The Group Buy Summer Selection rolls on

OfferMe's Business Development Manager, Erick Teresa evaluates last week's Group Buy Summer Selection Sales Results.

Our Summer Selection promotion has really given our Group Buy participants the opportunity to make their voices heard by picking the products they would like to purchase. The concept is pretty simple, but if this is the first time you've heard about it, I'll explain it again: Each week we introduce five new selections promoting variety, competitive pricing and the power to choose when your item is put on sale on our Group Buy site. All you have to do is cast your vote. Not only is it obligation free to vote, you'll also get $1 in OfferMe Credit when you do!

The first week's vote, on Games & Accessories, went to the polls two weeks ago, with the winners hitting Group Buy last week. The Week 1 Champion, the PS3 DualShock Controller, went on sale Tuesday, followed by the FIFA 2010 PS3 Game on Wednesday, and finally the Microsoft XBox Controller on Thursday.

Results were amazing to say the least. After only five minutes, the PS3 Controller had already sold 20 units and by the following day, this Group Buy deal was sold out. The hype was so intense that we had buyers looking to book multiple controllers prior to the midday launch time! Further, after selling out of all stock, numerous buyers came to us asking us to source more sellers for this particular Group Buy!

It'll be interesting to see how this week's sales go. For those of you that didn't get a chance to vote last week, you missed out on deciding between an array of household appliances. The candidates were a GoDuster, a Swivel Sweeper, a pair of Stain Removing Pens, a portable Steam Iron and Digital Bathroom Scales. (For more info about these items, click here) The Scales jumped out to a huge lead, which it held onto in spite of a late surge on the Swivel Sweeper. Following in third was the electric-powered and electro-magnetised GoDuster.

Here's the Group Buy Medals Podium:

 

The Scales go on sale today - Check it Out

The Swivel Sweeper & GoDuster hit the Group Buy markets on Wednesday & Thursday respectively. For those, keep an eye on www.offerme.com.au/groupbuy

This week's Summer Selection focuses on digital cameras & accessories. This includes two high quality digital cameras, a great deal on a 7-inch digital frame and an elite professional standard, travel-secured camera bag. These are items that have seen heavy requests on OfferMe and we believe you, the buyers, will enjoy this vote.

Just make your voice heard! Go to www.offerme.com.au/voting

Introducing Group Buy on Services

OfferMe’s Deal Detective, Erick Teresa presents yet another concept that's guaranteed to put savings in your pocket.

I have always been passionate about our online Group Buying concept and what it means to our users. People come online to get a great product at the most competitive price and I'm proud to say that our team has performed exceptionally well to serve that purpose. OfferMe consistently provide great value products at the best prices we can negotiate from reputable sellers. Each of whom pass a stringent registration process just to be part of the site. We have introduced a wealth of communication tools ensuring your voice is heard and that you can purchase products in full confidence.

However, the last thing we want to do is rest on that success. Over the last couple of weeks we started receiving high level interest from our users that focused on a new line of business. No company is currently providing this new concept and we thought, “Why not OfferMe?” Our team started initial discussions and, after heavy research, proudly present a brand new concept that's guaranteed to open a whole new world of opportunities, while continuing to save you dollars and time.

Group Buy at your Service

Group Buys on services allow you to grab a great deal on an activity! Get a discount on great meats at select restaurants. Save bonus dollars on a weekend away for you and your partner. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment for only a only a fraction of the original price. The possibilities are endless and so are the savings.

One of our verified sellers, City Hunter Internet Cafe is the nation's only gaming orientated internet cafe chain, providing their patrons the very best in e-Entertainment. They do this by combining the latest in PC technology along with a large array of games. They feature five stores in the Sydney area spanning from Chatswood to Burwood. With their 6th anniversary just passed, City Hunter has grown to be a popular destination for the new generation LAN gaming population.

Every Christmas, City Hunter offer $21 Gift Cards, allowing patrons to give their friends and loved ones a minimum of six hours of free playtime. This year, they're offering that same card through OfferMe, becoming the first company to be part of the Group Buy on services program. Thanks to Group Buy, City Hunter will be selling the Gift Cards for $15 off! That's $6 each. Additionally, for the first 99 cards you can use up to $5 in OfferMe Credit.

