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BARNES & NOBLE WEBSITE FORMAT

• The Home Page for Barnes & Noble is organized in topics - narrowing your searches to the right destination for purchases.

• Every topic is listed across the Home Page. Within that topic you there is a drop bar listing the subcategories.

• The Home Page presents itself as a navigational pane for online commerce. It displays offers from free-shipping ($25+) to Barnes & Noble membership subscriptions.

• The layout of the website also presents Store Locators, Account Information, Customer Service, MY NOOK (eBook Library), and your shopping bad all on the Home Page.

ACCOUNT/MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

• Barnes & Noble does not require the shopper to create an account, giving options to checkout as a “Guest” or “Returning Customer”

• Becoming a member on B&N is simple.

• Members enjoy the many benefits that come from the subscription. A few include:

• 40% off Hardcover Bestsellers

• 10% off Most Items

• Free Express Shipping (1-3 Days) with no Minimum Purchase

• Exclusive offers are emailed (If you choose to do so) for additional savings.

The cost for membership is a one-time payment of $25 for one year. There is an option to be charged every year for the same cost without renewal.

ACCOUNT/MEMBERSHIP SERVICES CONT.• Free Shipping not only applies to Members, but regular

shoppers as well. Those who do not have a membership will receive free shipping with all orders $25+

• If you are new to Barnes & Noble, you are given a 2-Month Membership Trial for FREE!

• BN.com allows customers to pick up their purchases in any store, if they are available. If not, the item will be shipped to the desired store.

ADVERTISING• The Home Page of Barnes & Noble displays a giant picture of there latest

product (Nook HD Tablet)

• Below the search bar there are links across the screen to the different genres of products sold.

• Within these sites, it follows the same format as the Home Page – a wide image of products and services advertised.

• Some websites display banners on the sides of their website advertising previous/related searches at Barnes & Noble.

• Typing “Books” in Google’s Boolean Search Bar pulls up Barnes & Noble as the first website listed. This has reminded me that I have visited the store . This method is very effective, as the customer searches for books and their business website is the first to show.

PAYMENT SYSTEM & METHODS

• Purchasing items from Barnes & Noble is very traditional – Search for the item > Add to Cart > View Cart > Checkout. The process is simple and to the point.

• As with many other companies, BN offers coupons and special deals throughout the checkout process.

Credit Card

• Barnes & Noble.com accepts MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Visa, Diners Club, JCB, and corporate purchasing cards.

Barnes & Noble Gift Card, eGift Card or Gift Certificate

• The Gifts are pretty self-explanatory….Although you may not use Gifts for rental services.

"Payment Options." Help Desk:. Barnesandnoble.com, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?PID=8116>.

PAYMENT SYSTEM & METHODS CONT.

PayPal

• PayPal is a safe and easy way to make a secure online payment. It allows online shoppers to enter and store credit card and billing information in one place, thereby eliminating the need to store and update this information on multiple sites.

Phone

• Another option is to use the “Pay by Phone” button while checking out. You are able to order any product without payment , but you are obligated to give the support agent the information within 7 days or the order will not be “fulfilled”.

Check

• Barnes & Noble Online does not accept checks of any sort. You may, however, purchase a gift card with cash or a check at your local retail store for online shopping.

Corporate Purchasing Card

• This option is obvious as well. This option is for those companies who purchase from BN.com frequently for deals and specials specifically for that business.

"Payment Options." Help Desk:. Barnesandnoble.com, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?PID=8116>.

SECURITY & PRIVACY POLICY“Protecting the privacy and security of your personal information is a priority at Barnes & Noble, and we believe that a single, comprehensive privacy policy that is straightforward and clear is in the best interests of our customers and our businesses”.

With whom do we share personal information? 

• Other entities within the Barnes & Noble enterprise.

• Partners

• Service providers, subcontractors and agents who perform services on our behalf

• Third party providers of products and services

• Third Party Membership Programs

• Credit Card Companies

• Law enforcement officials and as required by law

• Other websites operated by Barnes & Noble

"Privacy Policy - Barnes & Noble." Privacy Policy. Barnesandnoble.com, 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?pid=25560>.

