10.18.07
Posted in E-commerce, Events at 12:18 pm by adrianoh
Think it’s not quite possible? Well, the fact is, everything is possible under the SUN – Never, NEVER ever take things for granted.
UK Royal Mail (Union, what else?) having one of the worst postal strike ever, as a result of serious dispute over the mother of all evil – $$$ Paycheck $$$.
So you can imagine the negative impact it will have on UK businesses, especially online merchants that rely heavily on company like Royal Mail to deliver the merchandizes to their clients. Just like it would spell disastrous to US if USPS strikes or Malaysia if Pos Malaysia strikes, businesses would be paralyzed. And Simon Cow definitely would not be delighted.
“The strike is destroying the industry. Our industry works on confidence and trust of the customers. The Royal Mail is the only doorstep delivery business in the UK. The uncertainty that this is bringing into the market place is a nightmare.
It is particularly hard for small firms who do not have the means to engage a replacement carrier at short notice.
The effects will be permanent. Internet shopping is delivery and if that is uncertain then the industry is uncertain. It will hit Christmas sales and the Royal Mail in the long term.” James Roper, Interactive Media in Retail Group’s Chief Executive
The Union seems to forget who matter most – it’s about the customers! It’s not the management that pays them, it’s the customers! Why upset the customer? Believe me, their business will be eventually be hurt, it takes years for you to build confidence but only a few days to demolish it.
You can see what the strikers are “fighting” for here. Some e-commerce merchants are advising for alternatives shipping methods to avoid delayed shipments to their customers.
Those well prepared – like dabs.com, will have a contingency plan, they will have something like below on their website. Those unprepared will be hit hard by their customers, needless to say.
Read more on the news here
So what’s the moral of this story? In the real world, Murphy laws apply. For every e-commerce merchants, you need some contingency plan in place in case what works now fail in the next minute.
Lots of things just might go haywire.
- What if your “ONLY” payment solution fails to work? Do you have a 2nd payment option letting you process credit card too?
- What if your “ONLY” email fails to work? Do you have alternative email that your customer can reach you?
- What if your Postmen (inspired by Royal Mail) strike? Do you have an account ready with other courier services company that you can utilize instantly?
- What if your website fails and your hosting company tells you that they forgot to backup your database? Do you actually run a backup (especially the database) that can help you recover your website within 24 hours time?
Our advice to you: Life is unpredictable, always have a disaster recovery plan. Once something goes wrong, you will thank us for it. Also please treat your Postman with respect by saying a simple thank you when they pick up your parcels or send you something! You never know, this simple & genuine gesture might work a miracle. 
Happy selling online!
Permalink
10.12.07
Posted in General at 4:22 pm by admin
To all our Muslim customers, partners & friends, we wish you Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Permalink
10.11.07
Posted in Online Marketing at 10:39 am by admin
Most e-commerce merchants are ambitious (that’s what make them entrepreneurs, so it’s perfectly normal). When they start selling online, they are driven to define “the whole world” as their targeted markets, the question is, how well do you actually know about the other part of the world? it’s so darn huge!
- Do you know about the online population there? Where they surf?
- Broadband penetration rate?
- What do they do online?
- What social website is the most popular?
(Eg Malaysians are obsessed with Friendster (reportedly have more than 3.1 Millions users); But unlike Aseans, Koreans know NO Friendster, they use only Cyworld; while US teenagers just love myspace.)
- What’s the most popular payment methods that’s highly recognizable (also means trust worthy) in their country? Currency Type? Biggest bank?
Let’s not drag too far, how about lets start with the Internet population of “the world”? Not a clue, tips: click the below link where Business 2.0 got an interesting Map giving you an overview of the World Internet Population.
Permalink
10.04.07
Posted in E-commerce, Payment Gateway at 11:31 am by adrianoh
As you know, when it comes to selling online internationally, Malaysia merchants are stuck with only 3 viable choices -WorldPay, Paypal, or 2Checkout. Adding more to the hassle, none of them actually provide a fast and convenient way for us to take the money back into our bank account (to earn some damn interest!).
Download this, a good comparison of WordPay, Paypal and 2Checkout.
Anyhow, we’ve seen a lot of positive development in the payment field. E.g. Paypal now supports withdrawal to Visa / Mastercard branded Credit/Debit cards. So is 2Checkout, the company has partnered with Payoneer to issue a debit card where you can withdraw the money from 2Checkout account directly via local ATM network. Details as below:
The 2Checkout prepaid MasterCard� powered by Payoneer.
2Checkout.com is introducing a new way for our vendors all over the world to receive their weekly payment. As of July 11, 2007, you will be able to register for your own Payoneer MasterCard, and receive your 2Checkout payments directly on the card.
