Internet shopping

[Big Shed]

Would like some opinions on how certain businesses run their internet shop.

This was prompted by a thread on another forum talking about privacy etc.

One contributor made the point that if he had to create an account and give all his details before he can even browse the site, or see prices, he doesn't bother and takes his money and shops elsewhere.

That accurately reflects my attitude to this. I have no problem creating an account and give my details when it comes to buying goods from the site, but to go through all that just to browse a site is not on. Bit like going to Target and being asked to create an account and give all your bank details before you can enter the store.

I can think of several internet stores that won't display prices for their goods until you create an account, I fail to see the logic behind this, intrusive, practice. Needless to say I have never bought from those stores.

What do others think?

[rotten_66]

Don't like them either and tend to shy away unless it something that I haven't been able to find anywhere else.

The other ones that irritate me are those that wait until you have your stuff in the "shopping cart/trolley" and you want to find out the delivery or freight charges, then up comes the "Must create an account" box. I like the ones where you can just type in your postcode, up comes a variety of delivery options and the relevant costs,

Also I think I read somewhere that from July 1, to sell on eBay you must have either PayPal, PayMate, or accept credit card. They have lost me, as I only deal in "Cash on Pick-Up", no delivery/postage, no PayPal.

Ron

[snowyskiesau]

If a web store requires registration before you can get any details then I look elsewhere. I also don;t like websites that don't display clear pricing and preferably shipping costs.

As long as a vendor has weight and perhaps dimensions, then there's no reason not to be able to give a fairly accurate shipping cost online. Most of the large couriers have software available to do this.
For a good example of the right way to do it, take a look at Little Machine Shop. You can drop items into your shopping cart and then go to the cart and check out how much it will costs using several different shipping methods, all with out providing personal details - other than destination of course.

[Big Shed]

If a web store requires registration before you can get any details then I look elsewhere. I also don;t like websites that don't display clear pricing and preferably shipping costs.

Yes, forgot to mention my other pet hate, POA. Why go to the bother of having a website, display your wares and then expect the customer to contact you for a price?

The few times I have done that, they either don't respond at all, or it takes days for someone to get back to you.

There are a lot of companies out there not getting the full benefit from their we shop

[Pat]

It seems to me that there a few business' that consider their web based "shops" to be an annoyance not an asset. The company that I work for has a contract with two separate organisations to supply stationery and tooling. The stationery mob have stock levels on the site and are contactable for any reason, whereas the Tooling mob have hundreds of products, but you don't know if they actually have on stock or available until you pay and receive the item. Lately I have been receiving phone calls weeks after making the order, from the Tooling mob, the item you have ordered is nil stock and the amount you want is under the minimum order level so we are canceling the item from your order.
This is from a multi million $ mob that supplies industry.

Personally I prefer to see stock levels or immediate contact if an item is nil stock and if they want my personal details just to look at their site, I'll move on to a site that I can look at with the full details.

On a side note, has anyone noted the prevalence now days of larger shops requiring your full details when you purchase items, even when you pay cash. One mob wanted my full details for "warranty" when I was paying cash, so I said "no, I'll deal directly with the manufacturer or I'll take my cash to another shop, your call". The supervisor was called and I just said " Me and my cash are walking" and funnily enough I was able to purchase the item.

[Master Splinter]

I have no problem in creating an 'account' to use/browse a site that interests me if I am sufficiently motivated.

But I sometimes wonder how many other 87-year-old blind one-legged great-grandmothers with Ph.D's in both Phrenology and Nuclear Physics living in the US (zip code 90210) feel the same!

[rrich]

To browse or window shop as SWMBO calls it, I will never set up any kind of an account. If I have to put something in a shopping basket to determine the actual selling price, I will do that with some irritation. Then needing to go through an almost complete purchase to determine shipping costs, they have lost me.

There seems to be three types of web sites.
The first is the "I know that you're trying to steal something". For these sites you need to show your I/D and leave your first born as security at the door when you enter.

The second is the "With enough clicks you can find anything". Unfortunately before you find what you really wanted you've forgotten what you wanted. These sites are so good at hiding their products that after your clicking finger has gone numb it is the other finger that you give to these sites.

The third is the "Five click wonder". Usually with a bit of typing and five or so clicks you have found what you're looking for, prices are obvious and shipping is easy to calculate.

Even though some of the "Shopping Engine Sites" will have the five click wonder sites listed down lower due to higher prices, I'll shop at these sites. The few dollars difference in prices isn't worth the aggravation of the cheaper sites.

There is something going on here in the US with new web sites. There are companies that are selling "E-Store real estate". Basically they host a web site for you, they offer training on how to build your site AND get high rankings in search engines. They also provide the store part of the site. The cost is a reasonable $25 a month. However what they are encouraging is for the seller to be a drop ship web site. They want the seller to set up deals with companies that will sell to you and then ship to any address that you want. The way that it works is that you build a catalog with information drawn from your suppliers. Then you sell from your supplier's inventory. What if your supplier is out of stock? Your guess is as good as mine.

I attended a seminar where they were trying to sell me on the concept. I explained that I wanted to sell commissioned furniture that I build using an E-Store. It was amazing, I never had a conversation end so abruptly. (I did get lunch out of the seminar.)

[Sebastiaan56]

I have no problem in creating an 'account' to use/browse a site that interests me if I am sufficiently motivated.

But I sometimes wonder how many other 87-year-old blind one-legged great-grandmothers with Ph.D's in both Phrenology and Nuclear Physics living in the US (zip code 90210) feel the same!

Good one!

[hughie]

Well, not all internet businesses make money and not internet business owners know how to run a internet business.

Theres more to it than just sticking up a web site, even if theres about 3000000 who use it daily and about 180000000 who have access.

The average conversion rate is around 1-3% so its a numbers game and you've gotta know what your doing.

[RedShirtGuy]

I don't particularly have anything different to add...just casting my votes for:

- "No account creation" Some of the sites I've used in the past ask for password details during the checkout process when you're filling out your shipping/payment details to create an account for you then. That's not so bad as often they have functionality that allows you to check your order status as part of their site. But to require an account just to look at the products is insane and, as a privacy buff, smells a little fishy.

- "Call for price" No. Never. If you can't show me your prices how am I to know that you don't need a new pair of shoes when I call and subsequently bump up the price. Be consistent and unashamed of your prices.

In a previous life I was a web developer specialising in eCommerce and Content Manage Systems, and never have I created a site that has required an account to view it (aside from corporate in/extranets etc) or not had the prices (common and sale) displayed right next to the product. Anything else is ludicrous.

Anyway, that's my $POA