RE: UKNM: Toys R US - site, outdated - who does it???

[Peter Shankman]

While I agree that 25% might be a bit much, it still goesd along the theory

that stores don't want to lose foot traffic. 5% of lost foot traffic to a

chain with 100 stores relates to one store'sgross business. In addition,

tons of $$ is made at the checkout, with so called "impulse buys," that you

can't replicate online, at least effectively.


-Peter


>Peter Shankman wrote

>>>Exactly, Ian. Would YOU want to be the web shop that says "Well, we can do

>>>a great site for you, be prepared to see your floor traffic drop 25% as a

>>>result." :)

>

>Agreed in principle but is 25% likely and if so when?  That's what the

>store owners and consultants slighted earlier in this thread have to

>weigh up.  It's very easy for us, who make their living touting this

>infant medium, to be so sneering about the "old" stores and us

>consultants who have to deal with them.

>

>Yes the stores should be on the Web to retain custom and there's no

>excuse for bad service on the web or instore.  But some realism please.

>

>25% and way more is feasible for software and electronically

>distributable information and maybe  for books and such like that can

>fit through your letterbox.  But I seriously question the level for

>"physical" goods.

>

>At the end of the day shopping through the Web for hard goods, has all

>the same pain that other forms of remote shopping have.  Can't really

>see or feel what you're actually buying, can't try it on, two weeks 'til

>it's delivered, you're out when it arrives, got to go to the mail depot

>to collect it (or make telephone arrangements with some unreliable

>courier company), when you get it it's not what you expected, hassel of

>repacking it, few Web traders will collect it, so you trot off to the

>local post office (which is always closed when you can get to it), then

>you find it costs �7.50 to post it, if you're lucky you get credited

>for the original amount. And it goes on....

>

>Mail delivered shopping by all the other order channels never shifted

>more than 5% of hard goods, I believe its very dangerous thinking to

>believe the Web is so very different, even though it integrates

>browsing, price comparison and ordering - it doesn't integrate reality.

>And the "old" stores have a lot of profits to make and shareholders to

>keep pleased between now and when?

>----------

>Paul Durrant

>Tarnlough Ltd.

>Interactive Business Communications Consultants

>00 353 61 455 187

>

e-mail: pdurrantindigo [dot] ie

Peter Shankman

President

The Geek Factory, Inc.

(212) 835-0494 (Direct Line)

(212) 835-0794 (Fax)

petergeekfactory [dot] com

http://geekfactory.com 

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