Last month I signed up as a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). One of the reasons I joined is they allow you to use their emblem on your website. They also don’t let any random person file a complaint against you without documentation of a transaction, and without giving the store owner a chance to refute the complaint.
Why do they do this? Because they do not want to hurt a persons business. A lot of investment goes into a business. Especially a true solid physical store front. You have contracts that last for years with other vendors. Security systems, utilities, advertising, product, etc. If your business goes under, a lot of other businesses are affected. In addition, if someone publishes false negative information about you for the public to read, they could be sued for defamation of character.
Why would I make these comparisons? In May 2008 Ebay plans to let anyone post negative information about my Ebay business without any regard to how it may affect that business. As far as I know, I will be given no chance to refute any negative information that a buyer leaves me, and that negative information will remain there for anyone to read for 12 months.
This would be comparable to someone picketing outside my physical store for 12 months without my being able to do anything about it. Is this fair? Ebay thinks so. They think that if a buyer has a negative experience in any way in my “Ebay” store, that the buyer has the right to harm my business for 12 months without giving me any hearing or even reviewing the facts. They feel it is the same thing as the bad word of mouth a physical store owner receives from a buyer who has poor buying experience.
The difference is that a buyer who has a bad experience in a physical store isn’t allowed to publish defamatory information about a store to a public forum without proof, or they are left open to a libel suit. The BBB knows this, and reviews all complaints. So welcome to Ebays new neighborhood where anyone is allowed to post negative information about a business, without allowing a store owner any rights. Perhaps Ebay management feels that an Ebay store owner has nothing invested in that Ebay store, or no obligations to other people with businesses?
All I know is that I hope I find more friends than foes in the “new” Ebay neighborhood starting May 2008.
I know that it was a little unclear on the sellers DSR rating and eBays search. We had the opportunity to catch up with IMA President Steve Grossberg and his comments on Detailed Seller Rating.
Internet Retailer Magazine recognizes the Internet Merchants Association (IMA) to give reviews in their ‘9th Annual Recognition of Leading Retail Web Sites – Hot 100 Best Retail Web Sites.’
Alongside various retail and e-commerce consulting firms, IMA gave its reviews on a number of the Hot 100 websites. These ranged from technology to gift baskets, and hardware to housewares. Among the Hot 100 are Amazon and CafePress, both of which are quite familiar to many of our members.
Not only was it an honor for the IMA to contribute, but it can also be a learning tool for our members…each one of us could learn something from those that make up the Hot 100. As noted in the magazine it is about knowing your customers, utilizing new concepts, and creating great shopping experiences. Perhaps one day we will see some of our own members there.
IMA announces their second annual seller’s conference
The Internet Merchants Association (IMA) is hosting its second annual conference for internet merchants in Las Vegas March 2008. The conference begins March 03, 2008 and runs through March 05, 2008. This leading industry conference is presented in conjunction with the ASD/AMD Trade Shows.
The opening keynote speaker for this year’s IMA conference is Philipp Justus, Senior Vice President Auctions, eBay Inc.
This industry-leading event will include the who’s who in internet commerce! Google will be presenting effective Adwords campaigns. Ebay and Amazon representatives will be there. Scott Wingo, CEO of Channel Advisor will talk about making comparison shopping engines (CSE) work for you. IMA will have educational sessions on SEO, Branding, Keywords, Front End systems, Back End Systems, Proper Advertising, building customer loyalty and other ways to capture and help grow your internet business.
The ASD/AMD Trade Shows, taking place in Las Vegas from March 2 – March 5, 2008, is the largest, most extensive Gift, Jewelry, Variety, Discount, and General merchandise show in the U.S.! This international show is comprised of three separate shows that together create the ultimate wholesale merchandise marketplace of more than 3,500 companies in 8,000-plus booths exhibiting thousands of products in more than 150 leading merchandise categories.
Early bird registration is open now and is $199.00 for members and $349.00 for non-members good through 12/31/07. For more information and to register for the conference please visit the IMA web site at http://www.imamerchant.org/
About IMA: Founded in November 2006 The Internet Merchants Association (IMA) is a nonprofit (501c6) trade association for companies involved in internet commerce. IMA was founded to provide internet commerce companies with proper knowledge and education as well as best business practices in the ever-changing world of e-commerce. Through discussion and the exchange of ideas, IMA provides a base where companies benefit from the collective knowledge and experience of our membership as a whole.
Steve Grossberg
President
Internet Merchants Association
Thank you ASD/AMD Attendees for viewing our video. Just a reminder that if you want to view all of the ASD/AMD Seminars, click JOIN IMA TODAY, as our sale for membership continues through October 31st. Thank you again and see you in March, 2010.
Internet Merchants Association (IMA) is a nonprofit trade association for companies that are involved in internet commerce, regardless of business size. As internet sales increase at record breaking speed, the Association was founded to provide our members with a voice in the ever-changing world of ecommerce; to provide education for all levels of ecommerce businesses; and to exchange ideas so all members can benefit from the collective experience of our membership. IMA will advocate on behalf of our members of any important legislation that may come down the pike. We have the ear of numerous Wall Street analysts, numerous media sources and have direct connections to communicate with executives of huge e-commerce companies at the highest levels.
Communicate
Membership includes access to IMA’s private forums – interact with other serious business owners who are willing and eager to exchange business ideas, discuss the latest trends, new legislation and answer your business questions. The forum also puts you in direct contact with representatives from large internet venues, such as Amazon, eBay, Google and more.
Educate
Trying to decide what service programs and platforms would work best for your business model? Not only will you be able to hear from members who have used or are using these services and platforms, you’ll hear from the service providers themselves.
Network
IMA’s annual business conference in Las Vegas features workshops and sessions from the experts in the industry and are designed to further increase your business, ecommerce and sales knowledge. The IMA Conference is in conjunction with the largest variety and general merchandise show in the country, ASD/AMD. The conference dates are 03/03/08 – 03/05/08 and our host hotel is Mandalay Bay. More information for the IMA Conference will be announced as it is released.
Please feel free to ask any question you may have.
The opening keynote speaker for this year’s IMA conference is Philipp Justus, Senior Vice President Auctions, 