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| | | Author: | ToriHada  | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 10:41 | | Subject: | Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 313 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | | Status: | Discarded | |
|
| Right now, one must be a registered member to buy on BrickLink. I don't know
for sure, but I have always suspected that the BL member registration process
has turned away many buyers who just want to make a quick purchase without going
through registration or becoming a member. A great many retail websites allow
immediate purchasing without registering or becoming a member, and many online
buyers are used to buying without jumping through these hoops. Of course, one
big difference with these online retailers is that they provide shipping charges
up-front and instant payment on checkout.
Therefore, once BrickLink has an instant shipping calculator and payment on checkout
system in place, I suggest that BrickLink also allow buyers to place orders without
requiring them to register or wait. If they are not already a registered member,
they will need to enter their name, shipping address and phone number when placing
their order. If registration is necessary, then make providing this information
on checkout all the registration that is needed - and make it instant so they
don't have to wait or go offsite to check their emails and confirm anything.
In other words, combine instant registration with the placement of their first
order.
I know some sellers would not want to sell to non-members, since (arguably) membership
does allow some minimal screening of buyers and (arguably) keeps away the riff-raff
they may have on their stoplists. I say "arguably" though because any banned
buyer can very easily circumvent the rules by opening a duplicate account or
having a "friend" or "relative" open an account. If someone really wants to buy
from you, they WILL find a way.
Nonetheless, some sellers may still be concerned about allowing non-members to
place orders with them. Therefore, please make it OPTIONAL for sellers to permit
sales to non-members. If a non-member tries to buy from a seller who sells only
to members, it should be clearly noted in their shop terms AND a pop-up should
appear on checkout noting:
"This store sells only to registered members. If you wish to complete this purchase,
please click on this link to register as a member of BrickLink:"
While there may be increased risks in servicing any and all buyers who may walk
into your shop, it seems to be a risk almost every online and real world B&M
business can easily handle. And regardless of whether this added risk is real
or not, it will certainly get more buyers here on BrickLink and in the stores
of those who wish to sell to such buyers.
Thor
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| | | | | Author: | Macaronis | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 10:55 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 78 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | Right now, one must be a registered member to buy on BrickLink. I don't know
for sure, but I have always suspected that the BL member registration process
has turned away many buyers who just want to make a quick purchase without going
through registration or becoming a member. A great many retail websites allow
immediate purchasing without registering or becoming a member, and many online
buyers are used to buying without jumping through these hoops. Of course, one
big difference with these online retailers is that they provide shipping charges
up-front and instant payment on checkout.
Therefore, once BrickLink has an instant shipping calculator and payment on checkout
system in place, I suggest that BrickLink also allow buyers to place orders without
requiring them to register or wait. If they are not already a registered member,
they will need to enter their name, shipping address and phone number when placing
their order. If registration is necessary, then make providing this information
on checkout all the registration that is needed - and make it instant so they
don't have to wait or go offsite to check their emails and confirm anything.
In other words, combine instant registration with the placement of their first
order.
I know some sellers would not want to sell to non-members, since (arguably) membership
does allow some minimal screening of buyers and (arguably) keeps away the riff-raff
they may have on their stoplists. I say "arguably" though because any banned
buyer can very easily circumvent the rules by opening a duplicate account or
having a "friend" or "relative" open an account. If someone really wants to buy
from you, they WILL find a way.
Nonetheless, some sellers may still be concerned about allowing non-members to
place orders with them. Therefore, please make it OPTIONAL for sellers to permit
sales to non-members. If a non-member tries to buy from a seller who sells only
to members, it should be clearly noted in their shop terms AND a pop-up should
appear on checkout noting:
"This store sells only to registered members. If you wish to complete this purchase,
please click on this link to register as a member of BrickLink:"
While there may be increased risks in servicing any and all buyers who may walk
into your shop, it seems to be a risk almost every online and real world B&M
business can easily handle. And regardless of whether this added risk is real
or not, it will certainly get more buyers here on BrickLink and in the stores
of those who wish to sell to such buyers.
