Internet Marketing a Practical Approach - Essay Example

Quality FraudThe issue at hand is about the website known as Alibaba.com which is an online supplier shop to importers. People make their orders on the products they want and make payments and the products are delivered to them. The problem is on guaranteeing the quality of these products by the small business owners once the products are received the products. Small business owners have no skills or financial ability to test the product’s quality or ship back the products or even engage in international legal battle and hence they are worse affected in case of quality fraud.

Quality fraud and scams are a common occurrence when products are purchased online. This is not only the supplier’s fault but is also the fault of the buyer because of lack of enough product specification details. Small business owners in most cases seek the products with the lowest price in order to gain profit once they sell them. In their bid to find the lowest price, they compromise the quality of these products and do not bother with providing all the necessary details that would facilitate quality.

On the other hand, the suppliers take advantage of the fact that the business is online and the slacking nature of the buyer and hence suppliers materials of low quality. Quality issues matter because there are laws against low quality or illegal products being imported in different nations and especially in US and Europe. Business owners found with quality compromised products are bound to be jailed or heavily fined. If a small business owner id heavily fined, the small business is likely to go under receivership.

To avoid all these complications, small business owners should be mindful of the quality of the supplier and the products before purchasing and shipping them. Enough research about the online supplier as well as making all the necessary specifications of the products should be counterchecked before a final order is sent. As mentioned above, the quality fraud problem for small businesses may the fault of the supplier or importer. The consensus in this case is for each of the parties to carry out their part according to the instructions provided.

The importer to clearly and exhaustively specify the products and the supplier to ensure they deliver the products as specified and adhere to the quality standards. This will ensure a mutual beneficial relationship for not only the present transaction but future ones as well. A satisfied importer with the quality of the products is likely to recommend the supplier website such as Alibaba.com to other small business owners as well. Prediction of the outcome of the products of online transaction to small business owners is easy if the recommendations made above are followed to the letter.

Even though it is not always guaranteed that the buyer even having made all the necessary specifications will get the quality products, there is an almost 100% prediction that quality fraud will not occur. Online suppliers with all the information about the product including the quality standards will ship the products as specified without any assumptions or tampering with the order specifications. ReferencesCharlesworth, A. (2011). Internet Marketing: a practical approach. New Jersey: Routledge.