[RESOLVED] No "worth at least..." for Japan ROTF Exclusives

[still trying]

Hi Shmax,

I happened to stumble on your site when I saw one of your member's signature in seibertron.com. I wanted to try out cataloging my TFs here, hence my username, "just trying". Since then, I'm no longer "just trying", instead, I've been actively logging on, checking, and updating my collection due to the extreme usefulness of Shmax. In fact, I want to change my username without creating a new account. Unfortunately, I don't know how to go about it.

This is not why I'm reporting here though. I'd just like to know what happened to my collection's worth lately. It was valued at least $250 around 3 days ago. But lately, it's dropped to $150. I did some inspection on my collection, and I noticed that all my Japanese exclusives are now worth $0. I just want to ask what happened to them and if the previous policy of "valuing no-recently-priced items with their original retail price" still applies.

Thanks Shmax for such an excellent and helpful site. With this, I no longer need to keep looking at my collection in person to be a satisfied collector.  

Hoping for your speedy and positive response on said the matters.

[shmax]

Hi there, I believe I can help with the username change--just PM with the name you would like, and I'll take care of it this evening.

As for the appraisal stuff, well, you could say that the feature is "still in development". I'm currently working on another big project (redesigning the entire site), but when that's settled I hope to revisit the appraisal system. Thanks for the report, and the encouraging words!

[still trying]

No problem. Its well deserved.  

With regards to my username change, engledogg kindly changed it for me earlier.

About the appraisal stuff, thanks for the reply and the satisfactory explanation. I am looking forward to the completion of that big project. In fact, if I may, I have some suggestions for the site's redesign. If its possible, maybe you could allow for some customization/personalization of the "view your collection" function. I am no computer whizz, so I would'nt know if its a workable idea. But if it is, maybe a user could arrange his collection on an Shmax cabinet using the pics that the database has. That way its more visually presentable and appealing to look at. There could even be a pan or get-a-larger-cabinet function for those who have massive collections. In a way, Shmax's view your collection function can be a true substitute for collectors on the run and cannot appreciate their collections in person.

In my opinion, its not an urgent or necessary change, its just an aesthetic one. And I would understand if it weren't possible.

[shmax]

But if it is, maybe a user could arrange his collection on an Shmax cabinet using the pics that the database has.

Can you describe in a little more detail what it is you're asking for? We already use shmax photos to represent the items in your collection--we even go so far as to show figure pics for the "loose" items, and packaged pics for the sealed items. What do you mean by "cabinet"? Thanks much.

[still trying]

Hmm... Aside from listing it with pics as Shmax does now, I was just thinking if it were possible to show it in a display cabinet/shelf. I think the best way to describe it is as it being a virtual display. In the virtual display cabinet/shelf, a member could arrange his/her collections as he/she wishes using the database's pics.

Try checking out these display cabinets in a google images search.
http://www.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=display+cabinet&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=581

By the way, I'm not saying that the collections as viewed now is deficient. In fact, I find it very useful. My suggestion is just a vision that Shmax could take in the mid-long term future.

[shmax]

Ah, so you want to see a literal cabinet metaphor. I don't know if wood grain really fits in with the new aesthetic you'll be seeing in a few days, but I'm going to read between the lines and intuit that what you're really after is more of a physical "gallery" type of display, such that your collection items are displayed in rows and columns, instead of an abstract linear list. You also mention letting a member arrange his collection, which is an interesting idea, but I don't know if it's really practical--some of our members have thousands of items in their collections, and the only way to reasonably navigate them is to use the built in sorting and filtering mechanics. I'll keep these suggestions in mind, but I don't think I'll get to them in this pass. Thanks much!

[still trying]

No prob. Thanks for considering my suggestion too.  

Oh, let me add too, with regards to this,

You also mention letting a member arrange his collection, which is an interesting idea, but I don't know if it's really practical--some of our members have thousands of items in their collections, and the only way to reasonably navigate them is to use the built in sorting and filtering mechanics.

users could choose what TFs they have, that they want to display in their virtual shelf. That way, not all of their TFs need to be displayed at once.