We've got a new web site in beta stage. We're headsets.com and the
site sells, you've guessed it, headsets.  I want someone to review the
site from a "user perspective". and give me feedback.  Our typical
user is a person in a business buying headset/s for themselves or for
others.  Sometimes they know what they want, sometimes they don't. I'd
like to get several different reviewers for short reviews, and then
maybe get a more extensive one with another question later.  I'll
happily pay for THREE reviews, from DIFFERENT REVIEWERS, so i've
posted this three times, (if it will allow me). I'd expect to get back
links that work well and reasons, links that dont work well and
reasons, a general summary of your thoughts, and any errors you find
detailed.  CLARIFICATION; we're want to get feedback from a USERS
viewpoint rather than a Web designers or techincal viewpoint.  the
beta site is temporarily situated at www.masterman.com

<Overall I found that the site was easy to use. I liked the feature of
being able to compare products and found the wizard useful. There were
no problems with comparing products and the ordering process.
Displaying your address and phone number on every page gives me the
confidence that you are a real company and not one of the many cowboys
online.

I found the links at the top of the page more user friendly as they
give more options than those on the left. Someone who typically use
links on the left of a page would never have found all the extra
pages. For example if I click company(left), I get just one page of
info. However clicking Company (top) I get 9 options. The top links
also give recommendations which help if you don’t know exactly what
you are looking for. Personally I prefer the dropdown menus.
I didn’t notice the links on the right until returning to the home
page some time later.

For someone who knows what they want the links on the left allow you
to quickly locate a product. For someone who does not know what they
want they want a help link on the left would be useful.

69,010 satisfied customers. A link here ‘more’ that takes me to the
customer testimonials would make me more confident about placing an
order.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/company/company.html

Staff pics
I found the name for this page misleading. I assumed that it would
just be photos of the staff. However they recommend products which
would be useful information for a buyer. ‘Our staff recommend’, ‘we
recommend’ or ‘staff picks’ would be more informative.

It took a while before I could find that you do not accept
international orders.
A link from here to International would be useful.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/resources/shipping.html

On the product pages, after scrolling down a page, I would prefer a
link to take me back up to the top.

I didn’t find out about your catalog until after using the wizard. A
buyer may like to know that a catalog is available on the How to Order
page.

A short explanation. ‘This wizard will help you to select a product
that is right for you.’ Would be helpful here.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/wizard/wizard.html

I would also like to know what payment methods are accepted. You don’t
find out until you reach check out.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/resources/order.html

This page does not have the click here for live help.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/company/contact.html

This page does not have the click here for live help.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/resources/cords.html

Price protection 110% is not mentioned here.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/resources/center.html

On this checkout page I would like to know that I am in a secure area
before posting credit card details. The links for more info do not
work.
http://www.masterman.com/cgi-bin/cart/checkout.cgi

Errors.
Spelling mistake
None of your personal data is kept on a computer that could be
***comprimised***.
Should read
None of your personal data is kept on a computer that could be
compromised.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/resources/privacy.html

The search box does not work – software error.


Links to Conferencers.com and Headphones.com go to Headsets.com
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/company/company.html

Link to catalog not working.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/wizard/wizard.html?jack_25mm=t&model=cordless&phone=&prod_price=5000&glasses=t&hearing_aid=f&big_hair=f&email=optional+email&step=results&cordless=t&image.x=34&image.y=8

Buyers Guide link not working.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/company/contact.html

Buyers guide – the right one – link not working.
http://www.masterman.com/index.html#
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/computer/computer_gallery.html?sort_1=prod_price%2Casc&style=0&app=9&price=0&manufacturer=0&connector=11&component=0&prod_division=1&max=200#


Send us (feedback) link not working.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/company/news.html

Photos missing.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/company/staff_profiles.html

No copy
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/resources/faq.html

Site map.
No content.
http://www.masterman.com/site_map.html

The phone number has ‘1’ missing.
http://www.masterman.com/headsets/resources/shipping.html>


<Hope this helps.>

Great thanks  a lot. Good work

Overall, a nice site.  You're are doing a lot of things better than
most sites, but I have a few suggestions that may help to improve your
site.

Make sure everything works 'perfectly.'  I would have your entire
staff spend a couple of hours just clicking links on our site.  I
found some that were broken.  Your website is your 'face to the world'
and is a reflection of you and your company.  As a customer, it tells
me how you will (or will not) 'pay attention to the details.'  In
other words, if you are careless with your links, your customers will
inevitably think, "will they also be careless with my order and my
personal information."

I spent about 10 minutes looking at your website, but found the
following errors.  Some are just suggestions for improvement, which
you may want to toss around with your colleagues to see if they
concur.
----------

http://www.masterman.com/cgi-bin/search/search.cgi
Content-type: text/html 
Software error:
Bad format file: No row definition.
For help, please send mail to the webmaster (admin), giving this error
message and the time and date of the error.
-------
Navigation on dropdown menus, rollovers a bit slow
-------
Broken images appear on 
http://www.masterman.com/cgi-bin/cart/checkout.cgi

Also, check navigational links at top (some didn't work).  No dropdown
menu's presented (should be used consistently throughout site).
-------
Many broken images appear on 
http://www.masterman.com/cgi-bin/cart/purchase.cgi
-------
Invalid Thawte Certificate (serious problem)
http://www.masterman.com/cgi-bin/cart/purchase.cgi

Also, on this page, you are asking for credit card information on a
non-secure server (serious problem). Creates a trust issue.

Error message on:
http://www.masterman.com/cgi-bin/cart/purchase.cgi
[Fri Oct 17 10:29:59 2003] global_functions.pl: Database handle
destroyed without explicit disconnect.

------
On the image that says "We make it easy to buy headsets," I found that
the white text on yellow background is hard to read and is an
inconsistent use of colors (usually, you'll have dark blue on yellow,
which provides a much better contrast).
------
Its nice that you have live help for your normal business hours. 
However, what happens to people that need help after hours or on
weekends.  It would be helpful it you setup a "HELP DESK" webpage to
answer frequently asked questions (i.e. policies regarding shipping,
returns, privacy, defects, etc.)
Internet shoppers want 'immediate gratification.'  Let's say I'm on
your site Saturday morning.  I want to buy something, but first have a
question.  There is nobody there to help me, nor is the information I
seek on your website.  One click and I'm off to your competitor's
store.  I suspect you may be losing lots of sales because there is no
Help Feature on your site.

I hope this review/information helps.  Good luck.