Thankyou X5 there were some things in this up date that I didnt know I under stand a lot better now cheers charbrynic

It should be easily identifiable when a user has received a message in their X5 inbox. The standard method, used by most email applications and online mail services, is to put the number of unread messages in parentheses (after the text that links to where you can read them). Also, it's a bit unclear where you state: "Please allow up to 10 working days for confirmation" that you're referring to clearance of cheques via paypal. In the very next sentence you again use the word "confirmation", and a different time period, in reference to users agreeing to purchase an item. Lastly, instead of directing new users to the blog to learn how to use X5, you should be steering them towards the FAQ (and updating it too - it still mentions you receive an email if you're no longer winning an auction, for example). The blog is time pertinent. If users were to study every published blog (106 of them) they'd be learning about features that no longer existed. I also note a big improvement in the writing and presentation of this blog entry; congratulations :)

Hi X5, it's a shame to here some of your customers have been abusive and threatening. I have been a customer for some time now and any issues I have raised have been resolved in a respectful and quick manner. You have at least one happy customer who believes you guys are doing a great job and definately one of the better auction sites on the net. Keep up the good work! For those customers who have been abusive peruse the site for answers first then enquire to the X5 team they are fantastic, they reply very quickly to all emails they receive when customers are polite and reasonable.As I've said before X5 you can't please everyone. Human Nature sucks sometimes!!!

perhaps some kind of basic wizard like feature to show how it all works - that would be very helpful

o i c nice 2 no thaxs

Hi, this announcement is great. It will help new users to understand X5 alot better. And its a shame there's people out there who abuse X5 by stealing money via paypal. Hope fully you can eradicate these people. Well done!

It is true that it is a bit hard to understand when you first start but as you said if you take the time to read everything you soon learn how it works, keep up the good work. thankyou X5.

Thanks so much for this message, it has cleared up a lot of questions!

This is a great idea as the infomation can be hard to find if u don't know where to look. Maybe U should give members the option to recieve a free Tips email with this info in it on sign up and how to use it to ur advantage. It will give then more confidence to bid.

I was delighted to read the blog update! Well written, clear to understand and very useful content! Thank you X5 team!

For the most part I understand where you're coming from with all these points. For one thing, I do agree with some that it can be difficult to know when you have received a response from x5 and suggest possibly moving the inbox to somewhere easier to see, perhaps near the login area with a specific number as to how many emails are in there waiting. I have had several issues with my paypal echeques clearing even after having confirmation from paypal. Is there any way for this to be streamlined? I often prefer to wait until I have won something to put money into my x5 account, so I am fighting against the clock at times. Perhaps a more indepth view into your end of things would help those who have the same issue would be helpful.

I think the information was set mout nicely and you found things you were looking for

can i pay by visa card

with lots of apples comming in there would be some bad apples,,,i dont dont like this fruit anyway...my suggestion is that X5 stop new members from buying using credit cards...i guess the current count of members is good so all new comers would have the option to buy by savings or cheque account...this matter got t be btwn X5 and paypal..it would also reduce the risk of having young kids/teens stealing parents/people credit cards/numbers and using it in here as a form of gambling....i work in the security industry so i know abit about these issues...Good luck and Enjoyyyy

Thanks this has certainly cleared up some questions I had. I could not understand why some auctions went ET & could not find info on it, when searching help. Also the refresh I had never even noticed! My sugestion.... would be a added testimony section where you could leave feedback on products after you actually received. As I feel some people are very cautious on quality of products.Some of my items have been so good I would have liked an option to add to my testimony saying how pleased I was with the actual product, not just commenting on winning it. I know this because of my friend...she would not purchase anything. Now she has seen some of my items she is amazed. Thanks Sue

Thank you a lot of this has been very helpful, only new to site and I must admit I have terrible tendancy to look at these things when I dont have a lot of time so tend miss the important things...sorry for being one of THOSE painful bidders!!

Thank you this has answered ALMOST all my questions!!

This is an excellent web site. Not may auction site lets you have free bid, but this one does. I love this site.

I find it confusing using the bidding system as I dont understand the bid range and normal bid difference.

good

I would like all members names to have a bracket next to them with the number of items that they have won in it e.g Beelinda1029(7) I think that transparency with all the people that use X5 is the best way to gain trust. I also think that to be able to see what thay have won would be useful

I really can`t see how people are having problems with this site.It`s all a matter of common sense.As for the stolen credit,people should be honest and realise that their actions will only hurt this site and therefore ALL members,including themselves,will be the ones to lose.

great advice - it all makes sense to me.