Thor
|
I suggestion they fix the 1001 other issues first and when they can prove to
me they fixed them I would be happy to support issue #1002. 
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| | | | | Author: | BLUSER_424058 | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 11:18 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 49 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | Author: | StarBrick | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 11:51 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| Nice addition. But the optional part I don't get. That's like saying
you can buy as a non-member, but in fact you can't buy at certain stores.
I think it would be more powerful if the featurew is implemented BL-wide and
not at the choice of a seller.
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| | | | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 12:28 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 63 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, StarBrick writes:
| | Nice addition. But the optional part I don't get. That's like saying
you can buy as a non-member, but in fact you can't buy at certain stores.
I think it would be more powerful if the featurew is implemented BL-wide and
not at the choice of a seller.
|
Some sellers will not accept this as a system-wide feature. I and many others
would have no problem selling to non-members. But some might.
To make it easier for non-member purchasers, I could tweak my suggestion to make
it so stores that do not sell to non-members will not come up in the search results
of non-members. Or, if a non-member visits a store that does not sell to non-members,
a notice will pop up right when they enter the store saying it sells only to
members. That way the non-member buyer does not waste time filling a cart only
to find out later at checkout that he cannot place an order in that shop.
Thor
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | StarBrick | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 13:48 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| | That would be a nice and neat tweak indeed. |
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| | | | | | | Author: | eileenkeeney | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 19:02 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, StarBrick writes:
| | Nice addition. But the optional part I don't get. That's like saying
you can buy as a non-member, but in fact you can't buy at certain stores.
I think it would be more powerful if the featurew is implemented BL-wide and
not at the choice of a seller.
|
This would make it too easy for people to buy from stores that had stop listed
them.
Not that I understand why anyone would want to buy from someone who dissed them
like that, but some have suggested they do have a desire to buy from such stores.
Can one buy from Amazon without an account?
ebay?
I would only be in favor of allowing non members to buy IF stores could opt out
of allowing non members to buy.
But since I never plan to sell, maybe I really don't care.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | renhoffman | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 19:09 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| | | Can one buy from Amazon without an account?
ebay?
|
Not sure about those sites, (actually, I think maybe you can on Ebay), but I
do know that you can buy from Walmart, Target, LEGO and TRU without an account.
The draw for creating an account is that you don't have to enter in all your
personal info every time you place an order.
Darren
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 19:17 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 24 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, renhoffman writes:
| | | | Can one buy from Amazon without an account?
ebay?
|
Not sure about those sites, (actually, I think maybe you can on Ebay), but I
do know that you can buy from Walmart, Target, LEGO and TRU without an account.
The draw for creating an account is that you don't have to enter in all your
personal info every time you place an order.
Darren
|
Target, TRU, Walmart etc are single stores. They do not work on a community style
basis. They don't use community style tools like feedback when a buyer buys.
They do their own security checks when taking payment. If people can buy without
accounts, then bl may as well remove the option of negative feedback for buyers,
or remove feedback for buyers altogether and go to a system like amazon where
only sellers are rated.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | renhoffman | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 19:25 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, mabccc writes:
| | In Suggestions, renhoffman writes:
| | | | Can one buy from Amazon without an account?
ebay?
|
Not sure about those sites, (actually, I think maybe you can on Ebay), but I
do know that you can buy from Walmart, Target, LEGO and TRU without an account.
The draw for creating an account is that you don't have to enter in all your
personal info every time you place an order.
Darren
|
Target, TRU, Walmart etc are single stores. They do not work on a community style
basis. They don't use community style tools like feedback when a buyer buys.
