Comments for eBusinessBlog.org http://www.ebusinessblog.org Leveraging marketing & technology to solve business problems. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:17:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on Configurator Usability Challenge: Building your pizza online by Eric Long http://www.ebusinessblog.org/531/configurator-usability-challenge-building-your-pizza-online/comment-page-1/#comment-5656 Eric Long Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:17:18 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=531#comment-5656 Hi Jimmy, I don't know if they purchased something off-the-shelf or not. For our configurator where I work <a href="http://(http://www.ebusinessblog.org/tag/levolor-com/)," rel="nofollow">(http://www.ebusinessblog.org/tag/levolor-com/),</a> we build it all in-house. I have yet to find a solution where an off-the-shelf configurator is extendable enough for functionality and usability. My experience thus far is product configurators are extremely difficult to build generic enough to work for multiple industries. The best ones are typically done in-house by product managers, marketers, and software developers who are close to the business. -Eric Hi Jimmy,

I don't know if they purchased something off-the-shelf or not. For our configurator where I work (http://www.ebusinessblog.org/tag/levolor-com/), we build it all in-house. I have yet to find a solution where an off-the-shelf configurator is extendable enough for functionality and usability. My experience thus far is product configurators are extremely difficult to build generic enough to work for multiple industries. The best ones are typically done in-house by product managers, marketers, and software developers who are close to the business.

-Eric

]]> Comment on Configurator Usability Challenge: Building your pizza online by Jimmy http://www.ebusinessblog.org/531/configurator-usability-challenge-building-your-pizza-online/comment-page-1/#comment-5651 Jimmy Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:19:03 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=531#comment-5651 Hi Eric, Would you know the configure-to-order products/IT solutions that these guys are using? Are they custom/in-house developed or are there any off-the shell solution providers that they use? Thanks! Hi Eric,

Would you know the configure-to-order products/IT solutions that these guys are using? Are they custom/in-house developed or are there any off-the shell solution providers that they use?

Thanks!

]]> Comment on When manufacturers sell direct and “compete” with retailers by Sherry http://www.ebusinessblog.org/261/when-manufacturers-sell-direct-and-compete-with-retailers/comment-page-1/#comment-5640 Sherry Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:25:01 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=261#comment-5640 We are in the baby product industry ourselves and have seen this very negative trend. We can't figure out why they would do this. It is disgusting. Phil and Teds (since Regal Lager dumped them), Mountain Buggy, Orbit... We just don't understand if they know the long term implications of this short sighted strategy. Oh, and selling to predatory Amazon.... I only hope they get stuck with some big receivables.... So unethical. We are in the baby product industry ourselves and have seen this very negative trend. We can't figure out why they would do this. It is disgusting. Phil and Teds (since Regal Lager dumped them), Mountain Buggy, Orbit… We just don't understand if they know the long term implications of this short sighted strategy. Oh, and selling to predatory Amazon…. I only hope they get stuck with some big receivables…. So unethical.

