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Post by mrperson on Aug 14, 2024 15:45:46 GMT
Have given up trying to download my stuff today just complete exasperation no details are necessary
I contacted them earlier. Excerpt from the email:
- Data migration on the website within customer's accounts is ongoing. - Sort and filter options within customer's accounts is being worked on. - The 'you've got this' sticker is being worked on. - The lack of past month's releases (earlier than June 2024) has been raised with the development team, and all feedback is being passed along to the development team.
Which deals with my problems. I wasted quite a bit of time this morning trying to figure out an efficient means of confirmation that I did or did not have something so I could order it, and also, how the hell to download titles whose specific names I forgot (since there was no way to filter your library via dashboard)
That's as to the website. I don't use the app. I hate smartphones and I hate how every company seems to be trying to force people to do everything via in-phone apps.
Website doesn't seem to have any of the fixes I mentioned...
But then there's that email they sent today, including in part "In order to restore your faith, I have decided that, until the new website and app are ready to be relaunched, we will roll back to the previous versions in the coming days."
GOOD. Admit failure and fix it behind the scenes. But damn, what an epic **** up.
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Post by tuigirl on Aug 14, 2024 15:50:14 GMT
Well, sigh of relief from me. As soon as the old app is running again, hopefully I can download a few more releases so I have more of these on the old device.... would especially be great when I am driving to Italy for my holiday.
And hopefully, this way, we also get some August releases!
I agree, this message and apology was a great step in preserving the trust they have left.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
Likes: 6,011
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Post by lidar2 on Aug 14, 2024 15:55:37 GMT
Hooray. A sensible decision finally. Probably a week too late, but that is easy to say when we do not know the behind-the-scenes legal/technical/commercial aspects of this decision.
Well done BF! We can be quick to criticise when they get it wrong, let's give them credit for getting it right.
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Post by timleschild on Aug 14, 2024 16:23:40 GMT
"There may be a brief outage while we migrate the date back to the previous website and app, to ensure everything is checked and double-checked before the website is brought back online."
I'm sure we all have complete faith in this working...don't we...
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Post by mef13 on Aug 14, 2024 16:31:04 GMT
I’m now actually feeling a bit sorry for them. Short of losing all historic data this is a shocking outcome. (Shouldn’t have typed that, it’s tempting fate…)
mef
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Post by vivdunstan on Aug 14, 2024 16:49:00 GMT
I'm relieved that they're rolling back. Though from a software/data perspective it's also rather a nightmare for them to contend with, given people have placed orders on the new website. But it's probably easily the best option for them now. Albeit drastic. I'm honestly impressed that they've decided to do this. And I wish them well.
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Post by eric009 on Aug 14, 2024 17:13:43 GMT
well done alot of places would never done that
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Post by eric009 on Aug 14, 2024 17:18:38 GMT
the one thing i like to know now are old files coming back or do we still get download 978-1-83868-782-3 which is The War Master - Escape from Reality -but our case Escape from new website and app
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Post by enofa on Aug 14, 2024 18:20:54 GMT
Genuinely unexpected decision here, but the right one. This second apology feels much more honest than the first, a direct acknowledgment that this isn’t just a bunch of improvements needed, but actually a major ****up. Taking the site down feels like an admission that it needs major structural changes that won’t be quick, or easy to implement while the site is live. I genuinely think whatever we get with the next update - and it’ll be a few months away, I’m sure - it’ll be pretty different to the version we can see at the minute.
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Post by Ela on Aug 14, 2024 18:45:55 GMT
And this time they emailed the full text of the announcement, instead of just a link to the website! I haven't received any email? Has anyone else had the latest JHE response land in their inbox? Yes.
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Post by timleschild on Aug 14, 2024 18:54:17 GMT
I haven't received any email? Has anyone else had the latest JHE response land in their inbox? Yes. I have it now.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Aug 14, 2024 20:44:11 GMT
Genuinely unexpected decision here, but the right one. This second apology feels much more honest than the first, a direct acknowledgment that this isn’t just a bunch of improvements needed, but actually a major ****up. Taking the site down feels like an admission that it needs major structural changes that won’t be quick, or easy to implement while the site is live. I genuinely think whatever we get with the next update - and it’ll be a few months away, I’m sure - it’ll be pretty different to the version we can see at the minute. Or, as speculation is rife, the company hired to do the work has done a runner and reactivating the old site while taking down the new is the only thing in their power that they can do.
