Then, our primary industries. With web-crawlers scouring the internet for
the best spot grain/beef/etc prices, our on-line local primary-producers
should quickly diversify markets, and indeed flourish.
Finally our local wholesalers/retailers/services accepting orders for goods
with some personal follow-up, eg., Safeway, pizza, libraries. As convenient
as this may be, I think we need to target international net markets first.
It would appear that tertiary sector can, and is, taking care of itself in
terms of e-commerce, witness the Singapore and Sydney Stock Exchange
on-line initiatives. Few concerns here, they'll arrange what they need soon
enough.
Still, the main problem on-line suppliers face would be payment details.
Although I believe few Australians would currently enter credit-card details
on a web page, I do come across lots of world sites inviting one to do this.
However, it seems logical to undertake a case-study on the manner by which
experienced on-line businesses are arranging transactions. Might I suggest
as an example the Honk Kong wholesale company, http://www.alamohk.com/
[Quote]:
In January 1991, Alamo was created to carry out trading worldwide in all
types of musical instruments manufactured in the West and PRC [China].
Today we supply to as many potential volume buyers as we can find, and
offer them, via the Internet, a wider selection of musical instruments at a
lower cost.
Alamo supplies all types of instruments .. directly to the end-users market
(teachers/students/schools) in over 100 countries. In addition, we have
over 250 Internet distributors throughout the USA and worldwide ..
ORDERING: Almost all of the purchases made over the internet are handled by
Mr. Gerald A. Alleva, President. If Jerry is not available, then one of his
webmaster assistants will help you with your order. Jerry is best contacted
by EMAIL and is usually not available by telephone. So please direct all
questions/orders to Alamo webmaster.
If you are interested in something you see on our site ... or anything
musical .. first ... email Jerry Himself and find out if the item is still
available ... the current pricing ... delivery times ... etc. Jerry will
email you back within a few hours (hours .. usually!) and let you know the
info.
1) CASH SALES - Fred will ask you to send your address, telephone and fax
numbers, and all instrument details [type(s), brand(s), model(s), etc] by
email and the order will be processed immediately.
2) LAYAWAYS - we will hold an item as a layaway with a deposit. The size of
an item varies from item to item but the minimum deposit is usually 20% for
a 30 day layaway. DEPOSITS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. We consider a layaway a sale
and we WILL hold the item but it's a done deal. If you need longer that 30
days Jerry can arrange this for you with a larger or multible deposits
3)COD-Sorry, but we DO NOT DO COD'S.
4) Shipping - we ship most items via UPS Worldwide-Insured (Blue or Red
label). The shipping charges are including insurance, duty, and labor to
pack and sometimes inspect your item. We want you to get it in the best
condition". [End quote]
--In terms of actual payment, the choices offered are: telegraphic transfer, US$ Bank Draft, US$ Cheque/Money Order, and .. several mysterious choices which may well involve a phone call for credit-card details(?) from Jerry.
So, this well-experienced major international on-line operation does not appear to offer "one-stop" electronic shoppping, eg via credit-card entry at the time of ordering. Perhaps it wasn't worth their while offering this?
So, the question everyone's asking, what can we do to encourage Australian versions? Well, first is telling everyone how easy it is .. but after that?
*It seems to me that Australian businesses need permanent and portable web addresses, one of which could be .gov.au readily enough .. each with their own permanent domain name. This would indeed be a very helpful initiative.
*Then, businesses need permanent, economical and portable net access to host their own web presence. Being their own host, no matter how slick the remote host/site-management services, may well allieviate many practical security concerns for everyone concerned.
*Although digital signature technology may well soon become wide-spread, in the meanwhile: an Australia Post(?) email-telegram (and money-order) courier service .. with the sale transacted, and shipped, via the returning courier. So, customers have two web-windows open, one of an Australian business, and the other for a hard-copy order/payment return-despatch courier service.
And, in the meanwhile, I really do think that Australian companies should throw-up web pages inviting credit-card details for payment. Why not try?
kind regards .. Stephen Loosley