SECURITY & PRIVACY POLICY CONT.“The personal information you enter in your bn.com account -- including your billing information -- is protected using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology…

…We use this technology to prevent your information from being viewable as it is transmitted over the Internet. The encrypted data goes to a secure site where your information is stored on restricted-access computers at restricted-access sites”.

How do we secure personal information?

“We take significant and appropriate security measures, including physical, technological and procedural measures, to help to safeguard your personal information and to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure. In addition, we use industry-standard technology, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology in the transmission of certain sensitive personal information, designed to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to your personal information, and, as technology develops, we intend to take additional measures to improve security”.

How do we use personal information? 

“Barnes & Noble uses your personal information to provide you with a superior customer experience at our stores and on and through the Barnes & Noble Websites, Devices and Retail Apps, and, as necessary, to administer our business”.

"Privacy Policy - Barnes & Noble." Privacy Policy. Barnesandnoble.com, 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?pid=25560>.

HOSTING – WHICH IS IT?I have found that Barnesandnoble.com is internally hosted

by Barnes & Noble.

After entering in the domain on Who is Hosting This? (An internet service to check website hosting) this is the given information:

barnesandnoble.com Is Hosted by Barnes & Noble

Hosting: Barnes & Noble host the domain barnesandnoble.com

DMCA: Get stolen content removed fast by DMCA.com

WHOIS: Click Here

IP Address: 161.221.89.118

Name Servers: ns4.barnesandnoble.com, mail9th1.barnesandnoble.com, ns2.barnesandnoble.com, ns3.barnesandnoble.com

Read more about web hosting at www.whoishostingthis.com

This information clearly shows that Barnes & Noble runs off of their own servers."Who Is Hosting This.com." Web Hosting Lookup Tool. Whoishostingthis.com, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.whoishostingthis.com/barnesandnoble.com>.

GIFT CARDS• Barnes & Noble offers a customizable option for Gift Cards

• When you order your Gift Card you can design it with the Christmas spirit, or with other memory-filled warmth.

There are two options by which you can receive the Gift Card:

• eGift Card – This is a NEW option presented for those who just cannot wait to get the card.

• Gift Card (Physical) – Your typical Gift Card.

• When ordering your Gift Card, you must enter the amount to be placed on the card.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

• At first this unique feature made me a little curious. I wondered what these handpicked deals differ from the regular products.

• Many of these gifts obviously pertain to Christmas and gifts. Many of the gifts are sectioned from Under $25, $25 - $50, and Gifts Over $50.

• What struck me the most was the “free shipping by Christmas” option. Many of my friends have tablets and eReaders who love anything in electronic format. This would be the best place to find the right Holiday gift.

(This section also offers the best suggested books for all ages, teens, and kids)

NOOK E-READER

• Barnes & Noble has presented a wonderful format for online commerce, but I was not impressed with the NOOK reader, which is part of the website. It does not flow or have the appeal that the Kindle Fire Reader provides.

• The NOOK Reader occasionally does not allow me to access my eBooks when I need them.

• All in all, I would assess this website to be a top vendor for my readings. I enjoy the ease of access and the perks and offers that trim down the costs for eBooks, Hardcovers, Paperbacks, eReaders, and many other products.

ASSESSMENT

Overall I would have to give my biased opinion. I think that this business model – the way it feels, how things run, is very sleek and efficient. Personally I have shopped here in store and online, which has me expressing satisfaction.

Further in depth, I know from experience that the shipping estimates were precise and delivered with care. The book was used, but it was delivered and it amounted to the description. Purchasing eBooks for the NOOK was purely simple.

I do have my pet peeves over the NOOK e-Reader, nut that does not compare to the many benefits that outweigh the negatives.

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Citing Information Used:

Slide 6:

"Payment Options." Help Desk:. Barnesandnoble.com, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?PID=8116>.

Slide 7:

"Payment Options." Help Desk:. Barnesandnoble.com, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?PID=8116>.

Slide 8:

"Privacy Policy - Barnes & Noble." Privacy Policy. Barnesandnoble.com, 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?pid=25560>.

Slide 9 :

"Privacy Policy - Barnes & Noble." Privacy Policy. Barnesandnoble.com, 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?pid=25560>.

Slide 10:

"Who Is Hosting This.com." Web Hosting Lookup Tool. Whoishostingthis.com, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.whoishostingthis.com/barnesandnoble.com>.