Scrolling advertisement MUST GO!!!!!!!!

paularthur · 2 Dec 2007, 01:53 AM

I SPECIFICALLY signed up with runbox because of NO ADVERTISING. Get rid of your SELF ADVERTISING scroll bar or I'll cancel my contract!!!!!

paularthur AT runbox DOT com

Mod: Fixed "live" email address to avoid spambots.

**Sherry** · 2 Dec 2007, 02:35 AM

Mod: Thread moved to the Runbox Forum.

carverrn · 2 Dec 2007, 03:10 AM

The scrolling "testimonials" are only on the Runbox main page. They are not on your account page.

If you want a "minimal" login you can use:

http://www.runbox.com/mail

or

https://secure.runbox.com/mail

Regards,
Rich

hajonez · 2 Dec 2007, 12:05 PM

Or for an absolutely minimal log in screen you can use this one here:

http://hjones.info/runbox.html

Download a local copy of this page to your Desktop, open it in an HTML or text editor and change the string "yourusername" to your Runbox username. Save the altered copy and you should be able to use this page to log in to your Runbox account without the need to enter your username every time. It works best if you store the local copy somewhere on your hard disk and add a bookmark to it from your browser

.

I've created a single page that contains the log in fields of all my online accounts from my Facebook account, to various forums to my VOiP provider account. Works well!

- Henry

positivelyjim · 3 Dec 2007, 09:57 PM

I've been in sales all my life and I can't figure out why anyone would place testimonial advertising in the face of people who have already made a decision to purchase the product. Isn't that comparable to "preaching to the converted" or like "taking sand to the beach?" What's the point? And the SAME testimonials, over and over and over? It just makes absolutely no sense.

carverrn · 3 Dec 2007, 10:37 PM

Hi positivelyjim,

This is actually the Runbox main page. Most of the main page is designed for people who aren't current Runbox customers: Take a Tour, Features, Sign Up Now.

Only the right side (a little less than a quarter of the full page) is of use to current users.

That is only a few of the testimonials. The rest can be found by clicking on the scrolling testimonials or by clicking on the "User Testimonials" link.

Regards,
Rich

positivelyjim · 3 Dec 2007, 11:45 PM

Then with all due respect, they should be separated. Existing users and potential users should not be looking at the same thing. As an existing user, I have absolutely no interest in testimonials either when I log in or log out.

paularthur · 4 Dec 2007, 12:10 AM

Thanks, all for your comments. Perhaps "the man" has heard.

Nevertheless, thanks to whom showed me a work around. Still as several users said, paid customers should NEVER have to look at such trite. We should be directed to a different no "self aggrandizement" page. Period!

I am reconsidering my contract cancellation but still find the idea offensive.

carverrn · 4 Dec 2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by positivelyjim

Then with all due respect, they should be separated. Existing users and potential users should not be looking at the same thing. As an existing user, I have absolutely no interest in testimonials either when I log in or log out.

As previously posted, if you want a "minimal" login you can use:

http://www.runbox.com/mail

or

https://secure.runbox.com/mail

I can't imagine why any company wouldn't put the testimonials, product information, and such on their main page.

In fact other email services have similar main pages:

http://fastmail.fm

http://mailsnare.net

http://bluebottle.com

http://fusemail.com

http://tuffmail.com

Regards,
Rich

carverrn · 4 Dec 2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paularthur

Still as several users said, paid customers should NEVER have to look at such trite. We should be directed to a different no "self aggrandizement" page. Period!

I would just like the point out that until the user actually enters their username/password the main page doesn't know if the visitor is a current user or not. Once they enter their username/password they are immediately directed to their account where there is no display of advertising or testimonials.

If some user information were to be stored in browser cookies between sessions then it would be possible for the main page to determine if the visitor might be a current user but many people don't like information to be stored in cookies between sessions.

Isn't a separate link, like http://runbox.com/mail , a reasonable solution?

Regards,
Rich

positivelyjim · 4 Dec 2007, 01:13 AM

I understand that other email services might do that, however that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a good idea. A huge number of people find scrolling messages to be quite distracting/annoying in general. On my web site, we polled our visitors about a very unobtrusive scroll we ran for about two weeks. It was so small you could barely see it and it faded out completely after 30 seconds.

On surveying our clients, I don't remember the exact figure, but it was something like 83% said they didn't like it, and a lot of them took the time to write in the comment line that they hated it. That's all I had to hear.

At the very least, if they absolutely have to have a scroll, it might be a good idea to change the testimonials dynamically, or make it fade out after a certain period of time. This is like watching the same commercial over and over and over again on television and not being able to change the channel. After a while it becomes completely counter-productive.

That's just my opinion and experience, but I think you'll find that backed up empirically across almost any industry - perhaps with the exception of sites that offer free javascript and other code.

carverrn · 4 Dec 2007, 01:31 AM

Hi positivelyjim,

So are you saying the issue isn't with the testimonials on the main page but that the scrolling is annoying?

My interpretation of the original post of the thread was not a scrolling issue but an issue with the testimonials themselves.

Regards,
Rich

positivelyjim · 4 Dec 2007, 02:24 AM

I think it's both. According to several people I've consulted at All Experts.com, one of which has built 1000's of web sites, scrolls are considered annoying by most visitors to a site. Apparently it was't always that way, but over the last five years or so they've become increasingly unpopular.

Personally, I would welcome messages that told me about new features, fixes, updates and specials because the log in page is an ideal way to communicate to and stay in touch with your existing clientele. As they say, it's easier and cheaper to keep a customer and in some cases, upsell them, than it is to get a new customer. But for me, just seeing the same testimonials over and over again is a waste of space. I guess I've never been a fan of redundancy, and perhaps that's why I feel that way.

