When did Lee Valley's web site change

leakyroof

leakyroof

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Mar 23, 2011
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I finally needed to look up some hardware from them for a fairly old piece of furniture that my wife got from her Sister this weekend. While it could be my browser as well, I don't like the change that much. And when you are in the Hardware section, it seems like, to me, the tech specs or at least tech dimension details of a piece, like hinges ,aren't there anymore.
Search function seemed wonky too.
But then I went to Woodcraft's site after that, and it was even worse..... [embarassed] [embarassed] [embarassed]
Anyone else underwhelmed with Lee Valley's changes to their site?
 
Last October. Below is the text from an email sent out in September...

"Dear Customer,

This October, we will launch a new website – something that is both exciting and terrifying at the same time.

The new website is the result of a multi-year project that involved shooting 70,000 product images and editing 8000 product descriptions (in two languages), in addition to deploying a state-of-the-art suite of software tools – all necessary to ensure that our site performs well across a broad spectrum of devices and browsers.

This first release of our new design shares many of the functions and features of the existing website, with a number of enhancements. Under the hood, we have structured the new site for future advanced functionality that we will roll out periodically as we gain experience.

While some of the changes are significant, what we have not changed are the same great products, the same attention to quality and durability, and the same trusted advice and service that Lee Valley has always offered.

Have a look at the site and let us know what you think. We know that change can be uncomfortable, and that not everything will be as you expect (it's the same for us too!).

You can reach us by email at customerservice@leevalley.com or by calling our Customer Service team. We are good listeners, and rely on your feedback to help guide our decision making.

Many thanks for your past custom, and for making it to the end of this letter!

Cheers,
Robin Lee"

It definitely took a while to get used to for me. While I'm not their biggest customer, I like the old version better as well. But I can still navigate this new one. I'm sure, knowing Rob and how he cares for his customers' experience, there was good reason for the new web page. 
 
I've gotten used to the changes, but I do miss the "Clearance and Sales" category in the index.
 
Thanks for the info. I probably got that message last year and deleted it without reading it..... [embarassed] [embarassed]
At any rate, there is going to be a learning curve for me with this new site, but I'm going to see how it functions and looks with another computer at home.
 
I don't like the new site, I find the search function does not work well at all and dimensions more often than not are not listed making it impossible to know if the product will work for your needs.

It seems for a while the site has been moving away from the best in class descriptions complete with downloadable diagrams and tech bulletins to more of a fluffy marketing blurb.  [unsure]

 
 
Oldwood said:
I don't like the new site, I find the search function does not work well at all and dimensions more often than not are not listed making it impossible to know if the product will work for your needs.

It seems for a while the site has been moving away from the best in class descriptions complete with downloadable diagrams and tech bulletins to more of a fluffy marketing blurb.  [unsure]
Click to expand...
  YES!!!, you nailed it to a T.  Maybe we quietly voice our Complaints to Rob Lee... [scratch chin] [scratch chin]
 
"Anyone else underwhelmed with Lee Valley's changes to their site?"

Yes, it's completely useless compared to the great one they had. 
 
They had to completely revamp the site when LV opened stores in Quebec to accommodate the French language requirement of that province. A monumental task with the size of their catalog. If the site is too intimidating order the catalogs, they freely send them to anyone that asks. So far I haven't personally had a problem searching if the right words are used to describe what you are looking for.
 
Hi All -

Thanks for the kind words about the old site - in many ways I miss it to (secret - I can still access it internally!).

Changes in search engine policies, mobile compatability requirements, and government regulation with respect to accessibility necessitated a change in platform. Add a contractor who could not deliver on time, on budget, or with required functionality - and we were forced to go live with an MVP site. ("MVP" - sounds good - unless you know it stands for "Minimum Viable Product" - which is what we have right now).

So - we released "MVP" in the throes of the fall season - and had to freeze development until the new year. Had just started back when COVID came - and we had to shutter all stores, lay off staff, and halt development (and stop spending!).

All of which kinda sucks. We know we have (had) major issues with both both search and Navigation - and have been working through those problems - we have just selected a search engine that will address those shortcomings, and are now back in development on the Navigation constructs - and those will start to flow too...

The good news is - we're at  the deepest point of the deployment dive trough - and things improve rapidly from here out. The design has great "bones" - which will become visible as we flesh things out.

No one regrets the pain and inconvenience of it all more than I, but the work our staff have done behind the scenes has been exemplary - and this game of digital 52-pick-up should be over soon.....

Cheers -

Rob
 
Thanks Rob - great to hear that the feedback is being addressed. Yes C19 not a great time to be making business investments for anyone.

Thanks for the update and best wishes to you and your LV crew.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Rob, I've been through this website change before and it can be painful with lots of "unexpecteds." The bottom line for me is that I have continued to order from Lee Valley in the midst of coronavirus and have experienced the same great service I've always found... products in stock, delivered promptly and received as expected. Thanks for continuing that level of service through all of these challenges.
 
As always, thank you for the info. So sorry to hear you have had to go through all of that. What a pain. As others have noted, it hasn't stopped me from buying from Lee Valley. We're still at it.... [wink]
 
Rob Lee said:
Hi All -

Thanks for the kind words about the old site - in many ways I miss it to (secret - I can still access it internally!).

Changes in search engine policies, mobile compatability requirements, and government regulation with respect to accessibility necessitated a change in platform. Add a contractor who could not deliver on time, on budget, or with required functionality - and we were forced to go live with an MVP site. ("MVP" - sounds good - unless you know it stands for "Minimum Viable Product" - which is what we have right now).

So - we released "MVP" in the throes of the fall season - and had to freeze development until the new year. Had just started back when COVID came - and we had to shutter all stores, lay off staff, and halt development (and stop spending!).

All of which kinda sucks. We know we have (had) major issues with both both search and Navigation - and have been working through those problems - we have just selected a search engine that will address those shortcomings, and are now back in development on the Navigation constructs - and those will start to flow too...

The good news is - we're at  the deepest point of the deployment dive trough - and things improve rapidly from here out. The design has great "bones" - which will become visible as we flesh things out.

No one regrets the pain and inconvenience of it all more than I, but the work our staff have done behind the scenes has been exemplary - and this game of digital 52-pick-up should be over soon.....

Cheers -

Rob
Click to expand...

Rob, you are the coolest person in the world for being honest and confident enough to come out and state, “yep, our new website is awful, we are working on it.”. Most people would cower in a room full of too many cooks, boiling up the best strategic response that would involve denial, lies and deflection.  Although, I’m not surprised.  Lee Valley has always been the most honest and forthcoming business in the entire universe.
 
leakyroof said:
Search function seemed wonky too.
Click to expand...

Search function is all but useless.  It comes back with countless totally irrelevant results.    But other than that, I don't have issues with the new web site.
 
If the search engine feature of the current Lee Valley site gives unhelpful results, use Google to search just the Lee Valley site.

Go to Google.com, then type in the search box:

site:https://www.leevalley.com/en-us

After the URL, add your search term.

Example:

site:https://www.leevalley.com/en-us flat bob
 
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