forums are therapeutic and calming.
I'm not sure what else you are looking for out of this. But if you have another question I'll be back on tomorrow; right now I have to go help my guild stay in first place in SWTOR conquest: http://www.swtor.com/
You hadn't posted anything that solicited commentary from me, but if you would like one than may I respond to this:
If IMDb had a forum for people to comment to them directly which is easy to find on their site, then I wouldn't have posted what I did post, and I certainly wouldn't have been so pissy about it. Fact of the matter is, IMDb does not make it easy for someone to communicate directly with them.
IMDB staff reads these forums (though if they comment it's typically Monday through Friday during business hours). There's also the contact us link page that's already been pointed out.
I don't see the point in being frustrated by either of these options under the circumstances.
The fact that they have a tiny staff in comparison to the volume of work they are loaded with is simply truth. If other users can help you through your issue faster than staff, than we will.
It's my opinion that the contact us page and this forum are very easy ways to communicate directly at them. Whether or not your issue warrants a response or not, is entirely up to them. Chances are if it is something that can be found in the FAQs or that could be talked through, than other users here on this forum are likely to find the answer for you faster than waiting for IMDB staff.
Their main goals is keeping the database updated (and if you look at http://www.imdb.com/czone/times?ref_=hlp_brws you know how busy they are)
Personally I find that a little bit of understanding can go a long way. For me these forums are therapeutic and calming.
I'm not sure what else you are looking for out of this. But if you have another question I'll be back on tomorrow; right now I have to go help my guild stay in first place in SWTOR conquest: http://www.swtor.com/
bluesmanSF, Champion
re:
All you have to do is read. My first time here and, if logic applies, everyone else's first visit here, I read the damn page first...it's what any reasonable person would do. Otherwise you end up ranting about not having a way to contact staff when you've just landed at the place to do so, in two separate ways...one public and one private. It's been mentioned a few times in this thread, including the 2nd post by Peter, the first person to reply to you.
It's just common sense when it's your first time some place, you take a second to look around before spouting off about what the room has to offer or doesn't. If not, you look like a ranting lunatic.
The reason the contact area is here instead of on the main site (which is where it was up until twenty months ago) is that this board offers features the old board system could not. So, they added a staff that monitors activity here and replies when needed, a way to handle feedback/suggestions, rather than dumping them in the suggestion box where other users can see or vote on them, a tagging system which lets you see if your question has already been answered and you can go on your merry way without needing to post, a system that lets staff post an official reply that will anchor to the OP and then list the other activity afterwards, and many, many more. So they opted for the additional features over simply using the old Help Board. The Help Desk links now send you here and gives you options. The Help Desk contact form still exists, though, as it has for at least 14 years or so, I'd guess.
You are aware, are you not, that it would have been possible to comment or ask questions without cursing and throwing a tantrum, right? Don't blame IMDb for making you do that by having the link way down on the bottom of the page. And, common sense would tell you that, 99.999999% of questions have already been answered in the Help Area, the FAQ's, in posts here, etc., and staff really, really isn't needed for most things. So, it makes sense that they'd guide you past all of that first, then offer the contact form for the very few items that actually need to be handled by staff.
While I understand you're frustrated, that's no reason to act inappropriately and in an abusive manner.
The only person who agreed with you, by the way, is a disgruntled user who has been blocked from the site and is now trolling and throwing tantrums himself, even after staff pretty much told him, he can't come back because of his behavior.
Anyway, if you seriously want to leave feedback about the current look of the site, you can/should post a new topic, with a constructive criticism of changes and how they could be improved and mark the topic as a suggestion or "idea" thread and other users can chip in their comments on your suggestion or add comments about your post, then +1 the idea and staff can, from that, tell if the idea(s) are liked by the community in general. That's far more constructive, sensible and appropriate than your OP which didn't even allude to what changes "suck." The site constantly changes...so to say a change "sucks," doesn't even give them the slightest idea what you're talking about. I can't see how that's helpful at all...other than maybe it makes you feel good to vent.
Good luck to you!
oh..of note, staff that reads and responds to posts here include:
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/details/employees
One of whom is Col Needham, the creator of the site. So, if you'd had the best ideas for improvement of all time, does it really help that you simply posted that the "Fucking site sucks?" If I came to your work, walked in and said "Your work fucking sucks," would you think seriously about changing things (or even know what should be changed, for that matter) or would you simply shrug and think, "That person is nuts?"