.

nomad · 4 Dec 2007, 02:26 AM

For me, the scrolling testimonials are annoying, not good for the eyes, especially because they are on the top of the site

carverrn · 4 Dec 2007, 03:49 AM

I'll pass the feedback on the "scrolling" along.

Thank you for the input.

Regards,
Rich

2 Dec 2007, 01:53 AM	#1
paularthur Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 14	Scrolling advertisement MUST GO!!!!!!!! I SPECIFICALLY signed up with runbox because of NO ADVERTISING. Get rid of your SELF ADVERTISING scroll bar or I'll cancel my contract!!!!! paularthur AT runbox DOT com Mod: Fixed "live" email address to avoid spambots. Last edited by Sherry : 2 Dec 2007 at 01:59 AM.

3 Dec 2007, 09:57 PM	#5
positivelyjim Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 37	Scrolling Advertisement I've been in sales all my life and I can't figure out why anyone would place testimonial advertising in the face of people who have already made a decision to purchase the product. Isn't that comparable to "preaching to the converted" or like "taking sand to the beach?" What's the point? And the SAME testimonials, over and over and over? It just makes absolutely no sense.

3 Dec 2007, 11:45 PM	#7
positivelyjim Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 37	scrolling advertising Then with all due respect, they should be separated. Existing users and potential users should not be looking at the same thing. As an existing user, I have absolutely no interest in testimonials either when I log in or log out.

4 Dec 2007, 12:10 AM	#8
paularthur Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 14	This was to be a ad free service! Thanks, all for your comments. Perhaps "the man" has heard. Nevertheless, thanks to whom showed me a work around. Still as several users said, paid customers should NEVER have to look at such trite. We should be directed to a different no "self aggrandizement" page. Period! I am reconsidering my contract cancellation but still find the idea offensive.

4 Dec 2007, 01:13 AM	#11
positivelyjim Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 37	Scrolling Testimonials I understand that other email services might do that, however that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a good idea. A huge number of people find scrolling messages to be quite distracting/annoying in general. On my web site, we polled our visitors about a very unobtrusive scroll we ran for about two weeks. It was so small you could barely see it and it faded out completely after 30 seconds. On surveying our clients, I don't remember the exact figure, but it was something like 83% said they didn't like it, and a lot of them took the time to write in the comment line that they hated it. That's all I had to hear. At the very least, if they absolutely have to have a scroll, it might be a good idea to change the testimonials dynamically, or make it fade out after a certain period of time. This is like watching the same commercial over and over and over again on television and not being able to change the channel. After a while it becomes completely counter-productive. That's just my opinion and experience, but I think you'll find that backed up empirically across almost any industry - perhaps with the exception of sites that offer free javascript and other code.

2 Dec 2007, 02:35 AM	#2
Sherry Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: USA Posts: 8,687	Mod: Thread moved to the Runbox Forum.

2 Dec 2007, 03:10 AM	#3
carverrn Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,606 Representative of: Runbox.com	The scrolling "testimonials" are only on the Runbox main page. They are not on your account page. If you want a "minimal" login you can use: http://www.runbox.com/mail or https://secure.runbox.com/mail Regards, Rich

2 Dec 2007, 12:05 PM	#4
hajonez Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 727	Or for an absolutely minimal log in screen you can use this one here: http://hjones.info/runbox.html Download a local copy of this page to your Desktop, open it in an HTML or text editor and change the string "yourusername" to your Runbox username. Save the altered copy and you should be able to use this page to log in to your Runbox account without the need to enter your username every time. It works best if you store the local copy somewhere on your hard disk and add a bookmark to it from your browser . I've created a single page that contains the log in fields of all my online accounts from my Facebook account, to various forums to my VOiP provider account. Works well! - Henry

3 Dec 2007, 10:37 PM	#6
carverrn Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,606 Representative of: Runbox.com	Hi positivelyjim, This is actually the Runbox main page. Most of the main page is designed for people who aren't current Runbox customers: Take a Tour, Features, Sign Up Now. Only the right side (a little less than a quarter of the full page) is of use to current users. That is only a few of the testimonials. The rest can be found by clicking on the scrolling testimonials or by clicking on the "User Testimonials" link. Regards, Rich

4 Dec 2007, 01:31 AM	#12
carverrn Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,606 Representative of: Runbox.com	Hi positivelyjim, So are you saying the issue isn't with the testimonials on the main page but that the scrolling is annoying? My interpretation of the original post of the thread was not a scrolling issue but an issue with the testimonials themselves. Regards, Rich

4 Dec 2007, 02:24 AM	#13
positivelyjim Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 37	Scrolling Issue I think it's both. According to several people I've consulted at All Experts.com, one of which has built 1000's of web sites, scrolls are considered annoying by most visitors to a site. Apparently it was't always that way, but over the last five years or so they've become increasingly unpopular. Personally, I would welcome messages that told me about new features, fixes, updates and specials because the log in page is an ideal way to communicate to and stay in touch with your existing clientele. As they say, it's easier and cheaper to keep a customer and in some cases, upsell them, than it is to get a new customer. But for me, just seeing the same testimonials over and over again is a waste of space. I guess I've never been a fan of redundancy, and perhaps that's why I feel that way. .

4 Dec 2007, 02:26 AM	#14
nomad Essential Contributor Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 255	For me, the scrolling testimonials are annoying, not good for the eyes, especially because they are on the top of the site

4 Dec 2007, 03:49 AM	#15
carverrn Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,606 Representative of: Runbox.com	I'll pass the feedback on the "scrolling" along. Thank you for the input. Regards, Rich