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-- Log on HNA120298 started at Wed Dec 02 11:57:38 PST 1998
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| Sherri: | First, let me say that I *do* believe that using the secure lines on the web is secure, but even more important than that, though, is being aware that not everyone feels that way. |
| Sherri: | First, and foremost, any retailer needs to be aware of various comfort levels on the web, and offer many options for purchasing. |
| Sherri: | Not only do they need to offer the secure order forms, but also printable order forms, an 800#, an email address, and so on. |
| Sherri: | This way, the customer can use whichever method they feel the most comfortable with. |
| Patty: | Right |
| Lisa: | Sherri--Do you find that a lot of customers opt for a non-web ordering process? |
| Sherri: | To Lisa's question... Only about 10% from my regular business opt for non-secure ordering methods. |
| Sherri: | Most seem to be comfortable using the online form. |
| homeparentsADM: | Sherri, so most order online with credit cards, then? |
| Sherri: | This 10% includes those that use the online form, but opt to only fill in the first 8 digits of their card. Then I contact them via email or phone to get the remaining digits. |
| Sherri: | I call that my "Partial Credit Card Option". |
| homeparentsADM: | interesting. |
| queenie: | ......What type of business do you do? Mail order . |
| Sherri: | Yes, mail order gift items. |
| homeparentsADM: | Sherri, feel free to type in your url if you want.. |
| Sherri: | I also have a second site that appeals to teen-agers or college students and about 50% of those customers send in checks. |
| Sherri: | I'm guessing a lot of them don't have credit cards yet. |
| Sherri: | The Creativity Zone -- http://www.creativityzone.com -- gift items |
| homeparentsADM: | That's a good point for the younger, non-credit card "crowd" |
| Sherri: | And the official website for Jonathan Jackson and Richard Lee Jackson is the one for teen-agers. |
| Sherri: | You're right, Barb. That site gets almost 50% of its orders mailed in with a check. |
| Sherri: | I originally wasn't set up to take mail-in orders, but I changed that fairly quickly, and was glad I did! |
| CJLewin: | Sherri, do you take online checks? |
| Sherri: | No, I haven't investigated that enough. Do you? |
| CJLewin: | oh yes |
| Sherri: | Do a lot of people opt for that? |
| CJLewin: | that is the only way I can buy things online |
| Sherri: | Why is that? |
| CJLewin: | if I have to mail in I tend to forget |
| CJLewin: | and I dont have credit card to use |
| homeparentsADM: | is that a software program you get: or a cgi program? Online checks, I mean |
| CJLewin: | I have a software program that prints the checks for me |
| Sherri: | Hmmm. Do you think sites like mine might be losing business by not offering that as an option to mailing in orders or taking them online? |
| CJLewin: | I dont know...I do know that there are some people like me |
| Janet: | you may get more of the teen/college business that way |
| CJLewin: | I like having that option to grab the impulse |
| Janet: | haha |