If they actually had an email address that you could send comments and complaints to
If IMDb had a forum for people to comment to them directly which is easy to find on their siteEvery page of the main site has a "contact us" link that leads to the main page here which states (it's in the right sidebar on desktop, at the bottom in mobile version):
Which means, either post on a public board or use a private form.Note: this is a public forum: anything posted here will be visible to everyone.
For billing/payment issues, visit http://www.imdb.com/bill
For issues regarding accounts or questions involving non-public information, please log into your IMDb.com account and contact our support staff privately via this form.
All you have to do is read. My first time here and, if logic applies, everyone else's first visit here, I read the damn page first...it's what any reasonable person would do. Otherwise you end up ranting about not having a way to contact staff when you've just landed at the place to do so, in two separate ways...one public and one private. It's been mentioned a few times in this thread, including the 2nd post by Peter, the first person to reply to you.
It's just common sense when it's your first time some place, you take a second to look around before spouting off about what the room has to offer or doesn't. If not, you look like a ranting lunatic.
The reason the contact area is here instead of on the main site (which is where it was up until twenty months ago) is that this board offers features the old board system could not. So, they added a staff that monitors activity here and replies when needed, a way to handle feedback/suggestions, rather than dumping them in the suggestion box where other users can see or vote on them, a tagging system which lets you see if your question has already been answered and you can go on your merry way without needing to post, a system that lets staff post an official reply that will anchor to the OP and then list the other activity afterwards, and many, many more. So they opted for the additional features over simply using the old Help Board. The Help Desk links now send you here and gives you options. The Help Desk contact form still exists, though, as it has for at least 14 years or so, I'd guess.
You are aware, are you not, that it would have been possible to comment or ask questions without cursing and throwing a tantrum, right? Don't blame IMDb for making you do that by having the link way down on the bottom of the page. And, common sense would tell you that, 99.999999% of questions have already been answered in the Help Area, the FAQ's, in posts here, etc., and staff really, really isn't needed for most things. So, it makes sense that they'd guide you past all of that first, then offer the contact form for the very few items that actually need to be handled by staff.
While I understand you're frustrated, that's no reason to act inappropriately and in an abusive manner.
The only person who agreed with you, by the way, is a disgruntled user who has been blocked from the site and is now trolling and throwing tantrums himself, even after staff pretty much told him, he can't come back because of his behavior.
Anyway, if you seriously want to leave feedback about the current look of the site, you can/should post a new topic, with a constructive criticism of changes and how they could be improved and mark the topic as a suggestion or "idea" thread and other users can chip in their comments on your suggestion or add comments about your post, then +1 the idea and staff can, from that, tell if the idea(s) are liked by the community in general. That's far more constructive, sensible and appropriate than your OP which didn't even allude to what changes "suck." The site constantly changes...so to say a change "sucks," doesn't even give them the slightest idea what you're talking about. I can't see how that's helpful at all...other than maybe it makes you feel good to vent.
Good luck to you!
oh..of note, staff that reads and responds to posts here include:
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/details/employees
One of whom is Col Needham, the creator of the site. So, if you'd had the best ideas for improvement of all time, does it really help that you simply posted that the "Fucking site sucks?" If I came to your work, walked in and said "Your work fucking sucks," would you think seriously about changing things (or even know what should be changed, for that matter) or would you simply shrug and think, "That person is nuts?"
(Edited)
First of all, I looked very closely at the site and did try to contact them directly, I even found a 'contact us' link quickly as well. However, the 'contact us' link takes you in circles without ever being able to contact them. Secondly, the site does suck and they should be told so. If I would have been able to simply click on a link for 'contact us' and up popped a box that I could write a comment in, my comment would have been something like, "I'm not a fan of the recent changes to how information is displayed on your site. Please revert to the older format as it was much more user friendly. Thank you." However, that route seems to not exist. Hence my frustration from being taken in circles again and again and again....
bluesmanSF, Champion
When you get here you are welcomed by this message, which includes the form. So, step one was all you needed.
1. Post your question
2. contact our support staff privately via this form
That's pretty straight forward. I'd be kind of embarrassed to have gone through all of what you just described (and certainly would not have described it for all the world to see).
Perhaps people don't understand the ridiculousness of it all because it has not been the same experience for anyone else as we all simply read the message pasted above which clarified the whole process for us.
The message pasted above also does not start with billing issues.
Let's read together:
Part one: Welcome to the Community
Part two: Explanation of what it is "We encourage users to help each other...get answers from customer service and IMDb members...
Part Three: Announcement it's a public forum
Part Four: For billing issues
Part Five: Issues regarding accounts or questions involving non-public info...
So, again, the message did not start with billing issues which was one (fourth) of the many items covered. You read six sentences, then left the page before the seventh and final sentence? Really?? And IMDb is to blame for you being lost and confused?
