Evil little programmers are laughing at me

**Penguinlady**[$] · #1 09-13-2002, 05:19 PM

OK, tolerance of frustration isn't one of my finer qualities, but I just spent TWENTY minutes trying to find a product using the unbelievably awful EP search function - or dysfunction.

I've finally decided to buy one of those newish moppy thangs, the ones with a trigger tank you fill with a cleaning solution and run over your floors as you "mop." There are several on the market, one made by Swifter, I think, but I remember seeing a couple of reviews a few months ago that highly recommended one and highly hated the other. Unfortunately, I can remember neither which was which nor the name of the product other than Swifter.

So I hit the "trusty" EP search page and started looking. Nothing under Cleaning Tools. Nothing under Cleaning Products. Nothing under Swifter. Nothing under Pledge. Nothing under Clorox, which may or may not be the mfr. of the other one I read about. Nothing under floor care. Nothing nowhere.

So I figured I'd check out some of the more prolific TRs in H&G, in the hope that one of them has reviewed one of these products and through that review, I could get to the right page for the rest of them. No such luck.

I know these reviews exist because I've seen them. I just can't find them.

What could POSSIBLY be the benefit to anyone associated with EP of having a search function so miserable that even an experienced member can't find things? If I can't find this, how is an "outsider" supposed to figure it out?

I have an image of some evil programmer sitting there cackling and wringing his hands as he watches me trying to penetrate the incomprehensible depths of the indexing system - "Give it up, girlie - you'll never find it!"

So I did.

So much for using EP as an easily accessible source of product information.

theeye · #2 09-13-2002, 05:32 PM

1. I agree with your rant and sympathize with you.

2. More importantly, I want to buy one of those too. And I remember reading a review too. So if you ever manage to find it, let me know, ok?

AdaDavis · #3 09-13-2002, 06:34 PM

Oh, you mean

THIS ?

Ada
(who will proudly admit to the "evil programmer" part, but is not laughing. Promise I'm not. Really!

*emeleel* · #4 09-13-2002, 06:40 PM

Not to make you feel bad, but it would help if you remember to spell it Swiffer - two "f's", not "ft".

It's a common mistake, I hear and see a lot of people say "Swifter".

hypotenuse · #5 09-13-2002, 06:51 PM

Excuse me.

Evil - no.

Warped?

:snicker:

Lynne

**Penguinlady**[$] · #6 09-13-2002, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by emeleel
Not to make you feel bad, but it would help if you remember to spell it Swiffer - two "f's", not "ft".

It's a common mistake, I hear and see a lot of people say "Swifter".

My spelling mistake, but there ought to be some way for the system to find items by generic description, even if they are misspelled, as Google does. It wasn't under any of the categories that I could come up with, including cleaning stuff and floor care.

Thanks for the correction - I'll try again.

**Penguinlady**[$] · #7 09-13-2002, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AdaDavis
Oh, you mean

THIS ?

COOKING??? A floor mop is under COOKING? When I clicked on your link, it took me to Housewares, under Cooking. But when I go to Cooking, there's no Housewares link. And the product isn't in Cleaning Tools and Cleaning Products. And because it's unlinked and I don't know the name of the competing product, I can't do a comparison.

But thanks for the link - it's a start!

In case any of the PTBs are listening, the wretched and frustrating index and search system is desperately in need of a total overhaul immediately. Can't tell you how many friends have given up trying to use the site because they can't find what they want.

**Penguinlady**[$] · #8 09-13-2002, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AdaDavis
Oh, you mean

THIS ?

COOKING??? A floor mop is under COOKING? When I clicked on your link, it took me to Housewares, under Cooking. But when I go to Cooking, there's no Housewares link. And the product isn't in Cleaning Tools and Cleaning Products. And because it's unlinked and I don't know the name of the competing product, I can't do a comparison.

But thanks for the link - it's a start!

In case any of the PTBs are listening, the wretched and frustrating index and search system is desperately in need of a total overhaul immediately. Can't tell you how many friends have given up trying to use the site because they can't find what they want.

Ladysmom · #9 09-14-2002, 02:56 PM

Hi,

Was waiting for the family to get home and found this thread.

It is Swiffer Wet Jet. The link below is the only one that is in the database.

http://www.epinions.com/Swiffer_WetJ...Kit_Housewares

The generic term they have it under is Wet Jet. Just type in cleaning products and Wet Jet come up.

Home » Home & Garden » Cooking » Housewares » Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit

Billie

AdaDavis · #10 09-14-2002, 04:00 PM

Yup. I forgot to mention how I found it originally: went to Home and Garden, then looked under Household and found a subheading for Cleaning Products - and found it listed as Wet Jet.

It may come up under Cooking (for some strange reason), but it is listed under Household/Cleaning Products.

If I am looking for something specific on Epinions, I find it easiest to just go to Google, type in the product info and add "Epinions" to the search box. Saves time and what remains of my sanity. :p