They do their own security checks when taking payment. If people can buy without
accounts, then bl may as well remove the option of negative feedback for buyers,
or remove feedback for buyers altogether and go to a system like amazon where
only sellers are rated.
|
Sorry, I wasn't intending to say I want this, I was just stating facts about
other sites. I do not want to remove or change the feedback system at all.
Darren
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 19:36 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, renhoffman writes:
| | In Suggestions, mabccc writes:
| | In Suggestions, renhoffman writes:
| | | | Can one buy from Amazon without an account?
ebay?
|
Not sure about those sites, (actually, I think maybe you can on Ebay), but I
do know that you can buy from Walmart, Target, LEGO and TRU without an account.
The draw for creating an account is that you don't have to enter in all your
personal info every time you place an order.
Darren
|
Target, TRU, Walmart etc are single stores. They do not work on a community style
basis. They don't use community style tools like feedback when a buyer buys.
They do their own security checks when taking payment. If people can buy without
accounts, then bl may as well remove the option of negative feedback for buyers,
or remove feedback for buyers altogether and go to a system like amazon where
only sellers are rated.
|
Sorry, I wasn't intending to say I want this, I was just stating facts about
other sites. I do not want to remove or change the feedback system at all.
Darren
|
If you don't need an account to buy, then negative feedback for buyers is
redundant. Buyers intent on scamming won't bother with accounts and there
will be no way of flagging rouge buyers.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | FigBits | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 22:19 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, mabccc writes:
| | In Suggestions, renhoffman writes:
| | In Suggestions, mabccc writes:
| | In Suggestions, renhoffman writes:
| | | | Can one buy from Amazon without an account?
ebay?
|
Not sure about those sites, (actually, I think maybe you can on Ebay), but I
do know that you can buy from Walmart, Target, LEGO and TRU without an account.
The draw for creating an account is that you don't have to enter in all your
personal info every time you place an order.
Darren
|
Target, TRU, Walmart etc are single stores. They do not work on a community style
basis. They don't use community style tools like feedback when a buyer buys.
They do their own security checks when taking payment. If people can buy without
accounts, then bl may as well remove the option of negative feedback for buyers,
or remove feedback for buyers altogether and go to a system like amazon where
only sellers are rated.
|
Sorry, I wasn't intending to say I want this, I was just stating facts about
other sites. I do not want to remove or change the feedback system at all.
Darren
|
If you don't need an account to buy, then negative feedback for buyers is
redundant. Buyers intent on scamming won't bother with accounts and there
will be no way of flagging rouge buyers.
|
More than just feedback -- it would also made stoplists irrelevant.
--
Marc.
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| | | | | Author: | LordSkylark | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 12:30 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | Right now, one must be a registered member to buy on BrickLink. I don't know
for sure, but I have always suspected that the BL member registration process
has turned away many buyers who just want to make a quick purchase without going
through registration or becoming a member. A great many retail websites allow
immediate purchasing without registering or becoming a member, and many online
buyers are used to buying without jumping through these hoops. Of course, one
big difference with these online retailers is that they provide shipping charges
up-front and instant payment on checkout.
Therefore, once BrickLink has an instant shipping calculator and payment on checkout
system in place, I suggest that BrickLink also allow buyers to place orders without
requiring them to register or wait. If they are not already a registered member,
they will need to enter their name, shipping address and phone number when placing
their order. If registration is necessary, then make providing this information
on checkout all the registration that is needed - and make it instant so they
don't have to wait or go offsite to check their emails and confirm anything.
In other words, combine instant registration with the placement of their first
order.
I know some sellers would not want to sell to non-members, since (arguably) membership
does allow some minimal screening of buyers and (arguably) keeps away the riff-raff
they may have on their stoplists. I say "arguably" though because any banned
buyer can very easily circumvent the rules by opening a duplicate account or
having a "friend" or "relative" open an account. If someone really wants to buy
from you, they WILL find a way.
