Whatever Has Happened to This Site?

tfc

It used to be that you could come to this forum and easily find information on the subject that you were researching.

It seems to me that now, the forum appears to have ditched a lot of categories (or perhaps they are hidden somewhere). Whatever the reason, everything seems to be dumbed down.

The search facility is practically useless. There is no facility to restrict searches to particular subject or section.The PM facility has disappeared, or is hiding. You justend up with loads of irrelevant posts.

Why all these changes? Is it to dumb down everything so it can fit on a smartphone screen for people who are not seriously looking for detailed assistance (which the site used to provide).

No idea how to mark this post as being followed. Perhaps I just have to search through everything to find it again?

I am very disappointed. I think that THE Martin Lewis must be very disappointed at this change in direction and the dumbing down.

kuratowski

Categories: A small number of boards that were removed (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6275627/weve-closed-some-boards) you can find all the remaining categories at the "All Boards" link on each page which leads to
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories

Search: When using the "Search the forum" box, on the results page that shows next, there is a little black arrow shape in the search box on the right-hand side, and clicking this arrow brings up the advanced search criteria.

I wouldn't say the search function is perfect though, by any means.  I actually think a more reliable search is obtained by using google with the additional search term "site:forums.moneysavingexpert.com", for example https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aforums.moneysavingexpert.com+section+75

Not sure what you meant about PM?  Private messages are still available, click on the name of the user and there is a black box marked "Message" on the right hand side of their profile page.

Following: There is a little red icon representing a bookmark at the top right hand side of the each thread, clicking on it adds the thread to your bookmarks.  You can set up notifications (via pop up or email) for bookmarked threads, in your user profile.

thingamaBob

MSE are aware that there are problems with search and an updated search is due to be introduced at the end of July.
At the moment, if you use the Forum search in the way mentioned above, once in advanced search, you can select any individual category you wish.

poppellerant

@tfc

I agree with you.  Especially since the last update, things have gone down the pan.  Given the remarkable decrease of posts recently, I fear that this could end up being a one way downward spiral for MSE - something that no dedicated and caring user, like myself, would want.

Set this link as your bookmark for MSE and you will find the forums far more useable again: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/

cloud_dog

Unfortunately they seem to be focused on tinkering with the cosmetics whilst the usability of the site burns. 

I continue to be very disappointed with the structure and usability.

Former_MSE_Laura

Hi all,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts here with us.

We're trying to keep all the feedback around the new changes in one place. If you could fill out this feedback form with these thoughts that'd really help us.

Thanks,
MSE Laura