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Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

usps.com

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Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#13
That somebody pushed a redesign through the biggest bureaucracy in the world (that lost $8,200,000,000 in 2010) is astounding.

That said:

a) They’re using low-contrast call-to-action buttons. It’s a sea of blue. USPS has red/white/blue in the palette – why not use red?

b) Their font size selection on many elements & sub-pages is equivalent to 8.5 point, for an audience that skews 35 years + that is a mistake.

c) Go check out http://mobile.usps.com/ - for usability which do you prefer?

I wonder how much conversion rate optimization could help close their funding gap . . .

Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#14
It looks basically the same as the old site, and their pricing still absolutely sucks: Too many options, all with basically the same name, and they go out of their way to conceal the cheaper shipping while showing the expensive options. Also, the country selector is broken under Chrome. A classic case of rebranding instead of addressing existing issues.

Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#15
The laptop is massively out of place as the largest image on the page. It looks like they're trying to sell me a computer. Plus the computer has an image of the website I'm already looking at.

"Watch Video" looks like they're going to talk about the laptop.

Then the image scrolls to a woman who is having way too much fun tracking her package. What a weird design.

If you search for the word "Post" it comes up in tiny type in the footer as "Postage." Not what I'd expect from the Post Office.

Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#16
post #9

An improvement from their last design, but i really don't think it matters. I've spent maybe 15 minutes total of my life on USPS's homepage. What they really need to work on is their package tracking[1], which basically has two states: delivered and not delivered. [1] Well, and their shipping reliability. Sending packages USPS is about 50/50 for me as to whether it will arrive at all. EDIT: The 50/50 thing is hyperbo…

Sending packages USPS is about 50/50 for me as to whether it will arrive at all.

Seriously? I've sent maybe 100 or so packages with USPS over the past few years. I don't think a single package hasn't shown up. A few have come in much later than expected (like a week rather than 3-days), but its one of the most reliable services I use.

Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#17
post #13

That somebody pushed a redesign through the biggest bureaucracy in the world (that lost $8,200,000,000 in 2010) is astounding. That said: a) They’re using low-contrast call-to-action buttons. It’s a sea of blue. USPS has red/white/blue in the palette – why not use red? b) Their font size selection on many elements & sub-pages is equivalent to 8.5 point, for an audience that skews 35 years + that is a mistake. c) Go c…

[deleted]

Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#18
post #9

An improvement from their last design, but i really don't think it matters. I've spent maybe 15 minutes total of my life on USPS's homepage. What they really need to work on is their package tracking[1], which basically has two states: delivered and not delivered. [1] Well, and their shipping reliability. Sending packages USPS is about 50/50 for me as to whether it will arrive at all. EDIT: The 50/50 thing is hyperbo…

I was sending literally hundreds of packages per month through USPS with maybe 1 lost package per 300. Their first class mail/parcel post is the least expensive and most reliable way to ship an item under 8 lbs.

A lot of people like to disparage them because they're a branch of the government but in my opinion they're the best in the industry for low to medium volume shippers.

If you want to see shitty shipping go try to use DHL.

Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#19
post #6

Now only if they can figure out how to accurately track packages. For me their tracking almost never works (in other words never ever updated), and if it does it is usually updated after the packages have been delivered, which is useless.

I believe you have to upgrade the package to Priority Mail or similar to get UPS-style tracking. Otherwise you'll get simple delivery confirmation.

Re: Finally, USPS.com got nice look'n'feel

#20
post #13

That somebody pushed a redesign through the biggest bureaucracy in the world (that lost $8,200,000,000 in 2010) is astounding. That said: a) They’re using low-contrast call-to-action buttons. It’s a sea of blue. USPS has red/white/blue in the palette – why not use red? b) Their font size selection on many elements & sub-pages is equivalent to 8.5 point, for an audience that skews 35 years + that is a mistake. c) Go c…

Agreed on point A, that's the first thing I noticed. For better or worse, the red-white-blue (with the specific shades thereof) is a core part of USPS's brand, and is instantly recognizable for most people in this country.

To not use that is IMO a huge opportunity lost.

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