Members area has poor usability

[DaFonz]

Ok, while vbulletin is great, I have a couple of rants about the members area.

Stuff is impossible to find! To figure out how to download vbulletin, I had to look in the helpfiles. I click on "download vbulletin" and presumable, one would expect a link to the files... or some sort of instructions.

Instead, one has to click on "edit site" and go through that just to download the files.

Going back to stuff being impossible to find - could someone please tell me where to get the image templates? I must be blind b/c I can't find it anywhere in the users area. Edit: I found it. *sigh*. I *really* hate the members area.

Somewhat related, but I just renewed a license - curious as to why you guys don't have it update automatically so I have permission to download? I was under the impression that worldpay and paypal.com have built in fraud protection.

Also related to this, why can we not change our customer info by ourselves? Seems like it's adding more work to the support staff than needed.

Thanks.

[Steve Machol]

Stuff is impossible to find! To figure out how to download vbulletin, I had to look in the helpfiles. I click on "download vbulletin" and presumable, one would expect a link to the files... or some sort of instructions.

Instead, one has to click on "edit site" and go through that just to download the files.

Hmmm...I don't see this in my Members Area. I click on 'Download vBulletin' and it goes stright to the download page. No editing required. Do you have a screenshot?

Somewhat related, but I just renewed a license - curious as to why you guys don't have it update automatically so I have permission to download? I was under the impression that worldpay and paypal.com have built in fraud protection.

Not sure what you mean. Once the purchase is approved and goes through, the license is automaticlly updated. There are occasional glitches though where we need to manually fix a license, but this is rare.

Also there is no meaningful fraud protection from either PayPal or WorldPay. We are being hit hard with credit card fraud in particular.

Also related to this, why can we not change our customer info by ourselves? Seems like it's adding more work to the support staff than needed.
We had it that way. Yet there were too many customers who used this to transfer a license to someone else, then charge back the original purchase. This left both us and the person who was scammed as victoms. We decided that to protect all customers we needed to take back control of this process.

[ManagerJosh]

IN regards to changing customer information ourselves, by allowing everything to be accessed webbased, what would happen if a hacker came in, broke into your account, and changed it to under his name. He then initalizes a ticket to change his username/password

Let's say after this happens, you walk in to the members area to download a new version of vBulletin... v3.1

You login only to realize your username/password doesn't work. Frantic, you email Jelsoft about this, only to find out that they are saying you aren't a customer..

You give them all your customer information, and they will tell u it doesn't match their system. After hours of paperwork dig up on Jelsoft part, they'll find it, but only to find out everything was compromised...and so, u have an identity theft issue on your hands now.

[DaFonz]

Hmmm...I don't see this in my Members Area. I click on 'Download vBulletin' and it goes stright to the download page. No editing required. Do you have a screenshot?


Sorry I wasn't clear, what I mean was, you have to click on "edit license" and then go through the process in order to download it.


Not sure what you mean. Once the purchase is approved and goes through, the license is automaticlly updated. There are occasional glitches though where we need to manually fix a license, but this is rare.

Also there is no meaningful fraud protection from either PayPal or WorldPay. We are being hit hard with credit card fraud in particular.


Ah ok, completely understandable. Why don't you guys use something that has better fraud?

It sais to expect it to take up to 24 hours for license info to be updated.. any idea how long it usually takes?


We had it that way. Yet there were too many customers who used this to transfer a license to someone else, then charge back the original purchase. This left both us and the person who was scammed as victoms. We decided that to protect all customers we needed to take back control of this process.

It's a shame that a few idiots spoil it for the rest.

[DaFonz]

IN regards to changing customer information ourselves, by allowing everything to be accessed webbased, what would happen if a hacker came in, broke into your account, and changed it to under his name. He then initalizes a ticket to change his username/password

Let's say after this happens, you walk in to the members area to download a new version of vBulletin... v3.1

You login only to realize your username/password doesn't work. Frantic, you email Jelsoft about this, only to find out that they are saying you aren't a customer..

You give them all your customer information, and they will tell u it doesn't match their system. After hours of paperwork dig up on Jelsoft part, they'll find it, but only to find out everything was compromised...and so, u have an identity theft issue on your hands now.

