The need to have virtual shops

[incubus]

it seems every shop who has their own thread here in CS always redirects you to their own website. Which is ridiculous.
Whats the point of having an online presence in a forum if you cant interact directly with regards to prices and sharing of information.

Perhaps the shops are having their hands tied by the forums' rules and regulations?

 

[catchlights]

it seems every shop who has their own thread here in CS always redirects you to their own website. Which is ridiculous.
Whats the point of having an online presence in a forum if you cant interact directly with regards to prices and sharing of information.

Perhaps the shops are having their hands tied by the forums' rules and regulations?

when shoppers find the display inside some shops are messy and disorganised after entering the shop, shoppers should give feedback to the building management or the shop owners?

I understand what you are referring to.

shop owner drive away their customers is their business,

shop owners drive away shoppers in the building is the building management's business.




anyway, I can see some opportunities here,

other Vshop owners can make their vshop more user friendly.

 

[kandinsky]

it seems every shop who has their own thread here in CS always redirects you to their own website. Which is ridiculous.
Whats the point of having an online presence in a forum if you cant interact directly with regards to prices and sharing of information.

I've felt the same too. PMs/emails for quotes unanswered. It's ridiculous, but I tend to think it's one example of shops not really understanding the web. It's one-sided and 'at their convenience'. They use it to make announcements when they have time, etc, but engagement is low. Perhaps 'virtual shop' isn't the best title for that forum section as it sets some high expectations. Maybe 'Shop Announcements Blog' might be more accurate.

Perhaps the shops are having their hands tied by the forums' rules and regulations?

That seems unlikely, I don't see anything in the Terms & Conditions that curtails their ability to engage customers. The shops pay between $166-$200 to be listed in that forum section, so it's sanctioned advertising. Any lack of customer engagement would probably be due to their own limitations. E.g., Insufficient manpower to manage responses in a timely manner, lower priority for web-engagement compared to day-to-day operations etc. My guess is that directing customers to their website might be because it's easier to monitor one platform (email).

In fact, TK Foto's vshop even added their own rules/guidelines in addition to CS's: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/tk-foto-forum/1049089-forum-rules-guidelines-tk-foto.html

 

[incubus]

My guess is that directing customers to their website might be because it's easier to monitor one platform (email).

Which is also weird, considering i just got reminded that they also have a pricelist on their website.

My guess is just as you said, insufficient manpower for online engagement. And the lack of knowledge/team to better use the PAID online space that they currently have. Both the forums here and their main websites
Oh well, i guess i can just exercise my option of taking my business elsewhere. No one pointed a gun to my head

 

[catchlights]

don't forget even they don't put lots of efforts into the vshop, it is still cheaper to pay advertising here than paying other company to do SEO for their site.