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Post by ablrate on Aug 19, 2014 10:24:19 GMT
I too have now dipped a teeny weeny verucca (sorry) into the water. Some feedback I suspect the site has been designed by mac users with screens the size of, um, can't think, gynormous anyway. I'm using it on my modern laptop, and several times I lost track, because the pages are very "tall", one has to keep scrolling up or down. It's made more difficult in the first place because you have the clever header with the nav links at the top, with no visible border or separation to the screen below, so I didn't realise that what I was looking for was hidden behind the header. (the fields for changing password for example). I've seen other sites like this and I think they somehow ensure that the top line of the visible page is HALF hidden behind the header so the user can see that it's hidden. or, when I pressed on the Lend link, I got a big picture of a plane, with some arrow to the right. Actually I needed to scroll down to find what I was looking for (which was info, not some daft photo, sorry but) And In the first place when I selected Available Loans, it needs at leas at Nice Big Find Out More BUTTON, or better an INVEST NOW button right alongside the description. Having discovered as an alternative the Lend link at the top even then it seems to me I had to click on a text link to actually invest. I'd be inclined to pester friends and neighbours to spend some time on the site using their own computers (using a dummy name and password), while you take notes (all the while with you wearing a gag so they have to work it out for themselves) Hi Thanks for trying us out!! To be honest we are not 100% happy with the general layout of the site. It was great in design and we like the general feel of it, but it is not quite there. As my dear old mum used to say 'if it's not quite, it's not right'. Thanks for this feedback it is something that is under review and we will be changing things around, it won't be for a while as we are concentrating on functionality features right now, but we are tasking our designers with the change. The work flow could be better and I also think the information flow could be presented better, but we really needed to launch and get moving so we decided to go with what we had and see what the user experience was like. So this is awesome feedback that will allow us to better understand what is important to users. The feedback that we have had on here and in discussions on the phone with some lenders (you know who you are.. and thanks v much), have given us some great ideas for extra sections, analytic tools etc etc... so that will all go into the next upgrade of the UI. There may be an opportunity for some of our users to test it in the testing environment and to make suggestions from there... so we will let you know. Right now we are working with the developers on the 'Instant Returns' feature which should be rolled out shortly. Regards Ablrate
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Post by ablrate on Aug 19, 2014 10:30:08 GMT
I also cant see the need for passport & DVLA information to remain displayed, especially since it is only required for initial ID. I have actually deleted mine which does not seem to affected the Tracesmart validation.
This is obviously not desirable as an additional risk to identity fraud should somebody gain access to your account. In addition I am pretty certain that holding personal information beyond the point for which there is a business need is a breach of the Data Protection Act. I'd have thought there was no need to retain the information after the initial validation.
Hi Thanks for the feedback. There is definitely a good point here. We obviously have to do our checks as required by law, but the point is well taken. The only issue here is that we purposely made the sign on so that you did not have to verify to have a look around (that bothers me no end with some other sites), and so there has to be a way to input that information later (i.e by editing your profile). But I can see the merit in having that data redacted. We will look at this and come up with a solution. Thanks for the feedabck. Regards Ablrate
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Post by ablrate on Aug 19, 2014 10:43:16 GMT
I would have to agree with all shimself points above. When I first clicked on the 'View Loan Requests' tab and got a page full on plane I assumed the link didnt work or I needed full access before I could view loans, and even when I invested it still took me another go before I remembered I needed to scroll down. Similiarly I also had to hunt for the make a bid button. In general, all the interesting & useful stuff is not instantly visible on my tablet/laptop. The dashboard page layout seems the wrong way round, with find a loan, recent bids and the navigation occupying the top of the screen while the actual 'my dashboard' and account info not initially visible. I would suggest that most people would expect to find their account summary more prominent. The navigation list could easily be a line of tabs along the top enabling the account summary to be moved up the page. Deposit button also seems hidden. I also cant see the need for passport & DVLA information to remain displayed, especially since it is only required for initial ID. I have actually deleted mine which does not seem to have affected the Tracesmart validation. Reference to interest being