Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Most of you  guys know of me from way back....But to the new guys....Welcome...
I have had my site up for some time now and gon through many changes with the help and suggestions from SUN members.
But I am really getting discouraged with my attemp at running this site. For as long as I have the site up and running, I have had one sale(sort of). He made the purchase, paid with paypal Echeck, and then the damn thing bounced. I was smart and did not send the item till funds had cleared, seeing that the item was almost $800.
I guess I`m really just looking for some constructive critisism on my site. Are my prices to high? Is the site hard to navigate?
If you whjere in the market for any of these items what would cause you to buy or not to buy....????
Any input would be appriciated......
Thanks,
Paul Boren
RDB Electronics.net

Hi,

Basically this is what every businesses faces. Don`t get discourage, just keep trying. There is no one definite product that is very popular or have high sales margin. Even if you get a product that is very "sellable", there might not be much sales either.

The reason i feel is you need to increase the marketing and advertising of your products. For me, price is not an issue because if a customers see a value in it, no matter what price they are willingly to pay for it.

Our role is to make them feel that the product is valuable. And of course marketing and advertising else people didn`t know about your site. How is the traffic? High or low?

If it is high, chances are someone will definitely buy from you.

Cheer up, if business is so simple then no one will be poor and no one will be working anymore. Hee.


-------------------------

The Merchandise Shop http://i-mshop.com

Hi Twc,

I haven`t researched all the items, just looked at a couple that I could be interested in. On the Satellite Radio Inno XM, you have it listed for $ 399 and claim a $ 50 savings for the customer. I did a quick search for that product in pricegrabber.com and found out that it can be had for as little as $ 199 and two merchants have it at that price
http://www.6ave.com/product.jsp?zipz=11001&x=GEXINNO1&am p;w=1
Knowing that I can that easily beat your claim would put me on the defensive.

To make things worse these guys offer a $ 50 rebate. Even if I saw it first on your site (and I did) if I was to purchase it I would certainly not buy it from your site. Why would I?

The DZ-BX35A fared better  you sell it for $ 379 best price on pricegrabber is $ 374

I found that you don`t list the item`s name and/or brand of the product, this is a turn off, it makes me think that you are selling a no-name product and intentionally want to make it difficult for shoppers to compare. For instance I wanted to compare prices for the 128MB "Digital Stereo Voice Recorder and MP3/WMA Player" (something I`m actually in the market for) but since there is no product information all I have to go on is what you state and you don`t give me any information on what company is behind this product, or even the name of the product. Right, wrong or indifferent, we all have biases, I don`t buy Panasonic products since my experience with every Panasonic product I`ve ever bought has been a disastrous one. But I know people that swear by this brand. I need to know that I won`t be stuck with a Panasonic product or a brand that I have never heard off on a $ 250 purchase. Yes, I can return it, but why expose myself to that extra expense, hassle and effort if I can go to Amazon and buy what I want from the git go?

I believe you should make available TONS of information to your customer, most of the time it wont be needed but for those that do need it you should have a link with `in depth info` that answers every possible question your customer could have. Not only that but you should put front and center an 800 number (or similar free prefix) that let`s your potential customers know your motto is WE ARE HERE TO SERVE! and stand by it. An e-mail address for any concerns I may have does not cut it, I want answers now, NOW that I AM SHOPPING not tomorrow when I`m at work. Keep the e-mail and all other forms of contact so that the customer can see that he can reach you anytime anyway he chooses, as is it appears that you are hiding behind the e-mail. Make yourself or your staff available, clearly state from 9-5 or whatever your hours are.

Cheers, 

Hi Paul,

When you put all the time and resources into starting something, and it`s not working out as expected...the last thing you wanna hear is what I`m about to tell ya...

I think you need to let this thing go...I`m the last one to tell anybody to stop anything, but you`re in an industry that`s already dominated by some major players.

You`re going toe-to-toe with companies like Circuit City, Best Buy, Amazon and even Wal-Mart has stepped into the game.

When someone is going to drop $2,499 on a plasma, who do you think they`ll buy it from, Best Buy or RDB Electronics?

I know my first concern would be "Would RDB Electronics give me a refund if I have problems like Circuit City does?"

We`re not talking about $20 products here...you`re selling complete home theater systems and everything and the issue of trust and credibility all weigh-in here.

If I were going to buy electronics of this nature, there are only a handful of places I`d go...and thats Circuit City and Best Buy...they got all the rebates in-store (some cases), they have support...if something goes bad, I know I won`t have a problem getting my money back (both at their physical location and internet sites as well).

You have no phone numbers at all on the site...would you drop $2,500 on a plasma tv if you couldn`t call the guy? Wouldn`t you think theres some type of scam going on?

You`re dealing with some major players and when it comes to these type of expensive products, people for the most part already have their `preferred vendor`.

I would think twice about my plan before relaunching...perhaps think a little deeper into how you can somehow spin this into a side business that`s profitable.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I do hope I`m wrong in this case.

-------------------------

Website Startup Coach: Step-by-Step Coaching to Help You Build a Profitable Business Online!

Y`know, there are some really smart people in this community, and I have to say, when I read a post by Cartess, I stop and really think it through. He`s so often on target, and in this one, I`m thinking about the same thing.

I went to the Web site, and tried using it as an actual customer. I have an interest in computer accessories, so clicked the menu item. All I got was 2 items, and the thumbnails were so small I didn`t even feel like clicking to make them bigger. So I checked the other menu items.

I saw housewares, and being a cooking fan, wanted to look for gadgets. Nothing...empty. Why`s it even there?

Then I looked at speakers, having just bought some myself. Again, the images were so small, I just lost interest.

