Thread: sites that require login and registration

I'm talking about websites that require you to register and login , or create accounts to access pricing info and/or purchase things...

There have been a few items I have been seeking out lately and each one requires a different website with a different login and I'm very wary about sharing so much info to so many different sites.

Do you feel better when you can do one stop shopping such as ebay? Where you have one account and can shop for anything from jewelry to video games (aside from ebay having its problems, as they are many)

do you prefer to sign in with one account to one website or are you ok with signing up for various websites

(my example is looking for large bras and having to create accounts for Victorias secret, Fredericks, Figleaves, etc)

Are ecommerce sites that require login a big pain?

YES!! I LOVE Amazon because I can shop from so many vendors without having to create accounts. (I think figleaves and others are on there, by the way!)

I've registered with several bellydance sites, including Sim, Bella, & Paganinni, but I don't go there because of the PITA of having to log in.

I like sites that let me shop without a login, and make it optional to create an account OR checkout as a guest. That way I can make a choice based on the likelihood that I'll be shopping there regularly.

(one exception: I recently registered with Hautelook, where you have to create an account to see the rotation of major high-fashion sales. I may never buy anything, but THAT was worth it!)

Yes, these sites that require log-in are a pain. So many of them that I forget the passwrds, etc. I often use fake info and a throw-away email address to avoid info thieves anyway. Or just decide the whole thing is too much trouble and look elsewhere.

I find that a MAJOR pain in the neck when I have to create an account just to browse. Usually, I simply skip these websites. I am also getting cranky when they ask me to create an account during the purchase process, often abandon the purchase.

Hi gals,

I have found the effort I created to build my website - which took a year to build the current site - and it is still growing...

I found the effort for offering login opportunity for customers allowed me to serve the many different price types so that my customers benefit from the ease of receiving special attention and ease of use.

However, as silk is a very specialized market and these customers really spend a lot of time planning their purchases, it is an asset for them to have a relationship that is personalized in this way.

I have had several hundred people register and find it invaluable for the different customer types to manage their own pricing and accounts - making the business run more efficiently financially and accounting-wise.

I think that it is a professional way to go, myself. Every customer has different abilities. The ones that are current on their own management of accounts are efficient and wish to manage accounts. I have found also for example that a large company doesn't want to look at my website for pricing. They want a Pricelist. So they can efficiently scan it and understand the scope of products/colors/pricing Account management is the same kind of tool - it all depends on how much a customer wishes to manage their account in partnership with me, a valuable partner as a personalized supplier to the customer.

Finding the time to do it all has been a challenge, but I keep plugging away at it and am rewarded over time with functionality that helps the customer, myself, and the business.

Good Luck in deciding ...

Meagan

i think pricing tiers and figuring out what kind of customer I am and what i'm entitled to is VERY confusing

but I wasn't referring to silk..

am talking more about generalized shopping, not a specialty per se

I had an ecommerce site and paid $$$$$ for it, and had customers who gladly signed up too and they were all very happy when I just went back to ebay and etsy because they could create one account and shop with multiple sellers that way

Lauren yes that's what I like about amazon..one user name, one password, and I can buy books, diapers, cameras, etc

internet shopping should be all about ease, not deciphing pricing tiers and remembering passwords

plus there's the whole safety thing..I just don't want ANY type of password or registration info available on too many sites

I do it, so I can find out about sales, percent off, and free shipping. Even reward programs.

I believe ebay and etsy both have that function..you can buy multiple things from multiple sellers in a shopping cart fashion and then pay them all at once at the end

I love the top sites that use their big bucks and their technicians to provide this for me, the paying seller, to make it easier for me as a seller and buyer, so i can focus on what I do best and not have to mess with computer things I shouldn't be doing hehe. Let ebay work out all the bugs..that's what they are paid to do

just my .02 but again I was asking about general purchases

I also like that a purchase made from amazon or ebay has SOME type of sales record within their system. Say for example I bought something from bra.com (just making up a site) and they told me they received payment but I never received the item..their word against mine and I have no idea if the sale went thru on their website other than one of THEIR printed/emailed invoices. I would sooner trust a sales record that went thru a big monster like ebay so that at least there is a third party with proof a sale did take place. Admittedly ebay has its problems. but I'd rather have the option of using an 800 number to call a tech or customer support than deal with bra.com directly. Too much internet fraud and hacks these days.

I feel safer with monsters (as a buyer) ..and as a seller too since it gives my buyers confidence that I have a VISIBLE feedback score (of 100% ) ..that is a list of references a mile long. Whereas a private site system has no feedback, no proof of satisfied customers. Feedback is important when establishing a business relationship within a community (I'm very happy to boast of 100% feedback with EBAY for the entire time I've been signed with them) ..and etsy too though my time with them has not been as long yet.

Visible documented feedback shows credibility. Guess that's the nurse in me talking..g.:

Originally Posted by bdaddiction

I do it, so I can find out about sales, percent off, and free shipping. Even reward programs.

usually a site will offer newsletters that will let you know about sales and member benefits.. (I get victorias secret offers and notices of sales all the time)

as a supplier/artist/vendor that is a GREAT point about having a pricelist for large companies

there are many websites where you can create an account and the big buyers can email you directly and access info without even having to contact you

I SWEAR by one ..I paid a $400 yearly fee to not only have advertising to top buyers ..my registered account not only had to go thru a jury process to be selected as a unique, top artist, with visible feedback and business references from happy customers, but it also comes with a fully photographed, interactive web page that can be printed up as a brochure if they want a hard copy

AND the pricing is right there, it's already in price list form..it's excellent. Best $400 I've ever spent.

