Comments on: Where is the Sign In on Amazon.com?

By: Crazy19

Crazy19 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:38:59 +0000

By: Roland Studer

Roland Studer — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:28:44 +0000

Amazon has a quite sophisitcated system, of gathering the credentials whenever it is needed. It recognizes you by cookie, depending on what you want to to, whishlist / order / order to a new adress / gift certificates it asks for nothing / password / credit card data.
There might be a sign in button if you have no cookie at all.
It's gradual engagement on steroids, one could say.
I recommend listening to Jared Spool and Brian Christiansen in their podcast, where they talk about this:
http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2009/06/05/present...

I think it's an interesting design decision:. Sign in link seems to be important, but maybe actually no one really uses it an amazon, as they offer a more gradual engagment.

By: russwilson

russwilson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:42:08 +0000

That's just it – when "personalized recommendations" is highlighted I expect that to take me to recommendations; not to sign me in. I'm thrown off by "sign in" not being highlighted.

By: AraG

AraG — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:02:51 +0000

"Hello. Sign in to get personalized recommendations"
There is a sign in at the top ^.

By: Michael Wilson

Michael Wilson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:53:33 +0000

Truthfully – I'd rather see a sign in button, it eases my mind to know that when i'm logged in – all my actions and decisions are saved, even though I know that amazon still builds a cart for you even when you are not signed in.

By: Where is the Sign In on Amazon.com? | UX Booth

Where is the Sign In on Amazon.com? | UX Booth — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:46:14 +0000

[...] Where is the Sign In on Amazon.com? http://www.dexodesign.com/2009/06/29/where-is-the-sign-in-on-amazon-com/ [...]

By: Luis Interiano

Luis Interiano — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:56:20 +0000

I’ve also noticed the same and it annoys me because I set my browser to delete cookies after each session since I don’t want to be tracked by 99% of the sites I use. But I do want Amazon to track my interests so I sign in always. But I also wrote to them recently to ask why the Sign Out buttons is not next to my name when I am signed in. Instead, I have to click Help and then the button appears. Seems bizarre to throw obstacles in the way of your users.

Thanks for posting about it. I thought I was the only one who noticed.
Luis

By: S. Weise

S. Weise — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:05:39 +0000

Sometimes don't you just want to sign in to view your account? I know I do. When you select "Your Account", the sign-in area is relegated to the right side of the screen in a small box. The text in the body is generic wording that describes what amazon does in the "Your Account" section. On this screen, I'm not sure why the sign-in box isn't more readily obvious (maybe on the left side instead?) A generic "Your Account" screen seems like an oxymoron.

By: Phillip Hunter

Phillip Hunter — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:58:49 +0000

I've always been glad that their sign-in happens when needed. It serves as a notice and transition that my activity is going from something casual to something more important. I think that only a minority portion of users think and act upon the idea that sign-in near the beginning of activity is ubiquitous and helpful. And I disagree with them except for specialty sites, such as email or other private data access. I still believe that most users need the "ask them for info only when needed treatment" and Amazon does it decently in my book.

Phillip

By: russwilson

russwilson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:44:08 +0000

From Anne Hjortshoj and Diego Moya (with their permission) on the IxDA list:

Anne:
I'd be willing to bet it's a direct reflection of their registration
process, which (I think?) follows the more -recent- convention of
"don't make the user register until there's a clear benefit to doing
so," i.e., until there's a clear contextual reason to do so — buying
a book, for example, or saving items to a wish list.

What's the benefit of an obvious call to sign in, vs. the way Amazon
currently does this? Other than the sense that having a sign-in button
is a convention and something that people (or specifically, web
designers) expect?

Diego:
Maybe they have read *this* and wanted to collect their $300,000,000…

The $300 Million Button
http://www.uie.com/articles/three_hund_million_bu...

(Short answer: forcing buyers to register cost sales, so that
convention doesn't work for stores).