Forum:Merchandise merge

I know that I was fully behind the creation of the merchandise wiki, but based on the results, I think it would be best for the wiki that we move it back here.

Firstly, the moving process never took off. We still have 557 articles that have to be moved. The merchandise wiki only has 314 articles, most of which were originally created.

Secondly, visitor wise it has done better than the other sister wikis, but it only averages about 30 visitors a day. Though this is fairly significant in context, I think we’ll get more views if it moves back.

As for moving it back, we could use a merchandise namespace, but I think it would still work perfectly well to just leave them in the main space. We would also keep the wide range that the merchandise wiki currently covers. It will also solve problems on interlinking and redirecting.

Anyway, discuss away, ask away, e.t.c., e.t.c.

--Cook879 15:57, 1 January 2012 (EST)

I think it would be best to merge the merchandise wiki into the main wiki, but should be used under namespace "Merchandise". Also, I debated the idea of namespaces to do with the type of merchandise, "DVD", "T-shirt" etc., but I received negative reviews on it. It would help with those link things if all articles were moved back to the main wiki (under the namespace, etc.), would it would be a bit difficult to imput those categories. Maybe somehow, the wiki IS in the main wiki, and has its own logo, with the toolbar and things, and with its own category index, and different user ranks (with me as admin/crat...) But maybe not. Still we could keep the categories and it will have its own big parent category: "Merchandise" (merged from "Category:Merchandise categories"). The sub-domain still intact, we could put a message saying "Thank you for visiting Wik-E-Mart. You will be redirected to the main site immediately, or if you want to stay click here." [etc. etc.] "This wiki has been implanted back into the main wiki, and is here for historial[?] purposes," and would maybe keep the user pages intact for historial reference (?). So, I'm saying that we should have a vote to whether the merchandise wiki should stay intact on a subdomain or not. If there is a poll, add me to "MOVE TO MAIN WIKI" (I know I'm the head of the merch. wiki though, ...). Phinbart - just one of the huge Bart fans! 17:03, 1 January 2012 (EST)

The problem I have with namespaces, even the "Merchandise" one, is that it becomes restricted when it comes to searching (default search only covers mainspace) and to conquer this we'd need redirects for everything. Though the name space would give the logo, as far as I'm aware the sub wiki thing isn't possible, but who knows - that's not my area. Obviously we'd have a merchandise category, we have one anyway on here. The subdomain should probably redirect somewhere, maybe a merchandise project, where the main page can be implemented. User pages can be merged/talk pages archived (say "User talk:Phinbart/Merchandise").--Cook879 20:57, 1 January 2012 (EST)

To be honest, I'm afraid that the merchandise wiki is a bit of a mess. If we're going to merge, some of the minor things (such as birthday cards, Cook879! :P) should be deleted as they are too minor for this wiki. The wiki never really took off and never got the care and attention it should have got. It would be for the best to merge it back here. ☆The Solar Dragon☆ 05:25, 2 January 2012 (EST)

I have never liked the wiki, and think the Wikisimpsons should be as it was before the merchandise wiki. The visitors can not find the merchandise wiki, the search and linking on that wiki and to the wiki is poor. I think it's also a bad idea if we move it to a diffrent namespace, it's should be the same. /AleWi 07:44, 2 January 2012 (EST)

I'm going to admit I had my doubts about the merchandise wiki since it was thought up, but I backed the creation of the wiki cautiously. I suspected the wiki wouldn't get that many views, as the other language wikis have shown. I believe we merge it back to Wikisimpsons, redirecting the domain to the Merchandise category on this wiki, deleting it eventually. On the mainspace idea, I think moving all the articles to a namespace would be too hard, as seen with the Merchandise Wiki. I don't what what we would do with the edits to the articles on the Merch. Wiki. Maybe merge them into the article here? The really minor things (Birthday cards etc.) should be deleted. Doh5678 ^talk 12:54, 2 January 2012 (EST)

Since birthday cards ARE merchandise, we should move them to a page with a table/gallery, eg. "Birthday cards", or "Celebration cards", due to the fact that there might be more than just birthday cards. Phinbart - just one of the huge Bart fans! 13:02, 2 January 2012 (EST)

How many did I make? I still have files I saved from Clinton's Cards website with some more :P--Cook879 13:03, 2 January 2012 (EST)

Erm, merchandise:10 years old today!|one...Phinbart - just one of the huge Bart fans! 13:05, 2 January 2012 (EST)

Personally, I think it's probably a better user experience to remain on one site and not be constantly redirected between two wikis. On the subject of redirecting the merchandise subdomain, I don't really think it's necessary. According to Piwik, this wiki is the only site that actually links to the merchandise wiki anyway. It would be a waste of resources to set up redirects that aren't going to be used. But I'm open to whatever you guys decide of course. --Jake 13:22, 2 January 2012 (EST)

I think it's good to keep the merchandise wiki to improve it more. When i first heard about the merchandise wiki i thought it was going to be better than the other website about simpsons merchandise but it is just like this wiki with only merchandise. I thought it also would be price guides and stuff like that. So if no one improves the wiki with other information i think you should move it here, but under a merchandise namespace. FatHomer^Talk 14:47, 2 January 2012 (EST)

I'm not sure why I haven't commented to know, but here goes: I think it's kinda sad that it didn't kick off - it could have been amazing! So yes, I support the merge back to Wikisimpsons, but I don't see the point of a namespace, why not just in the mainspace? --MakeShift (talk) 18:19, 8 January 2012 (EST)

I was initially against moving it back so soon, but there's little point in keeping it if even Phinbart wants it to be moved back. --Nick97 ^{(talk ~ contribs)} 00:30, 9 January 2012 (EST)

Vote

Support the merge

1. ☆The Solar Dragon ^{(Talk - Contribs.)}☆ 13:38, 7 January 2012 (EST)
2. Phinbart - just one of the huge Bart fans! 13:42, 7 January 2012 (EST)
3. AleWi 13:52, 7 January 2012 (EST)
4. Doh5678 ^talk 14:15, 7 January 2012 (EST)
5. FatHomer^Talk 14:32, 7 January 2012 (EST)
6. Cook879 14:51, 7 January 2012 (EST)
7. Jake 16:01, 7 January 2012 (EST)
8. DaRanger ^(Talk) 16:50, 8 January 2012 (EST)
9. --MakeShift (talk) 18:19, 8 January 2012 (EST)
10. --Nick97 ^{(talk ~ contribs)} 00:30, 9 January 2012 (EST)

Conclusion

With a ratio of 10 to 0, we will merge the wikis back together. We will need help in merging articles back here and leaving the minor articles behind there or merging them into a bigger article. ^{(Talk - Contribs.)} 15:15, 14 January 2012 (EST)