Google search issues

[madboyo]

Mr X.

Regardless what the law states - only a fool would part with their cash to a back alley fraudster, which is exactly what most small companies running PO Boxes are.

Sorry to bring the harsh reality to your attention - this is advice, not criticism.

Your so called "advice" is worded in such a way to be aggressive and confrontational. Further more you constant insinuation that MXBits is operating a "scam" or in a "fraudulent" way is disrespectful and verging on the point of being libel.

Fine so we've overlooked or failed to publish an address for the reasons previously stated but MXBits is not a scamming fraudulent business and has a good strong customer base which we would like to build on. Our returns policy is fair and we have on many occasions taken it on the chin for the benefit of the customer contrary to our our T&C's because we felt it was the right thing to do.

I do have to question your motives towards a forum member who has acted in a totally respectful way to others who have offered advice and guidance previously and throughout this thread.

Maybe you would like to explain why when others have tried to assist in the topic asked about you constantly feel the need to pursue a subject so far removed from Distance Selling law as it could possible get that you felt

a) go so far off topic
b) trash a thread with aggressive insinuation
c) ignore forum rules
d) act as Judge, Jury and Executioner.

If you really had our best interests at heart why did you not contact me via PM to advice me of a possible shortcoming rather than insinuate everything you have in a public forum about a company or persons you have never met or traded with?

Surely that would have been the adult forum friendly behaviour that RuralWeb seems to suggest I have denigrated so much by not publishing my real name.

[madboyo]

Just a heads up. I had this pointed out to me today as a fault on one of my sites by a caring soul on this marvellous forum so I am doing the same for you good sir.

Your T&C page contains

Thank you for yet another mistake on our part rather than as some others have insinuated a deliberate case of scamming or misleading any or all of our customers.

The fact that you got pulled up on it suggests that we are probably not the only ones guilty of this oversight.

With laws containing phrases as vague as this no wonder scam merchants are everywhere. Not suggesting you such a person, madboyo, but you have to admit it reads like a get out of jail card.

Just goes to show that the Law is often an Ass.

Well it seems that given the law is so vague I will take further advice on it.


Thanks again

[Darren B]

Your so called "advice" is worded in such a way to be aggressive and confrontational. Further more you constant insinuation that MXBits is operating a "scam" or in a "fraudulent" way is disrespectful and verging on the point of being libel.

Fine so we've overlooked or failed to publish an address for the reasons previously stated but MXBits is not a scamming fraudulent business and has a good strong customer base which we would like to build on. Our returns policy is fair and we have on many occasions taken it on the chin for the benefit of the customer contrary to our our T&C's because we felt it was the right thing to do.

I do have to question your motives towards a forum member who has acted in a totally respectful way to others who have offered advice and guidance previously and throughout this thread.

Maybe you would like to explain why when others have tried to assist in the topic asked about you constantly feel the need to pursue a subject so far removed from Distance Selling law as it could possible get that you felt

a) go so far off topic
b) trash a thread with aggressive insinuation
c) ignore forum rules
d) act as Judge, Jury and Executioner.

If you really had our best interests at heart why did you not contact me via PM to advice me of a possible shortcoming rather than insinuate everything you have in a public forum about a company or persons you have never met or traded with?

Surely that would have been the adult forum friendly behaviour that RuralWeb seems to suggest I have denigrated so much by not publishing my real name.

The way you are conducting yourself leaves people to be suspicious, and what ever way you read it, at some point you will be contacted by trading standards and then you will realise the error of your ways.

i wish you well in your crusade you build a site that fails to offer confidence, part of SEO is to build a site that works for people, thats how google tries to rate a site. You are trying to build a site that does this yet at the point of ordering your saying no thank you????

If you feel people are verging on libel, then you obviously are like many people that come here asking advice yet actually dont want it. (you posted in the site review section what did you expect )

In that case

Your site is ok however as a biker this is a site i would not purchase from and to be honest doubt i ever would as i honestly believe if i had an issue i doubt i could get it resolved.

[grantglendinnin]

Not going to waste another minute on this subject. You posted in the Site Review section and got a harsh review. In fact, not really harsh - you got told what works and what doesn't. No name, no business name, no registration number, no address - nothing.

Oh, and you can't charge restocking fees. That's limited under the Distance Selling Regulations and Sale of Goods Act.

Good luck.

[madboyo]

Not going to waste another minute on this subject. You posted in the Site Review section and got a harsh review. In fact, not really harsh - you got told what works and what doesn't. No name, no business name, no registration number, no address - nothing.

Oh, and you can't charge restocking fees. That's limited under the Distance Selling Regulations and Sale of Goods Act.

Good luck.

I posted in here for help with SEO as the title of the forum suggests. Did I ask you to review my site or specifically the T&C's? No I didn't.

I've been told what effects the way you build the site has over search engines so I have got my answers. I have also had opinions from constructive members regarding some potential problems which I have already stated I will look into and although I have found documents I will also contact Trading Standards to verify and abide by there advice. So I've saved you the job of contacting them!

You could have handled this so differently as I previous stated so I still question your motives towards other site owners using this software and still question who made you Judge, jury and executioner. Friendly and constructive you are not as you can see by others who have advised on the same subjects.

For your information my name is Lee Hooper. MXBits owner is a Mr B Phelps. You have the company details including the telephone number. Whilst my role is to try and help with IT matters given I am an IT guy who specialises in Infrastructure management rather than website design I do my best to help on a purely voluntary basis. So MXBits is a one person company like so many others out there are and any way I can help I do. The fact that up until now I have represented MXBits in this community is because I'm the one with an element of understanding which is greater than the owners.

