Test 1: Chapter 1 - 4

Chapter 4

Question 1:
Select a retail store with which you are familiar that has a Web site on which it sells products or services similar to those it sells in its physical retail stores.
Explore the Web site and examine it carefully for features that indicate the level of services it provides. Using your experience in the physical store and review of the Web site, write a 200 word evaluation of the company's touch point consistency.

Answers

The Body Shop is online store which this product is the original, natural and ethical beauty brand, with over 2,500 stores in over 60 markets worldwide. Every one of this products is animal cruelty free and vegetarian. The Body Shop is the first international cosmetics brand to be recognized under the Humane Cosmetics Standard for Against Animal Testing policy. 

I know about this product from my friend. She told me this product was good and would be suitable for my skin and for surely will not regret it. So before I buy, I was there to see first and find the right makeup products for my skin. One of the workers there have shown to me a suitable makeup products and on the same time they got promotions. They offering to apply a member for $10 only. They also offered a 20% discount voucher and 50% Off  The Body Shop Beauty Workshop session voucher to welcome you into The Body Shop family, 10% discount on all products, special monthly promotions just for members, birthday privileges of a one-time 20% & 50% discount during your birthday month and exclusive invitation to our annual sale and member events. I am interested with it and im trying to use this product. 

I've been using this product make-up since 2010 until now. My skin looks better than before, so far gained much of a difference. Im very satisfied and more confident after using this product. From here, I have applied for membership at the same time this store has a promotional discount. After becoming a member, they will tell us when they get the sale today or get a discount promotions via text message.

The service there quite good for me, they are always been there when customers needed and who make inquiries about price and products. They tried to make the customers feel happy, satisfied and enjoy with The Body Shop product. When I use this make-up product, it may take two months to finish. After 2 months i would go there to buy same products. I have bought this make-up product in cash and at the same time they have a promotional discount.

There are many branches of this shop but the best location for me was located at G9 GF, Yayasan Bandar Seri Begawan Branch. I choose this branch because from here I became a member of The Body Shop and the other reasons was easy to find parking. This shop opened from Monday until Sunday, 10am to 09.30pm.

Conclusion

Why am I impressed with The Body Shop products are when they have a promotional discount and what good was to become a member of The Body Shop like me will be notified via text for the sales promotion. So far, this is the longest products I use and is definitely the best products for me and I will continue using it. The Body Shop products make you feel satisfied and have no regrets at all and you will come again.

  

Question 2:

What were the main forces that led to the commercialization of the Internet? Summarize your answer in about 100 words.

The main forces that led to the commercialization of the Internet is that people start to use and recognize the value of Internet connection. As we all know the Internet is known to provide facilities for users to access what they need by simply searching Google Sites. Users can use the Internet via computers and mobile phones. Nowadays, mobile phone is a modern technology that is easy for users currently using the Internet every day. At this time many people use the internet with the purpose of connecting such as facebook, twitter, whatsapp, viber, hotmail and Skype. Some users also use the Internet for the purpose of buying online such as EBay. Internet becomes more widespread and more knowledge and more useful.

Question 3:

Describe two possible service-for-fee offerings that might become available to users of Internet-enabled wireless devices (such as iPad or mobile phones) in the near future. Write one paragraph for each service in which you outline the profit potential and risk of losses for each.

http://www.bmobile.com.bn/index.php

B-Mobile is one example of service for fee. Bmobile Communications Sdn Bhd Brunei became Brunei's first provider of 3G mobile service. Bmobile subscribers can also be stored and communicated with their extensive list of mobile information and entertainment content through bmobile WAP portal. They also offer the ability, as well as market competition to benefit their customers.

B-Mobile introduced between postpaid and prepaid plans to suit the different needs of their customers. Postpaid means a monthly paid where we can made a payment at any Bmobile branches counter. For prepaid it was like a top up card where we can made a payment at WYWY branches and Bmobile branches. B-Mobile offers YES! Prepaid service plan for your mobile - the starter pack costs 30 BND / 24.06$: 25 BND / 20.05$ as a license fee and 5 BND / 4.01$ for connection. Once purchased the starter pack you can used Wap and Mobile Internet at 0.05 BND / 0.04$ per 1 MB. There is another service called YES! ZOOM BROADBAND meant for Data usage only. The main features of the YES! ZOOM BROADBAND starter pack are:

• Internet Access Only Pack
• Registration not required
• Instant activation, to activate just dial 179 and follow the voice prompt.

Also you get a welcome bonus - 1 day of unlimited local data usage. There are two options for the starters, customers can buy either Pocket Modem Bundle for 99 BND / 79.38$ or YES! ZOOM BROADBAND Starter Pack for 30 BND / 24.06$. However, Bmobile broadband PREPAID, it have two simcard which was 3.5G and 3G. For 3.5G means the original simcard broadband usage. The 3.5G service was introduced with packages that included FREE laptops and modems so that everyone can afford and enjoy broadband speeds Internet connection to move. While 3G means a 3G simcard for mobile phone lines only but this 3G simcard can use at a broadband modem. Bmobile have their own website, from the website customers will get info advertisement of the broadband and other specials promotion more further.

