Forum Moderators: buckworks
We have received advanced notice today of the closure of the which web trader scheme at the end of january.
from their advanced notice:
"I am writing to give you advanced notice of an announcement that we will be
making on the afternoon of Monday January 6."
"I will be announcing that the Which? Web Trader scheme will be closing at
the end of January."
"During the three and a half years of the scheme we have received more than
8,000 applications, accepted 2,700 online traders and resolved more than
2,000 disputes on behalf of consumers. The scheme has succeeded in its aim
of increasing consumer confidence online and has promoted higher standards
in e-commerce."
"However, providing such an effective and well-monitored scheme costs a
significant amount each year and as a charity and campaigning organisation
we need to use our resources in the most efficient way possible."
This is an important scheme in the UK and has improved ecom consumer confidence & trust over the years.
Does anyone know of possible UK alternatives/replacements? our sites will seem a little naked without this trustmark!
also the comments section is an interesting read and provides a slightly different (non webmaster) slant to the topic.
and I notice that the 'non-webmaster' i.e. customer slant is far more positive about the scheme than some of the contributors to this thread.
By the way, notice of the closure was first mentioned in the Sunday Times Business Pages. Some idiot leaked it to them in advance.
A. N. Idiot
Personally I don't value the badge but the process of going through the Which webtrader hoops did add value in terms of getting the inexperienced webmaster to think about the legal position. UK online provide a lot of help and even occasional grants. I think it could put down a set of standards that websites need to meet before they become eligible for any support.
1. Mainly the fact that there were some (okay LOADS!) fairly dodgy looking ecommerce sites let in. I know because I called some of them due to my job and many of them weren't even trading anymore or weren't even ecommerce sites - am I missing something here?
2. Not many of the big brand names adopted the scheme, or at least visibly.
3. Consumers are less freaked out about purchasing online compared to 2 or 3 years ago and probably assume there are laws in place to protect them anyway.
As I said.. IMHO!
What puts me off buying from a site is if a site looks like someone designed it using word, if you go through the Which Trader sites, you'll see quite a few of 'em!
Still, the intentions were good, maybe another organisation will replace them and do a better job?
Welcome to webmaster world. IMHO, YHO is about spot on!
the slackest piece of logical connectivity possible.
thanks for the welcome
IMHO YHO is as important as my MHO OK?
George
As for still using it well it will probably look silly if shop savvy punters realise Which? doesnt exist anymore.
PS
Anyone else get (spammed) by shopsafe? They sent me a mail stating that I should consider signing up with them now that WWT is closed.
Are they any good or are they just circling like vultures?
In fact one ex webtrader is trying to set up something new, [consumerfriendly.org ] I joined up (£55), more power to his elbow and lets hope it works. (moderator please allow this, i don't get a penny)
My story-I approached TrustUK, (whose site this very day lists Which?as one of the 3 approved bodies) to ask about supporting a new body for small companies, and guess what I got a reply from the Direct Marketing Association (membership fee £1250, typical member being a junk mail book club). In the same building apparently. Must say I do wonder about privacy policy, never mind.
[computing.co.uk...]