The new multi functional 2Checkout prepaid debit MasterCard� that can be used at ATMs, stores and online anywhere around the world.
2Checkout MasterCard� benefits:
- Cards are shipped to virtually everywhere worldwide
- Cards can be used anywhere MasterCard� is accepted � online and in stores
- Withdraw cash in local currency at ATMs around the world
- 2Checkout payments will be loaded directly onto the card
- Online access to view your account, payments, balance and transaction history
- If the card is lost or stolen, a new card is issued and the balance is transferred
To order and change your payment to the 2Checkout prepaid MasterCard�, enter the banking wizard and click on the 2Checkout prepaid MasterCard� option. Once you have received your card go back into the wizard and put a check in the box that says accept Payoneer.
Suppliers, consider making the switch. One step, One card, One PIN.
Payoneer has stringent regulations for customer privacy and uses top of the line security technology. If you ever have any questions about your card, Payoneer offers customer support by phone, email and live chat.
If you choose to be paid using the Payoneer option, you will be taken to a 2Checkout/Payoneer site to register for your new card. After receiving your card, you can use it at any merchant that accepts MasterCard and ATMs worldwide.
For more information go to http://www.2checkout.com/community/?s=Payoneer
Contact us
Web : http://www.2checkout.com
Voice : (614) 921-2450
Voice : 08718718283 (UK & Northern Ireland)
Fax: (614) 921-2451 or (866) 921-2451 (US & Canada)
Toll-Free: (877) 294-0273 (US & Canada)
For questions about the 2Checkout Prepaid MasterCard�:
support@payoneer.com Within the United States: 1-800-251-2521 x2
Outside the United States:1-847-461-1386 x2
If you have a 2Checkout Account, login to apply one NOW!�If not yet, consider getting one
Is it good news to us? Yes, definitely, the more such options, the merrier. Such withdrawal option could provide a fast�and healthy cash flow for a lot of small businesses�which really cannot afford to wait weeks for the payment remittance.
But does it mean you can finally thrive and achieve easy success selling online? Nah… the reality is, NO, very unlikely. Payment problem is only the first challenge when it comes to Internet retailing.
The biggest challenge will always remain Building Trust, Marketing, and Customer Service! We will touch more on the topics in coming blog post. Visit us back soon!
Permalink
10.03.07
Posted in E-commerce, Online Marketing at 10:08 am by adrianoh
Retail E-Commerce (US) Eyes Retention – An interview with Mr. Scott Silverman, executive director of Washington-based online retail lobby Shop.org
Mr. Silverman’s Highlights
1) E-commerce in 2007 will be more than 9% of total retail, which is up from less than 3% in 2001. Additionally, the Internet continues to influence sales in offline channels, strengthening traditional store brands as well as catalogers.
2) People are feeling more comfortable shopping online and using the Internet to research, compare prices and shop.
3) No matter how much retailers preach the safety of shopping online, there will continue to be a segment of the customer base that does not feel comfortable using a credit card to pay for online purchases. Retailers are responding by investing in alternative payment systems like Bill Me Later, PayPal and Google Checkout.
4) Retailers on- and offline are certainly feeling the impact of the customer empowerment created by social media (think myspace, think facebook, think friendster).
5) One of the interesting findings in the Shop.org-Forrester Research “2007 State of Retailing Online Part 2″ report, released in September, is that e-mails emphasizing new products outperform e-mails promoting sales.
6) Enhanced product detail, whether it’s through customer reviews, rich Internet applications or other methods. Customers see the Internet as a source of information and retailers need to meet this expectation.
Grab the full interview here
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1005442
Permalink
10.02.07
Posted in E-commerce, Payment Gateway, Paypal at 12:16 pm by malcolm
Good day…Â PayPal Malaysia is finally here! and some Good News for Malaysia businesses to chew on… (Latest! updated Nov 2009)
Now PayPal has officially support RM and you can now link to your bank accounts, this applies for all the malaysian business. Bravo!
See
PayPal supports MYR – Ringgit Malaysia
How to link PayPal to Malaysian Bank Accounts
So, Is this, what Malaysia merchants have been waiting for “decades” (literally), finally come true? does it mean from now on, we don’t have to go through all these hard-ball methods just to get our hard-earned money cash out so we can park in Malaysia bank account to earn some decent interest (for those who didn’t declare the $, beware, it’s rumored that that LHDN (aka Inland Revenue Board / Government Tax Agency) is paying attention to all these $$$ ‘floating’ around in Paypal and want a cut of what you have). Well, you just gonna read on… Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
