No longer does a consumer have to wait on hold for a customer service representative to answer the phone. Recognizing that customers may want products delivered as soon as possible, many sites offer next day or second-day delivery. Online support toolsorder status, product availability and pricing, technical support and troubleshooting tipsare generally supplemented with toll-free numbers that customers may call for further information. The founders of Garden Escape wanted to create a one-stop shop for gardening needs. By offering a virtual, rather than real, inventory, Garden Escape offers a selection of products that even the largest nursery could not possibly stocka selection of 10,000 seeds, perennials, roses, bulbs, greenhouses, tools and other gardening products from around the world.
Serious gardeners can use online software tools to design their ideal garden.
For suggestions and tips, there's an online magazine, a chat room and new daily tips from the magazine's editors. A consumer with a question about a horticultural term can check out the glossary, or call Garden Escape's toll-free number. Two examplesshopping for a car and shopping for an insurance policyillustrate the differences between purchasing via the Internet and purchasing through traditional means. Shopping for a car can be a very complex process. Prior to the Internet, gathering that information could take a lot of time, and many consumers went to dealer showrooms ill-prepared.