Concerns about the future of desktop

[mje]

We have seen two familiar trends:
- Customers who remain on Sellerdeck see a halt in growth or, more likely, a slow decline in revenues and transaction volumes, as customers move away, and convert less.
- After migrating away from Sellerdeck to other platforms, customers have seen a doubling in website conversion rates in many cases i.e. more £££

As a High Street retailer since 1993, albeit a small lock up shop, I do wonder if it's a factor that now people just don't have the disposable income they had a few years back, I certainly don't

Our over the counter sales have declined much in line with our website sales, the delivery lorries when they arrive are not a full as they used to be, so it’s not just us etc, although to be fair we only really play at eCommerce and don't rely on it.

Likewise Amazon is a major thorn in our side, their Prime delivery service is lets face it is outstanding – order up to 11pm for delivery next day, free returns, can’t compete with that and use it often myself, rather than a trip to town for a ream of paper etc

Is there conclusive independent evidence that moving from Sellerdeck does see doubling of conversion rates ?

I'm also in my early 60's and not looking to change platform after well over 20 years with Actinic / Sellerdeck, not just because of the cost (500% hosting increase ) but I just like Sellerdeck

Pretty sure if any of Sellerdecks major clients migrated to EKM, we would know about it in one of "those" emails. EKM from the reviews just doesn’t seem a happy place right now, same could be said for Sellerdeck of course, but as above "better the devil you know" for me.

[Mantra]

We have seen a fall in sales and conversions which I do not think has anything to to do with the Sellerdeck Desktop application but like Mark, more to do with lower customer disposable income combined with the availability of our most popular selling lines at cheaper discounted prices (including OEM products) by sellers on Amazon, eBay and other online market places.

Sellerdeck desktop still works best for me and in view of this I have no intention of changing platform.

[mje]

cheaper discounted prices (including OEM products) by sellers on Amazon

Sorry wandering off topic, but,

In our trade (pet and aquatics) it is cheaper for customers to buy a certain household name pond fish food on Amazon, from the importers "shop"with free next day delivery than it is for us to buy same product from a wholesaler, also when buying from a wholesaler we have quite a large minimum order value to meet, thus ruling out generally the ability to place any one off special orders.

That's how retail is nowadays - there is still an element of walk in customers who either don't know or won't use Amazon, but sales have declined massively and this has to be a factor. Numerous aquarium shops are closing every month, some of the very big long established businesses closing their doors - increased rent, electric costs, staff costs, decrease in sales, all the usual stuff plus a very unlevel playing field all sited as factors.

I still stock the product in question, but as an independent do try to find alternatives with a workable margin, and of course when customers want advice etc they are better served on the High Street than by a box mover.

Some manufacturers in the aquatics trade do have "dealer agreements" where they impose terms of supply, that you must not place their copyrighted / patented "name" "products" on any website other than your own - that seems a good idea, but in reality doesn’t work.

[Mantra]

Sorry wandering off topic, but,

In our trade (pet and aquatics) it is cheaper for customers to buy a certain household name pond fish food on Amazon, from the importers "shop"with free next day delivery than it is for us to buy same product from a wholesaler, also when buying from a wholesaler we have quite a large minimum order value to meet, thus ruling out generally the ability to place any one off special orders.

That's how retail is nowadays - there is still an element of walk in customers who either don't know or won't use Amazon, but sales have declined massively and this has to be a factor. Numerous aquarium shops are closing every month, some of the very big long established businesses closing their doors - increased rent, electric costs, staff costs, decrease in sales, all the usual stuff plus a very unlevel playing field all sited as factors.

I still stock the product in question, but as an independent do try to find alternatives with a workable margin, and of course when customers want advice etc they are better served on the High Street than by a box mover.

Some manufacturers in the aquatics trade do have "dealer agreements" where they impose terms of supply, that you must not place their copyrighted / patented "name" "products" on any website other than your own - that seems a good idea, but in reality doesn’t work.

Thank you Mark,

Wandering off topic, yes but well worth noting for anyone considering a large expenditure outlay moving onto another platform as such a change may not yield the improvement in results expected.

What you have described exactly sums up our experience albeit for different product types.

I doubled our transaction volumes 12 years ago by upgrading Actinic/Sellerdeck and re-configuring our website, however, revenues have slowly declined since due to margins becoming much tighter to stay competitive.

I cannot see a way to do this again due to the prevalence of Amazon and have decided to sell off stock that no longer runs and maintain lower stock levels for parts that do run in preparation to close the business and retire soon finding better things to do.

Regards

[mje]

I doubled our transaction volumes 12 years ago by upgrading Actinic/Sellerdeck and re-configuring our website, however, revenues have slowly declined since due to margins becoming much tighter to stay competitive.

I think wheres as few years ago, shoppers used to think "Internet" and search with Google for what they wanted, the default now is "Amazon" - I watch alot of YouTube of an evening as Mrs E has control of the TV remote, I subscibe to a number of channels that build things, mend things etc and they all to the best of my memory say "got this drill, or whatever off Amazon, link in the description" ....many even link to full Amazon shop pages, presumably earning a penny or two for the referal.

We still have good days, the odd good sale, but also long periods of nothing.... I'd not want to be starting out in any form of retail just now, be it online or bricks and mortar lock up shop... that said I enjoy what we do mostley.