Search history on Andriod

[DonV]

After the last update on the android app, the history disappeared and what I have searched on after the update is not being saved in the history. So no history at all, is this a bug or is the new version like this? Really want my search history

[Andrews32]

All right, so I just checked these forums from a German proxy to be sure, but the forums here appear to be international. That means all 55 Spotify markets come here for help. Chromecast support is by far the most requested idea that hasn't been implemented or put under consideration.

Does it matter if it was only available in one market that it still got more kudos than all the other ideas? Tell me how this isn't fair. Every member from every market has the chance to submit ideas and gather kudos. If, for some reason, France decides it really wants a certain feature and every French subscriber kudos it, rocketing it to the top with 10,000 kudos (or whatever), why should that be ignored? Why would this type of community feature exist if it were to be ignored?

So stop supporting a pathetic company like this. I just clicked on the link in your sig about going to the headquarters and all that. Great, congrats, sounds fun. But why doesn't the company actually hire people who WORK FOR THE COMPANY TO DO SUPPORT? Like, I don't know, every other company in the world. This is not a mom and pop company. They want to be valued by at least $4 billion.

I'm sure you're a good dude, but you're part of the problem. What if all the "rock stars" decided to quit tomorrow? Think about that...Spotify would be utterly screwed, they'd actually have to hire people to do the work you're all doing for free (and that would just be to match their sub-sub-par service, god knows what it would take to exceed it). 

You want to really help customers of Spotify? Stop doing their work for them. Make them act like a real company. Stop trying to apologize for their idiocy. Maybe then they'll learn what it takes to make a customer-centric service.

[Peter__]

55 markets can come here, but how many of them are non-english?

I'm not saying it should be ignored by any means, what I am saying is that there are other things to be considered apart from the number of kudos an ideas topic gets.

Also Spotify do have paid support, I just like to help out because a) it gives me something to do and b) I enjoy helping others out.

Your entitled to your opinion just as I am, so let's just leave it at that.

[Andrews32]

So....off the first page again. And look at that, no updates from Meredith or anyone else! I'm shocked! 

Peter, we can leave it at that (which I assume means you simply won't respond because, I'm sure, it's hard to argue on the side of stupid), but I have to stress that nothing I've said has been an opinion, at least where this situation is concerned. 

I'm basing this entirely on empirical data.

FACT: Spotify has a forum that is open to all markets. People from all over the world post here. 

FACT: Spotify has an ideas forum. They use this to gauge user interest in new features. It is, presumably, the best method they have for acquiring and quantifying consumer requests from highly engaged users (this is free market research that is highly valuable for companies!...that use it correctly)

FACT: The Chromecast issue is, and has been, one of the top requests SINCE JULY. Spotify in fact even said the feature request was "uncommonly popular," but that there were prevailing priorities.

FACT: Since making that statement, there have been no public ideas as requested as Chromecast, yet they have been implemented. 

FACT: The other major Android music streaming companies (and even smaller ones!) have been able to add support for it: https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/apps.html

FACT: Spotify is horrible at development (see the previous 12 pages of this thread), ignores user requests, is far more interested in growing its free subscriber numbers than servicing paid customers, and has horrible customer service. 

Now that last one may be opinion, but if you understand how mathematical proofs work, QED. 

[ScottMc87]

Seriously, I remember when they took this out early last year. I remember them blaming it on an "Android" problem. I've used the competitors and I am seriously considering moving to them after 5 years of being a Spotify member. I develop for Android, do you want me to come and put it back in for you? I'll do it for free at this point. NO excuse for you guys to keep putting this off. It's embarassing honestly. Must be some horrible software engineers working on this team. Hit the books again guys.

[meahtenoha]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to reiterate that we have passed on the feedback and sentiment surrounding this "Search history on Android" thread. 

Myself or another moderator will update you here if/when we get any news or updates. 

Thanks for your feedback everyone--we'll be right here again when we have further info for you. 

[Andrews32]

Meredith, I appreciate the response, but it's nearly word for word what you've said months and months and months ago. And Spotify still hasn't confirmed if this was intentional! And I know, as your job, you are beholden to PR speak. I get it.

So I have just one question for you: If our roles were reversed, would you think Spotify has done enough to satisfy you as a paying customer? 

Please, surprise and impress me and answer let us know.

[meahtenoha]

Hey folks, 

I can confirm we're working on fixing this for you. As soon as I've got more info I can report back here. 

Rest assured your feedback went to the right people and hopefully we'll have more updates for you here soon. Thanks!

[bonkeman]

Well, I must say this is beyond the point of embarassing. "We are working on fixing this for you"... How hard can it be?

[Andrews32]

Yeah, I don't know if I've linked to this already, but check out one of the HOT IDEAS on Spotify's own forum:http://community.spotify.com/t5/Spotify-Ideas/Dear-Spotify-for-the-love-of-all-that-is-holy-actually...

I've included in my post there the PR response it will get if Spotify decides to respond. Let's see how accurate I am. Everyone, give your kudos to the idea!

