Area update - Ask B&N

[BN_AlexG Administrator]

Hi all,

I would like to first thank everyone for participating in the newly minted "Ask B&N" board. The response has been well received, and I look forward to further refining the experience.

Now to the meat of this post.

Allow me to clarify some of the questions surrounding Ask B&N. I'll admit, a proper introduction was never made and I apologize for any confusion. This Q&A was intended to be an area resident experts and all community members could ask questions pertaining to device help or general customer service/community concerns and expect to receive answers in a reasonable time frame. Some of you have used this new area as an avenue to air out concerns or suggest feature changes, etc. While there is nothing inherently wrong with these kinds of posts, and we actually appreciate the feedback gained; they aren't in the vein of what this area is attempting to do.

Also, through no fault of your own there is some confusion as to who will be answering/monitoring said questions. Including myself, select individuals within B&N will monitor the Q&A; however this does not mean it will be another direct service channel to us. We will offer assistance and resolutions where possible, but the Q&A's central focus is to empower users in the community to assist each other and gain new ranks/laurels associated with solutions given. As such, it will be renamed "Ask the Community".

Of course, I understand community members want to hear directly from B&N on a lot of their questions, I will certainly try my best to obtain and provide any information asked.

The suggestion boards will be returning next week, alongside the tentative opening of our NOOK Central discussion area.

NOOK Central will be just that, a central location for all device owners to engage and discuss all things NOOK. Ranging from support to general conversation, as well as where our idea and issue reporting exchanges will exist. There will also be a more NOOK relevant Q&A, for users that wish to not sift through threads of conversation and are seeking a quick response. Of course, many of the same metrics being implemented in Ask the Community will carry over, with a few others gears towards NOOK.

I thank you all for being such great members of the community, we have many other exciting things in the works and we look forward to sharing it all with each of you.

As always feel free to contact me directly with any other questions and concerns, and feel free to comment below.

- Alex

[keriflur]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for clarifying.  I'm still a bit unclear though - don't all threads (outside of book discussion) exist as a place for users to ask questions of the community?  What makes Ask B&N different?

Basically, I'm thinking that it complicates things a bit.  If a user has a question about how to turn off his NST, does he post in one of the NST forums, or in the Ask forum?  Also, it gives another place for those of us who provide assistance to have to watch for questions that may or may not apply to our areas of expertise.  For instance, I can answer almost anything about the NST or N1E, but I'm poorly equipped to answer questions about NC or NT, but those still may appear there, and I have no way currently to mark all as read, which makes it harder to find the questions I can help with.

I understand that this new forum was added to make things easier for users, but I fear it may actually make it a bit more difficult.

[Sun_Cat]

Hi, Alex. I share Keri's concerns and her central question: On what basis should people decide whether to post a question on the new board or on one of the more specifically targeted existing boards?

IMO having a new board makes sense if it's a place where official, timely B&N responses can be expected. If it's just a potpourri peer support board, then the existing structured boards make more sense the way they are.

[BN_AlexG Administrator]

Hey keriflur,

Your point is well made and valid. The Q&A isn't here to replace any of the existing channels everyone currently participates in.

It's just an easier to get to location for answers, should you choose to participate.

In alot of ways its meant to bypass the long threads of convo, and provide quick resolutions for new members or a user on the go. That's why you see the answer prominently displayed as opposed to the string of comments on the question.

But again, this is certainly not going to replace what we already use. Rather its just another discussion style/option anyone can participate in.

As to the areas of expertise concern, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. The Q&A will tie into the oft mentioned category expert ranks, and will actually filter questions by area of expertise. I haven't activated it yet, but once you click on My Profile, you'll see the new "my questions" widget. You should actually see the image gallery and moderation status widgets now as well.

Marking items read is an issue I've raised with Lithium, along with the bug in displaying who actually answered the post. Q&A is relatively new in their portfolio, but I hope to have these issues ironed out soon.

Hope this helps clarify a little more, but feel free to ask anything else.

- Alex

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

---

BN_AlexG wrote:

You should actually see the image gallery and moderation status widgets now as well.

---

I don't see them. Maybe I'm not on the list any longer, though.

[flyingtoastr Scribe]

Our awesome sidebar pictures beg to differ!

[BN_AlexG Administrator]

I temporarily removed everyone, to address the mass email subscriptions sent out previously.

I'll have it up by end of day today.

- Alex

[keriflur]

---

BN_AlexG wrote:

As to the areas of expertise concern, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. The Q&A will tie into the oft mentioned category expert ranks, and will actually filter questions by area of expertise. I haven't activated it yet, but once you click on My Profile, you'll see the new "my questions" widget. You should actually see the image gallery and moderation status widgets now as well.

---

What about for those of us that don't have the fancy-schmancy pictures behind our handles?

[keriflur]

---

keriflur wrote:

---

BN_AlexG wrote:

As to the areas of expertise concern, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. The Q&A will tie into the oft mentioned category expert ranks, and will actually filter questions by area of expertise. I haven't activated it yet, but once you click on My Profile, you'll see the new "my questions" widget. You should actually see the image gallery and moderation status widgets now as well.

---

What about for those of us that don't have the fancy-schmancy pictures behind our handles?

---

Actually, I do see the image gallery and moderation status boxes.  Does that mean I've been promoted?

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

---

keriflur wrote:

I do see the image gallery and moderation status boxes.  Does that mean I've been promoted?

---

 You thief! Give 'em back to me!