We’re done tinkering with the LostArtPress.com website, and we still don’t have annoying pop-up and vibrating windows that urge you to join a newsletter or to save 10 percent on your first order or whatever.
Merchants use those irritating windows because they work. But we decided at the outset of this company that we’d rather use our “inside voice” when talking to customers. No yelling, hyperbole or multiple exclamation marks. Because that’s how we prefer to be treated.
Some of the website changes I’ve mentioned before: Easier navigation windows and “social proof,” a phrase I only use ironically, with quote marks around it.
We just added two more functions: a simple wishlist, and a still-not-using-our-outside-voice reminder of our free shipping offer for orders $100 and over.
First the wishlist. Log into your account with us. Navigate to the product you want to add to your list. Click “Add to Wishlist,” which is below “Add to Cart.” Done. (See above.)
To see your wishlist, click on the heart at the top-right of your screen. You’ll see all the items you’ve added. You can then send that list to anyone via email.
The other function tells you how much more you need to spend to receive free shipping. Many times customers can add a bottle of glue or a box of pencils and get free shipping (basically making the glue or pencils free….).
OK, that’s it. I know these posts are boring, but we’re a little boring at times.
— Christopher Schwarz
Good additions. Thanks. But please continue the policy of totally no pop ups on your website. I unsubscribe to those that have them. Hate them, can’t concentrate on the products I may purchase. Happy Holidays.
Cheers.
Michael
I hesitate to make promises…but I’m 99.9-percent certain we will never add those. We also hate them.
Hi Chris,
Along the lines of not being in the face of customers with marketing, may I gently point out that LAP’s Google ads do exactly that? On many unrelated websites, I get LAP ads of books and Crucible products. The ad will flash and magnify one product at a time from a grid, which is quite annoying. I do understand that a business must do what it must do, but thought I would point it out anyway.
Nice. I like the way you do things. Very glad to see your business growing while staying the same. That’s rare.
When I encounter one of those vibrating 10% off ads I immediately exit the site.
Same with the intrusive ads where you’re just trying to get some information and they want you to subscribe. If they work so well then I must be the only one who does this.
My wife tells me from time to time I can be a bit cranky though …….
Saw a headline today: “Is the World going to hell in a Handcart, or am I just becoming a grumpy old fart?” After a period of reflection I’ve decided these aren’t mutually exclusive propositions. I do agree about the vibrating, popping up banners blocking content, and appreciate your restraint. On behalf of GOF’s everywhere, Thank You.
Great features, I’ve especially hoped you’d add a wishlist. I see how to add items, but on the mobile interface I can’t find the button to view my wishlist.
These are great updates. I’m glad to see a wishlist, especially since $AMZN stopped letting me link to your shop.
Thank you! I really dislike the pop up, 10% off annoyances, nice to know I’m not the only one. Also like the wishlist. Softcore capitalism may not yield the highest returns initially, but I believe in the long run it will.
I’ll say what others are saying in a different way.
Yes, yelling ads “work”. They work like butt ending two boards with a screw rather than a dovetail. You choose what kind of business and furniture you want to build.
Referring to the above email, one thing I can assure you of is that you are not boring. I love your light, sometimes sarcastic sense of humor when writing. Conveying just information on a subject can sometimes make it pretty bland. Adding unexpected humor into the subject brings out the non-perfect humanity that we all can identify with. So in my perfect, unerring opinion, keep up the great work.
“The other function tells you how much more you need to spend to receive free shipping.”
Have you considered adding a “Donate to the scholarship fund” SKU? Or a “Round up” option? When I’m $1.23 short of the ‘free shipping’ threshold, I’d really rather just hand over $1.23 and move on with my life.
Good updates. Very helpful. Another suggestion: when we log into our account we can see past orders which is nice. However, what would be very helpful is to see the actual items we have ordered in the past instead of selecting each order and then seeing what was on the order and making note of the items. Very frustrating when trying to make sure we don’t reorder an item we have already purchased, which I have mistakenly done several times.
This is great! Another idea would be to be able to have a list of books and tools we already have from Lost Art Press so our loved ones don’t duplicate them. They already know that LAP has the best books in my opinion so they know where to go!
Thanks. Out of curiosity, a few weeks ago a bunch of LAP videos were put on YouTube (thank you). Was this also part of the consultant recommendation?
Can I still shop on your website without creating an account?
I am a very occasional shopper and creating an account with password is a turnoff.
I also believe it’s a new “feature” to remind people with an email that they left things in their shopping cart? Those couldn’t be more irritating…
I like the changes you have made to your website.
My FOMO must be satiated! How will I know if I missed that one weird trick life hack that nobody knows about?
You’re never boring Chris. Trust Me!
Why don’t I get three emails a day saying how I could get 10% off this or 10% off that? That’s what Fine Woodworking does. It’s the American way, after all.
Now only if we could turn off those your order is out for delivery and your order has been delivered emails.
I only need the your order has been recieved and your order has been shipped emails. But thats just me.
I find the animated ads for Lost Art Press that appear on many websites in the ad windows are very irritating. A simple static ad would be much more in keeping with the Lost Art Press approach that you describe. Although I admire your work and products, I have started turning off the ads so that I can read an article without the animated distractions surrounding the text. Sorry.
Thanks for keeping it simple and not big-brotherish. One major woodworking site manages to irritate the heck out of me almost every time when I click on a link to a product in one of their sale emails. Inevitably I get another email a couple of days later asking if I’ve forgotten about buying. I know you are tracking me, just don’t rub my face in it!