Nonetheless, some sellers may still be concerned about allowing non-members to
place orders with them. Therefore, please make it OPTIONAL for sellers to permit
sales to non-members. If a non-member tries to buy from a seller who sells only
to members, it should be clearly noted in their shop terms AND a pop-up should
appear on checkout noting:
"This store sells only to registered members. If you wish to complete this purchase,
please click on this link to register as a member of BrickLink:"
While there may be increased risks in servicing any and all buyers who may walk
into your shop, it seems to be a risk almost every online and real world B&M
business can easily handle. And regardless of whether this added risk is real
or not, it will certainly get more buyers here on BrickLink and in the stores
of those who wish to sell to such buyers.
Thor
|
Usually I agree with your ideas, but this is one of those rare ones that I don't.
Andy
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| | | | | Author: | Stacey_Love | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 12:39 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 61 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| I simply can't be bothered to vote as in the past 3 YEARS there have been
many many good ideas through the suggestion system and exactly 0 IMPLEMENTED.
So with the greatest respect to you, what ever you or any one else proposes nothing
will change, so save your breath.
Kindest regards stacey.
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| | | | | | | Author: | Dalika | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 12:47 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 52 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, stacey_love writes:
| | I simply can't be bothered to vote as in the past 3 YEARS there have been
many many good ideas through the suggestion system and exactly 0 IMPLEMENTED.
So with the greatest respect to you, what ever you or any one else proposes nothing
will change, so save your breath.
Kindest regards stacey.
|
It can be pretty grueling to click yes or no...
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| | | | | Author: | Dalika | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 12:46 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | Right now, one must be a registered member to buy on BrickLink. I don't know
for sure, but I have always suspected that the BL member registration process
has turned away many buyers who just want to make a quick purchase without going
through registration or becoming a member. A great many retail websites allow
immediate purchasing without registering or becoming a member, and many online
buyers are used to buying without jumping through these hoops. Of course, one
big difference with these online retailers is that they provide shipping charges
up-front and instant payment on checkout.
Therefore, once BrickLink has an instant shipping calculator and payment on checkout
system in place, I suggest that BrickLink also allow buyers to place orders without
requiring them to register or wait. If they are not already a registered member,
they will need to enter their name, shipping address and phone number when placing
their order. If registration is necessary, then make providing this information
on checkout all the registration that is needed - and make it instant so they
don't have to wait or go offsite to check their emails and confirm anything.
In other words, combine instant registration with the placement of their first
order.
I know some sellers would not want to sell to non-members, since (arguably) membership
does allow some minimal screening of buyers and (arguably) keeps away the riff-raff
they may have on their stoplists. I say "arguably" though because any banned
buyer can very easily circumvent the rules by opening a duplicate account or
having a "friend" or "relative" open an account. If someone really wants to buy
from you, they WILL find a way.
Nonetheless, some sellers may still be concerned about allowing non-members to
place orders with them. Therefore, please make it OPTIONAL for sellers to permit
sales to non-members. If a non-member tries to buy from a seller who sells only
to members, it should be clearly noted in their shop terms AND a pop-up should
appear on checkout noting:
"This store sells only to registered members. If you wish to complete this purchase,
please click on this link to register as a member of BrickLink:"
While there may be increased risks in servicing any and all buyers who may walk
into your shop, it seems to be a risk almost every online and real world B&M
business can easily handle. And regardless of whether this added risk is real
or not, it will certainly get more buyers here on BrickLink and in the stores
of those who wish to sell to such buyers.
Thor
|
Yeah, I would agree to this. I have actually walked away from a purchase or
two on other sites that required registration. When the mood strikes and I just
want to make a purchase then I want it simple...and now. The option sounds great.
I wouldn't say I would want this to be a "Members Only" place, just like
I never really cared for jackets w/ the same name...
