E-COMMERCE: BUYING AND SELLING ON THE INTERNET

(WWW.BIGULE.COM)

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THE INTERNET AND SELLING

How has the internet changed the way that items are

bought and sold?

How can farm business owners take advantage of

the internet for buying or selling?

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WHAT WE’LL COVER

Selling on the Internet

Buying on the Internet

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SELLING ON THE INTERNET

Unless they have done it before, few know how to use the internet as a sales tool.

There are different ways to use your website for sales.

You may also use a third-party site to make sales

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QUESTION…

What steps are necessary to make a sale in any

format?

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SELLING ON YOUR WEBSITE

Conceptually no different from any other sales outlet

– Display products

– Answer questions

– Provide price information

– Allow customer to make the purchase

– Accept payment

– Provide product & receipt

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SELLING ON YOUR WEBSITE

To display your products, you should have a

“catalog” that provides photo & written description with price

Thumbnail photos (Database or static interface)

Electronic Publication (Can print & view offline)

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SELLING ON YOUR WEBSITE

Facilitating the Transaction

Two basic options

• Traditional sales options (phone, fax, email…)

• Online “shopping carts”

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SELLING ON YOUR WEBSITE

Traditional Sales Options

Phone

Fax

Email

“Snail Mail”

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SELLING ON YOUR WEBSITE

Online Shopping Carts

• View order details

• Change order

• Provide running total

• Process sales tax if applicable

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AN EXAMPLE SHOPPING CART FROM BIGULE.COM

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SELLING ON YOUR WEBSITE

Online Shopping Carts

• You could buy or develop your own shopping cart

technology

• Most use a third party’s services

• See “A Primer on Shopping Cart Technology” in text.

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SELLING ON YOUR WEBSITE

Considerations for Making the Sale

1. Don’t ask the buyer to do too much!

2. Security is vital!

3. Shopping cart technology also facilitates order

processing

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SELLING ON OTHER WEBSITES

On-line malls – similar to consignment shops, most

provide

– Tools to build & maintain your shop

– Credit card processing (with security)

– Advertising for the mall

– The ability to easily interface with on-line auction services

– Flexible fee structure, depending upon your needs

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BUYING ON THE INTERNET

• Perform research before determining which

products are right for you

• Be sure that the purchase is secure!

• You may be able to track your order

• You should receive an electronic receipt

• As you make purchases, note what you like and

what you don’t like.

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SECTION WRAP-UP

• Selling on the internet can be beneficial

• There are several different ways to make sales on

the internet

• When buying, make note of good and bad items.

Incorporate the good into your own selling

interface.

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