I remember a long time ago talking about business with father. The discussion was about when to write something off. We were talking about investments, stocks, and other product-oriented businesses. From his perspective as a CEO on a global level, he was convinced that the reason so many people went broke was they become personally involved with the amount of effort they`d invested in a business that wasn`t working.

If you`re really going to compete in electronics, then the product offerings are going to have to compete against not only brick and mortar stores, but all the countless catalogs out there, not to mention other Web sites. I get a huge number of catalogs, as I used to shop online for a lot of expensive stuff. The things I see in places like Gadgets Universe, Sharper Image, and others, go far beyond anything I saw on this site.

So the question is, what did you NOT see in the rest of the world, that you thought you could do better? What did you observe, originally, that people were missing, and that you thought you could provide? What was the "needs assessment" analysis on this business?

Not to say there`s no hope for the business! I`m only asking what need do you see as the core mission for this business. Maybe it`s only a question of having got off-track? If so, then perhaps a shift in focus might help things. :-)

Hey TWC,
I feel what you are saying about being discouraged. Paul, Welcome to the club. This is a common issue, when you are a business owner. Even I get discouraged at times... It is natural to feel that way. it basically means you are doing something wrong. The guys gave you some hints as to what some of the issues are. But I totally disagree with Cartess3. I wouldn`t take his advise even if it was my last resource. Give or take there is fine tuning that needs to be done to your web site, for example if you have a category and there`s nothing in that category there is no need to have it up. A Phone Number "YES", you need one very bad. I think we need to work on your store policies, returns, and perhaps something that says if you are not satisfied within 30 days money back guranteed. But most of all we need to get a phone number up there.
As for the images? Let`s expand they just a pinch. But take a look at Bestbuy? They don`t have huge images either.
Paul, Don`t feel discouraged.... These are just simple tasks that life is throwing at you and you need to embrace them and analyze them real carefully because the solution is in your hands.

The fellas are correct, except for cartess3, You need to add more content to the product description and manufacturers.
hmmm, now I am wondering what cartess3 does for a living?

-------------------------

Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

It`s okay to disagree, but now you`re going a little to far.

Don`t wonder what I do for a living...ask me!

I gave my opinion and that`s all it was. Disagree all you want, I have no problem with that...But act like an adult!

Leave the baseless chatter out:

Nuevolution wrote:
hmmm, now I am wondering what cartess3 does for a living?

-------------------------

Website Startup Coach: Step-by-Step Coaching to Help You Build a Profitable Business Online!

WOW, Did someone get touchy? Cartess3.
I think what TWC is looking for is someone to lift his spirit up a little. But when you come barging in acting like you have the solution and telling him that he needs to give his dream up... Sir I take that very offensive... First of all he is a business owner and as a business owner we all hit that road of discouragement once in a while.. If you would of reworded your statement a little bit nicer or at least sugar coat it, I wouldn`t of jumped down your throat... I think your comment was just as untasteful, as your three piece suit... Which by the way.. Three piece suits go back to the 70`s..
But anyways... I love Ya... Merry Christmas...

-------------------------

Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

Hi, I do agree that you need a phone number and larger images. I have a few retail sites as well. They aren`t my main focus, but I have had some success with them. It`s a lot of work and even way more research that goes into making an awesome site that really brings in an income. Don`t be discouraged. How long have you had the site and how do you advertise it? Sounds like you don`t really have a niche product, so the competition must be tough. My most productive retail site is my dragon site. It sells dragon decor items, and a lot of my competition`s sites are-well...crappy. Not to say mine is fantastic. But then again I don`t put a lot of effort into it. It`s not my main focus. The best thing I can tell you is to do a lot of research. That`s what I`ve learned. Can`t just slap something up. I spent tons of time doing research on how to build and how to advertise, supply and demand, what my competition is doing etc...

-------------------------

I know you`ve heard of this before... Pay It Forward 4 Profits Free info on perfecting/advertising your primary business! Mastering Your Primary Business

Consider this, under the "Life is supposed to be fun!" category.

I love to fish, and live in the Chicago area. So we have winter and summer, unlike other more southern climates. Now it`s true I could do two things; I could own a home down south, and go there during winter. Or I could learn how to do ice fishing. After all, fishing is totally fun, so I`d want to do it all the time, right? I don`t think so....mostly because I like to eat what I catch.

Now look at it this way. Here comes October, weather`s getting cold, time change brings along darkness at 4pm, and it gets sad. Fishing is coming to an end. I start thinking of that home down south, or the ice fishing shed.

Am I discouraged? Is it a drag that fishing is coming to an end?

Now add into the mix that it`s BECAUSE I have to (choose) give up fishing for the winter that when March rolls around, I start getting a whole new kind of excitement! Fishing`s about to start!

How could I ever feel that excitement without also choosing to "lose" the fishing for awhile each year? How soon before I got tired of eating fish if I caught it all year round? Where would be the "treat?"

Now pull it all together. What sweeter victory than to find that product and business that suddenly "hits," and starts taking off! It may turn out that it`s not the electronics one, but SOMEthing will be the right one! Would it be half as terrific if your first venture took off and never failed?

If you accept that the universe isn`t broken, then although things may not be going the way you want, they`re certainly going the way they`re supposed to! There`s a reason the electronic thing is going slow and hard. But it`s not that you`re "thinking wrong," or vibrating wrong. It`s more that there are things you`re learning that you wouldn`t want to learn any other way.

That`s why passion matters. It carries us through those times when the will, logic, thought, analysis, and discipline are all collapsing. It`s the bottom-line driver that keeps us hoping, and makes us desperate enough to begin thinking about things we never in our life would have thought without that desperation!

If it isn`t fun, don`t do it. But if you have a passion, look around at your life. What IS working?! That`s the thing that you should start looking more closely into. :-)