D
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| | | | | Author: | Deepwoods | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 12:55 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| Soo many more non-paying buyers would be generated from this it's really
a bad idea. If buyers aren't serious about being here by simply entering
common information it's all pointless. When NPB goes up inexperienced sellers
will begin to estimate postages on a much more regular basis without pulling
orders first causing many many more errors which in turn will make buyers more
timid about purchases due to overcharges, delays & nuisance refunds. just a
bad idea.
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| | | | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 12:57 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Deepwoods writes:
| | Soo many more non-paying buyers would be generated from this it's really
a bad idea. If buyers aren't serious about being here by simply entering
common information it's all pointless. When NPB goes up inexperienced sellers
will begin to estimate postages on a much more regular basis without pulling
orders first causing many many more errors which in turn will make buyers more
timid about purchases due to overcharges, delays & nuisance refunds. just a
bad idea.
|
That is why I prefaced this suggestion by having an instant payment system in
place first. There should be no NPB problems if BL offers instant payment upon
checkout.
Thor
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Author: | Deepwoods | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 18:44 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | In Suggestions, Deepwoods writes:
| | Soo many more non-paying buyers would be generated from this it's really
a bad idea. If buyers aren't serious about being here by simply entering
common information it's all pointless. When NPB goes up inexperienced sellers
will begin to estimate postages on a much more regular basis without pulling
orders first causing many many more errors which in turn will make buyers more
timid about purchases due to overcharges, delays & nuisance refunds. just a
bad idea.
|
That is why I prefaced this suggestion by having an instant payment system in
place first. There should be no NPB problems if BL offers instant payment upon
checkout.
Thor
|
There's no way an instant payment system could work in the buyer's favour
given the varriances in packaging needs... the system would have to calculate
the physical area of parts together to fit the strict requirement necessary to
meet the letter mail dimension restrictions (CP restrictions are 380x270x20mm)
& to fit many orders into that you have to arrange parts very carefully or ship
everything as parcel mail at a huge additional cost to buyers.
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| | | | | Author: | Biodreamer | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 13:02 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | Right now, one must be a registered member to buy on BrickLink. I don't know
for sure, but I have always suspected that the BL member registration process
has turned away many buyers who just want to make a quick purchase without going
through registration or becoming a member. A great many retail websites allow
immediate purchasing without registering or becoming a member, and many online
buyers are used to buying without jumping through these hoops. Of course, one
big difference with these online retailers is that they provide shipping charges
up-front and instant payment on checkout.
Therefore, once BrickLink has an instant shipping calculator and payment on checkout
system in place, I suggest that BrickLink also allow buyers to place orders without
requiring them to register or wait. If they are not already a registered member,
they will need to enter their name, shipping address and phone number when placing
their order. If registration is necessary, then make providing this information
on checkout all the registration that is needed - and make it instant so they
don't have to wait or go offsite to check their emails and confirm anything.
In other words, combine instant registration with the placement of their first
order.
I know some sellers would not want to sell to non-members, since (arguably) membership
does allow some minimal screening of buyers and (arguably) keeps away the riff-raff
they may have on their stoplists. I say "arguably" though because any banned
buyer can very easily circumvent the rules by opening a duplicate account or
having a "friend" or "relative" open an account. If someone really wants to buy
from you, they WILL find a way.
Nonetheless, some sellers may still be concerned about allowing non-members to
place orders with them. Therefore, please make it OPTIONAL for sellers to permit
sales to non-members. If a non-member tries to buy from a seller who sells only
to members, it should be clearly noted in their shop terms AND a pop-up should
appear on checkout noting:
"This store sells only to registered members. If you wish to complete this purchase,
please click on this link to register as a member of BrickLink:"
While there may be increased risks in servicing any and all buyers who may walk
into your shop, it seems to be a risk almost every online and real world B&M
business can easily handle. And regardless of whether this added risk is real
or not, it will certainly get more buyers here on BrickLink and in the stores
of those who wish to sell to such buyers.
Thor
|
I don't really see the point of this. if the site is good all you need todo
is fill in your name and adress information to register as a member, so if your
aren't a member when you shop you simply become one when you place the order.