]]> Comment on When manufacturers sell direct and “compete” with retailers by Guest http://www.ebusinessblog.org/261/when-manufacturers-sell-direct-and-compete-with-retailers/comment-page-1/#comment-5520 Guest Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:55:41 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=261#comment-5520 Manufacturers who sell direct to the consumer undermine the retailers ability to turn a profit. Theoretically, manufacturers who do this would be selling at MSRP, but this is not the case. The manufacturers I deal with send out promotions for percentage off, free shipping deals and other things that compete with us. They also have pricing policies for us that keep us from lowering prices to compete as well as hide the where to buy links on their site so the consumer cannot easily find us. I have been in my niche industry for 20 years and online since the internet took wings. This practice has all but torpedoed my sales. When you have companies whose brand you depend on and who will only link to major franchises or themselves, those of us who have the knowledge to help the nursing mother personally will be eliminated. These companies include brands like Medela, Bravado, Avent and more. I feel helpless to stop them as you cannot boycott major brands in your industry and expect to have sales. If anyone has any answers to this or any way to pressure manufacturers to stop this small business killing practice, please comment. Manufacturers who sell direct to the consumer undermine the retailers ability to turn a profit. Theoretically, manufacturers who do this would be selling at MSRP, but this is not the case. The manufacturers I deal with send out promotions for percentage off, free shipping deals and other things that compete with us. They also have pricing policies for us that keep us from lowering prices to compete as well as hide the where to buy links on their site so the consumer cannot easily find us. I have been in my niche industry for 20 years and online since the internet took wings. This practice has all but torpedoed my sales. When you have companies whose brand you depend on and who will only link to major franchises or themselves, those of us who have the knowledge to help the nursing mother personally will be eliminated. These companies include brands like Medela, Bravado, Avent and more. I feel helpless to stop them as you cannot boycott major brands in your industry and expect to have sales. If anyone has any answers to this or any way to pressure manufacturers to stop this small business killing practice, please comment.

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by Beth http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5485 Beth Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:51:13 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5485 You can use jabber.iitsp.com to find a Yahoo IM gateway. I got stuck at #13 - logging in to Yahoo...when I was in the window I simply double-clicked on the Yahoo IM gateway and was able to enter my login information there. My contacts also came over on their own, but I had to click on each one and authorize/allow... I found a similar explanation that helped me figure out how to troubleshoot the problems I was having. You can possibly troubleshoot and find your way through by reading these instructions as well: <a href="http://mac.appstorm.net/how-to/internet-howto/using-multiple-im-protocols-with-ichat/" rel="nofollow">http://mac.appstorm.net/how-to/internet-howto/usi...</a> . You can use jabber.iitsp.com to find a Yahoo IM gateway. I got stuck at #13 – logging in to Yahoo…when I was in the window I simply double-clicked on the Yahoo IM gateway and was able to enter my login information there. My contacts also came over on their own, but I had to click on each one and authorize/allow… I found a similar explanation that helped me figure out how to troubleshoot the problems I was having. You can possibly troubleshoot and find your way through by reading these instructions as well: http://mac.appstorm.net/how-to/internet-howto/usi… .

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by Ramesh Regmi http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5483 Ramesh Regmi Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:45:28 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5483 is nice explanation. I reached until No. 10 but when i browse it I could not find yahoo! what could be the problems. could you inform me please. is nice explanation. I reached until No. 10 but when i browse it I could not find yahoo! what could be the problems. could you inform me please.

]]> Comment on Is it the medium or lifestyle that’s changing our media consumption? by Pete http://www.ebusinessblog.org/1307/is-it-the-medium-or-lifestyle-thats-changing-our-media-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-5481 Pete Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:46:42 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=1307#comment-5481 Interesting topic. I'm not an iPad user yet but I to don't watch TV news, read newspapers etc but I do catch some news items that get posted on Facebook but ideally, I'd like a daily email with personalised selection of International & local news headlines, so I can click through to read more on an item if I wish. Interesting topic. I'm not an iPad user yet but I to don't watch TV news, read newspapers etc but I do catch some news items that get posted on Facebook but ideally, I'd like a daily email with personalised selection of International & local news headlines, so I can click through to read more on an item if I wish.

]]> Comment on When manufacturers sell direct and “compete” with retailers by Bill http://www.ebusinessblog.org/261/when-manufacturers-sell-direct-and-compete-with-retailers/comment-page-1/#comment-5479 Bill Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:09:13 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=261#comment-5479 Part of this issue that has not been mentioned is distribution. i.e. Amazon.com I'm sure they're more optimized to distribution than a manufacturer is. Part of this issue that has not been mentioned is distribution. i.e. Amazon.com I'm sure they're more optimized to distribution than a manufacturer is.

