Innovative thinking !

On-Line shopping has been copping a bit of flak from those who see it as destroying the traditional " bricks and mortar " stores, but we live in a changing world and when new people bring innovative thinking to the way we do business they deserve credit for providing a better customer service.

The " old way " of shopping depended on shops full of goods with static price tags - until they decided to hold a " sale ", at which prices were reduced.  That was the signal to rush to the shops and buy, but this degenerated until every day seemed to be a special sale day of some sort and customers grew weary of prices that all claimed to be " reduced " !

There are many on-line offerings on the Internet, but 00.com.au has broken new ground.   Their newsletter offers are entirely special prices and most are available at that price for just a twenty-four hour period.  The range of products is huge and they offer high security when customers give details to pay for the goods purchased.   Most would agree that their prices represent good value for money.

One thing that does annoy customers is to make a purchase, only to see exactly that same item readerttised a few days later - at a lower price.   That can happen if the manufacturer drops their asking price and this saving is immediately passed on to the customers - and 'isnt that what discount selling is all about ?

00.com.au have a new policy that guarantees that if any item is readvertised at a lower price within seven days, a credit for that price difference will be added to that customers account - with no conditions other that it needs to be used within the next six months.   No if's, but's or maybe's on what can be purchased or in what price range ?

On-Line marketing is a new medium, and with that comes new thinking.   Not so many years ago the shops used to open nine to six, five days - and stay hermetically closed all weekend.   Then came weekend trading - and now on-line is offering service on a 24/7 basis.

Bricks and mortar shopping is here to stay, but so is on-line.   What makes this medium so appealing is the attention given to finding out what the customers want and need - and servicing those aspects.   Shopping is becoming a new and exciting experience !