Batá test before updating

[kills]

It has been my consistent recommendation to conduct thorough beta testing prior to implementing updates. Unfortunately, this suggestion has not garnered sufficient attention until recently. Even now, given the number of designers, the level of engagement on this critical issue remains concerning.

I previously expressed my apprehension that unaddressed systemic issues could lead to significant platform instability. A prime example of this is the persistent problem with searching for wristwatches. For an extended period, searching for "wristwatches" on Zazzle has yielded irrelevant results, predominantly t-shirts, rather than the intended product. Despite subsequent updates, this issue remained unresolved. As a direct consequence, wristwatch sales have been virtually nonexistent for nearly a month due to the inability to search for them effectively. This would not happen if Bata testing was performed.

[kills]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

[Fiona]

Hey @kills ,

I will pass on the suggestion 🙂

[Fantabuloustef]

Totally agree with you on this point. I previously made the remark, and I admit that as a former software engineer and IT project manager, I was really shocked the first few times I used Zazzle by the number of problems in production, especially when they are recurring. I also find that there are a lot of usability problems on iPad (and I imagine on other platforms too), and I am always surprised that instead of focusing on definitively solving recurring problems, teams are constantly putting new developments into production, also bringing their share of new problems. (and sometimes, complicating the use of a tool that should remain simple for customers who customize their products directly in it.)

[jophb]

Yes please!! 🙏 The craziness over the past 4 days has been stressful with all of the glitches and unknowns.  And still having issues.  And if I can add if we can please NOT do updates at 4pm Pacific on Fridays.... unless the team is willing to stay to fix the problems. 🤯

[kills]

I hear you, and I completely understand your frustration. From your perspective, this is a significant and deeply concerning issue. It's clear that the disappearance of products across all THE stores, especially those created in the last few days, is a major blow as I still have many missing and now nervous to make anything.

The critical role of SERVER BACKUPS  before updates. That's a fundamental best practice in data management for exactly this kind of situation. If a proper backup had been performed and maintained, resetting the server to a stable prior state could have been a much quicker fix. The fact that this might not be an option, or that it appears unlikely to happen, certainly contributes to the feeling that this "mess will not be fixed for a long time."

[kills]

This is no longer just an inconvenience; it's become a critical emergency for my business, and for Zazzle as a whole. I am profoundly distressed and genuinely concerned about the future, as I've now had multiple long-standing, regular customers inform me they are abandoning Zazzle entirely.

They are explicitly stating they will be taking their business to Amazon, eBay, and Etsy from now on, simply because they cannot find the products they are consistently searching for here.

How many loyal customers, and how much collective revenue, do we and Zazzle have to lose before the severity of this search functionality breakdown truly registers? What could possibly be more important than ensuring customers can find what they want to buy? It feels as though resources are being poured into design tools when the fundamental ability for customers to shop is crumbling.

This "last so-called update fix" over a month ago has been nothing short of a disaster, only exacerbating the problem. Please, I implore you, beta test, beta test, beta test these updates before they go live!

We are bleeding customers because of this critical flaw.

Please, please, please, please, please, please FIX THE SEARCH! Our livelihoods depend on it.