Sick and tired of being ripped off by eBay..?? Give X5 a try..!!!! Much better rates, far better support, REAL PEOPLE to handle your problems - not moronic automatons who cut you off if they don't like the fact you've got a problem..!! A fair marketplace has its foundations in COMPETITION, not a MONOPOLY as eBay thinks it has and therefore seems to feel that it has the right to ignore its "valued customers" and abuse them as I have been like so many others...!!! Come on down to X5 and enjoy a NEW experience in online shopping..!!! I'm collectng genuine grievences against eBay right now so don't be shy, let me know and let's clean the online shop business of the cockroaches...!!! Good luck to all - James

this has cleared up alot of questions i was begining to have especially the 5 min extention which i think is shit (but cos i didnt know about it)is there any way of knowing how many times the 5 min extension has been done on each item as this would make it easier for bidding tatics

thanks for the update. I'll go and check my inbox now because I wasn't aware of it. I've been recommending this site to as many people as I can, and although not all have gone through the referal email, I know many have jumped on board. I find myself becoming addicted and I pray that my workplace doesn't find out about it and block the site, because our computer died several months ago at home so it's my only chance to "play" - although I am desperately trying to win a desktop computer for home. Keep up the great work. Cheers.

well its pritty sad to say that even though x5 is a great site ppl still have to fraud the system ,,which really gets me as ppl with these skills would not have a prob finding lagit business , they need to get a life ,, as a resent joining member i have not had any problems understanding the site ,,all the info u need is there if you make use of the whole x5 site , maybe another idea on the whole fairness thing maybe if ur a regular winner there b a threshold on how many items u can submit for , as ebay buiness holders have the ability to spend a bit more than the average psn , then reap the profits .thanx for ya time

I think the site has real potential. I find it easy to use and move around in, and there are great deals also. It's a pitty some idiots are abusing the credits through as you put it stolen credits through paypal somehow?? Hope you are able to catch them, so the site continues to flurish.

thanks for that, it makes a few things clearer. This site is really great and keep up the good work. A.

It is still very confusing,explination need to be short and prompt

I still couldn't find the X5 Refresh Button. Good on yah X5

It must have something to do with my mature age, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people will resort to abuse rather than read the rules and/or take responsibility for their own ignorance!

I think it's very sad that abusive emails are directed to the staff at X5. I had a prompt informative response from James at X5 and I appreciate his excellent customer service. From now on I will use my X5 Inbox to send and recieve messages but I hope my queries are responded to by James. This announcement answered many of my questions. Also, I will find out what a blog is and try to check them regularly I am looking to forward to recieving my very first X5 purchase, a christmas present for my grandaughter. Regards Kay

ET was a feature I didn't understand when I first signed up - I think it would be important to put it somewhere on the info pages when someone first signs up (or even on the FAQ page or something like that?) - especially because new members probably won't be checking the blogs when they first sign up. They probably don't even know HOW to check them! Also, with the inbox issue - is it possible to send emails to BOTH email and the X5 inbox? This is what ebay does and makes it a very user friendly system. It's useful to have both on hand as it enables users to check both if one gets lost.

thank you. very informative. i especially like the ET function as it makes it harder to pipped at the post at the last minute when you thought you had it sewn up. it's a pity the pages are not dynamic but i've not come across an auction site yet where you don't have to refresh pages.

What I suggest is that when a new member joins, there should be a checkbox to tick (by the new member after they have read) for X5 members knowledge and the poins should be the one mentioned above (its short & easy to understand). After they have joined an email should be sent to the email provided by them and not the X5 email (only at this instance) stating the points mentioned again. This will give X5 an upper hand in dealing with the related issues and members won't have an option to say that they didn't know as they agree to it when they became a member.

Also, I can't even find my inbox... It should really be under "My X5" or something like that.

I can see how annoying and time-consuming it would be constantly answering the same questions! Perhaps on signup new members should be sent straight to an FAQ on these systems?? I would also like to ask for an update on the "Shipping" item once you've won an item - the link shows nothing to do with shipping. I'd like to see a status (processing, shipped and date, etc); a good idea from another site is a direct link to the delivery people's site eg X5 provides an identifier for parcel tracking thru eg Auspost.

I think your inbox idea is fabulous so my mailbox is not overloaded and I can check my messages when its right for me. BUT sometimes I will forget that I've sent an email. Perhaps you could have a feature that sends you a reminder after you've had unread mail that's more than 1 month old..? Please note that I do go into the site to check if I had any emails and could not find the "INBOX" under My X5.

Thanks for the email. I had no idea that X5 had so many features and was so user friendly! I look forward to making lots of use of this wondeful service.

I do not use this site mainly because I don't understand the workings of it. Just as I gave up on Limbo as much as I bid it was never a unique bid, and I went every price adding or deducting 1c each time and still nothing so I am afraid I gave up. Abusive customers should be handled by police. No one, and I mean no one should have to handle abuse. I may have a go again sometime.

Thanks so much guys. I've just sighned up with your site & had very little idea how it actually works. Great support! Can't believe that you have received threatening e-mails. Suppose we gotta remember there are a lot of immature people out there,sadly. Keep up the good work , Chris:-)

X5 sounds like a safe locked behind a vault behind a brick wall with a door open to one one electric key, yet at the same time one can relax on the evening outdoor couch with your laptop enjoying the full rewards that X5 has

X5 seems to have a lot of good functions - it seems like the issue might be interface and usability and making new customers aware of what they are, how to use them and where they are. Also - are there any plans in the future for an email notification of a won item, or something along those lines?

