DISQUS

davidhaimes · 1 year ago

I looked in stores and then went home and ordered online for most of the kit we needed when we had our first baby. However there is one particular store that provides such great advice and service I don't mind paying a couple of bucks more - we needed a new child car seat and they discussed the options made a few recommendations and then came outside and fitted it for us, I will buy more from that store because the advice and service saves me a lot of time and hassle so is worth paying a little more for. Works the same online, if Amazon has a product for a percent or two more than some other retailer I haven't used before, I'll get it from Amazon for the convenience of experience and confidence in delivery dates etc. The trick for all retailers is figuring out the premium their customers will pay for the superior service.

Jake · 1 year ago

Nice example. My sense is still that this is blown out of proportion; I wish I could see metrics like how many people actually shop online, how many price compare or use the same etailer, how many people own G1s or iPhones, how many of them price shop using the methods listed?

These metrics would help understand how much of a deal this really is.

Beyond that, good service is highly valuable, yet surprisingly lacking. I wonder if the chase for the highest margins possible has sucked the life out of customer service by way of the lowest possible wages.

David Dorf · 1 year ago

Jake, I recently reviewed four iPhone apps from retailers, including Amazon. I suggest you check out the one from Sam's Club. http://blogs.oracle.com/retail/2008/12/shopping.... Its pretty cool.

I also discussed the future of m-commerce a bit. http://blogs.oracle.com/retail/2008/11/does_mob.... I think retailers see a lot of potential from smartphones but are still searching for the killer app.

Also note that Walmart will be selling $99 iPhones by the end of the month. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=wal-mart-to.... That could significantly increase the market for retailer apps.

Jake · 1 year ago

I saw your posts through OraNA, interesting stuff.

By choice, I don't shop at Walmart or Sam's Club, but if Costco built an iPhone app, I'd be on that in a hurry.

That rumor about the Walmart discount iPhone has legs, but I've heard one if not both attributes of the story are wrong. I think definitely the $99 part.

Steven Cains · 1 year ago

I don't think stores will resort to cell phone jamming, IIRC this is illegal in many countries.

You raise some interesting points but I don't think anything can be done to stop consumers searching for the best deal. The technologies may change but bargain hunting is a human survival skill ;)

Jake · 1 year ago

I'm wholly in favor of price shopping, and I really dislike heavy-handed measures like kicking customers out of the store or suggesting no iPhones be used on the premises.

Bargains rule, but like David, I am completely willing to pay more in certain cases, e.g. for local and natural food products, when service is awesome, to keep a local Mom and Pop store in business.

I tried to stay measured on this, so it wouldn't seem like I'm an Apple fanboi screaming foul about my precious iPhone.

Sam · 1 year ago

I'm glad I found your article. I recently got a middle range Nokia which comes with barcode scanning stuff. Until now I just thought it was useless. I don't think you realise just how many handsets have this technology and it's not just in the high end of the market. The reason people aren't using it much is because they don't have a clue yet.

There is nothing illegal about covering the store in electromagnetic shielding (I don't think that's considered 'jamming', but it's much cheaper and more effective. It's your property, you can do what you like. The only illegal thing is if you tried to do it by emitting radio interference. Which is not only illegal, it's dumb.

If they did that then you would just get people with offline databases on their hand sets.

Jake · 1 year ago

You're right. Apparently, I don't have the right picture of how common barcode scanners are on devices. They really are useful and not just for merchandise, e.g. QR codes as mentioned by Matt here:

http://theappslab.com/2008/09/29/why-stickers-a...

I don't know the law, but I think in the US that preventing people from dialing 911 on cell phones feels like it should be illegal. Aside from that one pretty key point, I agree that a business could *legally* block cell signals. It's just bad customer service, and I, for one, would vote with my feet.

And of course, as you suggest, there are ways around even this method. The desire to save money finds a way, geeky or otherwise.

Sam · 1 year ago

I heard that all public transport in the UK is shielded in this manner because people were sick of listening to noisy yuppies on their way to and from work.

I'd find it hard to believe that you could be held responsible for passively blocking cell phone signals. I don't get very good coverage in my house due to the trees and tin roof. I normally have to go outside to talk. No one would expect me to loose my roof just in case there is an emergency.

My understanding of the laws surrounding jamming of cell phone signals is they have nothing to do with the fact you are preventing someone from making a call, it's the fact that you are broadcasting unauthorised radio transmissions. You'd have to get a permit for it.

Perhaps the government would allow it in certain circumstances such as research projects and possibly even to prevent cell phone communication from your premises. If the shopping center had a permit to broadcast locally on frequencies required to jam cell phones they could do so without breaching any other laws.

Jake · 1 year ago

Yeah, definitely a gray area, especially since 911 calls also are tracked by GPS in the US from phone manufactured after a certain date, sometime in 2000, I think in 2000.

I really don't know the intricacies of the law though. Like I said, a store blocking my cell signal would cause me to shop somewhere else though.

Sam · 1 year ago

I love that barcode generator, thanks for that! My facebook profile image is now a link to my blog... man I'm a nerd!

Jake · 1 year ago

Glad you like it. You can thank Matt for introducing it to me. I played with it a little, along with one of the many barcode scanning apps for the iPhone.

I can see that or something similar as the business card of the future or present for geeks like us :)

Daniel Koons · 7 months ago

As a brick and motar store sales associate I would have to argue that the normal stores have to simply price match or come close. I work at Norman camera in grand rapids, Michigan and we not only guarantee lowest price but we match or beat the amazon's and by photos. We just have to to compete and beat the best buys. Yea i'll admit it's annoyin to see the barcode scanner not so much because they want the lowest price but they just need to ask.

The truth is I am an iPhone guy, I have a barcode app and the fact this is where technology is leading . Maybe sad but true but retail stores need to roll with punches.

Just added to the thoughts of a retail sales guy, this was all typed on my iPhone.

Jake · 7 months ago

Interesting to hear your perspective. You're right price-matching is the best way to get and keep business. I suppose the worry is that price-matching will drive revenues too low, but not everyone will do it. Ideally, you build goodwill through a combination of low prices and great customer service which leads to return business.

Cameras may be one of those areas where you need a really experienced sales force. I know several shutterbugs who *only* shop at small, local stores because of the enthusiast factor.