posted on April 2, 2001 01:32:36 PM newSo far I have had over 400 happy cusotmers, all positive feedback.
Very commendable. But who knows how many satisfied customers you would have had if you hadn't used third party PS services? Who knows how much higher your winning bids would have been? Maybe none, but who knows?
posted on April 2, 2001 03:07:14 PM new
The privacy issue is dicey, but hey....do you really think the info you fill out when you pay bills via snail mail doesn't end up in other companies hands? (ie: Magazine subscrition lists, phone company, electric company etc....?) Understandably, some people just freak out if they get one bit of spam, but chances are everyone gets spam from time to time, regardless of filters etc.
As for the customers who can't figure out how to type in information into a blank space on a form....well...lol, hey...welcome to the world we live in....it takes all kinds....
HELLO AW? HOW ABOUT SOME COMMENT HERE? I do get a lot of people who indicate that occasionally an AW link won't work, or they aren't able to access the webpage to get the form....(AW?)....and if so, we just email them a prewritten form and all is fine then...
The bottom line is to make life easier for the customer, and for AW to make selling easier for the sellers (us--especially if you're paying the annual $200!). Anyone have feedback on other WBN problems or things they need on the form?
I have the same problem too. I have come to figure out, it seems to happen 90% of the time with AOL users.
EEDITIONS2000-Thanks! The point you made about privacy was one thing I had said. I am glad SOMEONE sees my point, I was begining to feel all alone!
DUBYASDAMAN-You're right, who knows. But like I said I can't make everyone happy. And if I didn't have an automated system, someone would be yelling at me for not getting their WBN out fast enough. Ya win some, Ya lose some.
posted on April 2, 2001 04:15:37 PM new
Okay, you've convinced me.
From now on, if I win any auctions run by sellers using online services to gather their customer's information, I won't feel bad about signing the seller up for a newsletter or two that I think they should be getting. After all... The privacy issue is dicey, but hey.... chances are everyone gets spam from time to time, regardless of filters etc.
posted on April 2, 2001 04:15:37 PM new
Eeditions2000 -- Different people have different degrees of concern about privacy. But just because it's not of much concern to you doesn't mean that somebody else's concern isn't valid.
I am concerned about security as well as personal privacy. I have not shopped on Amazon since they implemented the one-click checkout and automatically subscribed me to that. I went and unsubscribed and requested them to remove my personal data from any web-based database. I also haven't shopped at Barnes & Noble since they were hacked (I think it was them, or I may have mixed up two companies -- but whoever it was, I haven't shopped there since.) Personally, I fill out all the opt out forms I can, in regards to my banks and bill payments. For me, the issue is not spam as much as it is tracking my behavior and interests. That is none of anyone else's business! I am also concerned about identity theft and illegal use of my credit card. It is not so GREAT a concern that I'd never use my CC to shop online -- just that I am cautious about how and where it's used.
Just because the cow broke the fence and got loose once or twice doesn't mean that one goes and tears down all of the fences... does one? Buying magazines, or being on ebay, ect., doesn't automatically place your personal information in ALL databases. Just because it's in one or a few databases does not persuade me that I should allow it to be freely floating around, willy-nilly, to be grabbed by anyone who wants it. The site's privacy policy does affect my decision on whether to register with them or not.
Jujudee -- I think that if you use the auction management services which are known for having forms for the buyer to fill out, post-sale -- such as AW or Andale, it might be a good idea to have a little disclaimer or privacy policy in your TOS. But otherwise I wouldn't think you'd need a blanket one yet. I do think that if you use Andale you might need something to reassure nervous bidders.
If an auction states that a form must be filled out -- that is an auction I avoid. Myself, I assume that whenever I see an Andale auction -- so I don't bid, or else I contact the seller first and inquire whether the sale can be done without my info being entered on the web site. (I mention that I am concerned about my personal info being on a web site where it could be hacked.)
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
posted on April 2, 2001 07:58:25 PM new
Hear, hear! I agree with engelskdansk comments in their entirety. Just be "buyer friendly."
As a buyer I find listings created by auction management services often very slow in loading, and hit the back button after a few seconds.
As to forms, if I am reading and responding to emails I detest the idea of leaving that to go to another site to do data entry for a seller, so I too pass on any auction that hints of use of this time consuming process.
As a seller, I want the purchase to conclude smoothly and effortlessly on the buyer's part, so I give them easy options, with the only mandatory being to send the money. LOL.
posted on April 4, 2001 01:30:44 AM new
Does AW's WBN service force buyers to fill out the forms??? If so, are there any other programs that send an automated WBN W/O the forms??
I'm asking because I would like the convenience of an automated WBN without the privacy issues.
Thanks
[ edited by discountdigital on Apr 4, 2001 01:33 AM ]
