03-12-2007, 07:29 PM
Jed I definitely see your side of the argument and you do make some very good points. You'll always have people who prefer "bricks-and-mortar store" who can touch,feel and hold the merchandise but E-commerce (online sales) is the direction Retail and just about any type of sales is headed.
Your first argument is that it is unethical to demo a product in a store and purchase it from someone else but I think you lost focus of the position of Sales. Part of a Salesman's job to to not only educate them selfs on the product but to educate the customer on how this product will benefit that customer. Now if that customer decides he can either 1. get a better deal somewhere else or 2. dosent feel like sale technique met there expectations and decides to purchase some were else then That general nature of the business. For example if I am looking to buy a car and test drive a car at one dealer Am I obligated to purchase from that car lot ??? As a good consumer the best bet would be to travel to a few different dealer test drive a few different cars and find the best deal and service. Does it mean I was unethical cause I test drove a car from 2 or 3 dealers and purchased from another .. No.
Another one of your arguments was that purchasing online hurts the economy that is just not true. Online sales has has put literally BILLIONS of dollars into the economy It has open doors for disable, handicapped and people who just cannot drive to a store and purchase products, it enabled small business owners who just don't have the startup costs to flourish. It allows companies to sell products globally increasing sales and providing product to regions were they normally wouldn't be available.
To make a long story short online sales is no more unethical than shopping around and finding the best deal. It provides a new level of competition and everybody knows when competitors compete the consumer wins.
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Your first argument is that it is unethical to demo a product in a store and purchase it from someone else but I think you lost focus of the position of Sales. Part of a Salesman's job to to not only educate them selfs on the product but to educate the customer on how this product will benefit that customer. Now if that customer decides he can either 1. get a better deal somewhere else or 2. dosent feel like sale technique met there expectations and decides to purchase some were else then That general nature of the business. For example if I am looking to buy a car and test drive a car at one dealer Am I obligated to purchase from that car lot ??? As a good consumer the best bet would be to travel to a few different dealer test drive a few different cars and find the best deal and service. Does it mean I was unethical cause I test drove a car from 2 or 3 dealers and purchased from another .. No.
Another one of your arguments was that purchasing online hurts the economy that is just not true. Online sales has has put literally BILLIONS of dollars into the economy It has open doors for disable, handicapped and people who just cannot drive to a store and purchase products, it enabled small business owners who just don't have the startup costs to flourish. It allows companies to sell products globally increasing sales and providing product to regions were they normally wouldn't be available.
To make a long story short online sales is no more unethical than shopping around and finding the best deal. It provides a new level of competition and everybody knows when competitors compete the consumer wins.
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