Top 10 most common e-commerce mistakes
The 10 most common e-commerce mistakes, taken from a report from E-Consultancy.
- Poor search/filtering options
- Hidden checkouts
- Asking for unnecessary information
- Poor customer service / contact options
- Making delivery charges / returns policies hard to find
- Compulsory registration
- Poor search engine visibility
- Pop-ups SUCK
- Use of Flash
- Displaying out of stock products
I agree with most of these apart from number 10.
Setting items out of stock is logistically quite hard and conflicts with point number 7 about good search engine visibility. Search engines need to know if your page exists or it doesn’t.
I guess the way around this is to take the page out of the navigation, but that wouldn’t eliminate a search link.
Also, it depends how the “out of stock” is displayed and suggested. I recently changed the sign on the Beauty Shop to show as “back in stock soon”.
Comment by Chris December 4, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Hi Craig and thanks for the mention. On point 10 we’re only talking about labelling the product as ‘out of stock’, and on the product page (rather than in the checkout). No need to remove the page completely.
This is a challenge, for sure, but it’s important as otherwise you run the risk of wasting people’s time. and leaving a terrible impression as a result.
“Back in stock soon” is a great idea, especially if you add a ‘notify me when product is in stock’ email captcha. Nice thinking. Beats our suggestion!
Cheers,
c.
Comment by Craig Killick December 4, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Sorry Chris, my mistake. Spot on then.
We have tried with our retail solution to address the issue of out of stock products and speaking with my small e-tailor hat on, it’s demanding to restock “out of stock” items as and when they become out of stock due to limitations on distribution orders.
It’s a cash flow balance of holding just enough products, without tying up too much cash in stock.