This works excellent for non-bellydance buyers and store owners/buyers who are inquiring about non-dance items.

In my ten years of working with bellydancers and resellers /vendors in the bellydance community, I believe it is much easier for each individual buyer to email me direct and ask for what they need. It's more personalized, they get exactly what they want (or can find out instantly if it's something I can do) and it's completely customized to their budget. I create wholesale orders with buyers and make it VERY easy for someone else to resell A'Kai because I really enjoy helping others start part or full time businesses that they can work at their own pace and comfort level.

There is a difference between catering to orders for bellydancers and orders for large companies

Luckily I have a system in place that accommodates both

and...etsy/ebay for individual purchases for individual dancers :)

sorry..tangent..in biz thinking mode :)

Originally Posted by jesennia

In my ten years of working with bellydancers and resellers /vendors in the bellydance community, I believe it is much easier for each individual buyer to email me direct and ask for what they need. It's more personalized, they get exactly what they want (or can find out instantly if it's something I can do) and it's completely customized to their budget. I create wholesale orders with buyers and make it VERY easy for someone else to resell A'Kai because I really enjoy helping others start part or full time businesses that they can work at their own pace and comfort level.

I know it! I asked you about something, and then with a quick of a wink, you had it on your page in like a few days! I am so happy!

A happy customer, is always a customer.

Unfortunately, I will not know about them unless I keep checking, as I don't have Facebook anymore. ..cr.:

The best sites have a "checkout as guest" feature. If its a site that I'll be visiting frequently (Like Amazon for instance), I like having the account already set up. If I'm buying from "Schmoe's Shemadans", I'd rather NOT have to register - how many Shemadans do I need?

As for multiple accounts, I use FireFox's "remember password" (and have a STRONG master password) feature...

A bit OT: eBay is slowly, but surely falling off my radar. I don't buy half as much as I used to on it - the search isn't as nice as it once was, the whole site is becoming definitely dial-up hostile; and most importantly the combination of more commercial vendors and idiot buyers who bid the prices up beyond the cost of new causes me to give it a pass more often than not. I wanted to buy a new traveling sprinkler last week. It was cheapest on Amazon, the shipping was less, and I didn't have to use PayPal either!

Originally Posted by jesennia

internet shopping should be all about ease, not deciphing pricing tiers and remembering passwords

Yes!!! I might be willing to work a little harder for an Akai veil but for most stuff - there are plenty of suppliers.

I hate having to remember a ton of passwords and usernames myself. (Although I do admit that I generally use the same one over and over). I like having a guest feature so that I don't have to go through all the other crap involved in registering.

I recently went to a site with plans to buy $75 of product. But when I proceeded to the order entry, it asked me to create an account.

I decided I didn't want the product badly enough to deal with that, so I abandoned the purchase, went to Amazon, found a competitor's product that was similarly priced, and bought it from there.

The vendor who wanted to require that I open an account lost my business.

I get really displeased when this whole "set up and account" annoyance comes with being automatically subscribed to a newsletter. If I want to get email about sales etc., I will actively sign up for it on my own initiative, *and* I will actually read it - and not delete it unopened. I will happily make use of these promotions, and the vendor really doesn't need my birthday or address or phone number for that.

When it comes to tiered pricing that is not overly transparent (where I would say that having to sign up for an account to learn what terms are would qualify) - I am not sure I am too fond of that idea. It makes me squeamish, to be honest.

Personally I hate having to set up accounts for all and sundry places just to browse and see if I might buy something from them. Between the now they have an e-mail address so they will drown you in advertising mail, and then the ones that you have to create a new flipping account everytime you go back to it because it tells you your information is incorrect and won't accept the "new" log in information their automated tec system sends out (Dahlal is the worst for that!) it's just not worth my time. If you want me to create an account just to browse and see if you have something I might want to buy in stock, I just don't need anything you might have to sell.

Originally Posted by Viv

(Dahlal is the worst for that!)

lol, that happens to me all the time! So one day I just had them send my password and I put it in a folder on my email! ..g.:

Originally Posted by bdaddiction

lol, that happens to me all the time! So one day I just had them send my password and I put it in a folder on my email! ..g.:

I have a tab book that I keep all my passwords/ids for websites in so I write it down as I register so I don't muck it up later. Every single time when I go back to log in, I get an incorrect password message. When I had them reset and email me a new one, the one they sent me wouldn't work and I copied and pasted it right from thier e-mail. After that I just gave up. They have some things I would love to order but its too much hassle with their system and I'm out of e-mail addresses to register from

Originally Posted by Viv

I have a tab book that I keep all my passwords/ids for websites in so I write it down as I register so I don't muck it up later. Every single time when I go back to log in, I get an incorrect password message. When I had them reset and email me a new one, the one they sent me wouldn't work and I copied and pasted it right from thier e-mail. After that I just gave up. They have some things I would love to order but its too much hassle with their system and I'm out of e-mail addresses to register from

You know what every time I go on the Eman or Bella site - whichever one it is, I can never see the prices. How do people order from them? I must have been waiting years already. ..c::

They say don't use the same password for everything, like your email or bank account. It is so difficult to remember all of them and when you don't log in for a period of time, it gets quite frustrating. ..l;,

You can't copy and past in Dahlal and other sites, it just doesn't work. .p::

I am less inclined to shop with sites that require passwords too.

I can understand not listing the prices since they can change and it's a lot of web work to go thru each item and change them (for example if you are having a sale)

it's sooo much easier to have a website that directs buyers ready to purchase items to etsy or ebay..the price and description is right there, you can email about specifics..love it.

I'd probably have a lot more costumes and other un-needed items if Dahlal and Sim had ebay stores (or maybe they do?) ..l;,