Message from IMDb.comWhen you arrive at this board, there are two ways to contact staff.Welcome to the official IMDb community, where you can get answers from customer service and IMDb members.
We encourage users to help each other get the most out of IMDb. Often the community provides answers and solutions faster than we can respond directly. For best results, before posting a question or reporting a problem, please click here.
Note: this is a public forum: anything posted here will be visible to everyone.
For billing/payment issues, visit http://www.imdb.com/bill
For issues regarding accounts or questions involving non-public information, please log into your IMDb.com account and contact our support staff privately via this form
1. Post your question
2. contact our support staff privately via this form
That's pretty straight forward. I'd be kind of embarrassed to have gone through all of what you just described (and certainly would not have described it for all the world to see).
Perhaps people don't understand the ridiculousness of it all because it has not been the same experience for anyone else as we all simply read the message pasted above which clarified the whole process for us.
The message pasted above also does not start with billing issues.
Let's read together:
Part one: Welcome to the Community
Part two: Explanation of what it is "We encourage users to help each other...get answers from customer service and IMDb members...
Part Three: Announcement it's a public forum
Part Four: For billing issues
Part Five: Issues regarding accounts or questions involving non-public info...
So, again, the message did not start with billing issues which was one (fourth) of the many items covered. You read six sentences, then left the page before the seventh and final sentence? Really?? And IMDb is to blame for you being lost and confused?
Let's take another look at the IMDb.com main contact page,
which is linked from the IMDb.com main page footer:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact?ref_=ft_con
That page has these issues that IMDb could easily resolve:
(1)
At http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact?ref_=ft_con,
the link given to "contact ... support staff privately"
for "registration and account log-in issues" leads to:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/login_problems
which redirects to:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact
which is just the expanded version of essentially the
same page from which we started (with FAQ sidebar added).
(2)
The FAQ list at http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact
includes a link labeled: "How can I contact someone for help?"
That link leads to: http://www.imdb.com/contact
which redirects back to the same page at:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact.
(3)
That page also has a link labelled "Contact the Help Desk".
That link just leads back to the same page at:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact.
Suggestion to IMDb:
The link given to "contact ... support staff privately" for "registration and account log-in issues" should lead to the private contact form. Likewise, the links to "contact someone for help" and "contact the help desk" should do more than just loop back to the same page from which we clicked those links.
.
which is linked from the IMDb.com main page footer:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact?ref_=ft_con
That page has these issues that IMDb could easily resolve:
(1)
At http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact?ref_=ft_con,
the link given to "contact ... support staff privately"
for "registration and account log-in issues" leads to:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/login_problems
which redirects to:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact
which is just the expanded version of essentially the
same page from which we started (with FAQ sidebar added).
(2)
The FAQ list at http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact
includes a link labeled: "How can I contact someone for help?"
That link leads to: http://www.imdb.com/contact
which redirects back to the same page at:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact.
(3)
That page also has a link labelled "Contact the Help Desk".
That link just leads back to the same page at:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact.
Suggestion to IMDb:
The link given to "contact ... support staff privately" for "registration and account log-in issues" should lead to the private contact form. Likewise, the links to "contact someone for help" and "contact the help desk" should do more than just loop back to the same page from which we clicked those links.
.
(Edited)
@Lucus
Finally someone gets it! THANK YOU!
@BluemanSF
If you all weren't so busy defending your layout and assigning blame you might realize that peoples minds work in different ways. The thought process from one person to the next will always vary. So, adjusting a layout to accommodate the widest possible group of users is always advantageous to a "webmaster". Step outside of the box...
I will admit that there were flaws in my initial approach, but hindsight is always 20/20 and I didn't know then what I do now. I will also admit that my temper did get in the way about halfway through the above list.
With that said, how about a picture. This is the message everyone keeps referring to as seen in my browser (Firefox 33.1):
So, we can now clearly see that 2 unrelated items are indeed "jammed" together. Someone "scanning" the content would easily assume the paragrah is billing related and stop scanning.
And here is the code that Firefox used to render it (pasted from the console inspector):
<p>
For billing/payment issues, visit http://www.imd...
<br></br>
For issues regarding accounts or questions involv...
<b></b>
via
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact_form?subject=GS%20fallback"></a>;
.
<br></br>
</p>
Upon examining the code, we find a doctype of html and incorrectly formatted line-breaks that were supposed to separate the content. e.g. <br></br>.
Now you have proof that the problem exists and I've identified the coding error that causes it. If you would like to give me admin access, I will even fix it for you...
