phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-18 13:09
I would like to place an inexpensive seal of approval on my website to let my online customers know that we operate with good business practices, etc.I am looking for the names and recommendations for any such seals. Can anyone help? Thanks.
|
 |
Janet Berg
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 13403
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-18 15:59
The BBB has gone online, http://www.bbbonline.org/ .
|
|
Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3747
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-19 19:03
truste is one such seal of approval companies. It mainly deals with privacy issues. I don't know what you mean by inexpensive, but you can check them out (the above link goes to their fees page).
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-19 19:26
I checked Truste and the cheapest fee was $399. That is not inexpensive to me.
|
|
Kristin Connelly
Joined: Mar 03, 2002
# Posts: 72
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-19 20:59
Janet, the BBB? I think you should consider that the BBB is not a credible organization any longer, just examine the below BBB Reliability Report for PayPal, Inc. which is a company that has received thousands of complaints from many of the same people that posted their horror stories at www.PayPalWarning.com and who also filed their class action lawsuit against PayPal. The BBB REFUSES to list ANY COMPLAINTS against PayPal and says that PayPal is still a "MEMBER" in 'good standing' of the BBB which means that PayPal upholds its membership requirements of resolving customer issues to this day. Is anybody else on the floor laughing just as I am right now?  Did you know that to even be considered a "member" of the BBB a company is supposed to resolve customer complaints with high standards. Quote from the BBB web site: quote:
MEMBERS must meet and maintain BBB standards
BBB Report for PayPal:
quote:
This company [PayPal] has been a MEMBER of this Better Business Bureau since August 2001. This means it supports the Bureau's services to the public and meets our membership standards.
Ummm, what membership standards are those? Lying, cheating, and stealing? Nice to see that a BBB membership fee can buy amnesty from the BBB, which is an organization that is supposed to exist to help consumers indentify such high complaint companies and not to shelter such companies. This BBB report for PayPal was generated in August 2001, LONG after the many scams and horror stories have taken place over the past 2 1/2 years, long after many people have said publicly that they reported PayPal to the BBB of Silicon Valley and the Attorney General's office of California. Inside PayPal's BBB File, there is another BBB statement regarding specific customer experiences saying: quote:
The Bureau's [customer service] report on this company is being updated and no report is available at this time.
Gee, thanks BBB! That same statement has been there since the beginning of PayPal's membership and it isn't likely to change anytime soon. This is a legal way for the BBB to evade the consequences of not reporting the complaints against PayPal, very clever of them. Is this the type of accuracy and honesty that the BBB's seal of approval is there to provide for consumers? The seal of approval from the BBB has about as much accuracy as a seal of approval issued from Ezula or Gator
http://bbbsilicon.org/commonreport.html?compid=210387
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-20 12:35
Thanks for your reply Kristin. The next thing I was going to do was put paypal on my site too! I submitted my business information to the local BBB office as directed by BBB online to determine the fee and start the process. It has been two days and I have not heard from them yet. Not the kind of service you would expect in this day of "instant communication." Any other seal you can recommend?
|
|
Janet Berg
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 13403
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-20 12:53
I get your point. However, it is recognized and trusted by the general American public, and I think that is what the poster wants, "proof" that he is reliable.