paid on the current loan from investment date rather than drawdown is also missing ( in pipeline I would guess) and it is not clear what the minimum investment is until you actually go to lend (how it works making bid -still shows £250) I do like the site overall, everything I have looked for is there even if it sometimes wasnt obvious at first, and it looks slick & corporate which given the nature of the assets is appropriate, just needs a few tweaks to make it user friendly. Thanks il moro As I answered earlier, this is all great feedback and we will add this all into the discussions on the new UI development, so if you come across anything else that you think could be improved, do let us know. We have added a brief note to the 'How to Make a Bid' page above the video, just letting people know that we have reduced the minimum bid and we will change the screen capture video. We are also discussing what tag line to add to the front page image which will just lay out what we do... eg.. Invest in Aircraft Transactions from as Little as 100'... something like that.... and something similar on the capital equipment section. Actually, if you guys have any ideas on what that should say let me know... We have 'Asset Backed Lending - Excellent Returns backed by quality, real assets' - The suggestions has been that we are more up front.. but we are just debating what that tag line will be. If you have any suggestions we are all ears. Thanks for the compliment on the design, we wanted it to be corporate and professional. Like you say, it just needs some work to iron out the design elements we don't like and more work needs to be done on the workflow from a user's perspective, so your feedback is vital. Thanks again. Regards Ablrate
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ilmoro
Member of DD Central
'Wondering which of the bu***rs to blame, and watching for pigs on the wing.' - Pink Floyd
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Post by ilmoro on Aug 19, 2014 11:19:27 GMT
We are also discussing what tag line to add to the front page image which will just lay out what we do... eg.. Invest in Aircraft Transactions from as Little as 100'... like that.... and something similar on the capital equipment section. Actually, if you guys have any ideas on what that should say let me know... We have 'Asset Backed Lending - Excellent Returns backed by quality, real assets' - The suggestions has been that we are more up front.. but we are just debating what that tag line will be. If you have any suggestions we are all ears. Surely something about 'investments taking flight whilst remaining firmly anchored' I would suggest 'Ablrate gives your money wings' but I suspect legal ramifications involving a popular energy drink
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Post by ablrate on Aug 19, 2014 13:40:14 GMT
We are also discussing what tag line to add to the front page image which will just lay out what we do... eg.. Invest in Aircraft Transactions from as Little as 100'... like that.... and something similar on the capital equipment section. Actually, if you guys have any ideas on what that should say let me know... We have 'Asset Backed Lending - Excellent Returns backed by quality, real assets' - The suggestions has been that we are more up front.. but we are just debating what that tag line will be. If you have any suggestions we are all ears. Surely something about 'investments taking flight whilst remaining firmly anchored' I would suggest 'Ablrate gives your money wings' but I suspect legal ramifications involving a popular energy drink Thanks... and yes a certain energy drink may have one or two issue.... lol
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shimself
Member of DD Central
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Post by shimself on Aug 19, 2014 15:10:03 GMT
It cannot be good to need a video to explain how to make a bid.
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Post by ablrate on Aug 19, 2014 15:16:38 GMT
It cannot be good to need a video to explain how to make a bid. Hi It's pretty straight forward and self explanatory but some users may need a little help. We thought we would do a short video as it is a better option than text and screenshots. Regards Ablrate
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jhma
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Post by jhma on Aug 19, 2014 15:52:29 GMT
Some more feedback....
As a toe-dipper in your first loan this is what I am hoping for:
While suggested fine-tuning to the site is all very well, I invest on 'another' platform despite a poor user interface. What will encourage me is more loans in the near future, preferably shorter term than five years and at rates even marginally more attractive than 10%, perhaps through cashbacks for early adopters, etc. While taking on board your comments on risk, I recall several years ago being led to believe that pension investments in Equitable Life were low risk. Hmm.
As far as I am concerned, planes and the Ablrate platform are just another source of diversification for secured lending in addition to property, wind farms, boats, company debentures and charges etc. etc.
I'd like to be invested in ten loans within six months (and not just successive tranches of a loan against the same or similar assets)
Personally I have found the site to be workable, although improvements are always possible. However suggest instead to get after the core business ASAP!