You still need to fill in that information or you won't get your LEGO bricks
or beable to check your order status.
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| | | | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 13:16 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 50 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, Biodreamer writes:
| |
I don't really see the point of this. if the site is good all you need todo
is fill in your name and adress information to register as a member, so if your
aren't a member when you shop you simply become one when you place the order.
You still need to fill in that information or you won't get your LEGO bricks
or beable to check your order status.
|
That is not how the registration process here works. Yes, you have to provide
your name and address. But then you have to wait for an email from BrickLink
and then go check your email and click on it to confirm your registration. In
other words, you have to stop what you are doing on BrickLink (i.e. shopping)
and go offsite. You also have to provide personal information about yourself
before you even know if you want to buy anything. A lot of buyers don't like
that.
As another poster mentioned, other online retail sites that required pre-registration
caused him to stop shopping there and go elsewhere. I have also left retail sites
that wanted me to register and provide my name and contact information before
I could even begin shopping or decide whether I wanted to purchase anything.
Because of spam and other security issues, I am rather guarded about providing
my name, address and contact information to anyone online. It is like entering
a B&M store and having a sales rep constantly asking if you need help and saying
you need to fill out a form giving your personal information and get on their
mailing list before you can shop further. A lot of buyers just want to be left
alone and not give any information about themselves until they actually buy something.
Of course, we don't hear from these buyers because they decided just to leave
and not deal with the hassle of becoming a member.
BrickLink should not be an exclusive members-only club. It should be open to
any customer who may want to spend money here.
Thor
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | Biodreamer | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 14:00 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | In Suggestions, Biodreamer writes:
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I don't really see the point of this. if the site is good all you need todo
is fill in your name and adress information to register as a member, so if your
aren't a member when you shop you simply become one when you place the order.
You still need to fill in that information or you won't get your LEGO bricks
or beable to check your order status.
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That is not how the registration process here works. Yes, you have to provide
your name and address. But then you have to wait for an email from BrickLink
and then go check your email and click on it to confirm your registration. In
other words, you have to stop what you are doing on BrickLink (i.e. shopping)
and go offsite. You also have to provide personal information about yourself
before you even know if you want to buy anything. A lot of buyers don't like
that.
As another poster mentioned, other online retail sites that required pre-registration
caused him to stop shopping there and go elsewhere. I have also left retail sites
that wanted me to register and provide my name and contact information before
I could even begin shopping or decide whether I wanted to purchase anything.
Because of spam and other security issues, I am rather guarded about providing
my name, address and contact information to anyone online. It is like entering
a B&M store and having a sales rep constantly asking if you need help and saying
you need to fill out a form giving your personal information and get on their
mailing list before you can shop further. A lot of buyers just want to be left
alone and not give any information about themselves until they actually buy something.
Of course, we don't hear from these buyers because they decided just to leave
and not deal with the hassle of becoming a member.
BrickLink should not be an exclusive members-only club. It should be open to
any customer who may want to spend money here.
Thor
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Yes but like I said a "good" site. The thing is we shouldn't allow none members
to shop but if you signup at the same time as you order without any extra hazzle.
You can still have a security measures in place preventing the order to go through
or accepting the customer to become a member. it's simply a part of the order
process and doesn't have to be directly visible by the customer. so in technical
terms none members shouldn't be allowed to shop, but allowed to browse and
use the shoppingcart.
the simply go to registry and checkout like any normal webshop, and without even
notice it become members. if something isn't fishy.
So I would ask for that instead of no signup at all.
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| | | | | Author: | mnementh | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 13:27 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 88 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | Right now, one must be a registered member to buy on BrickLink. I don't know
for sure, but I have always suspected that the BL member registration process
has turned away many buyers who just want to make a quick purchase without going
through registration or becoming a member.
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I really do not think that this is necessary, and I really do not understand
why other sites have implemented it.