The fact that I am careful about who knows my identity on the internet is neither here or there. Many people publish details about themselves that others can profit from on the internet. Since when has being careful being fraudulent or a crime?

Is there anymore information you would like to validate me, Mr Phelps or MXBits?????

[grantglendinnin]

I think you need to take this with a pinch of salt. To be frank, I couldn't care less who you are. Just being 100% honest here.

Put yourself in the customers shoes.

Would you buy from a site which doesn't display any contact details but a telephone number, nor publishes a company registration number? If I remember rightly, when we first launched a site online, which was merely a brochure site, the site had an online store added on, using Actinic v6, from some oversight, our company registration number wasn't added anywhere on the site, which is apparently against the law in Scotland. (Selling online, you must display or notify the consumer of your company registration number) Whether or not that law applies in England, or even still applies in Scotland (probable, centuries-old laws 'n' all) is another matter.

What I have mentioned to you increases customer confidence and makes your company appear more reputable and thus, will help you convert an undecided potential customer into a customer.

[leehack]

I award a goat point for breaking your own name curfew.

[madboyo]

I award a goat point for breaking your own name curfew.

As my namesake you're a funny guy!

It seems that in order to be taken seriously my name is essential

[madboyo]

Ok well the details we are at fault with or have been advised by other forum users we have corrected.

The address is added.

The Company Registration number is not required to be listed as MXBits is a sole trader.

VAT comment has been changed. That was an oversight.

We are contacting Trading Standards regarding the restocking charge for special order items not held in stock e.g. special wheel, hub, spoke set that are coloured in a way to make them useless to anyone other than the person who ordered them.

Anything else you would like investigated whilst Mr. Phelps is talking to Trading Standards?

http://www.mxbits.com/acatalog/Terms_Conditions.html

[leehack]

You would always walk into a room and say hi or shake someone's hand if you intended to talk to someone, see providing your name as an online equivalent I guess. It's impersonal enough the internet, don't add to that IMO. Particularly if (in general) it is the help of the people who it pisses off, that you are after.

PS - I'm happy to call you never, as long as I have something polite to call you, that's fine.

[madboyo]

You would always walk into a room and say hi or shake someone's hand if you intended to talk to someone, see providing your name as an online equivalent I guess. It's impersonal enough the internet, don't add to that IMO. Particularly if (in general) it is the help of the people who it pisses off, that you are after.

PS - I'm happy to call you never, as long as I have something polite to call you, that's fine.

My only problem with the few members concerned was the way the aggressively attacked MXBits as a scam or trading in a fraudulent matter. There was no need to take that approach. The same thing could have been said is such a different way.

I haven't posted very often because I manage to work most things out but in the other threads I have created I have been nothing but respectful and grateful to other participants.

I fully take on board your comment about introducing yourself when you walk into a room. I do but obviously wouldn't when walking into a bar or restaurant as that would be plain weird!

[Rich Brady]

My only problem with the few members concerned was the way the aggressively attacked MXBits as a scam or trading in a fraudulent matter. There was no need to take that approach. The same thing could have been said is such a different way.

I think you have misunderstood the very nature of the guys on this forum.

You asked for SEO help, yet when we looked at your site we saw were more pressing issues.

You could have the best rankings in all of Search Engines, but people will be put off by the fact that you have no address. Having a PO Box address is far from ideal, but stating that you are awaiting one stinks of a scam.

I understand your concerns as I have a client that use a PO Box address, despite my best advice.

It doesn't matter whether it is law or not, it's just common sense.

I think you info page has some coding issues because the <head> area is missing which also suggests that this site is not legit.

You have a lot of info on there about what a customer should do if they want to return an item, but they have no idea where to send it...

You also state that there is 17.5% VAT applied, this needs to be communicated to customers at product level and your VAT registration number needs to be visible. IT SHOULD ALSO BE 15%

All of these issues detailed in this thread need to be addressed before you drive more traffic to your site. Otherwise you run the risk of loosing a potential customer for ever.

IMO

[grantglendinnin]

Hoops? That'll do me

Surely you understand the concerns raised - from a consumers point of view it does look dodgy. All these articles you get in the media about 'how to avoid internet fraud' always mention PO Boxes, looking for physical addresses, contact details, official verifications, etc - which is exactly what showing your real address and registration info would give the consumer. It's all about reassuring your potential customers - they are already freaking out about fraud because that's all the media have to say about e-retailing.

On another note, not to be picky, but your T+C's are in breach of the law simply because you only state you will charge a 20% restocking fee for items returned if unwanted - no mention of whether or not this applies to certain products or not.

I'm sure Trading Standards will help guide you on this matter, though be aware even TS make mistakes and give it wrong advice. Check this out - there's a longstanding debate of whether or not this increases or decreases sales - but the "OFT-approved" Policy and Terms documents which you get for free are definitely a helping hand everybody could do with.

[bamboo]

All of these issues detailed in this thread need to be addressed before you drive more traffic to your site. Otherwise you run the risk of loosing a potential customer for ever.

The best piece of free and unbiased advice you will have received all year.

[Rich Brady]

Thanks Derek, I'll be here all week

The mad thing about all of this, along with quite a few site reviews recently, is that it's all been said before.

Every site review thread is essentially the same. If guys read through other site reviews first, searched the forum for how to implement the changes, worked on there site, then repeated this process a few times, by the time it came to asking for a site review all the basic stuff should be in place and then members can drill down and tweak.