This was a good starting blog for newbies and confoozies however there still seems to be those X5 members who just don't read everything properly. The site is really self explanatory. ET = extra time, you will find how many ET's have been done on the bidding page, you can use your Visa card by using PayPal which is safer anyway, if you cant see a refresh button use the back button on your toolbar then click on the box showing all of your current bid on items this will refresh the screen quite quickly, my emails are always answered promptly and with respect to those who are abusive...If you need to be rude to get your point accross you really dont have a point all you have is a bad attitude because you didn't win and we have all lost more items than we have won...BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT or JUST GROW UP! Keep up the great work X5!

I didn't even know there was an inbox! Took me a while to find it but it is there. Thanks for the info.

I think this should answer most of the questions people have, although I agree that the inbox is hard to find. Perhaps you could have an inbox icon at the top right of every page with the others (member services - blue section)? I also agree with the previous comment of not knowing how many unread messages are in there. Maybe when you log in the "notifications" section you could add one that says "you have x new messages"? The most recent message is always visible but it's easy to miss others.

I am a brand new member so this was very helpful for me these days if you take away the shiny lights (simplify the page) some of us do get lost! give us a break!!

Thankyou and this has answered a few of my questions. I have found X5 to be very helpful and quick with responding to emails.

thank you for the message i now understand on how it all works

Thanks X5 for clearing up a lot of things. I find the site to be pretty straight forward, but understand that new users may be abit confused at first. I really think that you should have a better testimony section. Reviews from real customers about their experience with the site. And a forum too, that way new users could go to the forum to ask questions.

Thanks X5 for the great support and consideration for your customers. Excellent site keep up the good work!

Thanks X5 for clearing up a few things for me. Sorry to hear that some people are cheating, that's just so unfair.

Great information, you have answered many of the things I have felt unsure about myself. I know that it can be very frustrating when you think you're winning right up to the end of the auction and then find out you lost. You may have spent a lot of money in bids, and then feel cheated, but this is no reason to abuse or threaten staff. I agree with other comments that this information should be provided to new users when they join up, and they should have to read it before being able to make a bid. It could also be suggested that users print off a copy to keep on hand if they're having problems. The refresh button is on the bid page beside the 'WINNING/NOT WINNING' status bar. It is green and is in a circular shape with an arrow on the top. When you place your cursor over this a description pops up. What I'd like to know is, when & how often should we be using the refresh button? I have been very happy with the quality of products received from X5 and have referred your site to family and friends.

I'm recently new to x5. Thanks for this email. Personally I think it could be a bit more user friendly eg I had no idea about the refresh button. I also think there should be some sort of allowance for payments of cheque or money order as you give 7 days to confirm and complete win but up to 10 days to process payments. Other than that I think it's terrific that we can actually get stuff at decent $! WOW, COOL!

Well I still think you're the best site there is. However I also still think there shouldn't be ET, the end should just be exactly that. I can't believe that people are so rude, they should have their membership ended.Thanks X5.

i think this will make more people use the site as many are wairy of the fact if they go to the wrong place what will happen i think that you do a fantastic job and i wouldn't take the negative emails to heart because you will allways get some no matter what you do keep it going

Re free bids information would be helpful to put it in the FAQ Section. Thanks for this post as now I Know cannot find it in FAQ Section look in blog.

Re X5 Inbox - maybe X5 could advise when you login if there are any messages in your X5 Inbox - as I am sure most members don't go in there to check regularly.

I really do not like the ET feature, everuy auction where i was winning it in the last few minutes i have lost by mere cents because of it. Maybe if ET was only -2 minutes and only once, instead of 5 minutes up to 3 times it would be better. At the moment the way it feels like all i am doing is giving away my money with no chance to win.

Thank you X5. I've only been a member for a couple of weeks and am so pleased with the service and advice. I've won a couple of auctions and have received the items in great condition. It has saved me heaps of money on xmas presents and for this i'm really grateful. Every time i get an email stating special announcement i immediately read the message so I can educate myself on how the site works. Without these notifications i would be lost. I encourage all members to keep up to date. And please everyone be honest with your credit purchases as this will keep the service cheap and the prices down. It only takes a few to stuff it for everyone. Keep up the excellent work X5 and thank you.

Thank you X5. I also was one of those members who went ahead and bid on a lot of the free stuff thinking that "yes" it was all free! I guess I was a little ambitious and didn't read all the info first. I am up to par now with all the blog. Looking forward to a winning bid......kerryg.....Merry Christmas to eveyone.

WOW!! This information is available FREE now??? too bad for me :( I found out the hard way by bidding & finding out how it all works!!! $$$ wasted...

thank you for making it a bit easier to understand. I have only just joined and was at a loss as to how things actually worked.

It's a real shame that there is credit card fraud going on. I thought Paypal was more secure than this. Not only is this costing X5 money, but also other members who have lost an auction to someone using a stolen credit card.

Thanks for clearing up things. I was in a state of confusion when i started using x5 not long ago but I have found the FAQ section really helpful too for those of you who are not comfortable reading the blog.

Now its all clear ........... i think lol actually it does answer a few questions i had, thank you x5 i have more confidence now

This sounds a great idea if you r bidding for an item and dont win it you can have a second chance of trying again