]]> Comment on Treat your website like a retail store, not a campaign. by UX Practitioners Will Excel in an Increasingly Digital World « GhazaliRidzwan.com http://www.ebusinessblog.org/1119/treat-your-website-like-a-retail-store-not-a-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-5471 UX Practitioners Will Excel in an Increasingly Digital World « GhazaliRidzwan.com Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:14:39 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=1119#comment-5471 [...] Because the rules of store operations, merchandising, and customer service are different in a digital world, we see little crossover in the expertise of these traditional departments, and marketing departments fall back on what they do best: campaigns. Making a big splash with a new idea, hoping it sticks, and moving onto the next budgeted initiative. The problem is that campaigns have a short life-span, and you never want to treat your digital experience like a campaign. [...] [...] Because the rules of store operations, merchandising, and customer service are different in a digital world, we see little crossover in the expertise of these traditional departments, and marketing departments fall back on what they do best: campaigns. Making a big splash with a new idea, hoping it sticks, and moving onto the next budgeted initiative. The problem is that campaigns have a short life-span, and you never want to treat your digital experience like a campaign. [...]

]]> Comment on Wireless Internet with BlackBerry 8830 or 9630 as Bluetooth Modem for Mac OS X by JACKAY http://www.ebusinessblog.org/234/wireless-internet-with-blackberry-8830-as-bluetooth-modem-for-mac-os-x/comment-page-1/#comment-5467 JACKAY Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:30:44 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=234#comment-5467 ^ ^ ^ ^ BB Bold 9650, by the way! ^
^
^
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BB Bold 9650, by the way!

]]> Comment on Wireless Internet with BlackBerry 8830 or 9630 as Bluetooth Modem for Mac OS X by JACKAY http://www.ebusinessblog.org/234/wireless-internet-with-blackberry-8830-as-bluetooth-modem-for-mac-os-x/comment-page-1/#comment-5466 JACKAY Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:29:46 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=234#comment-5466 I have a BB Bold from Sprint and am obviously trying to do what everyone has done here.... how would i do it????!?!? if i put #777, do i have to fill in the name and password too?? HELP! I have a BB Bold from Sprint and am obviously trying to do what everyone has done here…. how would i do it????!?!? if i put #777, do i have to fill in the name and password too?? HELP!

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by antokwahyudi http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5450 antokwahyudi Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:23:31 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5450 Exlence with [@jabber.rootbash.com] Exlence with [@jabber.rootbash.com]

]]> Comment on Levolor.com out of beta by Femina http://www.ebusinessblog.org/178/levolorcom-out-of-beta/comment-page-1/#comment-5444 Femina Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:44:38 +0000 http://www.negate.net/178/webmarketing/levolor/levolorcom-out-of-beta/#comment-5444 Thanks. This has really helped in making up our minds for getting the right kind of Blinds Thanks. This has really helped in making up our minds for getting the right kind of Blinds

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by Huckleberry http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5428 Huckleberry Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:43:31 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5428 Same problem here, please help. Same problem here, please help.

