Customers have to be confident that when they go online, they can get what they order in a timely manner. Since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, some companies are asking shippers to make special weekend deliveries. And Lenk, who blames a third-party processor for last year's woes, says all orders are now handled in house. In fact, so confident are toy executives that the problems have been licked, most say customers will be able to shop late in December and still get their gifts under the tree. If this is propaganda, the industry certainly believes it, as evidenced by the toy companies' plans for Web expansion.
Nobody really dominates storage as a category.
Competition for your e-dollars will be stiffer than ever. The remaining sites loudly trumpet whatever small advantages they offer in hopes of outdoing the competition. I, for one, am ready to try again, but I'll be more careful this year. I will order as early as possible, and in a pinch, I will settle for an online gift certificate, which is less likely to get delayed in the mail. I will be sure to print out copies of all purchase orders and confirmation numbers.