I am a small bit annoyed now. I had a beautifully crafted reply written at work and then the Windows Updates started, so i um lost it.
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Originally Posted by Tom  A shipping and collection service would give you the best of both worlds. I have used collection vs shipping online with argos, just the once mind. I think it depends on the type of product being bought and convenience of the collection. With collection only you'll have a limited range of customers, with a shipping option you'll increase that range a lot. |
Yah, completely agree. The operation will still be running small though. My biggest concern at the moment is that "da boss" has requested that we provide as good a support as possible. So our prices won't be as competitive as play.com or similar, but then again, even if we had brutal support, we still couldn't compete with them.
Also, we can't provide support to someone is Wexford, Waterford, Cork, or Dublin, if the mothership is in West Mayo.
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Originally Posted by Forbairt I like argos cus I can check if its in stock .. and reserve it then head in and collect it.
If its not in argos .. I'll look elsewhere.
If I've to wait a day or two ... I'm still probably going to look elsewhere.
If I'm looking for something shipped ... well brand loyalty means a lot to me and I'll tend to stick with the same online trader. (komplett / Crucial for example) If its out of stock with them I'll probably wait till its back in stock. |
Good example, and i completely agree. But do you think that the process there that you have described wouldn't be at all intimidating for someone less tech savvy? (Just wondering
)
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Originally Posted by Cormac Having a delivery and collection point is great option because a lot of your costumers will be out at work (presumably 9-5) and wouldn't be able to meet the delivery. Providing them with the option to collect the package from your office would facilitate the working folk.
I presume it wouldn't be too difficult to do that in OScommerce either. I presume they already ask if the shipping address is the same as the billing address, should be easy to customise that page with a 'deliver to office X for pickup' option. |
Good to hear positive stuff!
To be more than honest, dont really like oscommerce. It's good, it's got great functions and everything, but I just dont think it's the baby for me.
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Originally Posted by Lottoplus Just to go back on topic and not he ethics of the ordering system. Zen Cart have an option where people “can pick up instore”.
Replace the words in the English file from
“Buy Now” to “Order now”
Change to a couple images giving the impression or ordering not buying.
And option to pay instore.
Can’t see any great difficulty in customising it to the way you want it. I would’ent look for id cards just the order confirmation would do |
Thank you lottoplus for that. Even though I must admit, the advice I have been given is helpful to say the least. And even when people described the way that i was doing it as jumping through hoops, it suddenly made me think, maybe the process I am making is silly. The way, i am considering now, is a comprimise as to what my original plans were, but I really like them.
Regarding your recommendation for Zen cart, I actually do like Zen Cart, very much so. However, been fussy, would I be able to do similar on Magento, because I really like that, and the code seems very novice friendly.
If I was just providing a basic system where people would order/reserve and collect their products, I would have had to rip out the shopping cart(credit card payment terminal), and the self-registration system out of the equation, and I know people will say that that is like removing the scaffolding poles from the bottom, making the actually face of the software vulnerable to security threats, etc. but now, I think I'm just going to leave everything there, and merely set up an online system, with the *option* for collection.
The ecommerce store we will be creating will only be promoted around west mayo anyway - people within driving distance. BUT we will provide the option to ship to people further away. Currently the best we have down in the west at the moment are the massive supermarket computer giants like Curry's who are often criticised for their lack of after sales support, Maplins (who are a good company, but their are based only in Galway city) and a few dribs and drabs of other places around the place - like us.
@ Lottoplus - I am looking at three ecommerce options; Magento, Zen Cart, and oscommerce (..... listed in order of how much I like them).