A Tale of Online Shopping: Three Crucial Takeaways

Jan 2
14:26

2024

Joe Chapuis

Joe Chapuis

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This article narrates a personal experience of online book shopping, highlighting three key lessons for online retailers. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication, fair pricing, and transparent shipping costs in the e-commerce industry.

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A Misleading First Impression

As an avid online book buyer,A Tale of Online Shopping: Three Crucial Takeaways Articles I developed my own website, Booku.com, to compare prices across major online bookstores. Recently, a representative from another online book retailer approached me, asking to include their store on my website. I had visited their site before but left quickly without exploring beyond the homepage.

Upon revisiting, I noticed a button on the top left saying "Save on Christian Books, Music, and Bibles", and the word "FaithPoint" mentioned several times. My initial assumption was that this was a bookstore specializing in Christian books and religious products.

A Hidden Treasure

However, a deeper look into the site revealed a vast inventory of all kinds of books, not just religious titles. They had new books, used books, and hard-to-find books. Surprisingly, every title I searched was at least 10% cheaper than on Amazon.com, with an extra discount offered with a $5 membership. They even had titles I couldn't find on Amazon and offered the unique service of ordering individual magazine issues, not just subscriptions.

The Deal Breaker: Shipping Costs

Excited by the discovery, I filled my cart with five magazines and a small book. However, I was taken aback by the total price, which was significantly higher than expected due to the shipping charge for UPS ground service. The shipping cost was almost ten dollars, which seemed excessive for a few magazines and a book that could probably fit in a USPS flat rate envelope for a fraction of the cost.

This led me to abandon my cart, echoing the sentiments of many online shoppers. According to a Jupiter Media Metrix Press Release, shipping and handling charges deter 63% of consumers from buying online, and 73% of consumers evaluate the total price of products, including shipping and handling, before making an online purchase.

Lessons Learned

This experience offers three important lessons for online retailers:

  • Clear Communication: What you're selling and what the customer thinks you're selling can often be two different things.
  • Fair Pricing: Customers are savvy. If you're using shipping and handling charges as a profit center, you're not fooling anyone.
  • Transparent Shipping Costs: High shipping costs can deter customers and increase distrust.

The store in question, Booksamillion.com, is a well-designed site with great prices and a vast selection. I plan to give them another try in the future, but I'll be sure to order heavier books to get my money's worth.

In conclusion, online retailers must pay close attention to their pricing and shipping policies to ensure customer satisfaction and success in the competitive e-commerce industry.