Try Before You Buy: Dos and Don’ts

Are you an online retailer? Chances are, at some point you’ve offered your customers the option to try before they buy. It’s a great way to give shoppers the chance to see if that new pair of shoes or dress is really right for them, without having to commit to buying anything.

But while it’s a convenience for shoppers, trying before buying can also be a bit of a logistical challenge for retailers. Here are a few dos and don’ts to make sure your in-store Try Before You Buy process runs as smoothly as possible.

This model is still very new and being an early adopter will help you stand from the crowd of online retailers and put you at an advantage, reaching new markets and customers as well as earning customer loyalty and goodwill. However, it does make things a little more difficult.

Keeping track of an everchanging flow of inventory can be challenging but using the right tool to do this will make the process easier. Make sure to promote your Try Before You Buy offer, so customers know the option is available.

They will be more likely to purchase products they’re not familiar with if they can know they can have them in their hands and make sure they are what they expected before paying for them.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most important dos and don’ts regarding the implementation of this model in your online store.

Dos:

• Make your Try Before You Buy tool easy to use. Most customers will leave a purchase unfinished if the process is confusing or frustrating.
• Offer an interesting purchase experience that is as customized as possible. Your customers will be more satisfied and will be more likely to return.
• Things like free shipping, free 2-day shipping, and free returns will make your customers return.
• Keep a close eye on your operations management, and make sure to have a good grip on your inventory and margins so your Try Before You Buy experience is more profitable.
• Make sure your entire purchase process keeps your customers engaged and interested. Explain the Try Before You Buy option as clearly as you can on your website.

Don’ts:

• Bog your customers down with fine print and roadblocks. Be as clear and transparent as you can.
• Make sure your operations department is in top shape before implementing additional offers. To keep Try Before You Buy profitable you will need to ship orders and register returns as quickly and efficiently as possible.
• Lose sight of keeping your offer flexible and convenient for all customers, old and new.

Making this offer to your customer base is very rewarding in the long run, as it cuts the cost of losing customers and getting new ones, promoting your store, and getting through that important six-month line into a permanent and profitable business.

Services like Stage Try’s unified check-out button, complete store dashboard and marketing tools are very important when it comes to opening your eCommerce to this new and different way to help shoppers discover new products and stores to become loyal to.

If you are interested in learning more about the Try Before You  Buy model and all the tools Stage Try offers to help your store offer it, book a demo with us and we will walk you through the process, so you can make the very best of this option for both you and your customers.