Sadly (for me at least) I think I'm on the verge of moving on.

Blulu

I had a message from a lovely, long-term user this morning, which was basically asking me if I have made a decision to stick with comping on MSE, or not. It got me thinking and it felt right to share my thoughts in CCC, as those of us who are still here are sort of all 'in this' together. I hope my posting about it here may be helpful to other MSE compers.

I am torn about sticking with MSE. I would far prefer to stay here, but that's only going to happen if MSE can reassure us, very soon, they they plan to sort things out for us, and get the site back to the 'user-friendly' and 'fit-for-purpose' comping world that it used to be. I would wait patiently and loyally for this to happen - which I think those of us who are still here have already done. However, I need to know from them, very soon, if and when they plan to fix things for us. Virus, or not, I just need to know.

This then, is why I am posting about it here. I am not trying to blackmail MSE into doing things my way, it is more my way of giving MSE one last chance before I decide to move on elsewhere, as many others have clearly done.

I would also be interested to hear from anyone else who has been feeling/thinking along similar lines to me.

Blu XXX

Rahven

This is where I am too. Unfortunately (sorry to be negative) I'm also wondering if it's even possible to fix things now. Yes, the lost functionality might be restored, and the frequently occurring issues such as the search problems might be resolved, but is it even possible now to reverse the damage that's been done in terms of users migrating to other platforms? I don't know but it's one of the things I worry about even if we get some resolution here. Are users going to want to make the switch back here if we get what we had before or is it going to take something really above and beyond to do that now?

I really don't want to leave. I like the people here, I liked the system (and I'm also too lazy to switch platforms unless I really have to  ) but I am wondering what I'm missing out on elsewhere. This, and all of the issues we are having, will only intensify as the advents hit (without some action). 

I've tried to become more adept and frequent at posting comps to at least try to plug some of the holes, but I don't have as much free time as I'd like. I also I find it really offputting when the search isn't functioning and you end up posting dupes and causing other people work (rationally, yes, I get that it's better they are posted three times than not at all) or when you get spam blocked for posting comps too quickly (yes, I get why this is in place) - sometimes I've only got ten minutes and if I get spam blocked I'm just going to leave and come back another time .

Bridger12

Rahven. I am new to comping and only started in January. I usually spend half an hour entering any competitions on MSE each evening. Anything like the autumn TopCashback or the radio comps, I do check like for the amounts etc on here, which I am so grateful for. Only a £50 take a break cheque win so far and an earlier TopCashback win of 30p, plus another 30p so far with the present one. I never used the MSE before, but really hope you carry on with MSE and get lucky on a nice win 

Ms_Dee

I feel that they have done a lot to make it user friendly again, adding in the entered and skipped button on the main screen made a huge difference, just wish the hover would work. 
I used to win between 2 and 12 prizes a month, but haven't been comping as much, partly down to the forum but also as there isn't much about that I want to win. August was my first month without a win in years and this month all I've won is 30p on TCB.
I usually enter everything I want to enter here, then I go to another site and enter other competitions if I have time or want to. (Social media competitions, gleams and rafflecopters are harder to accidentally dupe yourself, so you can enter elsewhere.)

I feel MSE have been given a hard time recently, but then again you are all welcome to your opinions and thoughts.

Surfermom

I understand people's frustrations. When the site first changed I hated it and did have a look around at some of the other sites but I really didn't like the look of most of them very much so I stayed here. I think it has improved a bit since then but still nowhere near as good as it used to be (I miss the hover most of all). There do not seem to be anywhere near as many comps on here as there used to be but wonder if there are just not as many being run now as there used to be a few years back. My wins have certainly gone down dramatically, even up to last year I was winning 3 or 4 times a month, this year I've hardly won anything at all. I do now check Competiton Database every few days but there only seem to be a few that are not on here. People must do what they feel is best but selfishly I hope that the regulars will stay because the more people that leave the worse things will become.

Rahven

Surfermom said:

I understand people's frustrations. When the site first changed I hated it and did have a look around at some of the other sites but I really didn't like the look of most of them very much so I stayed here. I think it has improved a bit since then but still nowhere near as good as it used to be (I miss the hover most of all). There do not seem to be anywhere near as many comps on here as there used to be but wonder if there are just not as many being run now as there used to be a few years back. My wins have certainly gone down dramatically, even up to last year I was winning 3 or 4 times a month, this year I've hardly won anything at all. I do now check Competiton Database every few days but there only seem to be a few that are not on here. People must do what they feel is best but selfishly I hope that the regulars will stay because the more people that leave the worse things will become.

I definitely think you're right and think that there are fewer comps in general because of Covid (direct and indirect effects). What I don't know is what effect the loss of comps board members has had. I've seen posts saying that other places (some of which our users have migrated to) have many more comps posted but maybe that's overblown, I don't know. I suppose that's contradicted by your experience of Competition Database (which is good to know, thanks).

It probably doesn't help that everyone seems so tired and fed up at the moment  Maybe that's affecting my view of things. I dunno.

libra10

I'm feeling the same, there isn't the same buzz here as there used to be.  This used to be a thriving, vibrant comping community, but doesn't seem the same these days.
Many of the regular posters have disappeared, and there are fewer comps posted.  I try to do what I can, but can't compare with what others do.
I like the friendly feel of MSE, and everyone is so helpful sharing answers and opinions.  Some things are much easier to do, such as posting pictures.  Though some more difficult, like others have said the hover facility makes thing much easier.
I would be really sorry to see Blulu and others leave.

Etccarmageddon

Yeah I noticed less posted comps but assumed it was down to the economic climate

hdh74

I'm torn, have always loved MSE best but it's the people that make it what it is. We have already lost some amazing people, I'm hanging in by a thread but can't see the point if we lose more. And that's totally not about making anyone feel bad for leaving, we all owe the regular posters a great deal and you must go where you are happy. But I doubt the exodus can increase much more without it becoming unviable for anyone that really loves comping. 

cornishpasty1

I'm still sticking with MSE for now but resigned to the fact that there are less comps, as less posters mainly, but I think the easiest thing to do would be for MSE to revert back to the old format (I cant think of anything as a positive right now, but there are lots of things I can't do with this system that I could with the old system).  I don't think things will change here until either the new format is sorted out once and for all, OR WE REVERT BACK TO THE OLD SYSTEM!!

So many things I miss from the old format 

Minnibix

Hi I started comping in about 2014 and have had some lovely wins but before I even looked at the comps my first stop every day was to the CCC board the people on here are so lovely, helpful, informative and funny. I think the atmosphere has changed on here (not by the compers but mostly by big brother) and the site changes and delay in getting it sorted gave me the push to try another site, so I have started using (the duck one - lovely peeps there too) and there are SO many comps. However old habits die hard  the CCC board is still my first stop every morning sadly there just isn't so much on here. I so miss the old style and would be back here in a trice if we had it back