Unable to go back in history and inconsistent listing display and odd row behaviour when viewing search results

Hello dutchman2 

Do you have any screenshots of the issues you are meaning?

Regarding the "massive white space under thumbnail images" Do you happen to use adblock+?

Hi Team,
Yes, I do use Adblock+. I have used it for years and the white space is relatively new. I guess the transition from legacy Trade Me to 'modern' Trade Me has caused that. At least now you know about the behaviour and can figure out how to code around that.
As for a screenshot, of the back function problem, that would be pretty pointless because the back function happens in steps. I've navigated to a category from the category index, scroll a bit and then click on a listing and, on going back I find I can only go back one step to the search. To go back to the category index I have to open a new tab and type in the page url. Very frustrating because I have the category view open in a pinned tab which I ten have to unpin and recreate and pin again.
The category view has changed a lot from the very compact, two column, view I used to get to a large font list with the categories ordered in a new order. It's annoying to have those sorts of changes forced on you. Unless the 'old' category page is still available. Then I could pin that and always open anything stemming from that page in a new tab.
As an aside, if I'm on my watchlist and want to open the category view in a new tab, I can't because the only options I get under a right click are save as etc. Taking a screenshot of that is impossible because as soon as you navigate to any screenshot programme the right-click dialogue box disappears.

Hello again dutchman2.

I am a member just like you. I doubt Trade Me will be re-coding something to avoid a problem you are having to block their ads!

But to resolve your problem, if you change to uBlock origin, rather than adblock+ it will fix it for you.  Ublock is regarded by many as superior. It stops the ads at source rather than attempt to block them on your device. I can confirm it fixes the white space issue. 

I'll dig into your other issues and see what I can come up with. Quick note. If you are using "snipping tool" for your screen grabs you can use the "delay" function. This will enable you to capture things like open fields and dialogue boxes that normally disappear. 

Kia Ora dutchman2,

Hey S, thanks but sadly no that's not what's happening.

I use the pinned tab (category index) as the starting point. I click on a link in that tab. The links opens, I ten click on a link on the site page that opened (e.g. category index in context, click on autos brings autos in context, search for a Toyota BZ4X brings the listings for BZ4X into context, decide I don;t like any of those listings and click back, go back to autos search page, click back again - no siree no, I swear to you that you were never on that page ever (that's my Firefox talking to me) and, interestingly, the index page doesn't even show in history even though I that was where I was less than 2 minutes ago.

You don't happen to have a url for the old style category index you could share? That would be much appreciated.

Also, Callum, much appreciated. I'm sure you're right but they may want to fix it anyway if that behaviour is driving people to other platforms like Facebook marketplace. I mean they did drop the hugely inflated success fees altogether when they could have set them at a more reasonable level instead. Clearest sign yet that meaningful (i.e. profitable) engagement is dropping.

Thanks dutchman2,

To confirm, your category index page is being overwritten when you click on a link from within the index page, a second tab isn't opening?

The original category index is no longer accessible due to several site changes redefining the index - the old link I saved and use takes me through to the changed environment, specifically for motors the index supplies all categories, this one gives the current maximum listings in the redefined categories...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors

I've trialled a navigation path based on your given info' - when I right click on the back arrow key in the address bar I do get the full navigation back to the category index - I'm using the Edge Browser. Perhaps the index you're pulling up from the pinned save isn't being recorded as it no longer accessible on the platform? - Try saving the one above as your pinned category index.

To take a screenshot of the drop-down fields / menu I just hit the keyboard print screen key which allows me to capture the section I require and saves it to the clipboard for further action.

- Cheers.

Thanks Callum and S,

I'll give uBlock a go. It should sort out the odd row behaviour. Pity about the category index being made all new and way better (NOT). The reality will be that I end up using Trade Me way less than before. I'm sure there will be another category improvement in the future and, who knows, perhaps this one will be an improvement.

Oh, one last thing ...

And please know that isn't aimed at either Callum or S, you've been stellar humans.

When did the enshitification of the internet become such a thing? Used to be (back when we cared about the UE {user experience} and I know a bit about that because I designed stuff way back when) that we said that any more than three clicks to get where you wanted to go was one click too many. Now it seems we care way more about ad revenue than the UE.

Rant over .... although I do hope that some clever person in Trade Me sees this and cares enough to do something about it .... NO, no, no, not blocking my account!

Agree wholeheartedly dutchman2

One of the biggest issues is the move to Apps and mobile devices. Unfortunately those of us hanging on to Desktop computers are a dying breed. Trade Me has long ago passed the threshold. Now more users are interacting with it on mobiles rather than computers.

Developers have to make websites that are aimed primarily at small screen and App users. Or at least feel the same across both methods. Naturally that involves a big loss of detail and different ways of interacting for traditional desktops and laptops.

A great example is internet banking websites. Now I have to dig out my phone and open their app before I can even get onto the website! So I've pretty much given up on desktop internet banking.