I just looked at the BL registration screen and I do not see anything other than
the password and secret question that you would not have to fill out anyways
to complete your order. I do not see eliminating registration saving buyers
any time at all.
It has been a long time since I registered, but I am not even sure that BL requires
confirmation of the e-mail to complete the sale.
This is just all speculation for when BL actually implements automated checkout:
My biggest pet peeve is sites that require you to complete registration before
showing you the order total with shipping. I have left many sites because of
this. I do not wish to be registered to a site that I may not ever purchase
from. So, I would hope that BL provides some way for unregistered buyers to
see the shipping cost before committing.
Troy
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| | | | | Author: | MassBricks | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2014 17:17 | | Subject: | Re: Open BrickLink to Non-Member Buyers | | Viewed: | 69 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:
| | Right now, one must be a registered member to buy on BrickLink. I don't know
for sure, but I have always suspected that the BL member registration process
has turned away many buyers who just want to make a quick purchase without going
through registration or becoming a member. A great many retail websites allow
immediate purchasing without registering or becoming a member, and many online
buyers are used to buying without jumping through these hoops. Of course, one
big difference with these online retailers is that they provide shipping charges
up-front and instant payment on checkout.
Therefore, once BrickLink has an instant shipping calculator and payment on checkout
system in place, I suggest that BrickLink also allow buyers to place orders without
requiring them to register or wait. If they are not already a registered member,
they will need to enter their name, shipping address and phone number when placing
their order. If registration is necessary, then make providing this information
on checkout all the registration that is needed - and make it instant so they
don't have to wait or go offsite to check their emails and confirm anything.
In other words, combine instant registration with the placement of their first
order.
I know some sellers would not want to sell to non-members, since (arguably) membership
does allow some minimal screening of buyers and (arguably) keeps away the riff-raff
they may have on their stoplists. I say "arguably" though because any banned
buyer can very easily circumvent the rules by opening a duplicate account or
having a "friend" or "relative" open an account. If someone really wants to buy
from you, they WILL find a way.
Nonetheless, some sellers may still be concerned about allowing non-members to
place orders with them. Therefore, please make it OPTIONAL for sellers to permit
sales to non-members. If a non-member tries to buy from a seller who sells only
to members, it should be clearly noted in their shop terms AND a pop-up should
appear on checkout noting:
"This store sells only to registered members. If you wish to complete this purchase,
please click on this link to register as a member of BrickLink:"
While there may be increased risks in servicing any and all buyers who may walk
into your shop, it seems to be a risk almost every online and real world B&M
business can easily handle. And regardless of whether this added risk is real
or not, it will certainly get more buyers here on BrickLink and in the stores
of those who wish to sell to such buyers.
Thor
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For the most part, I think this is a good suggestion, there's just one minor
detail that I see could create abuse. In order to have an automated checkout,
the parts in the cart still need to be "on hold" for a few minutes between the
buyer clicking "checkout" and actually approving the payment on paypal. I don't
see this as a problem with automatic checkout for registered members, since abusers
can be penalized similar to NPB (it would be fine to increase the number of required
offenses for action though, since it wouldn't cause as big a problem to sellers
inventory), but if there are no repercussions for an unregistered abuser, they
could indefinitely hold up a seller's inventory.
Big online stores don't need to worry about this because they have plenty
of inventory, and it isn't a big deal for them to refund buyers in the event
two or more buyers actually buy the last copy of an item at once. Also, most
of these stores have brick and mortar locations where they can sell the last
several copies of an item, and thereby never risk two buyers getting the last
item of their online store.
I guess this is really a problem with paypal - if paypal could be set up so both
the buyer and seller have to authorize a transaction for it to go through,
then the items would not need to be put on hold, and the site could simply not
authorize a transaction if another buyer bought an item first. The site would
then display a message to the buyer, and let the buyer choose if they still wish
to go through with the rest of the order.
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