Dear retailers…
I’ve been recently looking for new suppliers for products (lanyards, badge holders, pens etc etc). No matter what I’m looking for, I start my search on the web.
Now I don’t usually write black and white rules for things, but today I’m going to.
If you are a supplier of a product, and that product can be purchased elsewhere, you must, on your website:
- Include prices
- Not make me register to see prices
- Not make me wait for my registration to be approved to see prices
- If your product is out of stock, tell me when it will be in stock
- Make it easy for me to order online
- Be credible
- Help me feel confident that my order will turn up
Because, duh, if you don’t, I’m going somewhere that does.
July 24th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Just make it a good user experience… I found the same thing recently too, same suppliers.
July 24th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I would also add
Do not make me register to view your catalog or to view all of your catalog
Do not force me to take a call from your salesman in order to complete the sale
Do not show me what you used to carry – show me what you DO carry.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
A few more additions…
Do not make me register to see shipping and taxes
Have high quality photos of the products
Make your return and privacy policies clear and easy to find
August 5th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
So right!!!
The “no prices” thing always bugs me – and seems to be no reason why they’re not listed, surely they can’t change them that often.
Would also add – don’t force me to go back to the main product index page to get to the next similar item, a simple previous/next option would be great.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Honest product descriptions also help. We needed a pull-up banner and went with the company that clearly described the different products. They didn’t use marketing speak, but instead said things like ‘A cheap retractable banner that’s perfect for those on a tight budget’ or ‘..ideal for more frequent use – lasts longer than the Budget stand’.
They created an instant feeling of trust. Good pricing also helped!
September 8th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
An excuse I heard for this behavior was that “if they put their prices up, the competition can lower their prices to just below”.
They obviously don’t get it.