|
|
mmaringgele
Joined: Sep 07, 2000
# Posts: 27
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-20 13:46
phonebillman, you have a great website and concept. While the following is not a suggestion for a "seal of approval", it is some items I personally look for when assessing the credibility of an online website. I want to clearly see a name and address (bricks and mortar address). I want to know exactly how much I'll be paying for the goods or service. Also, the acceptance of credit cards gives me confidence that the business has been investigated and approved by the bank. Just my thoughts  Best of luck with your site.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-20 15:00
I think you are right Janet. I would rather have some seal which is accepted rather than nothing. Apparently there is a huge credibility gap in their handling of the paypal situation, however, just about everyone knows the Better Business Bureau.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-20 15:08
Thank you for your comments mmaringgele. I am always looking for a name, address, and phone number too. In fact if I am going to recommend a site to someone else or post it to my message board, I confirm the contact information to make sure it works. I recently tried to get answers about a movie rebate site. They did not respond back to my e-mails or fax. I finally purchased their voucher for $5 and got my answer. Only then did I post the info, and even then with a notation that I have not actually tried their product so I can't vouch for their processing timeliness. I know I need to make the website more concise and easier to navigate. I am working on it.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-21 14:46
Finally got in touch with BBB today. Their cost is $600 to join and get their online seal. Too pricey for me at this stage of my on-line career. Still looking for something inexpensive which might work to convey the message to prospective customers that we are reputable.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-21 15:57
One last post, at least for today. My search on google turned up a lot of BBB information.These links give good summaries of the main 4 reliability seal programs, in case anyone else is interested. Lastly, I just checked out epubliceye.com which costs $190 per year. Links:http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/ctg933.htm
and http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:j_PCXjHGJ3AC:ecommerce.internet.com/how/tk/article/0,3371,10366_472171,00.html+reliability+seals&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-22 05:06
Although it is not a seal of reliability or approval, I have just discovered an identity assurance tool called True Site by www.geotrust.com. Apparently it verifies ownership of the domain name and used that information to give some sort of assurance to potential customers. The promotional price right now is $99 per year. This might be an affordable way to get started.
|
|
wonderstore
Joined: Mar 07, 2002
# Posts: 34
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-21 22:39
Seals of approval are a *joke* IMHO. If they're costless, they're a clever way of getting free links to the provider's sites (directing traffic off yours, unless you don't obey the "must link back to our site" rules). As for the BBB - they struggle so much to stay alive they wouldn't dare kick out a paying member no matter how many complaints. Their salespeople rank alongside those of the Investor's Business Daily for annoying persistence. However, the public remains a believer in seals, icons and propoganda, so I would ask myself if $600 spent there buys me more incremental profit dollars than an ad campaign (that can have the same effect - ooh, I saw their advert, they must be ok!) Email a few other webmasters with the seals you're interested in and ask them if they've categorically increased profits as a direct result. C
|
|
SavesTheDay
Joined: Feb 19, 2002
# Posts: 297
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-22 04:09
Geez! I didn't know the BBB was that expensive either......we are just starting our business right now.....we DON'T have that kind of money at the time being....but if things go well, and we start having orders flow in when we open, would it be a good idea to because a memember of BBB in the future? Also...if our corporation became a member, could we legally but the BBB button on every site under our corporation, or does EVERY site have to purchase membership? Thanks.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-22 13:19
Some good points have been raised. SavesTheDay, you should contact the BBB directly for answers to your questions. If you go to their website, you can locate your local BBB office and you should probably contact them. URL as provided by Janet is: http://www.bbbonline.org At this point I can't afford that price either but everyone has heard of the Better Business Bureau so it probably will lend credibility to your site to have their endorsement, if you can afford it. Contacting other webmasters to determine the impact of having the seals is also a good idea. I think in the meantime I will make sure to have my name and address listed so people know where I can be located and try to post some testimonials
|
|
mmaringgele
Joined: Sep 07, 2000
# Posts: 27
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-22 13:36
Anything that gives the business a sense of credibility is helpful. phonebillman, how about joining your local Chamber of Commerce? This is usually low cost, a good source of business and you can boast membership on your site. The words official, approved, licensed, etc. all provide a good impression. Perhaps there are some business related associations where you can become an "official" member or maybe you could become an "approved" dealer for a product or service related to your site.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-22 14:25
I am calling the Chamber today. Thanks again for your practical suggestions.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-25 11:56
Cost to join our local Chamber of Commerce is $235.
|
|
phonebillman
Joined: Jun 05, 2001
# Posts: 30
|
Posted: 2002-Mar-26 16:35
My latest discovery is called the Better Internet Bureau at www.better-internet-bureau.org. They are located in Canada and have a 10 point approval process with an annual cost of $35 per year to join and obtain their seal. The site looks a little amateurish but this might be an affordable way to get started promoting website trust.I have sent them an e-mail asking some specific questions. In the meantime if anyone has any experience or knowledge of this group I would appreciate hearing from you. The bits and pieces I have been checking out and posting came from a google search which contains this comparative examination of programs. http://www.dcita.gov.au/nsapi-graphics/?MIval=dca_dispdoc&pathid=%2Fshoponline%2Fsealtable.html I will let you know my final decision.
|
|
Inbox
