e-Commerce: Buying and Selling on the Internet

The Internet and SellingHow 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?

What We’ll CoverSelling on the Internet

Buying on the Internet

Selling on the InternetUnless 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

Question…

What steps are necessary to make a sale in any format?

Selling on Your WebsiteConceptually 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

Selling on Your WebsiteTo 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)

Selling on Your WebsiteFacilitating the Transaction

Two basic options• Traditional sales options (phone, fax,

email…)

• Online “shopping carts”

Selling on Your WebsiteTraditional Sales Options

PhoneFaxEmail“Snail Mail”

Selling on Your WebsiteOnline Shopping Carts

• View order details

• Change order

• Provide running total

• Process sales tax if applicable

An Example Shopping Cart from Amazon.com

Selling on Your WebsiteOnline 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.

Selling on Your WebsiteConsiderations 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

Selling on Other WebsitesOn-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

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.

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.