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Post by timleschild on Aug 14, 2024 20:57:41 GMT
Genuinely unexpected decision here, but the right one. This second apology feels much more honest than the first, a direct acknowledgment that this isn’t just a bunch of improvements needed, but actually a major ****up. Taking the site down feels like an admission that it needs major structural changes that won’t be quick, or easy to implement while the site is live. I genuinely think whatever we get with the next update - and it’ll be a few months away, I’m sure - it’ll be pretty different to the version we can see at the minute. Or, as speculation is rife, the company hired to do the work has done a runner and reactivating the old site while taking down the new is the only thing in their power that they can do. Oh dear, I think this will take time to remedy...
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Aug 14, 2024 22:42:05 GMT
What I love (sarcasm) is all the posts setup by different people on the FB BF pages all trying to start the Conversation about this apology press release. just add your thoughts to the 1 that's already started ! EDIT: So does this mean that when the old site comes back temporarily, the subscriptions will come back? If so I will snap up the next 12 month sub for Torchwood, that way I will be within 5-6 released of having physical cds.
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Post by Ela on Aug 14, 2024 23:06:06 GMT
Interesting thought. But I've resolved not to buy anything more till I get through my backlog.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Aug 14, 2024 23:18:18 GMT
Interesting thought. But I've resolved not to buy anything more till I get through my backlog. Perfectly valid . My way of thinking back from when I was 1st introduced to BF around 13-15 years ago. To offset the "not living in UK" costs just stock up on every good $ale, lock them in at those awesomely cheaper prices and worry about the backlog for Future Shane LOLZ. My backlog is easily 200-300 cds.
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Post by Ela on Aug 14, 2024 23:22:56 GMT
Interesting thought. But I've resolved not to buy anything more till I get through my backlog. Perfectly valid . My way of thinking back from when I was 1st introduced to BF around 13-15 years ago. To offset the "not living in UK" costs just stock up on every good $ale, lock them in at those awesomely cheaper prices and worry about the backlog for Future Shane LOLZ. My backlog is easily 200-300 cds. My backlong is certainly similar, though I haven't counted up recently. But I'm older than you. And my descendents won't want them when I'm gone.
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Post by eric009 on Aug 15, 2024 6:07:03 GMT
Perfectly valid . My way of thinking back from when I was 1st introduced to BF around 13-15 years ago. To offset the "not living in UK" costs just stock up on every good $ale, lock them in at those awesomely cheaper prices and worry about the backlog for Future Shane LOLZ. My backlog is easily 200-300 cds. My backlong is certainly similar, though I haven't counted up recently. But I'm older than you. And my descendents won't want them when I'm gone. my backlog is well out of control
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Kestrel
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 2,718
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Post by Kestrel on Aug 15, 2024 7:46:35 GMT
So, my takeaway from this is that the new app/site are in such poor shape (on the back-end) that they cannot be fixed on anything approaching an acceptable timescale. Perhaps that was self-evident. But it really speaks to what a mess this whole thing has been. Like if it was something that could've been fixed up in a week or three, I think that's what they would've done.
Anyway....
Personally, I'm a bit less inclined than some of y'all to praise Big Finish for hastily back-tracking on the changes. The events of the past few weeks have been pretty bad, but as I've said, it's the pattern of behavior that I'm hung up on. So I'm still in the situation of wanting to just... pull back and see.
And we will see -- they're still gonna be trying to launch a new app and website, so here's hoping we don't all find ourselves right back here, repeating the exact same conversation, a few months from now. I'll also be paying close attention to their pricing, as I expect to see them try to pull some more shenanigans. God knows I, too, have a backlog of considerable size. And outside of anything with Derek Jacobi or David Tennant on the cover, there's little I'd characterize as must-buys for me at the moment.
Speaking of pricing, I couldn't help but notice in that long-winded apology email, they justified the necessity of a new app/site with their increasing role as a digital media platform. Which makes sense. And would seem to imply that they've steadily been growing their audience. Which is, I think we can all agree, a very good thing.
But I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that, for years, Big Finish has used the whole "we only have a small audience" thing to excuse their high prices (and price hikes). So, obviously, only one of those things can be true, and my money's on the former.
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Post by kipperserver on Aug 15, 2024 8:09:51 GMT
And would seem to imply that they've steadily been growing their audience. Which is, I think we can all agree, a very good thing. Alternative reading: there audience has stalled and the only way they can grow it is by coming up with a new backend/website/app? (I mena THAT WASN'T IT, but maybe the next dev team they hire will nail it.)
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