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When your sort algorithm does more harm than good.  

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I've noticed an annoying trend lately from some of the designer fashion brands and major retailers. 

No Sorting by price is allowed!


A Sorting Algorithm is used to rearrange a given array or list of elements according to a comparison operator on the elements. The comparison operator is used to decide the new order of elements in the respective data structure.

Sorting allows users to rearrange products so that those of most interest are at the top of product list. Allowing users to sort by “Price”, “User Rating”, “Best-Selling”, and “Newest”.

If I want to sort by price, why would a company purposely prevent me, the consumer, from browsing the goods in the order that I choose? And using a range sort is a lazy rationalization. 

As a consumer, I will immediately exit a website if I cannot sort by price. 


 

Tom Brokaw used to have an occasional feature on NBC Nightly News called “The Fleecing of America". I consider the 'No-Price-Sort Rule' a prime example of this notion. It's right up there with no cashiers available to check you out at the grocery store, smaller packaging on food items, no lining in dress slacks and all of the other ways everyday Americans are overcharged for less. 

Necessary Ranting and raving: I was recently shopping at a very popular retail store (starts with a Z and ends with ARA) and was politely asked by the young cashier if I wanted a bag. I was stunned and confused.... Of course I required a bag to carry the numerous items I had just purchased. How else was I supposed to carry all of my items out of the store? I was then informed that there was an additional charge for a bag. So my choices were to continue shopping at the mall while carrying the numerous items I had just purchased, along with the receipt and hangers, or pay a fee for a large bag. I find this to be a counterintuitive approach as I'm sure there are better ways to attain a sustainability badge for your website.

Example of Sorting Algorithms:










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