Thousands of angry Yahoo users slam latest inbox design as Gmail knock off
Yahoo users are criticizing the company's second design in only a year as a copycat to its Google competitor while further complaining of bugs and lag time. Yahoo says they're listening to their complaints but that there is no way to revert to the previous version.
BY NINA GOLGOWSKI / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2013, 2:47 PM
For Yahoo's 'sweet 16' aniversary they unveiled a surprise update to its email users' inbox which many uphappy with the changes wish they'd take back.
It's not exactly "Yahoo!" they're screaming but whom they're screaming at.
Thousands of upset Yahoo users are demanding the company take back their recently gifted inbox update slammed as a copycat of its Google competitor, Gmail.
The "brand new view" platform featuring picture themes meant to make it more "elegant and intuitive" appears to come at the loss of tabs, the ability to view folders at the same time as the main inbox and complaints of bugs and lag time.
The update makes Yahoo's second updated design in only a year since the acquiring of former Google CEO Marissa Mayer who now serves as Yahoo's chief executive.
It was unveiled Oct. 8 as a surprise gift to its users on behalf of the company's "sweet 16" anniversary but has proven to be one many insist they take back.
"HATE the new changes.....Restore the old format plse. It worked perfectly and this one does not!" one woman wrote on the company's Facebook page.
"AWFUL If i want that ill use Gmail, AWWWWWFUUUUL," wrote a man.
"Your new mail sux! Never seen such a screw up. How DO you come up with all this crap?" wrote another user.
The Yahoo design is being compared to their Google competitor's email which may not be too surprising since Yahoo's chief executive, Marissa Mayer, pictured, is a former Google CEO. JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
At least one user expressed his support for "bringing back the Yahoo from 16 years ago" to the liking of several others.
Regardless of those upset over the changes, Yahoo says it has no plans to revert back to their old ways - even with the threats by many to leave for Gmail or another service provider.
"Please note that while there is no way to revert to the previous version of Yahoo Mail, you can learn more about the new features," Yahoo implored on its site.
A Yahoo site titled, "Tell us what you think about Yahoo Mail" showed an overwhelming support for restoring at least some of the old features since scrapped from inboxes.
Of the top 10 complaint categories, all expressed some kind of upset with the new changes while generating tens of thousands of votes behind them.
Thousands of such users voted to add the "sort by sender" option to their inbox, to be allowed to view folders without having to click out of the inbox, and thousands more supported a complaint titled: "Want my old email back. Can't even get my contacts to go into an email I want to compose. How do I do that. It was so easy before."
Others complained of bugs, freezing, lost emails, and a dangerously placed "delete" button next to the intended recipient's name.
A product support administrator replying to the more than 34,000 votes in just one complaint page offered no promises but said they're listening.
"The recent design changes in Yahoo Mail are important steps to building a more modern and personalized version," the representative wrote. "We recognize that this is a lot of change and are actively listening to user feedback so we can continuously make improvements."
