I want repeat business - how do I do it?

sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

Ina sent out newsletter today and I noticed that there was an advertisement for MyStoreCredit.com. I like the idea of store credit because a buyer has to buy another item from you in order to use it, like eBay Anything Points which gives the buyer free Paypal cash to use on any eBay item. Any thoughts on whether a program like this would increase repeat business for me? I'm starting to list the graphic in my listings, but I'm not clear on what the reception would be.

As a seller, I would want to extend discounts for loyal buyers. As a buyer, I might be annoyed that I have cash available that I could only use with that buyer...

http://www.mystorecredit.com

camelot2302 · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:54 am Post subject:

I am strongly considering using MyStoreCredit. My own concern is that being based in Germany, German customers may not understand the English MSC emails and misinterpret them as spam and get me into trouble. I think the general concept of the idea is a great one and is guaranteed to bring in repeat custom. Why as a buyer would you be annoyed that you only have credit with a particular seller? If you get a credit account with a company, does that company allow you to take your credit to a rival? No, because they want you to return to them. Normal business practice!

Another site I am considering is Paycodes ( http://www.paycodes.com ). I am trying to persuade more people to pay by Paypal and this may be the answer.

jtkmercantile · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:02 pm Post subject:

I'm interested in mystorecredit as well but I may wait until I have more items to offer on a regular basis before I start something like that. Maybe sooner if it's inexpensive.
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Charli · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:57 am Post subject:

Why go through a 3rd party. I have my own discounts that are applied to those who are repeat customers. I simply send the coupon when I ship the item. To use it they must buy from my store. I am also going to be giving a special discount to those people who buy more then 6 times a year or in excess of $300 a year.

I also don't like the idea of giving someone my password and auction info in order to use them.
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sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

> Why go through a 3rd party.

1) To have them track the coupon details for me
2) Have promotional e-mails sent to buyer
3) Less work because I have enough to do already

Charli · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:41 am Post subject:

We like controlling this aspect of our company. And the work isn't that much more. Our coupons are a part of our invoice process and don't take any extra work. And because we design it,we get to personalize it and can change things easily. Tracking is also built in.

In any case, our customers seem to like it and we can spend money on other things.

But each of us must find what works best for us. And by exchanging ideas we have more resources.

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Gene & Charli
If you're disabled and still want to enjoy a hobby contact us about adaptive tools.
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sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

> Our coupons are a part of our invoice process and
> don't take any extra work. And because we design
> it,we get to personalize it and can change things
> easily. Tracking is also built in.

What software do you use that tracks coupons for you?

Charli · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:44 pm Post subject:

ICE is the store program we use. I had a friend set it up for us (he's a computer wiz). I don't know that he added anything to it. I know you can set it up in numerious ways. . I just use the program.

In your 1st posting you thought a buyer might be upset if they could only use their discount with you. But I think most buyers understand the discount comes from you so it's fair it's used with you. That's the way most discounts work.

I don't know about the sites that will track and reward your buyers. I don't use them because of security concerns. But as I said before, everyone has to do what's right for their business. What works for us may not work for you and what works for you may not work for us. You just have to keep plugging away until you get things right.
_________________
Gene & Charli
If you're disabled and still want to enjoy a hobby contact us about adaptive tools.
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camelot2302 · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:45 pm Post subject:

could you give me the download link?

Charli · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:35 pm Post subject:

Sorry I don't have it. I bought the program on ebay several years ago. I'll look to see if there is a link for it. You might search ebay for it.

Where is Wurtzburg? I lived in Hannau (sp) when I was little. My mother was from there. I still have relatives there I think.

The complete name of the program is Retail Ice. by Cam. It's pretty expensive if you buy it directly. Also let me check with my friend to see if he did anything to add to the program before you invest a lot of money. Are you going to use it for an online store or for auctions?
_________________
Gene & Charli
If you're disabled and still want to enjoy a hobby contact us about adaptive tools.
ggcs@Too-Bad-Dogs-Inc.com

camelot2302 · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject:

Wuerzburg is 2 hours drive from Frankfurt and Stuttgart at the northern tip of Bavaria. We're pretty close to Nuremberg. The place you lived, Hanau, is outside Frankfurt and is still a big US military area. But a lot of the soldiers in this area dread being posted to Hanau!!!

I'm not sure what I would use the program for. I am in the process of setting up a consignment business here and I am looking for some kind of credit account / customer loyalty system that I can use. So any recommendations would be appreciated. I am ideally looking for something multi-lingual where I can switch between English and German. If I can't find anything reasonable then I may just print my own vouchers on my computer. It's amazing what you can churn out with Microsoft Word!

sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

Here is the product mentioned:
http://www.camcommerce.com/prod_retailice.htm

Here's the review made about its specific functions:
http://www.camcommerce.com/prod_retailice_cpa.htm

train99 · Joined: 22 Aug 2002 Posts: 39

I send all buyers a fake check for $5.00. It goes in the box with whatever they bought. The check is good for $5.00 off any eBay purchase or combined purchases over $50.00

It also has an expiration date rubberstamped on it. I date the checks for about six weeks from the shipping date.

It's simple to do. I don't keep track of who has a coupon, I just take them from anyone who claims to have one. They can either send it with their payment or mention it in advance if they are paying with paypal.

A better way to build repeat business is to offer a emailed newsletter. This builds credibility and allows me to contact the subscribers when I have something to offer them.

I created the eBay Buyer's Guide to entice people from my auctions to my website. Other eBay sellers asked about using the guide so I have made it posible for others to create their own personalized buyer's guides. See the site below for more information.

Terry
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Ina · Joined: 02 Aug 2001 Posts: 452 Location: Massachusetts, USA

I sat down with Tabbatha from MyStoreCredit recently and there's more to it than you might think. I'm going to invite her to got to the "sites and services announcements" forum to explain the service's major benefits and pricing, since I think it's a good tool and it seemed really affordable.

The forum for sites to make announcements in a self-promotional way is here:
http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=29

I'll ask Tabbatha to post a link in this thread to her explanation, and then feel free to comment here (or there) about it.

Ina
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tab · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 20 Location: Chapel Hill, NC

I've posted some comments on the forum here:

http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=10883

thanks!

Tab
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