Other Than Price.....

[pats4801]

Other than price what are some ways to get an edge over big online stores? In other words what makes them so great and what do they lack other than price? What qualities are key to an amazing store?

[elysabeth]

Better interaction with their customers....Give them a one to one feeling....

[Archer]

I was speaking to my sister the other day about Christmas gifts, and we both agree that there's a dire need for an online shops to put an end to inadequate packaging. As a fairly obsessive compulsive guy, I wouldn't hesitate to pay a premium to an online store that could (reasonably) guarantee that the dust jackets on the books I ordered aren't going to be crumbled or torn, or that my dvd won't become dislodged in transit. The latter is especially true of boxsets or complicated packaging. If Amazon's got a killer deal on the complete Wire set, but there's a good chance I'm going to have to send it back because one disc won't play, then I'll pass on the bargain and take my business elsewhere.

[heidrek]

Service, Selection and speed. three S's that can make or break any business.

if you can't compete on price, then try and offer better performance in one or more of the above. big online stores are often inflexible or provide bad customer service, make your customers glad they're dealing with a person and not a computer.

[Deusdies]

Better interaction with their customers....Give them a one to one feeling....

I second this. Always treat your customers as friends. Make sure you are really polite, and not necessarily formal.

[Alexishost]

You need 3 things.
1. 2. 3
Make your site well designed..


Write web copy that relate to your target audience.

give them value added services

[Ryan Heatherson]

Yes you are right you have to make your web-site dynamic first then choose good products and easily navigate your product list and choose the good shipper as well which ship the order on time and all the pre-requisite of a good e-commerce online auction and shopping cart site....

[zmonique2007]

Good customer service is one reason your clients will continuously patronize your online store. Never leave them hanging, constantly communicate with them and deliver your products on time.

[Advertising Swami]

All internet marketing is a form of direct marketing.

With commodity items which are frequently sold with
poor sales copy by other vendors you may be able to
get an edge if your copy skills are good.

That's a minor factor compared to having one of
these three advantages on your side:

1. Lower price/ more value for the money
2. Demonstrably superior or faster service
3. Exclusivity of product/service

Without developing the perception among consumers
that your business delivers at least one of these
advantages, you basically don't have a business
that will work in a "mail order" marketplace.

Even without these three you could build a local
business based on local convenience... but such a
business is no good bet to create wealth because
people always have the option of going to a little
trouble and buying elsewhere. Today even the
convenient local bookstore where you can browse and
read for hours is undercut by big online e-tailers
like Amazon which offer cheaper prices and
convenience, even if they lack warmth.