That's $21 of playtime for a mere $1. Check it out

We're pretty excited about this first Group Buy on a service. We feel it shows the potential of this new feature and we hope you embrace it. We're aiming to provide you with even better deals going forward; in travel, accommodation meals and entertainment. Further, if there's something that you've always wanted to do, but were waiting for the best price, tell me. After all, this is Group Buy at your service.

Answering the Concerns of Group Buy

OfferMe's Deal Detective, Erick Teresa discusses the steps he takes to ensure your Group Buy questions get answered.

Ever look for a product online – even in our Group Buy – and worry that it might not be exactly what you are looking for? Maybe it's a new laptop and you want to make sure it's perfect to play your favourite games. Maybe you are looking for a a Digital Camera and you want to compare optical zoom specifications with another model that's for sale online. The product looks great and so does the price. You just need to sort out this small enquiry and once answered, you're ready to purchase the product; or, in the case of Group Buy hit the “I Want To Buy” button.

With other eRetail sites that's where the problems usually arise. You want to ask someone but have no idea exactly who to ask. It's not like there's a sales rep to even spend some time chatting with you about the product. If you really want the item, you will end up sending an email to the general enquiries department while waiting anxiously for a response. Usually you end up waiting an eternity. Sometimes you may not even get a response! More times out of most, you'll end up leaving and buying your item across the road where you paid more money but at least you received assistance from someone who was available to help.

Who can blame you? No one wants to spend their hard earned dollars on an item they don't have full confidence in. Undoubtedly, this lack of a personal touch is a huge problem within the eCommerce world, where most items are available without any assistance at all.

Of course, at OfferMe, we've gone a ways to make sure we're there to answer this questions. This is what makes OfferMe so different to everyone else online.

Group Buy is Buyer focused...

Firstly, whilst OfferMe works hand-in-hand with the sellers on our site, it's important to separate us from these eRetailers. This allows us to remain as a buyer focused platform, giving us the ability to to negotiate competitive deals. To ensure we're getting the best possible deal, our team researches both online and off-line competitors. Each Group Buy deal listed goes through the same stringent qualifying process. This helps us stay true to the buyers demands, as they continually receive quality deals and at highly competitive prices.

We also provide a wealth of communication tools ensuring you have our full support.

Answer your Group Buy question Live...

As with most companies, customer support is a crucial part of our service. Our head of Customer Services, Sakshi Paul, oversees all of our customer enquiries ensuring our buyers are fully supported and that their issues are addressed within a timely efficient manner. Sakshi also manages our live chat feature during business hours, providing live support for users through instant chat messaging. It's a safe, secure and personal way to get the answer to any product-specific or service-related question you may have.

Get InTouch to discuss any Group Buy concerns...

Some of you may already know about OfferMe's InTouch. Yet the truth is, a lot of users are unaware of the full potential InTouch gives them. InTouch is OfferMe's community platform where everyone can share their own experiences, product knowledge and even team up to get a Group Buy Deal.

Further, I'm on there. I spend a fair amount of my time in InTouch getting ideas about new products to source or speaking to concerned buyers. Simply add me as a friend and I'll keep you up-to-date with the deals I'm currently negotiating while trying solve any of your product issues.

Settling any Group Buy issues across the web...

Everyone knows that the 'net is a big place. OfferMe isn't confined to the OfferMe site alone. There are other places you can chat to OfferMe users and get the answers you're after. Our Online Content Manager, Nadim Sharbean, manages an OfferMe Facebook fanpage which has grown to over a thousand fans within a couple of weeks. While the latest Group Buy Deals and some hilarious video clips make up the bulk of the site, you can also chat to other OfferMe fans & users, and compare your experiences.

If you're a forum surfer, the best place to find chatter about OfferMe Group Buys is Australia's number one retail forum, Ozbargain.com.au. Online Marketing Coordinator, Bekim Ahmedi works hard to consult all questions that appear on the site. Staying involved in threads like this ensures that all these answers to obvious concerns remain available to anyone that may share them.

What I'm essentially trying to emphasise is that, when you choose to shop with OfferMe and use our Group Buy service, you are not alone. Our team is here to assist you, providing the full support you need to confidently make your purchase.

Listening to the Buyers: You get a say with Group Buy

OfferMe's BDM explains how listening to customers increases Group Buy demand.