And yes, bonkeman, that's one of the great questions. They still never said whether they did this on purpose. If they did, we could at least assume it was because a new search was coming (even though it's hard for a rational human to get into the mindspace of one who would remove a working feature before adding the upgrade). If it was a mistake, then it should be something very easy for them to fix. The fact that it's been eight months since this happened and hasn't been clarified, let alone rectified, is shameful.

Meredith, since you dodged my question, I've decided to add it as my signature, so it will appear at the bottom of all my posts as a reminder. Please do answer it, I would love to hear your honest opinion. I encourage others to copy the signature and use it themselves!

[bonkeman]

*bump*

Back to first page. Ain't that right Meredith?

[ScottMc87]

She can't answer a direct question? What the hell am I paying for? This is absurd. Fire these people!

[melodynelson]

Search history is a must.

[melodynelson]

I mean, not to be a whiny moaning baby like a lot of these people, but adding search history really can't be that darn hard. Do it. Do it now.

[ScottMc87]

After paying for 5 years and having something taken for no apparent reason? Not one moderator can address a question but instead regurgitate the same PR crap in every response? Having this thread on page one for almost a year with no one fixing it? I'm pretty sure our whining is warranted. Unless you don't pay your hard earned money on the service. Then I can see where your sideline projections are coming from. 

[melodynelson]

I am a premium user and have paid ahead, locked in until August. Howeva, I also realize that some people have real issues in this world and that not having search history on Spotify isn't a reason to have a fit. But I am on your side and think it's a necessary feature and will weigh in on any decision to continue paying for service down the road.

[Andrews32]

Thank you all for your continued support, and I implore you to steal my signature and set it as your own, so every post you make, even in other threads, leads people here. 

But I want to make clear that this ISN'T Meredith's fault. She's a cog in the machine. The reason I'm calling her out is because she's a symptom of the disease that is horrible customer service. She's hamstrung by Spotify's policies (such as they are) and its inability to communicate and develop professionally. 

I have no hope for search. I'm guessing, within the next couple months, we'll get the iOS search functionality, which actually may be decent! 

But this isn't about search anymore, this is about Spotify. Undoubtedly, there will be another feature in the future that is taken away. It will follow the same course, of Spotify refusing to acknowledge it, promising updates "as soon as possible" and the persistent mystery of whether it was unintentional or not. That's what I'm trying to change. 

I want Meredith, and the whole customer service team, to be embarrassed to be associated with a company that cares so little for customers that they refuse to be straight with them. And I'm sure part of it has to do with the 50+ markets and the inability to properly interact with development managers that can get anything done. That's the point. If Spotify wants to be a market leader, it should act like one. 

I want to keep this thread alive as a reminder to Spotify, and potential customers, that their current set up is an absolute joke. I know Meredith can't (and won't) answer the question in my signature because I already know the answer. There's no way any reasonable human could be satisified with this service. Maybe, if we keep the pressure on, someone with actual power and consideration for users can use it to argue for better resources for service staff and better communication between departments. 

So please continue to hold their feet to the fire. Let them know what a joke they've become to so many users. If you have better options, cut and run! And tell all your friends about this. If Spotify is going to continue to treat us like this , then let this be their legacy.

[melodynelson]

Is there a better option out there, Andrews32? Beats looks dumb and it sounds like Google's catalog isn't very big.

[Andrews32]

Google is decent. Try the free trial (I think they have one?). My only problem with it was that it would skip randomly, despite the fact I have a decent phone. It's possible it's been fixed, but I already did the trial and canceled my early bird rate with it, so I only want to switch if I'm sure. Library management is WAY better than spotify, since you can easily access all your other songs. It seems there are better options outside the U.S., not sure where you're from, but earlier in this thread there were other recommendations. 

[ScottMc87]

Exactly. There are bigger problems in the world I understand that. This isn't really about the search history anymore as much is it is about principal. We are paying customers. They took a feature out over a year ago and refuse to acknowledge us for this long? It's disgusting.

[petemoss]

I appreciate the vigorous rally around the loss of this functionality, I've been following this thread since October which is very entertaining and I share general confusion as to why this "glitch" fix hasn't been fixed since then

Bottom line for me is - I use my premium account almost exclusively on my phone.  I used the search history to basically jot down notes of music I wanted to come back and listen to later, without having to create a play list for everything.  I used the app alot more efficiently and frequently when this (SUPER SIMPLE, WHY THE @#$% HASN'T IT BEEN FIXED) functionality was lost.  I didn't have to try and remember that song, or that album that I wanted to listen too later or that I listened too last week when I burn out my playlists and want a new stream of conciousness place to jump off when looking for new music.  

I haven't dropped the subscription (yet) its still a great service that would be MUCH more useful with this (SUPER SIMPLE, WHY THE @#$% HASN'T IT BEEN FIXED) functionality for Android users.  

What I have done is started turning more to iHeart Radio or Pandora, etc when I want to get outside my play lists.  Which = less usage of Spotify.  Which isn't good right, Spotify?

Seriously this is mind boggling why it hasn't been fixed.