Re: UKNM: Which webtrader scheme

[Stefan Magdalinski]

Steve Johnston wrote:

>

> Okay, I can't resist this thread any longer.

>

> As a former Director of Development at the IMRG ( Interactive Media in

> Retail Group http://www.imrg.org/ - all round good egg industry body

> promoting standards and all that) I feel suitably qualified to contribute

to

> this matter.

>

> When you learn that the Which Web Trader scheme was concocted by the

> Consumers Association' s Commercial Director (slight paradox that) - a man


The problem with all these schemes is that they undermine and confuse

that which they wish to promote. I'd, as a consumer, no more trust the

IMRG than a stranger I met in the street, because I've never heard of

them. On the other hand, less than scrupulous retailers are drawn to

them because they need to buy whatever credibility they can lay  their

hands on.


Consumers, contrary to popular belief, are not stupid, and see this kind

of well-intentioned but flawed stuff a mile off.


What makes me trust an online retailer? good previous experience. what

next makes me trust an online retailer? good word of mouth. what's next?

a non-broken site, in correct english, with 'https' in front of the

order form url.


what makes me suspicious? a pokey gif from some obscure 'trustworthy'

organisation.


the obvious thing for Which to do (given their background), would be a

user-created ratings site, which is also what http://www.shopsmart.com

would do, if they were brave enough to give ANYONE less than 3 out of 5,

or if the reviews related to the quality of the sites in any way:


I just did a quick browse: a site that was completely and utterly broken

and a high street brand that was 'closed', got 4 out of 5, but a site

selling domestic appliance spares gets a hammering for not having good

enough descriptions of washing machine belts (but still 3 out of 5)


There is an element of potluck though that no amount of gif-brandishing

will fix. the site that Alice complained about last week (

http://www.householdappliancesdirect.co.uk/ )


were absolutely bloody fantastic when I bought my vacuum cleaner

there...


stefan

--

/** Stefan Magdalinski, computin

    info: http://www.isness.org/house/boat/sig.txt **/



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