Online Shopping - July 1999
By Jim Norris

  One of the major buzzwords of the late nineties in the press is e-commerce. Most companies, if they are not selling online already, are rushing to join the mass of online merchants. You can purchase virtually anything online – books, videos, software, CD-ROMs, CDs, tapes, downloadable music, posters, apparel, musical instruments and pro and consumer audio products. You can also book travel arrangements, send flowers, buy a car and have your groceries delivered tomorrow morning. All you need is a credit card and many sites will accept cheques electronically. Of course you can also send in payment by snail mail or place a credit card order by FAX or phone.

    So far, a very small portion of Internet users are shopping online although the numbers increase daily and now constitutes billions of dollars annually. Most of the hesitance is based on fears of having your credit card information stolen or getting ripped off by some far distant unscrupulous company. A lot of the fears concerning credit cards are greatly exaggerated – I would be much more concerned with the security of the mail system  and many traditional sales channels. That said, some caution should be exercised.

    First, as in any purchase, be aware of the reputation and business practices of any merchants online or not. When visiting websites, be wary of companies with no phone or address listed or just a post office box. The Internet has spawned thousands of basement operations, and although most are probably honest, they will be very hard to find if you have a problem. Look for their number of years in business and such things as money-back guarantees. Call them up and speak to the customer service people and satisfy yourself that they are a real company. 

   If you are using your credit card online, make sure they are using a  secure server that delivers your order information in an encrypted format. If this makes you uncomfortable, palace your order by phone or FAX.

    If you are purchasing a high-ticket item such as a musical instrument or pro audio gear, you don’t have the chance to try the product, you will have little support or backup and you may have warranty problems, especially for anything purchased in another country. What seems like a bargain may not be if you have problems and need repairs, instruction or support later.

    To find products you are looking for you can type product keywords into the major search engines or major music sites. There are also many online malls that connect you to a variety of online retailers. For a great selection, visit Yahoo (www.yahoo.com) and look under Business and Economy > Companies > Retailers > Virtual Malls. For music-related products, vist The Music & Audio Mall at www.musicandaudiomall.com.
If you a recording artist, make sure your own products are available online. We will show you how in the next issue.
 

Resources

• Bandradio is a great resource site for indie musicians. Locate lawyers, Internet radio stations, showcases, recording companies looking for material and instrument manufacturers. The site also features music business articles, advice, streaming audio and a contact database. Visit at http://bandradio.com.
• If you are an indie artists looking to sell your music online, check out IndieCanada.com at www.indiecanada.com. Consumers can hear Realaudio files on  the artrist’s music and purchase songs, CDs or cassettes online.For further information, call 888-397-862 or vist the site.
• For great travel information on travel and to make bookings for hotels, airfare and car rentals online, visit Travel Now at www.travelnow.com/affiliate/?cid=2874.  Compare prices and enjoy savings of up to 65%.
• Godlyke Inc. introduces the first official site for Guyatone at www.guyatone.com. Included is information on Guyatone musical instruments, amplifiers and accessories. The site features product images, description and specifications, dealer and distributor listings, product reviews, company news and product updates.
• The Connection Computer Center has been completely renovated and now features a huge selection of software, hardware and accessories. Visit the store at www.maac.com/software.
• RadioMoi, musicmusicmusic’s internet radio station, has signed the first-ever webcast licensing agreement with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). RadioMoi, which has over 500,000 visitors a month, offers a variety of musical styles in streaming MP3 format. Drop by at www.radiomoi.com.
• Music Books Plus has greatly expanded their catalogue and now features online over 3,000  books, videos and CD-ROMs on music, recording, audio, songwriting, MIDI, multimedia  and the Internet. You can join the electronic newsletter or request a printed catalogue online at www.musicboooksplus.com
• Norris-Whitney Communications operates Music & Audio Connection, the international on-line resource for music enthusiasts, musicians, music and audio professionals. Included are classified ads, products for sale, company showcases, discussion forums, associations, music education, music & audio resources, career information and file libraries. Updates to the site are available by e-mail or on The Pointcast Network Visit at musicandaudio.com . For more information, e-mail to , Fax (905) 641-1648 or call (905) 641-3471.