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CEO of Google Eric Schmidt was recently asked at the Seoul Digital Forum what his thoughts were on Web 2.0 and now Web 3.0… Wow, we are already getting into Web 3.0? I didn’t think we were even close to finishing with Web 2.0. His answer is interesting, he compares Web 2.0 to Ajax and likens Web 3.0 to small apps interconnecting with each through multiple mediums and the data is in the “clouds”.

It was a pretty good answer, but if I could throw my two cents in. I think what Web 2.0 has not completed yet and what Web 3.0 should take to a whole new stratosphere is all about the level of control.

The limitless control that users will have on how and what they do on the web. To me that is what this all about. It is me being able to shop the way I want to shop and not how some web developer thinks I want to shop. It is being able to read news, watch videos, communicate with others when and how I want to do it. It is about officially slamming the door on companies and web sites that make assumptions on what their clients and customers want instead of just actually asking them and even more importantly, listening to their answers.

What do you think? What’s Web 2.0 and 3.0 to you? If you want to watch Eric Schmidt’s answer, the video is below.

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Technorati Tags: Google, Eric Schmidt, Web 2.0, Web 3.0, Ajax, control

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I began shopping online about a month ago for my fiance’s birthday and have run into so many problems with some etailers that I felt it necessary to post my experiences. I began like most of us do when shopping online by doing some searches in Google. I found some etailers that I knew and began surfing around. My first stop was Bluefly.com

BlueFly.com - I think their site is pretty well done. It is easy to navigate and you can break your searches down by not only a product but by size as well. I found several things I thought Leigh would like so I ordered them. When I added the 4-5 items to my cart, they were all listed as “In Stock” and according to Bluefly’s web site, all packages are shipped out 3-5 days from ordering. No problem, I was ordering a whole month in advance. Order placed, my job was done.

Three weeks go buy and I get or hear nothing from Bluefly. I submit a question about my order through their online form, I get no response. Finally I decide to call them and the nice operator tells me that they have recently moved warehouses and all orders are backed up. I respond, “Well, why didn’t you tell me that when I ordered online?” Yea, she did not have an answer for me. I told her these were presents and I needed them. She told me she would put a rush on my order and get it shipped out. Nice operator, thank you. I then get an email from Bluefly two days later telling me that my ENTIRE order is out of stock!! Bluefly may you rot in fashion hell forever! You will never get another dime from me!

I now have to move on and find something else. So my next stop is Newport News.

Newport News - The site is again pretty well done, finding things are easy and once again I find several items that I think Leigh will like. I once again place the order, but before I click submit I want to find out their shipping information to make sure I have enough time to get it delivered or do I need to pay for quicker shipping. This is what is written on their site.

Standard Delivery. An order that is in stock and placed online by 5 PM Eastern Time will usually be on its way to you the next business day. Most items should arrive in 3 to 7 business days.

Great, I am two weeks away, no problem. I placed the order after 5 pm on Wednesday Aug. 1st. Today is the 6th and I still had not gotten an email letting me know my stuff has shipped. So once again, I went to their customer service section to try to find the status of my order, but because I did not have a customer number I could not find that online, so I called. The nice operator told me my order shipped out today except one item that will not be delivered to Aug. 23. I asked why if the item was out of stock hadn’t the web site told me that before I ordered? Once again, she had no answer. I asked when will my order arrive, she said Aug. 15th. The 15th!!!! Fine, Newport News, you got a stupid name and now I am not ordering from you again!

I have several more stores to talk about, but this is already too long so I am going to end with this. If etailers would start putting more money into customer service and delivery, they would not have to spend so much money on PPC and advertising to keep getting new customers. How much money does it cost to get a new customer compared to keeping an existing one?

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Technorati Tags: etailers, shopping online, Google, Bluefly.com, Newport News

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