Finally someone gets it! THANK YOU!
@BluemanSF
If you all weren't so busy defending your layout and assigning blame you might realize that peoples minds work in different ways. The thought process from one person to the next will always vary. So, adjusting a layout to accommodate the widest possible group of users is always advantageous to a "webmaster". Step outside of the box...
I will admit that there were flaws in my initial approach, but hindsight is always 20/20 and I didn't know then what I do now. I will also admit that my temper did get in the way about halfway through the above list.
With that said, how about a picture. This is the message everyone keeps referring to as seen in my browser (Firefox 33.1):
So, we can now clearly see that 2 unrelated items are indeed "jammed" together. Someone "scanning" the content would easily assume the paragrah is billing related and stop scanning.
And here is the code that Firefox used to render it (pasted from the console inspector):
<p>
For billing/payment issues, visit http://www.imd...
<br></br>
For issues regarding accounts or questions involv...
<b></b>
via
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact_form?subject=GS%20fallback"></a>;
.
<br></br>
</p>
Upon examining the code, we find a doctype of html and incorrectly formatted line-breaks that were supposed to separate the content. e.g. <br></br>.
Now you have proof that the problem exists and I've identified the coding error that causes it. If you would like to give me admin access, I will even fix it for you...
gromit82, Champion
George: None of the people who have posted in this thread are IMDb staffers. I have posted a separate thread to raise the problems that you and Lucus have addressed, because it's unlikely that the staff will respond to this particular thread under this particular title. Basically, this discussion will get a fresh start. See https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/bad-links-to-help-desk for the new thread.
(Edited)
Vincent, Champion
At some point someone should realize: contacting staff is pretty much a last resort.
If all you were trying to do is post suggestions, they want them on the forums anyway so others can be involved in the discussion. Your opinion by itself on how to change this is not as valuable to IMDB as your suggestion + the response of other users in regards to the issue.
The contact us form for contacting staff is not hard to find, as has been pointed out numerous times. Its also not needed for the majority of things people try to use it for. Those kinds of people also tend to get lost in logic loops and cry over not having their hands held for every step of the process that they are putting themselves through unnecessarily.
If all you were trying to do is post suggestions, they want them on the forums anyway so others can be involved in the discussion. Your opinion by itself on how to change this is not as valuable to IMDB as your suggestion + the response of other users in regards to the issue.
The contact us form for contacting staff is not hard to find, as has been pointed out numerous times. Its also not needed for the majority of things people try to use it for. Those kinds of people also tend to get lost in logic loops and cry over not having their hands held for every step of the process that they are putting themselves through unnecessarily.
bluesmanSF, Champion
re: "Why don't you two try to get new userIDs with new emails and see how cumbersome it is."
What makes you think I haven't? I frequently test the way things work since I am frequently answering peoples' questions.
re: "read the forums and you'll see I'd have backers"
Ok...so how many "backers?" I'll give you two hundred (though it's probably more like a couple dozen, tops)...how does that compare when the site has 100 million visits per month from unique visitors?
I've never found the site "cumbersome," and frankly, if I disliked it as much as you do, I wouldn't come to the site..and surely wouldn't spend time bitching and moaning about it. If it's truly such a pain in your behind, why are you prolonging the pain by moaning about it? You're certainly caused your cumbered yourself more here than you did by registering for a site you clearly don't want to participate on knowing now what that requires. Certainly reading the FAQ about it would have been, by far, the easiest route.
Seriously...this is beyond ridiculous...
Good luck, dude. Hope life gets easier for you!
Daniel Nerlien
And by "backers," I mean the many people who had similar experiences with the ludicrous registration experience. Your whole "100 million visits" is a straw-man argument. I'm not talking about visitors to the website; I'm talking about people who try to register with the new format and encounter this kind of nonsense. Logic has abandoned you, or rather you abandoned logic on that one, guy.
I really don't know how I could have made this clearer. Give full disclosure before you waste one's time as far as how much information we need to provide up front. One should not have to read the FAQs to do this. Your simple life might allow you the opportunity to do this, but I expect a degree of uniformity in websites. I'm not alone in that regard.
Seriously...this is beyond ridiculous...
Good luck, bruv. I genuinely hope the simple things in life get clearer for you!
Rose
Gee thanks IMDB for showing me that trolls can "own" boards.
gromit82, Champion
Rose
I'm done. This is my sisters account. I'm afraid the troll would know it's me if I used my real one.
I'm deleting my account in the morning.
IMDB just doesn't care about it's users. As I said I'm not the only one who left because of this troll.