In a system like this, wouldn't it make sense to have some sort of versioning control built in?

[Steve Machol]

Sorry I wasn't clear, what I mean was, you have to click on "edit license" and then go through the process in order to download it.

Once again I don't have to click on 'Edit Options'. I click on 'Download vBulletin' right under that. Do you have an active license?

[ManagerJosh]

versioning control? I don't understand. Got to remember some people would do anything to get vBulletin licenses...and that includes breaking the law by committing identity theft and credit card fraud..

[daemon]

Steve, I think he may be referring to when you're a new customer and you haven't entered your license details and the URL of your forum. It takes you to the edit details page before you're allowed to download vB that first time. I think that's how it goes, I don't remember as it was a year ago since I did that; but I believe that's what happens and what this user is talking about.

[Dean C]

I'd have to agree. The navigation and wording within the members area is somewhat confusing. It took me 2minutes to find the GFX kit when I first wanted it.

I mean what has the gfx kit got to do with 'Member Support'. It definately needs some rephrasing if you ask me :)

[Brad.loo]

Yea I would like to see a cleaner members area to, honestly all it really needs is a nice nav box with some rephrasing like dean mentioned :)

[Chroder]

I agree too ;)

Downloading is just about the only thing I can find in 5 secs :D

[DaFonz]

versioning control? I don't understand. Got to remember some people would do anything to get vBulletin licenses...and that includes breaking the law by committing identity theft and credit card fraud..

Well, you talked about identity theft... so knowing the history of an account would allow you to track it back to the original owner.

Steve, I think he may be referring to when you're a new customer and you haven't entered your license details and the URL of your forum. It takes you to the edit details page before you're allowed to download vB that first time. I think that's how it goes, I don't remember as it was a year ago since I did that; but I believe that's what happens and what this user is talking about.

Exactly! I had to crawl through the help pages to find that.. and well.. a website shouldn't need a help page!

BTW, it's been 24 hours and I still have no permission to download vbulletin? Our change requests have also not been carried out. Does it happen only on weekdays?

Thanks.

[Steve Machol]

BTW, it's been 24 hours and I still have no permission to download vbulletin? Our change requests have also not been carried out. Does it happen only on weekdays?

What do you mean exactly? What 'change request'? There are currently no unanswered tickets in the support system.

[Admiral Spock]

I have no problems downloading vBulletin. I can easily go into my members area, select Download vBulletin, look at the right section, 2.3.5 or 3.0.3, and choose my options, read and agree to the license agreement, and download. A 5 second process.

I would however like also to see a cleaner environment for the members area. Right now it's kind of confusing to get the graphics kit, and such.


Exactly! I had to crawl through the help pages to find that.. and well.. a website shouldn't need a help page!


When you first get vBulletin: the first time you log in to member area, it says "Edit License Details". Then you enter in URL and description of your site, and then it updates your customer info to reflect the changes you made. Then you can download vBulletin.

[mrfox1979]

Well, you talked about identity theft... so knowing the history of an account would allow you to track it back to the original owner.



Exactly! I had to crawl through the help pages to find that.. and well.. a website shouldn't need a help page!

BTW, it's been 24 hours and I still have no permission to download vbulletin? Our change requests have also not been carried out. Does it happen only on weekdays?

Thanks.
i have the same problem as defonz the site needs help bad downloading vb

[Steve Machol]

Webrats, there is nothing wrong with the license system. The problem with your license is that you asked for and received a refund last January. You shouldn't even be running vB.

[mrfox1979]

License <removed> active webrats superboards

[Steve Machol]

In your support ticket you asked why your other license was 'inactive' I explained that this is because you asked for a refund on that license. The license you are now referring to is active and always has been. Therefore your complaint about having the 'same problem' is not valid. :)

[xmitchx]

I have to agree and say that the members area is a bit hard to get around with. While it was easy to downoad vB, it was very hard to find the GDK.

[AshAbed]

Hmmm...I don't see this in my Members Area. I click on 'Download vBulletin' and it goes stright to the download page. No editing required. Do you have a screenshot?
Sorry to butt in, just clearing up what he meant. He meant the *first* time you download vBulletin you're required to enter the information on your forums, not everytime you download it.... lol, that's what I understood that from the first post.