The profits for this company get was when they deducted $25 for every Bmobile account users per year. More and more customers use bmobile and more profits they will gain.The risk was when the server down they get so many complaints from their customers and they move to another usage. Amongst that the customers also get the profits with enjoying the services and promotions given such as lucky draw from which they bought their items. The problem taken when there is no network , no signal, connection is low  at certain area where the more far to the satellite made internet access a bit lagging to connect.

Conclusion

Therefore, postpaid or prepaid have their advantages and disadvantages respectively. As a subscriber, we enjoy a given promotion.

http://themallcineplex.com My another example for service-for-fee is The Mall Cineplex. The Mall Cineplex is the most popular cinema in Brunei. It is located on the third floor of The Mall Shopping Centre, Gadong. Gadong is Brunei's most popular entertainment and commercial area. The Mall Cineplex is now showing movies in 3D and more enjoyable sound system. To watch 3D movies people must wear 3D glasses. The Mall Cineplex ara places where a main attraction for the customers.To complement The Mall Cineplex and to meet with demands, The Mall Cineplex opened 4 new Deluxe Screens. These cinemas allow for movie to choose from – total of 8 screens. With these 4 new screens, The Mall Cineplex Gadong is the largest Cineplex in Brunei. During school holidays, they have offer for children’s ticket pricing. However, people can book the tickets via telephone and internet, easier for customer to know what updated movies are shows. They also advertise the movie schedule at a newspaper such as Borneo Bulletin and Media Permata. As usual the price of the tickets are different and this different also can make profit for the company before and after 6.30pm, the price of the tickets will increase by $2 either 2D or in 3D. Therefore as many people watching the movie and the more profits the company will gain. The Mall Cineplex also sold food and drinks and most popular snack is pop corn. In term of customers, they can save time booked the movies via online and made them easier to browse the internet. Risk for the company was when the customers cancel their bookings and make them lost their other customers. Films that do not attract the attention of the people will cause less customers. In term of customers, when tickets been booked through telephone the company will give half and hours to get a tickets before start a movie otherwise will be given to another. Telephone line always busy. Drinks and food sold at the cinema is expensive compared to the stores and there is no outside food or drinks are allowed. Conclusion However, they always update the movies now showing to facilitate all their customers through mass media such as internet and newspaper. Question 4: In two paragraphs, explain why a customer-centric Web site design is so important, yet is so difficult to accomplish. Answers Customer-centric Web site design is so important because they only care about what is important to them getting whatever information, services, or products they came to their site for.  If they can’t find what they’re looking for, they’ll simply go elsewhere. They should make the website an attractive and interesting web design that is very important for their site. They also should keep their site that just the once a searcher or customer has reached on their website to continue looking and reading through it until they have found what they are looking for and their site obtain attention and attract them. If their site does not have the right design but they may have the best products and most attractive prices then no one will take the time to enjoy and look through it. They will be able to ensure that their website is more attractive and gainful through a skilled web designer. Overall design of a site should not clash with the content, making it easier for the user to navigate and can find the desired information or products etc. It is very difficult to accomplish a customer centric web design which designer need to understand the site owner or business representative, to ensure that they allow and encourage. Websites takes into account many security considerations, such as data entry error checking through forms. In addition, websites has moved to a new phase of Internet communication. Computer web sites are no longer simply tools for work or commerce but used most for communication. Websites such as Facebook and Twitter provide users a platform to freely communicate. This new form of web communication is also changing e-commerce through the number of hits and online advertisement. Question 5: Promoting products on the Web is different from using mass media promotion or personal contact. Assume that you want to explain these differences to a person who is planning to open a Web site that will sell fishing-rod. Write one paragraph about each approach (mass media, personal contact, the Web). In each paragraph, explain the advantages and disadvantages of the approach for the fishing rod Web business.

Answers In this task, I am going to explain selling fishing-rod by using three methods which are mass media, personal contact and web. Each of this have the advantages and disadvantages itself. This how im going to explain it. Mass Media is the broadcast media to promote their information to the public such as television, radio, newspaper, internet and magazines. The advantages of using mass media was it can reach a large number of populations in a short amount of time. It helps in the promotion of the products. The biggest advantage is the information easier and faster to publish. The disadvantages was when there is dissemination of  inaccurate information, spending a lot of money for advertisement. Personal Contact is another ways to promote selling fishing rod. This means business communication modes also known as one to one. For example salesperson and customer. The advantages was  news spread rapidly from mouth to mouth such as friends, family, neighbours, etc, met face to face, cash on payment. The disadvantages was less personal contact to spread the news, spending much on mobile credits. Web is the best way to promote website for business online. Its also known as website visitor. The advantages was to advertise the products, information is available to be accessed by anyone, anywhere, anytime. Can be updated to always provide the latest information, attractive info and gives attractive offers. Advertising in a website is cheaper than TV, Radio & Newspapers. The disadvantages was when the internet connection is slow, lost person-to-person contact, have to deal with possible maintenance or technical difficulties , broken links and wrong info. Conclusion Promoting products on the Web is different from using mass media promotion or personal contact. This three methods have their advantages and disadvantages itself. Each methods have their own strength. Its all depends to the seller which one are easier for them to advertise their product and can get better income for their profits.