Comments for Variable Markup http://www.variablemarkup.com Retail Software Blog - Improving customer experience through technology Sun, 11 May 2008 23:28:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Data Visualization: Use of Flash by Top Ecommerce Sites /w Retail Vertical - Bubble Chart by Pankaj Sharma http://www.variablemarkup.com/2008/02/04/data-visualization-use-of-flash-by-top-ecommerce-sites-w-retail-vertical-bubble-chart/#comment-708 Pankaj Sharma Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:15:41 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/2008/02/04/data-visualization-use-of-flash-by-top-ecommerce-sites-w-retail-vertical-bubble-chart/#comment-708 Hi Michael, I got the weblink of your blog from your linkedin profile. What impresses me most in your blog is the way you have expressed the use of intelligent usage oftechnology by retailers for just not to just make their business transactions smooth but various formations to build an intelligent system which give them complete 360 degree view of customer's buying habbit, model a very attractive and personalised solution on real time. This for sure makes it retail one of the most technically advanced vertical after financials. Keep adding great stuff to your blog. Best wishes, Pankaj Sharma. Hi Michael,

I got the weblink of your blog from your linkedin profile. What impresses me most in your blog is the way you have expressed the use of intelligent usage oftechnology by retailers for just not to just make their business transactions smooth but various formations to build an intelligent system which give them complete 360 degree view of customer’s buying habbit, model a very attractive and personalised solution on real time. This for sure makes it retail one of the most technically advanced vertical after financials.

Keep adding great stuff to your blog.

Best wishes,
Pankaj Sharma.

]]> Comment on Borders Concept Store Video by Jenna http://www.variablemarkup.com/2008/04/03/borders-concept-store-video/#comment-690 Jenna Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:38:37 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/2008/04/03/borders-concept-store-video/#comment-690 We don't have a Borders close by but there are several Barnes & Nobles. I've only been in a Borders store a few times -- but it looks just about the same to me! We don’t have a Borders close by but there are several Barnes & Nobles. I’ve only been in a Borders store a few times — but it looks just about the same to me!

]]> Comment on Top Ecommerce Sites Search Details by rrschubert http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-621 rrschubert Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:32:49 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-621 The worst service in the world. I would never shop or even walk into another Dick’s. Name’s right for the type of business operation run there. Purchased a Yakima Skybox auto roof carrier in December, 2006. It was used a few times for ski trips. This past January, 2008 while in route to Colorado almost from miles from Kansas City the lid came open and was damaged. Thinking after having the roof carrier for over a year that the problem was mine. I contacted Yakima about purchasing a replacement lid that I could put onto the bottom part of the carrier. I speak with the Yakima Service Rep and explained what had occurred and that I wanted to buy a new lid for the carrier. The Yakima Service Rep asked a few questions and then informed me that the carrier was under warranty and would be replaced. He told me to go back to where the carrier was purchased and bring in the proof on purchase receipt and the damaged carrier. Tell them what had happened and have them call us (Yakima) so that we can authorize a replacement. The Yakima Rep gives me his name and contact number and says this will solve the problem. So I go to Dick’s Sporting Goods #119 in Merriam, Kansas 50 + miles from my home with sales receipt and Yakima phone number in hand. I speak with sales person who calls someone and then I’m told by this sales person that they will have to check on this and that I’ll need to come back later. I inform them that I’ve come 50 miles and want to handle this today. The sales person calls again and I get the manager or the assistant manger named Jake to come down and speak with me. I tell him what Yakima had told me to do and that this would be an easy fix for everyone evolved. As I’m talking with Jake its obvious that he’s not too interested in helping me but I coerce him to make the call to Yakima about the carrier. Jake leaves and in about 10 minutes comes back and tells me that he called and the call went to hold and he waited awhile then hung up. ( I believe he lied ) I get home I call Yakima and tell them what has occurred at Dick’s and ask about a call being put on hold for a lengthy amount of time since all of my calls have gone straight through when I called them. I’m told that all calls are taken within a very short time. The Service Rep at Yakima tells me to take the carrier and the Dick’s receipt to another dealer of Yakima products in Overland Park, Kansas. Have them call Yakima and they will make the authorization for the new Skybox carrier. I take it in to this other store on Monday about 3:30 PM and by Friday afternoon the new Skybox is at this store for me to pickup. DICK’S Sporting Goods S-cks. The worst service in the world. I would never shop or even walk into another Dick’s. Name’s right for the type of business operation run there.
Purchased a Yakima Skybox auto roof carrier in December, 2006. It was used a few times for ski trips. This past January, 2008 while in route to Colorado almost from miles from Kansas City the lid came open and was damaged. Thinking after having the roof carrier for over a year that the problem was mine. I contacted Yakima about purchasing a replacement lid that I could put onto the bottom part of the carrier. I speak with the Yakima Service Rep and explained what had occurred and that I wanted to buy a new lid for the carrier. The Yakima Service Rep asked a few questions and then informed me that the carrier was under warranty and would be replaced. He told me to go back to where the carrier was purchased and bring in the proof on purchase receipt and the damaged carrier. Tell them what had happened and have them call us (Yakima) so that we can authorize a replacement. The Yakima Rep gives me his name and contact number and says this will solve the problem.

