Introduction
The moment I searched for the Tesla Cybertruck 2024, my dream car, on Cars.ng, I hit a roadblock. Not only was it missing from the listings, but when I tried to list it myself as a seller, the "Publish" button was unresponsive, offering no feedback or error message. Additionally, I came across empty brand listings including McLaren and Bertone that were displayed under available categories but contained no actual cars, resulting in a misleading experience.
Welcome to my exploratory testing journey on Cars.ng. During my assessment, I evaluated the platform’s core user flows - searching, selling, and account management -and identified critical usability gaps that hinder the user experience.
In this post, I’ll cover:
- How broken mobile layouts and hidden logout buttons impact usability.
- Why technical errors, such as "500 undefined property," undermine user trust.
- Actionable recommendations to enhance Cars.ng for buyers and sellers.
Methodology
To evaluate Cars.ng, I conducted exploratory testing on both desktop and mobile devices. Here’s how I approached it:
Devices:
- PC: Dell, Windows 11.
- Mobile: Infinix Smart 7 HD.
Browsers:
- Google Chrome: Version 132.0.6834.160.
Flows Tested:
- Signing up and logging in: Tested registration via email, Google, and Facebook.
- Searching for cars: Explored brand and category filters, such as Tesla Cybertruck and McLaren.
- Listing a car for sale: Completed the multi-step posting process.
- Managing account settings: Changed passwords and updated personal details.
Testing Approach:
- Exploratory Testing: Simulated real-world user scenarios, such as first-time buyer and seller.
- Ad-Hoc Testing: Focused on high-risk areas such as registration, mobile responsiveness, and error handling.
Findings
During testing, I encountered several issues that hinder the user experience. Here are the key findings:
1. Broken Mobile Experience
The mobile version of Cars.ng is riddled with layout issues:
- Overlapping Elements: Carousels and banners overlap, making text unreadable.
- Missing Components: For example, the sidebar in the seller dashboard is absent.
2. Unresponsive "Publish" Button
When listing a car for sale, the "Publish" button fails to work, even after completing all required forms, leaving sellers confused with no error messages or feedback.
3. Empty Brand Listings
Brands like McLaren and Bertone are listed but have no cars available. Clicking them leads to pages with only a brief description of the brand and 0 cars, frustrating users who expect results.
4. Technical Errors
- Google/Facebook Login: Errors like "500 undefined property" block registration.
- Pagination: Clicking page numbers triggers "404 Page Not Found" errors.
5. Missing Logout Option
There’s no visible way to log out from the website. Users must clear cookies or close their browser to end a session.
Recommendations
Based on my findings, here are five actionable improvements to enhance Cars.ng:
-
Fix Backend Errors:
- Resolve errors such as "500 undefined property" and "404 Page Not Found."
- Replace technical messages with user-friendly alerts such as "Login failed—please try again."
-
Redesign Mobile Layouts:
- Fix overlapping elements and missing components.
- Ensure buttons and interactive elements are accessible and properly aligned.
-
Streamline Car Posting:
- Replace the seven mini-forms with a single, intuitive form.
- Add clear feedback to indicate whether an action was successful or failed.
-
Improve Empty State Handling:
- Hide brands with no cars and add a "Coming Soon" section to prevent dead-end searches and better manage user expectations.
-
Add Logout Functionality:
- Include a "Logout" button in the profile menu so users can easily end their sessions.
For a detailed breakdown of the identified issues, test findings, and improvement recommendations, check out my bug report.
Conclusion
Cars.ng has the potential to be a seamless platform for buying and selling cars, but critical usability issues such as broken mobile layouts, an unresponsive "Publish" button, and technical errors hinder the experience. By addressing these gaps and implementing the recommended fixes, Cars.ng can pave the way for a smoother, more enjoyable journey for its users.
Have you encountered similar issues on Cars.ng? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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