[LINK] After 10 years, standards are still loosely-defined

[Ivan Trundle]

On 10/08/2004, at 3:29 PM, Howard Lowndes wrote:
>> After 10 years, I would have thought that sellers of big-ticket items
>> such as motor vehicles would have had a greater incentive (and greater
>> cash reserves) to market via the web rather well. Perhaps not.
>
> The point is that marketing over the web for big ticket items doesn't
> get bodies in the showrooms where the "puppy dog" technique can be
> applied.  Ppl who research items on the web are likely to be far more
> analytical in their approach to their requirements and therefore make
> harder selling targets.

I'm not sure that I agree there: check the rise and rise of website 
like allhomes.com.au (there is one in every major city that offers real 
estate): it not only offers a very good service to potential buyers, 
but is used extensively by the trade, as well. I only use this as an 
example because the site works VERY well, and in all types of browsers 
(okay, so the designers of the software and site made sure that 
standards could be complied with).

The showroom mentality is outdated, IMHO (not that I'm in the market 
for a new car, nor am likely to be for a long time).

iT