Online Catalogs

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This article has been tagged since June 2006.

1 Online Catalogs
2 Pros and Cons
- 2.1 Advantages
- 2.2 Disadvantages
3 Common Method of Use
4 Security
5 See also
6 References

[edit] Online Catalogs

Similar to an online library or databases in the information storage respect, ‘’’online catalogs’’’ allow potential customers to browse a company’s items for sale from a different location using the internet.

[edit] Pros and Cons

[edit] Advantages

Easy to search for items by detail.
Usually lower prices than retail outlets.
Up-to-date information on price, quantity and stock.
Convenience: shopping at home.
More detailed information about the product (photos, instructions, safety procedures, demonstrations).
Product review and industry information.

[edit] Disadvantages

Customers cannot test products.
Impersonal
Shipping costs
Customers cannot ask the retailer questions without delays.
Lower security (Identity theft, virus, hacking.)
Searching for products can be difficult if all related inquiries for the product are not associated with it.
Dial-up users may have difficulty accessing the site, isolating a customer segment.

[edit] Common Method of Use

When shopping from an online store, browsing or searching the catalog is as easy as a click of a button unless the item you are searching for has not been associated with the term you used. Most venders use either a self programmed or commercial search engine to facilitate this. Examples of companies providing search engines are Google and Yahoo. Located item that you wish to purchase need to be recorded as being on hold for you if you decide to buy other item as will. This is done using an e-cart or Shopping cart software. Payment method is usually done with a credit card, pay pal or money order. Once the customer is finished shopping and is ready to purchases his or her items that he or she has selected, the customer will proceed to the ‘check out screen’. Once at the check out screen the customer will usually be asked to login or set up and account for new users. Once logged to the website you will see a verification screen making sure that you have selected the proper items. After you have verified your selected items, the website will ask which payment method you would like to choice. From there, the customer will proceed to pick a payment method and fill out the required information necessary to complete the transaction. This information will include, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and of course your credit card or pay pal account number. Once all the information has been correctly imputed into the website the transaction is made in ‘real time’, meaning that the payment is processed immediately. The user will then receive and email confirming the transaction and containing a receipt for the purchase. All that is left for the customer to do now is to sit back and wait for the mail man to deliver the purchased goods.

[edit] Security

Security is always a topic of concern when dealing with purchases online. Credit card fraud and identify theft have many customers hesitant to shop on the internet. Business also have to contend with hackers and computer viruses. Failure to do so can lead to the revealing of private data on customers, damage to inventory data, or making the web site temporarily unoperational. For the business, firewalls and antivirus software is employed while for the customers, multiple pieces of information is checked for accuracy to verify the identity.