Wheedle GM talks time frame for getting back online
Independent contractor hired for fixes.
Trade Me rival Wheedle, which closed for retooling on October 2, is set to remain offline for another couple of months - or possibly longer.
Asked this morning when the site would reopen, general manager Carl Rees told NBR, "At this point in time I have no idea. Hopefully before Christmas but it could be the New Year."
The site was closed after a number of bugs were publicised via social media, including the ability to easily change the price on another member's listing.
Rees promised an independent audit, and improvements, before the auction site reopened.
Today, he said he could not talk about the project in detail, but did offer, "The fixes are minimal compared to the size of our entire source code and development. We identified the areas where we had problems and we have engaged an independent company to do the fixes ... for peace of mind."
Wheedle drew flak in some circles for hiring staff in India for its initial build, although Rees said the key problem was insufficient pre-launch testing.
Rees refused to identify the independent company implementing the bug fixes, or where it was located.
"All I can say is that it’s not the company that WINZ used of late," he joked.
He did not immediately respond to a follow-up query about the identity of the independent company applying the fixes, or its location.
Trade Me unveiled a makeover yesterday, to no reported problems.
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Wheedle GM talks time frame for getting back online
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