]]> Comment on When manufacturers sell direct and “compete” with retailers by 457 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/261/when-manufacturers-sell-direct-and-compete-with-retailers/comment-page-1/#comment-5424 457 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:42:07 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=261#comment-5424 I think the manufacturers can and SHOULD sell directly. The only reason they do not do this in the real world is due to the expenses outweighing the benefits (got to buy land all over the place, hire employees left and right, even more massive fleets of transportation,etc..) where the consumer is unlikely to go into a store that only sells x brand vacuum cleaners or x brand beverage (though coin-op could easily make soda companies independent with minimum real world expenses - I mean a one time machine cost + an employee who covers many many machines even with 6/12/24packs it can work) Consumers in the physical market place want one trip to cover almost everything. Enter your Walmarts/etc.. Nothing is going to change the mindset of I can buy my condoms where I get my breakfast and dvd's and ooh look a tropical fish (most sales are not premeditated- they are visual impulses at your super store)- so manufacturers as a whole are never going to be profitable by going it alone. There is however a way they can be independent. Online sales. Nothing is to stop them (other than any real world deals with the walmarts/such) from altering their www to sell at a great price with minimum expense if their brand is strong/idea is unique. Won't hurt sales too much either as if they are based in one state that is sales tax for one state only! I say the big boys are stuck where they are and the niche/startups can and in some instances have sold directly online only successfully. Likely a side benefit of trying to cut the bs - corps like walmart make you bend to them in we want x color package, reduce sq. in to fit in x shelving, etc.. Your new guys may just have to much pride and sense to bend over for a chance of business. The walmart mentality of shoppers is what is saving a huge amount of jobs and leaves plenty of room for other crappy things like golfcourses. I think the manufacturers can and SHOULD sell directly. The only reason they do not do this in the real world is due to the expenses outweighing the benefits (got to buy land all over the place, hire employees left and right, even more massive fleets of transportation,etc..) where the consumer is unlikely to go into a store that only sells x brand vacuum cleaners or x brand beverage (though coin-op could easily make soda companies independent with minimum real world expenses – I mean a one time machine cost + an employee who covers many many machines even with 6/12/24packs it can work)

Consumers in the physical market place want one trip to cover almost everything. Enter your Walmarts/etc.. Nothing is going to change the mindset of I can buy my condoms where I get my breakfast and dvd's and ooh look a tropical fish (most sales are not premeditated- they are visual impulses at your super store)- so manufacturers as a whole are never going to be profitable by going it alone.

There is however a way they can be independent. Online sales. Nothing is to stop them (other than any real world deals with the walmarts/such) from altering their www to sell at a great price with minimum expense if their brand is strong/idea is unique. Won't hurt sales too much either as if they are based in one state that is sales tax for one state only!

I say the big boys are stuck where they are and the niche/startups can and in some instances have sold directly online only successfully. Likely a side benefit of trying to cut the bs – corps like walmart make you bend to them in we want x color package, reduce sq. in to fit in x shelving, etc.. Your new guys may just have to much pride and sense to bend over for a chance of business.

The walmart mentality of shoppers is what is saving a huge amount of jobs and leaves plenty of room for other crappy things like golfcourses.

]]> Comment on forcing qmail to pass outgoing mail to another SMTP server by Mdan http://www.ebusinessblog.org/7/forcing-qmail-to-pass-outgoing-mail-to-another-smtp-server/comment-page-1/#comment-5312 Mdan Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:18:16 +0000 http://www.negate.net/erlong/blog/archives/7#comment-5312 Just thought I would share this, you can check if your ISP is actually blocking outgoing port 25 at <a href="http://port25.icannotconnect.com" rel="nofollow">http://port25.icannotconnect.com</a> Just thought I would share this, you can check if your ISP is actually blocking outgoing port 25 at http://port25.icannotconnect.com

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by jay http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5310 jay Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:49:36 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5310 I cant use video chat in this way? it's not working....:( I cant use video chat in this way? it's not working….:(

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by Jay http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5309 Jay Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:12:22 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5309 i used this and successful. but i cant use webcam or voice cam options? i used this and successful. but i cant use webcam or voice cam options?

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by Jay http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5308 Jay Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:35:47 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5308 i am disconnected as i connect. Y? i am disconnected as i connect. Y?

]]> Comment on How to log into Yahoo! IM with iChat on Mac OS X via a Jabber account by Jay http://www.ebusinessblog.org/397/how-to-log-into-yahoo-im-with-ichat-on-mac-os-x-via-a-jabber-account/comment-page-1/#comment-5307 Jay Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:19:35 +0000 http://www.ebusinessblog.org/?p=397#comment-5307 i cant see the yahoo IM gateway selection on the directory. Help pls i cant see the yahoo IM gateway selection on the directory. Help pls

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