For the sake of exploring, I signed up to snapdeal.com. Since the intention was to explore the website and not to buy, I went straight on to the sign up link and here’s how it worked after that

Step 1:  Click ‘My Account’ Link

Since this is the only link on the menu (no login/signup etc), I clicked it and was presented with the following

 

 

Did you see the top most tabs of login and signup? Neither did I. Since I am not quite comfortable signing up with Social Logins I chose to create an account.  This page is as far from a neat/uncluttered page as possible and who the hell signs up using “Yahoo” anyways?

Step 2: Click the ‘Create your Account Now’ link

 

After filling up the form, I was sent a confirmation email. Here’s how it looks

 

Oh wait, did the email say ?

Now that you are here, we will make sure you eat, drink, relax and have fun in your life.

Every day, you will receive an exciting offer in your Inbox. Get ready for up to 90% off on Dining, Fitness & Spa, Entertainment, Travel, Activities and More; all in your neighborhood.”

Looks like in all the jazz someone forgot to tell the new users that the core business model has changed from local deals to an e-commerce marketplace

Step 3:  Click the verification Link

On clicking, the verification link. It asks me to type my credentials again to login.

Step 4: Login

Not sure why on earth is Snapdeal making me do all this work just to sign up ?

Let’s compare this with let’s say Flipkart’s signup workflow

Step 1: Click ‘Signup’ link

Unlike Snapdeal which assumes every user has an account on their website and wants to immediately jump to it, Flipkart’s menu has the following links ‘Login | Signup’. As explicit as it can get

Clicking Signup link opens the following

 

 

Much neater and usable none the less

Step 2: Enter details and click Sign up Now!

After filling the details and clicking Sign up Now!, I don’t need to a) click verification email b) login on the website

Voila !! All of this is taken care of by itself

I hope now even a rookie can now appreciate how bad Snapdeal’s workflow is