Lovers in cyberspace overwhelmed the Net on Valentine's Day, say companies that track traffic. And while most of the goods got delivered, some of you Netizens no doubt spent the evening explaining that you really did order those flowers on time, even if they didn't get delivered. The company not only measured how long it took to get onto several sites, but on Feb. 9 it ordered flowers and chocolates from four top sites in each category. One site had great packaging but delivered all its orders a day late, Todd says. Sites were overwhelmed both by people ordering last-minute cards for their sweethearts and by those trying to pick them up.
People do care about fulfillment.
People do care that they can't pick up their cards. A report by Washington, D.C.-based Strategis Group predicts that, thanks to all the different ways we access the Net, the number of U.S. households with access will nearly double to 90 million by the end of 2004. Add people who use the Net from work and the number rises to 171 million Net users. Today there are about 46.5 million households online. Free and cheap Net access will expand that number, the study says.