So I go to Dick’s Sporting Goods #119 in Merriam, Kansas 50 + miles from my home with sales receipt and Yakima phone number in hand. I speak with sales person who calls someone and then I’m told by this sales person that they will have to check on this and that I’ll need to come back later. I inform them that I’ve come 50 miles and want to handle this today. The sales person calls again and I get the manager or the assistant manger named Jake to come down and speak with me. I tell him what Yakima had told me to do and that this would be an easy fix for everyone evolved. As I’m talking with Jake its obvious that he’s not too interested in helping me but I coerce him to make the call to Yakima about the carrier. Jake leaves and in about 10 minutes comes back and tells me that he called and the call went to hold and he waited awhile then hung up. ( I believe he lied )

I get home I call Yakima and tell them what has occurred at Dick’s and ask about a call being put on hold for a lengthy amount of time since all of my calls have gone straight through when I called them. I’m told that all calls are taken within a very short time. The Service Rep at Yakima tells me to take the carrier and the Dick’s receipt to another dealer of Yakima products in Overland Park, Kansas. Have them call Yakima and they will make the authorization for the new Skybox carrier. I take it in to this other store on Monday about 3:30 PM and by Friday afternoon the new Skybox is at this store for me to pickup. DICK’S Sporting Goods S-cks.

]]> Comment on Top Ecommerce Sites Search Details by Circuit City Retail Strategy, Interviews with the CEO | Variable Markup http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-517 Circuit City Retail Strategy, Interviews with the CEO | Variable Markup Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:09:26 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-517 [...] Circuit City’s CEO Philip Schoonover has done a couple interviews this week, one with the WSJ and the other with the Times-Dispatch of Richmond, VA (Circuit City’s Headquarters).  Here are some of the more interesting questions and answers from the two interviews.  WSJ: Why do you think the new, smaller-sized store will improve Circuit City’s profitability and sales growth? [...] […] Circuit City’s CEO Philip Schoonover has done a couple interviews this week, one with the WSJ and the other with the Times-Dispatch of Richmond, VA (Circuit City’s Headquarters).  Here are some of the more interesting questions and answers from the two interviews.  WSJ: Why do you think the new, smaller-sized store will improve Circuit City’s profitability and sales growth? […]

]]> Comment on Top Ecommerce Sites Search Details by Michael Julson http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-510 Michael Julson Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:31:26 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-510 According to Nielsen/NetRatings’ MegaView Retail Report for January 2008, QVC had a 12.8% conversion rate. According to Nielsen/NetRatings’ MegaView Retail Report for January 2008, QVC had a 12.8% conversion rate.

]]> Comment on Top Ecommerce Sites Search Details by Michael Julson http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-509 Michael Julson Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:26:57 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-509 According to Nielsen/NetRatings’ MegaView Retail Report for January, Coldwater Creek had a 13.3% conversion rate. According to Nielsen/NetRatings’ MegaView Retail Report for January, Coldwater Creek had a 13.3% conversion rate.

]]> Comment on Free report on designing websites for users with disabilities by voipBlogger http://www.variablemarkup.com/2008/01/08/free-report-on-designing-websites-for-users-with-disabilities/#comment-414 voipBlogger Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:50:54 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/2008/01/08/free-report-on-designing-websites-for-users-with-disabilities/#comment-414 Thanks for the tip! I hope it's not too late to sign-up for this. Thanks for the tip! I hope it’s not too late to sign-up for this.

]]> Comment on Mashup App for Tracking Top Ecommerce Sites for Design Analysis & Best Practices by Michael Julson http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/12/13/mashup-app-for-tracking-top-ecommerce-sites-for-design-analysis-best-practices/#comment-337 Michael Julson Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:51:55 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/12/13/mashup-app-for-tracking-top-ecommerce-sites-for-design-analysis-best-practices/#comment-337 Thanks for the comments. Yes, 500 is a bit long. I may trim it down over time once I figure out where it should be cut off. Once you get to the 400-500, there are quite a few poor sites. Although there's still some major retailers that ecommerce is just not a major channel for them yet, but have nice sites to learn from. It is broken down by category in the sidebar. Let me know if you think there are specific categories I missed. Thanks for the comments. Yes, 500 is a bit long. I may trim it down over time once I figure out where it should be cut off. Once you get to the 400-500, there are quite a few poor sites. Although there’s still some major retailers that ecommerce is just not a major channel for them yet, but have nice sites to learn from.

It is broken down by category in the sidebar. Let me know if you think there are specific categories I missed.

]]> Comment on Mashup App for Tracking Top Ecommerce Sites for Design Analysis & Best Practices by Suzanne http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/12/13/mashup-app-for-tracking-top-ecommerce-sites-for-design-analysis-best-practices/#comment-336 Suzanne Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:48:54 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/12/13/mashup-app-for-tracking-top-ecommerce-sites-for-design-analysis-best-practices/#comment-336 I actually think your new 500 ecommerce site idea is GREAT. I am going to use it myself and think others will like it too. 500 is a little too many in my opinion though. May be you can separate by category. I actually think your new 500 ecommerce site idea is GREAT. I am going to use it myself and think others will like it too. 500 is a little too many in my opinion though. May be you can separate by category.

]]> Comment on Top Ecommerce Sites Search Details by Michael Julson http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-299 Michael Julson Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:40:54 +0000 http://www.variablemarkup.com/top-ecommerce-sites/results/details/#comment-299 Apple is not a traditional retailer so take the traffic and backlink data with a grain of salt. I included them because of their strong influential retailer side with ecommerce, Apple stores, and itunes. Unfortunately, obtaining reliable data on just those sub areas is very difficult. Apple is not a traditional retailer so take the traffic and backlink data with a grain of salt. I included them because of their strong influential retailer side with ecommerce, Apple stores, and itunes. Unfortunately, obtaining reliable data on just those sub areas is very difficult.

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