2/19 Assignment - 2

Assessment of Buy.com

Ubiquity
Although I have not tried accessing Buy.com from another country, it is always accessibly from the United States. I have never experienced the website having downtime. I would assume that it can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Global Reach
Buy.com has global reach because it is accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. So no matter where in the world you live, if you can get online, you can purchase items from Buy.com.

Universal Standards
Although I am not aware of the specifics of universal standards, Buy.com provides easy product searching, price comparisons with other websites, and other useful features.

Richness
Buy.com gives a rich presentation of each product. This includes multiple images, clearly listed specifications, similar products, and consumer reviews.

Interactivity
Buy.com provides interaction with it's customers through a suggestion box. Users can enter comments, problems, or any other information they feel the business could use.

Information Density
A large amount of information is presented with each product. I have listed some of this information previously. Some of the most helpful information comes in the form of specifications, images, and user reviews. Also, prices from other websites are displayed to the user.

Personalization/Customization
Buy.com personalizes its presentation of the website by monitoring the products that the user has recently viewed. They can then suggest other products that might be of interest to the user.

Social Technology
Users can communicate to other users and transfer information about products through User Reviews. This includes a rating of value, performance, ease of use, and overall satisfaction with the product. In addition to this rating, users can provide a brief summary of their experience with the product and Buy.com in general.

One of the aspects of ecommerce that Buy.com can work on is the interactivity of users with the business. Besides the Suggestion Box, there is no easy way of getting in contact with a person in order to ask questions, get guidance, or seek customer service. One thing they might consider would be a chat system where customers could chat with a business representative about products they are considering.