Ernest Hemingway once said:

“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”

It's amazing that in today's world of new age relationships and hi-tech communications that his quote would still ring true. I mean, listening is such a simple way to let someone connect with you. Yet no one really seems to do it. Failing to apply this fundamental principle creates frustration, annoyance and just plain disappointment. No one enjoys the thought of being unheard. Especially in retail. When you're trying to get a cheap buy and no one wants to listen to you, what's to stop you from just giving up. You feel deterred and just want move onto something else. It's the same for everybody.

I've been there. And, in my job, I see it every single day. Last year my wife and I visited one of the big electronics retailers (name withheld to protect the innocent ie me). We were looking for a good deal on a laptop. After fiddling my thumbs waiting to be served for over 20 minutes, a staff member finally made their way into our aisle and faintly introduced themselves. We already knew what features we were after and simply asked the Sales Assistant to tell us what deals they had. Instead of actively listening to our needs, the Sales Assistant pretty much cut us off and introduced us to products that we neither wanted, nor could afford. We walked out empty-handed and feeling like we had wasted our time.

As a consumer I have the belief that this should be easier. It's the nature of commerce: supply exists due to demand. Therefore, actively listening to your buyers allows you to find the right products to sell. For us at OfferMe, listening to our buyers helps us determine which products we need to negotiate the best deals on. This also has the direct benefit of increasing buyer confidence and retention, by continuing to provide the right product for your buyer. This is exactly what they're referring to when they're talking about 'good service'.

As a Business Development Manager, listening to our buyers and understanding their needs is essential for me to do my job. This is the first step before I can search for the best deals on the market. It's even more important when you consider that I do it for OfferMe, a buyer focused community. After all, that's our biggest differentiator, setting us apart from our competition. At Offerme, your voice needs to be heard loud and clear. As a member within the sales team, I have to make myself available to actively listen to your needs and requirements.

Which brings me to Christmas...

Chances are you'll spend countless hours during November & December searching for a wide variety of gifts. That meaningful item for someone that made your year special. Or that Kris Kringle gift for a random at work. At OfferMe, we appreciate that Christmas is really meant to be about spending cherished quality time together. That's why you should let us handle all the searching for you. Let us waste our days finding that perfect item at the best price. All you need to do is tell us what you want.

We're always here, we're always searching and we're ready to listen. What deal can we find for you?

Negotiating an Online Bargain: Why the old principles never change?

It's interesting how times have changed so much, yet the same issues remain unsolved. If anything, people have become more confused. For a long time, we spent countless afternoons driving to different shops looking for a good deal. We spoke to different shop assistants asking about different products and trying to haggle a bargain price. More often than not, we ended up driving home empty-handed knowing we had wasted precious time; time we could have spent with the family going to the beach or a picnic.

The emergence of the Internet as a viable retail solution only ended up muddying the waters, leaving us even more confused and worried whether the e-retailer we were dealing with was legitimate and not just a scam aimed at our hard earned dollars. Further, with so many stores booming online, people were still wasting countless hours, yet this time it was spent searching different websites, trying to find that elusive online bargain.

There had to be an easier way. People demanded convenience and needed peace-of-mind, knowing that they could quickly and easily get the right product they were looking for, at a competitive price. They wanted back their free time, to return their focus to their children or their mates. They wanted to spend romantic weekends with their partners, without worrying about the annoying hassles of day-to-day life.

If you could go to one place to achieve all of the above, wouldn't that make things so much easier?

Well, that's my job. My name is Erick Teresa and I'm a Business Development Manager at OfferMe.com.au

Every morning, when I step into the office, I get on the case of finding the best deals on the 'net. My team and I start with the OfferMe customers. Knowing what buyers, like yourself, are interested in purchasing is vital to our process. Then we go about handling all the searching that you'd normally spend half a day doing. This goes beyond simply comparing prices and quality between verified e-retailers. It's the aim of our team to build relationships with reputable sellers and negotiate special deals for our growing list of buyers. What we want is for you to find the best prices on OfferMe. By doing this we can assure your convenience and peace-of mind, while offering you a quality service.

At least once a month I'm going to get on here and tell you how it's going in my side of the company. Perhaps I'll let you know about some new products we've got coming up on Group Buy. Or maybe I'll be able to give you some goss on what we're looking for. I'd really like it if you guys jumped on and told me what you're after. And please, no one say PS3... I'm already on the case (and as soon as I find a great price you'll be the first to know). So go on, go enjoy your weekend. Just check in every now & then and see what we're offering you.