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smee
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Post by smee on Aug 20, 2014 8:39:27 GMT
I agree completely with the sentiments expressed by jhma. One thing I am curious about is the display of existing bids on a loan. I expected these to be displayed in the order the bids were made, or possibly user ID number sequence, but each time I look the sequence has changed. Is the sequence just random, or is there a method behind it?
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shimself
Member of DD Central
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Post by shimself on Aug 20, 2014 9:55:49 GMT
It cannot be good to need a video to explain how to make a bid. Hi It's pretty straight forward and self explanatory but some users may need a little help. We thought we would do a short video as it is a better option than text and screenshots. Regards Ablrate Except we are telling you, it isn't in fact straighforward, it requires some detective skills to find it.
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Post by ablrate on Aug 20, 2014 10:18:34 GMT
Some more feedback.... As a toe-dipper in your first loan this is what I am hoping for: While suggested fine-tuning to the site is all very well, I invest on 'another' platform despite a poor user interface. What will encourage me is more loans in the near future, preferably shorter term than five years and at rates even marginally more attractive than 10%, perhaps through cashbacks for early adopters, etc. While taking on board your comments on risk, I recall several years ago being led to believe that pension investments in Equitable Life were low risk. Hmm. As far as I am concerned, planes and the Ablrate platform are just another source of diversification for secured lending in addition to property, wind farms, boats, company debentures and charges etc. etc. I'd like to be invested in ten loans within six months (and not just successive tranches of a loan against the same or similar assets) Personally I have found the site to be workable, although improvements are always possible. However suggest instead to get after the core business ASAP! Hi jhma Thanks for trying us out. Your points are well taken and after our initial period we are getting to grips with what users are interested in from the UI but also from the basics of loans and returns. The next loan will have a cashback as we are awaiting the deployment of our 'instant returns' feature which will see lenders earning interest at the prevailing rate from the moment they bid on a fixed rate loan, we expect this feature to deployed in a couple of weeks. We have a new loan coming onto the platform in a few days which is a lower amount and a shorter term. The risk adjusted returns is something we feel is important for investors to consider, but you are absolutely right with the diversification issue and as much as we know that our loans have a great risk profile, I promise I won't keep banging on about it (too much...) I think your requirement for six loans within the next six months is completely within our business plan and we aim to be rolling these out in the coming weeks for your evaluation. Thanks for your feedback on the site, it is an ongoing process of improvement, testing and feedback. I fully expect to be sat here in a years time listening to feedback and making changes! We are working on the core business, sourcing suitable loans and making sure we provide alternatives for you guys to have a look at. Thanks again Regards Ablrate
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Post by ablrate on Aug 20, 2014 10:20:50 GMT
I agree completely with the sentiments expressed by jhma. One thing I am curious about is the display of existing bids on a loan. I expected these to be displayed in the order the bids were made, or possibly user ID number sequence, but each time I look the sequence has changed. Is the sequence just random, or is there a method behind it? Hi smee We are looking at that bug right now. We believe it has something to do with how the auction part of the system is coded and how it treats bids, but it will be sorted shortly. Regards Ablrate
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Post by webbski9 on Aug 26, 2014 12:14:23 GMT
Hi Guys. When can we expect some more aircraft loans,capital equipment loans and a Secondary Market ? Best Regards webbski9
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Post by ablrate on Aug 26, 2014 12:48:30 GMT
Hi Guys. When can we expect some more aircraft loans,capital equipment loans and a Secondary Market ? Best Regards webbski9 Hi webbski9 My finger is hovering over the button to make a small capital equipment deal live, I will update when it's ready. We have some aircraft deals that are just being approved for listing including a large one that we may have some underwriting for. The current loan will close and the balance placed on the Secondary Market so you will be ale to see how that operates also. Regards Ablrate
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Post by webbski9 on Aug 26, 2014 13:23:30 GMT
Thank you very much for your swift response.My finger is also poised over the " invest " button when I see the details of the new loans Regards
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